Nice to be Number 1! Well, the Rat is the first sign in the Chinese Astrology zodiac. That comes with the benefit of having almost as much Luck as the Dragon, famous for its own. And since 2020 is ruled by the element, Metal, the story gets even better. You see it's the element most favorable for the Rat. Guess what? That means more people than not should see lots of opportunities and good fortune this year – especially when it comes to making money and enjoying career success! Finally, as the first sign, the Rat symbolizes new beginnings – again with a hint of successful ones.
Is there a catch you ask? Sounds too good to be true! I confess; there could be. The thing is the Rat's strength easily turns into a weakness if it is taken to extremes. First, though, let me give the good news. The Rat didn't get to be number one for nothing! Clever, crafty, quick – lots of good qualities. Add to that good instincts and intuition. This is a year to trust our heads, not our hearts.
It's time to be more Rat-like. No, I'm not saying we should change who we are. Temporary shifts. Moderate adjustments to our personalities. Take a few more chances than we normally do. It's time to be a winner – and we can't do that sitting on the sidelines. Secondly, I think the Rat invented “work smarter not harder.” Again, it's about using our heads. Careful planning, efficiency, productivity, and going on instincts rather than feelings. All of these can result in successful investments, promotions and good exam results. Working ourselves to extremes, lots of blood, sweat and toil, and relentless pressure all belong to the Ox (2021) and may not get us as far as we'd like in 2020. So let's see how craft and creative we can this year.
Having said that, it's time for a word of caution. Time to put on the brakes! Generally the Rat is very good at “living on the edge” – but not most of us! The Rat is going to tempt us to take more chances than we should. Will we know when to quit? Can we avoid being overconfident? Although we want to ramp up our brains and our minds, can we remember to take breaks, to find time to relax and calm our minds? Here we're actually one up on the Rat, because it often has trouble doing it. Bottom line: burnout and stress could be real concerns.
Speaking of overdoing it, I need to take a break myself – from talking about the Rat. I must talk about Metal, whose influence is almost as important as the Rat's. It's the element most closely connected with money and everything that goes with it. And, since it's highly favorable for the Rat's natural, Water element, there's a good chance things will go right in 2020.
Strength, determination and a fighting spirit are some other, favorable Metal qualities. We can draw on Metal's strength to fight through things that might have been holding us back. There's a catch here. Others may be doing the same thing! So when we get into a fight, we need to be prepared to fight to the finish. Wisdom comes in picking those most worth fighting; as, the fight could be a long and hard one.
This gets me to winners and losers. I may come across as cold and unfeeling now, but I have to say “winning” is a Rat thing, maybe the only for it. So, who is most likely to win and lose this year?! I' happy to say the big winners are Dragon, Monkey, Snake, Pig, Rat and Ox. Forgetting about signs, “the” big winner is The Entrepreneur. You could say the Rat is their “patron saint. On the other hand, the Horse, Sheep (Goat) and Rooster could face more challenges than they would like.
Oops, I forgot to mention love, that thing that “makes the world go 'round.” Maybe I was subconsciously avoiding it because in 2020, “it's complicated.” All the focus on money and career could put stress on relationships. And, the downsides of Metal's strength are stubbornness, unwillingness to compromise, and inflexibility – not exactly the stuff of good relationships. We shouldn't, however, forget new beginnings are favored. That includes new relationships and marriages. The Rat can be very protective of and fond of those in its “clan.” On the other hand, the Rat can be fickle, if not downright scandalous. All I can say is we should go for it if it's “right” but especially keep our eyes wide open as long as the Rat is in charge!
Let me sum up by saying, overall, 2020 should be a good year, and a very good year for many people. This is especially true for investments, real estate for example, career advancement and success in examinations. As for health, it's up to us. If we can find moments of calm and keep our minds from going into overdrive, it can be ok. The area I see giving us the greatest challenge is likely to be relationships. But know this: a new relationship or a marriage is a new beginning, which is auspicious in a Rat year! So, we should not be afraid to go for it.
Bill Hajdu