The year of the Earth Rat

The Chinese New Year was celebrated this week, ushering in the year of the Earth Rat. What will that mean for the months ahead?

For me, it should be a year of balance. I was born under the sign of Earth Monkey, and thrive in years where Earth is dominant. Earth people are usually

"wise, serene and prudent, firmly rooted in your morals, ethics and responsibilities. Led by logic rather than emotion, you seek to plan your life as far out in advance as possible, to expect the unexpected and control your destiny down to the last detail. "

Guess that explains the charts, graphs, white boards, and productivity models neatly filed in my desk.

Rats are leaders. Organized, intelligent (and cunning), ambitious and strong willed. The first sign of the Chinese zodiac, they are also charming, passionate, and hardworking.

So what does this mean for the year of the Earth Rat?

Expect a calmer time, as we move out of the year of the Fire Boar. The coming year is a time for new beginnings, and putting plans in to motion. It will be a year of oppportunities, and progress. Hard work will be rewarded.

I hope the year of the Earth Rat is a year of health and prosperity, and trials that bring you to happiness.

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

~ Chinese proverb