Neil Somerville - Your Chinese Horoscope 2010

The Rat is very family orientated and will do anything to please his nearest and dearest. He is exceptionally loyal to his parents and can himself be a very caring and loving parent. He will take an interest in all his children’s activities and see that they want for nothing. He usually has a large family.

The female Rat has a kindly, outgoing nature and involves herself in a multitude of different activities. She has a wide circle of friends, enjoys entertaining and is an attentive hostess. She is also conscientious about the upkeep of her home and has good taste in home furnishings. She is most supportive to the other members of her family and, due to her resourceful, friendly and persevering nature, can do well in practically any career she chooses.

Although the Rat is essentially outgoing, he is also a very private individual. He tends to keep his feelings to himself and while he is not averse to learning what other people are doing, he resents anyone prying too closely into his own affairs. He also does not like solitude and if he is alone for any length of time he can easily get depressed.

The Rat is undoubtedly very talented, but he does sometimes fail to capitalize on his many abilities. He has a tendency to become involved in too many schemes and chase after too many opportunities at once. If he can slow down and concentrate on one thing at a time, he can become very successful. If not, success and wealth can elude him. But, with his tremendous ability to charm, he will rarely, if ever, be without friends.

In addition to the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac there are five elements and these have a strengthening or moderating influence on the signs. The effects of the five elements on the Rat are described below, together with the years in which the elements were exercising their influence. Therefore those Rats born in 1960 are Metal Rats, those born in 1972 are Water Rats, and so on.

This Rat has excellent taste and certainly knows how to appreciate the finer things in life. His home is comfortable and nicely decorated and he likes to entertain and mix in fashionable circles. He has considerable financial acumen and invests his money well. On the surface he appears cheerful and confident, but deep down he can be troubled by worries that are quite often of his own making. He is exceptionally loyal to his family and friends.

The Water Rat is intelligent and very astute. He is a deep thinker and can express his thoughts clearly and persuasively. He is always eager to learn and is talented in many different areas. He is usually very popular, but his fear of loneliness can sometimes lead him into mixing with the wrong sort of company. He is a particularly skilful writer, but he can get sidetracked very easily and should try to concentrate on just one thing at a time.

The Wood Rat has a friendly, outgoing personality and is popular with his colleagues and friends. He has a quick, agile brain and likes to turn his hand to anything he thinks may be useful. His one fear is insecurity, but given his intelligence and capabilities, this fear is usually unfounded. He has a good sense of humour, enjoys travel and, due to his highly imaginative nature, can be a gifted writer or artist.

The Fire Rat is rarely still and seems to have a never-ending supply of energy and enthusiasm. He loves being involved in some form of action, be it travel, following up new ideas or campaigning for a cause in which he fervently believes. He is an original thinker and hates being bound by petty restrictions or the dictates of others. He can be forthright in his views but can sometimes get carried away in the excitement of the moment and commit himself to various undertakings without thinking through all the implications. Yet he has a resilient nature and with the right support can go far in life.

This Rat is astute and very level-headed. He rarely takes unnecessary chances and while he is constantly trying to improve his financial status, he is prepared to proceed slowly and leave nothing to chance. He is probably not as adventurous as the other types of Rat and prefers to remain in familiar territory rather than rush headlong into something he knows little about. He is talented, conscientious and caring towards his loved ones, but at the same time can be self-conscious and worry a little too much about the image he is trying to project.

The Year of the Ox (26 January 2009 to 13 February 2010) will have been a reasonable one for the Rat and in the remaining months he can do himself a lot of good. As so many Rats will have found, the Ox year requires effort, and for those prepared to give that little bit extra, there can be encouraging developments in store.

The Rat’s relations with others are particularly well aspected and not only can he look forward to an increasing number of social opportunities at this time but he will also be in demand with family and friends. For those enjoying or perhaps hoping for romance, these can be a promising few months. All Rats should also use any chances they have to talk to others. Whether running over ideas or making arrangements, the Rat can gain a lot from the support and goodwill of those around him.

At work this is a time of application and of focusing on duties and objectives. For those Rats hoping to make progress in their career or looking for a position, October and November could see some interesting possibilities.

The Rat would, though, do well to watch his spending during this period. With his many ideas, he could find his outgoings turning out to be more than anticipated. It would be helpful for him to spread out his purchases and wait for favourable buying opportunities, including post-Christmas sales.

The Year of the Ox will have asked a lot of the Rat but during it he will certainly have had many experiences as well as enjoyed times which will have meant a great deal to him.

The Year of the Tiger begins on 14 February and will be an important one for the Rat. Again, results will need to be worked for and the Rat may not always be at ease with some of the developments of the year, or its pace. However, by remaining alert and being prepared to adapt, he can benefit in many ways.

In his work this is a year of change. Often this will be in the Rat’s present place of work, with him benefiting from internal opportunities or the chance to further his duties in some way. Changes in personnel and management can, for some Rats, lead to restructuring and new working practices, but whatever their situation, by making the most of it, they may well be rewarded with the chance to progress. Rats like security and a certain stability, but the Tiger year favours movement and the one thing the Rat will need to be careful of during it is intransigence. To be unwilling to change could undermine his position and prospects. Rats, please take note.

For Rats seeking work or a change in their career, the Tiger year can also present some excellent opportunities. These Rats should not be too restrictive in what they are prepared to consider and if they take advice many could be alerted to possibilities they have not considered before. While these Rats may sometimes despair of ever finding a suitable position or feel daunted by the expectations of a new role, by allowing themselves time and being persistent, they can and will prevail. As the Rat has so often shown, he has the abilities and resourcefulness to triumph over challenges, and he can do so again this year. April, June, September and October could see important developments, but such is the nature of the year that when the Rat sees a position that interests him, he should act quickly. Tiger years can be fast-moving and opportunities need to be grasped as they arise.