Chinese Astrology: The Rat

People who are born in a year of the rat seek perfection in all things; this is what marks the wise. Everything the wise does is done by the heart; this is the way rats carry out their good disposition. If they find their way they show great endurance and a determined strength.

The search for perfection also can end up in an obsessive striving for perfection. Then the energy is put into superficial and unimportant tasks and lead away from the path. Often it is easier to make something unimportant perfect than to take on the things that are important. This is only a try to abstract which needs to be looked through: The rat has to take care to engage in a task without thinking over the rightness and importance. Thus it is quite helpful as a first step to think about the own acting.

Rats are in general incorruptible. They do not see a sense to leave their path to gain advantages that have nothing to do with the way. In general this is positive but sometimes the incorruptibility is only a pretext for stubbornness.

Rats tend to overwork because they do not respect their limits. They are ambitious, want the success and sometimes go ways without taking care of themselves. To a certain degree it makes sense and belongs to the way of the rat. She does not put herself into the centre point but the things she stands for.

The ability to assert oneself of rats lies in their ability to convince other people. Her striving for perfection can be a model for others; moreover people who were born in a year of the rat are mostly amiable and can deal with other people very well.

The amiability and politeness of the rat are very delightful characteristics - as long as they do not turn into flattery. This would be then negative because the rat-born always keeps a certain inner distance and you would not believe her flattering you: The ones who are halfway sensitive looks through a rat if she does not act according to her characteristics.

Rats often get noticed for their good taste. They try everything to do in an elegant manner. This, of course, comes from striving for perfection. If something is practically perfect but only lacks beauty and elegance it is not perfect for the rat. If she follows her inner being it is a great trait: All things are refined and get certain elegance. One danger lies in this if it should turn the wrong direction: especially then if the sense of beauty and elegance is only oriented towards appearances. Of course it is not wrong to furnish the house beautifully, to buy tasteful clothes or to eat at noble restaurants. All of that is okay if it is not put as an absolute. But if all energy is only put into configuring the appearance there is not more energy left for the inner beauty.

Famous Rats:

• Albert Finney
• Alyssa Milano
• Andreas Elsholz
• Antonio Banderas
• Avery Brooks
• Bastian Pastewka
• Ben Affleck
• Bille August
• Billy Barty
• Burt Reynolds
• Callum Keith Rennie
• Charlton Heston
• Claudia Black
• Colin Ferguson
• Colin Firth
• Dane Cook
• Danny Kaye
• David Duchovny

• David Shumbris
• Dean Stockwell
• Dennis Hopper
• Dianne Wiest
• Don Franklin
• Dwayne Johnson
• Elizabeth Gracen
• Emilie Ullerup
• Eva Maria Saint
• Evan Handler
• Floyd Red Crow Westerman
• Garrett Hedlund
• Gérard Depardieu
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• Hugh Grant
• Hugo Weaving
• Jackson Rathbone
• James M. Connor

• Jane Lynch
• Jennifer Garner
• Jenny Elvers
• John Belushi
• John Billingsley
• John Cho
• John de Lancie
• John Noble
• Josh Duhamel
• Jude Law
• Julianne Moore
• Julie Caitlin Brown
• Karl Malden
• Karl Urban
• Karoline Herfurth
• Kenneth Branagh
• Kerr Smith
• Kristin Scott Thomas

• Kyle Schmid
• Lee Van Cleef
• Louis Gossett Jr.
• Mark Lenard
• Maurice Jarre
• Michael Rosenbaum
• Nadja Uhl
• Natalia Tena
• Natalie Martinez
• Samuel L. Jackson
• Scarlett Johansson
• Sean Penn
• Thandie Newton
• Tilda Swinton
• Timothy Hutton
• Tom Wilkinson
• Vanessa Redgrave
• Walter Koenig

• Wil Wheaton

The combination striving for perfection with the sense of beauty makes the people born under the sign of the rat often extremely expressive. They most often do not notice this; the expression is seen by others. Additionally the rat is quite inventive. Without this trait she would not be able to go her way consequently. Sometimes the inventiveness hinders the personal evolvement: The rat does not lack of excuses when trying to dodge a difficult task.

It is important for the rat to think about her own way. If it is clear she mostly does not have any difficulties to walk it.

The Rat in the elements

The rat represents yang water. If the rat sign stands in its element you find in her the purest form of the rat. Since there are five elements a year sign can stand in (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) the other elements change this pure form of the rat.

The Water Rat
A seductive personality, equipped with a moderate dose of ambition; sociable, always a little soft, who has command of his own passions and instincts. Taking only calculated risks is his favourite-sport, whereas he can totally rely onto his good intuition. As a little manipulator, this Machiavelli of the rat signs is generally an insatiable gourmet, who is inclined to the corpulence.

The Wood Rat
The rat takes time to live life and is clearly less materialistic and profit-seeking than her other sign-comrades. Often, she is very creative and possesses a brilliant imagination, is very friendly and success-oriented. However, she is also a tortured sentimental. To make this more clear: She is easily scared and expects, even if she doesn't say so, continuous signs of affection in the heart-issues.

The Fire Rat
She is an enthusiast, idealist, a creative person full of energy, independent, but not always very diplomatic. Even if the fire-rat constantly is in a constant hurry she is very efficient and doesn't like any improvisations. She is rigorously mastered by the feeling that she cannot trust her own judgment. She is helpful, sociable and sensual, and she loves the good life. She can have a stomach ache or is subjugated to depressions.

The Earth Rat
This rat rarely invests into unprofitable or risky undertakings. She loves the order, discipline and security. Professionally very realistic, she proceeds carefully and tenaciously and no one can talk her out of her way. She is very much concerned about her image, loves the worldly pleasures and is very sentimental at heart-issues.

The Metal Rat
This rat is considerate being analytic, proficient and creative. There is a big need for tenderness but not possessive. This individual is completely independent, a charming friend, a person of pleasure and a sensual human being, who hardly knows inhibitions and taboos.

Chinese Sign Rat: Love & Emotion

The search for perfection also influences the love relationships of rat-borns. Therefore they often have problems in this area; especially when they are young. The strived-for perfection is an illusion. What human being is perfect? The rat often make claims to her partner she herself cannot fulfil. (Of course she is quite inventive: She wants perfection in those areas she herself is perfect or at least good in. Some shortage in other areas is then overlooked.)

Especially with young rats it is not rare to have fits of rage and jealousy - behaviours she would not show outside a love relationship. In general the rat - mostly if she is older - is very controlled and regulated. She does not like to show emotion - from an inner, rarely conscious fear to get hurt. Intelligent rats do know exactly that the perfection they seek in a partner is not accomplishable: Durableness and alternation are in constant conflict. If the rat does not realize this and searches for means to show her feelings, feelings are stowed which weakens her positive energies.

The Rat & the other Chinese signs

Rat and Rat
Two rats will basically understand each other quite well if they don't get into a competitive situation. Since both always want to be first, and since there can only be one, it can become the ground for big trouble. But if the rat follows her own matters and can be the best in her area both will treat each other with the utmost respect. A relationship between rats is often marked by a great openness which does not harm the mutual loyalty.

Rat and Rabbit
Between rat and rabbit tension can arise easily because they are quite different in their distinctive natures. While the combative rat likes to take any opportunity to define herself, the rabbit will perceive it as a rejection of his love. It is important that both learn to respect the needs of the other and not to devaluate them. Otherwise there is the danger to avoid each other. An open and value-free communication is paramount.

Rat and Dragon
Rat and dragon are pure energy! In this relationship one surprise follows the other and both enjoy that they still are perceived as freshly fallen in love even in later years. Many envy both for their unbroken passion for each other but behind the scenes something like exhaustion can spread. In order to have this energy not to evaporate it is advisable that rat and dragon combine this energy onto a goal. Together they are an unbeatable team.

Rat and Snake
At the first gaze the differences seem to overpower that what is in common in this relationship; the life hungry brave rat and the discrete, subtle snake. As often if two basically different natures meet there is something like a magical attraction which does not hold without problems in reality. If both don't approach each other continuously and accept intensively the quirks of the respective other worst disputes will ensue on a daily basis.

Rat and Horse
Two individualists meet in rat and horse and are intoxicated with each other. In physical regard we can talk about a true magnetism. But with regards to lifestyle there are extreme differences. The rat worries about the future and it is only important for the horse what happens in the here and now. Especially the rat has to pay the price in this unusual relationship by becoming often the handyman of the noble but rather unpractical horse.

Rat and Goat
What may have the rat and goat in common? To the outer world both seem to come from two different worlds. That is how different they are. But their relationship is one that does not need to represent but which reveals itself only to the attentive observer in quieter tones, in fine gesture and in imperceptible gazes. Often it has taken a long time until they have found each other but from friendship at first slowly but surely a heartfelt relationship has grown, which has a good chance to last for an eternity.

Rat and Monkey
This relationship can be quite intense in every aspect. All starts with the monkey and the rat finding some sort of a soul mate in each other. Both are rather restless types and have a high intellectual standard. The attraction between both cannot be denied but it is not constant but extremely volatile. On one day they like each other, the next they quarrel. All in all both will have a relationship which may seem crazy to others but which is also envied.

Rat and Rooster
When the rat and the rooster meet, both will ask them whether one is truly ready to give the other enough space. At first both feel threatened by the other. But a certain attraction cannot be denied because both feel quickly that they expect similar things of the world. Is that enough to form a relationship? Great space is needed and an infinite patience for the difficult sides of the other.

Rat and Dog
How tame the rat can become when a dog is present! The rat's sometimes demanding nature gets soft tones when the dog takes care of her. And the dog loves when his rat overdoes it from time to time and gets him out of his reserves. All in all their interaction is quite contemplative. Perhaps dog and rat cannot believe it sometimes themselves how unproblematic their contradicting natures fit, but in the end both will enjoy their destiny.

Rat and Pig
Whether the pig and the rat get along well depends basically on how well the rat can adapt to the kind and trustfully, perhaps sometimes the portly nature of the pig. May there be a mutual sympathy on the basis of common interests in the beginning the rat soon misses the edge in the relationship. Crises are pre-programmed, which could lead to the pig and rat getting closer if they are overcome together. Then both will value what they have in the other.

Rat and Tiger
The rat and tiger have one thing in common; their urge for freedom and their passion. But in their goals they do not always see eye to eye. While the rat takes things into the hand and already wants to plan her future the priority of the tiger lies rather in blossoming in the here and now even if he does not know where the path may lead. To make a stable relationship from a passionate encounter both must be very willing to compromise.

Rat and Ox
It is said that rat and ox are made for each other because their contrary natures complement each other and get the best out of each. It is important that both adjust to each other. The rat has thus to learn to accept the ox whish for stability and the ox has to give the rat space for her urge of independence. If both go hand in hand, the two can finish more things than some other combinations.