Welcome to a new year! The Year of the Rabbit has begun, and it should be quite different from our last year, 2022, the Year of the Water Tiger.
What can we expect from the Year of the Water Rabbit? Here are a few general thoughts that pertain to everyone and a few links to more detailed information for each individual animal year.
The simplest way to think about any Chinese Astrological year is to think about the normal qualities of each animal seasoned with a taste of the element for that year. Chinese Astrology was originally only for Kings and gave them advice for ruling their Kingdom. However, it grew to be something that could guide everyone, especially the farmers who comprised 90% of the population in the pre-industrial world. By using common animals whom everyone knew Ancient Chinese astrologers created a system both savvy farmers and simple minded Emperors and Empresses could easily understand and benefit from.
The year of the Water Rabbit should be far calmer and less tumultuous than our past Water Tiger Year. The Rabbit year should be a great year for communication and building new relationships and strengthening old ones. It is also a great year for self-reflection and mediation.
The Rabbit tendency to sit and chew some grass thoughtfully is something we will all want to do more of this year. This is a great year for self-reflection and reevaluation of our goals and our relationships. Between the Covid and an abundance of dramatic and divisive political events in the last few years I think many of use are feeling a bit harried and hunted by the world. So much has happened it is easy to feel like we are loosing track of the world and wondering where it is going. In 2023, we should all have a little more space to process what has happened and imagine our way forward.
Because so much has happened and we have all had to roll with the punches and grow and change we are all, well a little different than we were. It seems like most people need to reinvent themselves every 7 – 10 years. Now almost everyone is reinventing themselves at the same time. We’re all glad to be alive but for most of us there have been big changes in our lives. New job, new careers, new businesses, new partners, new activities, new homes, new cities, or states. Many of us have lost some or even many precious friends and family members. In short, we have been through one heck of a lot the last few years and we have all been impacted by these changes. As a result, we have changed and we’re all just a tiny bit different. Do we know who we are? Do we know who everyone else is we thought we knew is now? Yes! Of course, we do! But maybe we should check anyway. This is a great year for communication. Building new relationships and finding a partner for singles is favorable this year. Rabbits are famous for reproducing besides chewing grass! Introspection and self-examination – chewing that blade of grass thoughtfully – in as Rabbit like a way as you can while huddling with some other friendly Rabbits that’s 2023.
A solid introductory article about CNY by Gene Ching https://ymaa.com/articles/2023/01/2023-year-rabbit
A favorite source is the Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine horoscope. Sadly, the magazine is gone. But they did publish the horoscope again this year. This Astrologer is skilled. https://www.kungfumagazine.com/info/horoscope/this-year.php