More About Rats in Chinese Astrology

THE YEARS OF THE RAT
January 31, 1900 to February 19, 1901
February 18, 1912 to February 6, 1913
February 5, 1924 to January 25, 1925
January 24, 1936 to February 11, 1937
February 10, 1948 to January 29, 1949
January 28, 1960 to February 15, 1961
February 15, 1972 to February 2, 1973
February 2, 1984 to February 19, 1985
February 19, 1996 to February 6, 1997
February 7, 2008 to January 25, 2009
January 25, 2020 to February 11, 2021

MADAME RAT

Ms. Rat is part femme fatale and part career woman. Between the two, she has a humdinger of a time keeping up with her desire to fill both roles. On any given day, you may catch her on the run between committee meetings and her spring cleaning, mop and bucket in hand and silk scarf camouflaging hair curlers. Upon first glimpse, you might think she is her own cleaning lady. Look a bit more closely. Lady Rat's make-up has been fastidiously applied, her fingernails freshly manicured, and underneath her smock she is wearing a tidy navy-blue skirt and blouse. Notice her feet. They are neatly stockinged and shod in go-to-business footwear. Each day of her life is a furious battle, a tussle with time and a race against the clock of Fate for the maintenance of her dual self-image.

Rat women like to be married. Idle flirtations and philanderings rarely manage to hold their interest for long. No matter how time-consuming a job she may hold, regardless of how much "coupledom" seems to take away from Ms. Rat's energy supply, for some reason she persists in wishing to live side by side with a mate. Not that the quality of marriage rapport matters to Rat women all that much. They don't seem to shrink in horror from tensions, arguments, excessive drinking, or other types of caddish behavior in their husbands. As far as Rat women are concerned, it comes with the territory.

To a Rat woman, what counts more than anything else is security. She saves her money, hoards sugar and other endangered staples, and buys the best clothes available for herself and family. (Good workmanship, you know; makes them last longer.) Yet, Rat women are also capable of enormous extravagance and from time to time are given to what appears to be wasteful spending sprees. Back and forth goes the Ratlette from extravagance to penny pinching as she buys up enormous quantities of expensive useless items only to squander them on those around her as gifts of love and emotional blackmail.

In truth, the Rat lady does not come naturally by her generosity. Albeit she wants to be noted for philanthropy, largesse (in any currency) is something she has to strive for. Oh, she may tell you that she finds waste a dreadful human failing because when she was a little girl she had to wear hand-me-downs and could never have birthday parties because her family was destitute. And she may really lend credence to that psychology as a sound reason for her reluctance to give of herself, her time, her love and affection, or her smile. Don't believe it for a minute. I (and you, too, I am sure) know scads of generous poor people who would rather give you their skimpy vittles than eat themselves.

What is further strange about the Rat woman's ambivalence toward benevolence is that most of the female Rats I know are outwardly magnanimous. They do really give fabulous dinner parties and offer to take my kids for the afternoon. But one senses that they are not very comfortable about doing so. Rat ladies worry a lot. "If I do this for so-and-so, will he do that for me?" is but one possible verbalization of their innermost thoughts.

In male/female alliances, Rat women have a tendency to lean rather heavily on their mates. The point I made before about Ms. Rat needing a husband rather than simply a companion or occasional escort or lover is based largely on this aspect of the Rat woman's character. Rat women, despite an enormous ability to function in social and business situations, always flee back to the nest when trouble arises. They are loath to appear to be doing any real decision-making on their own. Rat girls are forever saying, "I can't really say whether or not I will be able to come to your coffee klatsch on Sunday. I'll have to ask Ralph if he needs me at home." Could be, Ralph doesn't even care if Madame Rat attends her shindig or not. Yet, she prefers to think he does.

Because Rat women fear losing their husbands, they often emanate vibrations of desperation vis-à-vis men. Unfortunately for Madame Rat, men feel this brand of premeditated hopelessness very strongly. It makes their skin crawl. More and more these days, strong men are attracted to their forceful female counterparts. The Rat lady's intrinsic desire to depend on a big tough male partner is likely to discourage a forceful man straightaway. As a result, Rat women often end up attracting weaker men who willingly do their bidding. Of course, once she catches such a lily-livered creepy-crawly,the wily Ms. Rat makes short work of despising him for his feeble attempts to please her.

If you find yourself in love with a Rat lady, my advice to you is simple: Learn first how to corner her gently in her own petards. Try to show her in the sweetest way you can that you are willing to repay her kind attentions (and of these she has a surplus to offer) with security and tenderness so long as she can accept you for what you are. Otherwise, if you fail to warn the future Madame Rat of your intention to remain at least partially independent of her, she will destroy your love by smothering your spirit. She will feel duty-bound to try and change you. Every Rat woman has an idea of what her Prince Charming ought to be like. If you do not cooperate and refuse to measure up to her draconian standards of masculinity and flair, in the long run she will let you down.

Elizabeth, my best female Rat friend, is English. She lives in London. Liz is married to a very handsome actor who drinks, beats her up regularly, and routinely consorts with other women.On the rare occasions when they are on speaking terms, Liz treats Tony like a child. "Here, darling, let me straighten your tie. Don't be late to the theater, precious. We wouldn't want you to miss your cue," she flutters.

After Antony had left that evening, Liz confided to me, "I'd be willing to bet he goes out drinking after the show. He's nothing but a gin-sop. He never even makes love to me any more. It's a good job he doesn't try, either. He repulses me."

One day in a weak moment, I asked Liz point blank. "Why do you two stay together? Is it for the sake of the children?"

"Mercy, no!" Liz replied as though shocked at the very mention of her offspring. "The children are away at school. What possible difference could it make to them?" She crossed her silken legs and loaded an ivory cigarette holder.

I gaped at her. "Well, then???" said I.

With a shrug and a glare, Liz wheeled about to snap, "You Americans do ask the most indiscreet questions. I suppose I stay married to Antony Granville because he is my husband. Isn't that reason enough?"

Yes, Liz. Your marriage is reason enough in itself. What a Rat woman needs most is an attractive framework from which she may go out into the world and exercise her charm and winning ways. She is a superb house-holder, a superior hostess, and never less than fascinating company.

MONSIEUR RAT
In his own head, the Rat male is never wrong, unattractive, or selfish. The world is a terrible place, people are no damned good, and he has too many responsibilities and not enough support from loved ones. Indeed, Rat males feel they were born with the short end of the stick tightly locked between their sharp teeth. So sue, Brother Rat. Write a letter to God. Phone the Pope. Put Scotland Yard on the case.

The other day, while prowling about my mother's attic, I came upon a wooden box containing the personal effects and correspondence of my Rat Uncle Ed. The stacks of papers, letters, and documents inside intrigued my snooping eye, among them a yellowed folder containing a series of handwritten dated lists. Each was entitled "Sacrifices." They were notes to my uncle from himself and constituted a kind of diary of what he had felt about life from early adulthood through old age.

So typically Ratlike is this data, I feel I ought to share some of it with you. The April 18, 1935, sacrifices are my favorite. The faded penciled list read: "(1) Today, I lost my good fountain pen. (2) The dog ran away on Sunday. (3) Shirley tells me I have halitosis. (That's bad breath.) (4) I dug up my grandfather's watch from the old homestead. It's broken. (5) Tomorrow is my birthday and Shirley is not going to give me a party. No money. (6) My auto is irreparable. The throttle sticks. (7) I haven't sold a property in four weeks."

Poor Rats. Nobody understands them...nobody, that is, except themselves. Because Rat men feel a lack
of comprehension from others, at times they can be dreary company. They are never satisfied with the moment in which they live and hence spend enormous sums of time and money in attempts to improve same. Rather than blame themselves for any single error in judgment or timing, they prefer to waste their energies mulling it about or talking it over with a willing audience.

Should Fortune nominate you to one of these voluntary Rat listening posts, permit me to give you a tip. Do not, under any circumstances, suppose for one second that you can reason with a male Rat. Let him do all the talking. He needs to work things out in words before he can act on them. Nod, smile, grunt, shake your head from side to side, and tsk a lot. In short, lend your ear if you will, but keep your own thoughts for yourself.

Getting involved in his maze of Rat peregrinations may indeed serve to cleanse and purge his troubled soul, but you in turn may have to spend three days on a shrink's couch or at least in the shower so as to wash that man out of your hair.

Rat men make excellent lovers. Sexually, they are imaginative and go about their business with hearty appetite. These clever men are usually not guilty of self-indulgence in bed. There may be a tinge of self-interest in their desire to please their partners, but then nobody's perfect.

Mr. Rat is a very presentable figure at social gatherings. He may not always be cheerful to waiters or servants, but he does treat guests and companions in a charming fashion. And, for the most part, Rat manners are impeccable.

Rat men like to feel they are being helpful.When a Rat man takes up with a woman, often she is in some state of need or under weighty psychological pressure. The danger here, of course, is that once the subject of his seduction shows signs of standing on her own two feet and is no longer needful of his attentions and aid, the Rat swain may either try to bully her into resubmission or else he will leave her in the lurch. Rat men pride themselves on how many times they have made you cry or laugh or in some way aroused your emotions and titillated your nervous system. Soggy, routinized relationships do not interest Rat males. They love romance, revere passion, and seek tenderness with exaggerated zeal.

In a way, when you ponder this for a moment, just about everybody owes a natural human debt to someone who is clever enough to cause him to weepa single tear of emotion or choke on a hearty guffaw. There is something about the Rat's poignancy that makes him a man to be reckoned with by friends and foes alike.

PRESCRIPTION FOR THE FUTURE

Rapacious Rat, you are among the strongest influences in the Chinese zodiac. When Buddha called all the animals together, you got there first. Why? Not because you are so fleet of foot, but because you are terminally relentless. From way back in Buddha's time, the honor of lucidity and clairvoyance has been bestowed upon you. Why, since you are endowed with special powers of vision, must you so taunt yourself with reiteration? Why do you cling so fervently to the past? Moreover, we wonder for what reason you insist on aggressiveness as the path to sorting out your differences with the present.

Mainly, I suppose, the gift of perspicacity weighs heavily on your soul. Truly, you feel (and may actually be) superior to those with whom you are forced to deal. Yet, without communication, you feel we will never recognize you for what you know yourself to be. How, you wonder, can those of us who do not ply our various life styles with charm and push ever grasp what you are all about? Do you ever hear yourself speaking? If so, I would be willing to barter my left pinkie finger against the odds you are not always comfortable as your own audience.

You want your ideas to bounce off an intelligent ear, and you don't always trust your own opinions enough to allow them uncontested forum inside your head. Yet, you know full well that you are a capable and sensitive soul. Why do you nag at yourself so? We all find you charming and witty. But you doubt yourself and need us for repeated confirmation of your plans and projects.

"But," you may exclaim, "I do not wish to be left alone. I want you to listen to me. Exchange ideas with me. I can't hole up in some baseboard and gnaw my way through life's ordeals without an audience!"

Your point is well taken. I think you are probably correct in thinking that you are not a loner. You need a presence (or six) in your life that can soak up all the extra flak you ceaselessly conjure for yourself. But people, even those of us who adore the very ground you rampage, do get weary. We may even (God forbid!) have our own lives to live.

You are more ambitious than most. You accomplish many worthy tasks. You are clever and wily and do much to earn the respect of your public. But you worry too much. Your sweet-natured self is repeatedly disappointed in those of us whose energy level is not up to yours.

Try to accept us for who we are. And then set about telling yourself how terrific YOU really are for us onlookers. Assume the role of greatness and soon you may see that superiority comes naturally to you.

COMPATIBILITIES

AFFFAIRS OF THE HEART
You, restive Rat, will be happiest with a partner born under the sign of the distinguished Dragon. Rats sometimes worry unduly and gnaw away at themselves from within. Dragons let their anxieties show, trot them out, and let off steam at each new upset. Let a daring Dragon do some of that fidgeting for you. Dragons are not only exciting, they are wise. You will have your work cut out for you all the days of your life. Applauding, admiring, and encouraging the Dragon is an easy task for a generous, garrulous Rat.
Possible, too, are Ox people. Oxen are plodders. When you flag, they are always there to bail you out of quagmires of emotional depths. The Ox lover will want to wear the pants, but will endeavor to smooth out life's wrinkles for a beloved Rat.
Rats simply adore Monkeys. Providing the Monkey knows how to limit his trickery, this duo will be blissfully happy. Rats give up much for love. The busy Monkey must respect that fidelity clause.
Other choices are Dog and Pig. The Dog shares a love of sentiment and romance with the Rat. As long as the Rat remembers to bring home presents from those long trips, the Dog can stay put and mind their community stores. If the Rat can adapt himself to the Pig's delicate nature and be slightly more gentle, a Rat/Pig match could work well. Both are bons vivants, enjoy a good joke or new best seller, and are sensual in the extreme.
A hypersensitive Rat should avoid protracted love affairs or marriages with Horses. The double dose of egocentricity that the Horse inflicts on his Rat love could serve to confuse and hurt those born in Rat years. In another way, the Cat/Rabbit, being housebound and reclusive, may find the Rat's socializing disruptive to his preference for quiet. Besides, the clever Cat/Rabbit has all he can do to resist trying to annihilate some of that Rat aggressiveness. Unless the passion is overwhelming, Rats should avoid Horses and Cat/Rabbits, and never should a Rat take up with a Fire Horse. Disaster is certain to follow.

SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Rats like people. Sociable and generous, they give themselves easily to comradeship. But not everybody is capable of being a good friend to the agitated Rat. Two Rats, comfortable because they are at home with their mutual foibles, can make a fine pair. But twin Rats will tend to pick on each other. A Pig will make an excellent chum for a jolly Rat. They can expect much frolicking and laughter from their union. The Rat will think up lovely schemes. The pleasant Pig pal will not mind carrying out the Rat's amusing plans. Snakes also have a lot in common with Rats. Snakes give sound advice. Rats can take all the reassurance they can find. Dragons, as well, make good company for the Rat. The Rat is impressed with the Dragon's dash and pizzazz. The Dragon delights in Rat applause. Monkeys, of course, make fascinating company for the Rat, who admires Monkey agility of spirit. Rats wish they had that easy Monkey grace of contact with fellows. Malicious Monkeys can dupe any earnest Rat, so that unavoidable emotional strain will eventually be put on the sentimental Rat. Rats and Roosters get along in a flashy, superficial manner. The amity will be short-lived. The Rooster's braggadocio gets on Rat nerves.
Rats should steer clear of the idealistic Tiger or Dog. They misunderstand each other from the word "Go." And Cat/Rabbits should be avoided. They really don't respect Rats. The relationship will be little more than civil.

BUSINESS AFFAIRS

Rats are often active independents who flourish running their own small businesses.They enjoy being called upon to meet the public and exercise their redoubtable charm on customers. The Rat might open his own bar or restaurant. Too, Rats enjoy the prestige of executive positions. They must not, however, be given desk jobs as they are not at their best when sedentary. Sales-managing positions involving travel, meeting clients, lunching with prospective buyers, and holding meetings for crews of personnel will amuse and delight the Rat. He will keep meticulous accountings of his generous business expenses.
If a Rat person does choose to enter a business partnership, he is advised to do so with a dominant Dragon, a lucky Pig, or even a Monkey. With this last accord, however, there may be sparks. Monkeys are tricky and intelligent in commerce. Rats idolize Monkeys, almost too blindly at times. The Monkey may turn on the adoring Rat partner and finish him before they share in any profits. As in love and friendship, the ego drives of the haughty Horse are usually too strong for the amenable and pleasant Rat to withstand. Rats might try a venture with Oxen. As long as the Rat rushes about selling and sniffing out new contacts, the Ox will be satisfied to hold down the fort back at the office.

FAMILY AFFAIRS

As a parent, the Rat is protective and somewhat authoritarian. Rats like their children to show signs of intelligence early. They will spend much time with little ones, teaching, inventing games, and encouraging creativity. For these reasons, Rats get along well with malleable, sweet-natured kids. Babies born under Ox, Goat, or Pig should bring much happiness to his Rat parent. Complicity will be found in the favorite Monkey child, who astonishes his indulgent Rat parent with his wit and wile. Horse children will exasperate the Rat parent. "Why?" asks the Rat mother or father. "Must he/she be be so selfish?" If the Horse child does not quit the Rat's nest at a young age, the Rat may find a way to forcibly urge him to go out and seek his own fortune.

Since the Rat is a sociable type and enjoys company, whatever signs his kids are born under, he will try to befriend, advise, and provide amply for their needs. Tiger, Dragon, and Dog offspring may consider themselves to be one cut above their striving Rat parents. With these, the Rat will be obliged to exercise his aggression, his or her only way to prove that he/she deserves respect.