Who Nestles Poell ?

Kung Xi Fa Chai!

February 7, 2008

The Year of

the Rat
Chinese Horoscopes for 4705 - 2008

Chinese New Year 4705 or
2008 in the Western calendar is the Year of the Brown Earth Rat. This year of
the rat begins a new

12 year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

Like the houses of the
zodiac, the animals of Chinese astrology are said to influence your luck during
the year. Your horoscope for 2008, the year of the rat, depends on which animal
signifies the year you were born.

Rats are water signs and
it is said that they make a very good match for monkeys and dragons, but do not
get along well with rabbits, horses and roosters. The brown earth influences of
this year also make oxen a favored friend of the persevering rat but add
conflict to the year as the elements of earth and water seek a balance -
especially during the early part of the year.

The rat’s stone, the deep
red garnet, is the color of joyful celebration. It signifies the loyalty and
passion of the most honorable traits of the sign that will rule the year ahead.

In China, it is said that
there are few poor rats. It is considered very auspicious to be born in the year
of the earth rat. Babies born under this sign are intelligent and hard working.
They are intelligent, curious, sociable born leaders who do well in any group,
but value ties with family and close friends more than social contacts. The
earth influences balance the rat’s water nature for those born in this year
making them able to control the flights of intellect that often draw the rat
away from a good course. The selfish and calculating aspects of the rat are
toned by the nurturing earth force. These are leaders to be followed with trust
and good partners for a life filled with good fortune. The rat is clever,
sometimes too clever. When mixed with the passion and charm of this sign, the
rat can be manipulative as a life partner or business associate. The ability to
initiate new ideas and work hard to reach a goal led the rat to the first place
of honor at the side of Buddha. These are traits that bring success in both
business and personal affairs.

The last time the earth
rat was seen as the ruling influence was February 10, 1948 - January 28, 1949.
Baby boomers who were born under this sign will be celebrating their 60th
birthday looking back on many years of good fortune and looking ahead to many
more.

Here are a few general conclusions from the opinions of the sages…

Rat : 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

The clever rat has made many ambitious plans that will be put into action this
year. Good fortune and good times will surround the rat in this year of glory.
Easy social grace is a gift of those born in this sign, but trusted close
friends and family are the center that the rat needs to secure prosperity.
Beware of the battle of earth and water that may confuse the scurrying rat. This
beginning of the year will see the rat tempted by many flirtatious
relationships. Faithfulness and loyalty are difficult with so many admiring
glances. Understand the fear of those you care for as you seem to be drawn to
many new relationships. Take steps to avoid damage to your true partners. As the
year passes the successful rat will see more serious relationships bear fruit.
Although the rat is a water sign, boat cruises are not a good vacation plan.
Travel to exotic lands to explore,meet new people and experience adventure may
be the perfect honeymoon. With the influence of the earth aspects of this year,
promises of commitments become real and those born in this sign may experience
the blessings of marriage and of children added to their family. The rat who
cannot focus on success will be misled and find much conflict and many
uncomfortable scenes caused by straying from a match that will bring good
fortune. When prosperity and love come easily they may not be treated with
respect. The rat who will succeed is the one who remembers that greed and
manipulation may bring quick victories but ultimately strengthen enemies. The
cat is ever watchful of the rat who stole its place. Listen to the guidance of
ancestors, loved ones and trusted friends. Beware of the flattery of casual
admiration to completely fulfill the promise of extreme good fortune that this
year holds.

Ox : 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997

The year of the earth rat brings good more good fortune for the steady ox. The
solid back that carried the rat across the river will be well rewarded. The
influence of the Brown Earth Rat means a prosperous and healthy year for the ox
but the influence of water will make the year interesting. There will be many
choices that will lead to success if the ox remains true to the earth nature. Do
not follow on paths that seem to lead to easy success. The wise ox knows that
perseverance brings permanent good fortune. While your hard work will begin to
bring rewards in this last half of this year, the real success awaits in the
year of the ox that is coming. Conflicts and confusion can be a problem in the
beginning of the year as water and earth elements of the Brown Earth Rat seek
balance. Attention to romantic relationships will bring harmony but neglect will
bring conflict. Giving tokens of affection will bring great rewards. Do not be
obstinate in your business or personal relationships. The last few months will
feel the influence of the upcoming sign of the ox strengthening and lead to full
serenity. Wait until then to make those difficult decisions.

Tiger : 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998

The wild tiger prospered in the year of the dog and the pig. The rat year will
change the good fortune of the large cat. While not the enemy that the true cat
is, there is still some adversity. Both business and personal relationships will
be a challenge. You may find many flirtatious moments but they will not lead to
serious commitments. You will need to rely on family to move through this
confusing time. Happy relationships will suffer from conflict in the early part
of the year, but attention to romance and faithfulness will return good fortune.
At work you will also feel these conflicts. You will be more aware of criticism
from coworkers and employers. Learn to control your aggressive nature when
responding to this and you will find prosperity. Use your abundant energy to
turn dreams of success into real plans that will bring rewards as the year ends.
Be careful to avoid excesses in work and all things physical especially in the
last half of the year.

Rabbit
: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999

Many rabbits will find the year of the earth rat unusually fortunate if they can
control the tendency to hop about. The rat is not normally a harmonious sign for
the rabbit, but this brown earth rat year remembers that both are rodents and
does not confuse the rabbit with the cat. Flirtation, romance and marriage lie
in wait for the amorous rabbit. The conflict will be to find harmony between the
three. Take care not to endanger a possible life long love by continued
flirtation. Looking for perfection instead of happiness in love can cause grief.
At work the urge to pick on the shortcomings of coworkers and find
dissatisfaction with a good position will cause unhappiness. This may be an
auspicious time to make changes in your career path with the earth influences
fueling new growth for you, but be sure that the change comes from a positive
source. Moving toward prosperity will bring a positive cycle, running from
adversity will not. Whether you decide to stay or go, a focus on the positive
aspects of your current position will lead to long term success and good fortune
through the upcoming cycle.

Dragon : 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

The rat is a good friend to the dragon. The new cycle that starts this year will
bring prosperity to the dragon after what may seem like a long time of struggle.
The stream of good fortune that you saw coming your way in a trickle last year
will reach fullness this year. Your energy is strong after resting in the year
of the pig and you will find that difficulties are able to be overcome. You will
need energy to keep up with the social whirl coming your way. While much of your
focus will be on friendships and love, put some of that energy toward career
networking opportunities that will develop this year and will benefit you
throughout the next cycle. The conservative nature of this rat year may give
moments of frustration to the dragon who cannot tame a fiery nature. This is a
time to begin ventures that will benefit from the steady nurturing earth
influence but you will need patience and persistence to see them through to
success. The signs are very good for your soul mate to appear. Take care to
recognize this most special person or the opportunity may be lost in your busy
social life. Home influences are strong and if you have been dreaming of a major
purchase - of a home or for your home - this year is a good time to see the
dream fulfilled.

Snake : 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

This year will find the energetic rat providing a wonderland of opportunities to
the awakening snake. Show your true self and be honest with those who care about
you. This may be difficult for the snake who is used to keeping tightly coiled,
but there will be little need to use your venom to protect yourself this year.
Happiness will be abundant in relationships with friends and family as long as
you can uncoil. Successful results in business, especially new ventures, lie
ahead for you. Your ability to take quick, decisive actions and make the right
decisions will be a great benefit to your career. This may lead you to some big
opportunities that you will be ready to take advantage of. Curb the impulsive to
spend unwisely. Earth influences favor conservative spending for the snake, but
with energy flowing so strongly, you may not be able to resist a quick buy that
can turn out to be a mistake .

Horse : 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

The horse is not happy to find the rat in its barn. Distracted by the energy of
the rat, the horse will be easy prey to others. By nature, the horse listens
more to what the heart says, but this year it is the head that will give the
best advice. Take comfort in the company of close friends and family and also
make sure to exercise, eat well and keep a regular schedule. These will weave a
blanket that protects you from the blasts of ill fortune and physical distress
that the rat year can bring. Try not to let your nervousness cause conflicts at
home and work. This is not a time to start new ventures or make major decisions.
Plans for the future are the way to take advantage of your time. Building
knowledge about your career through job training or education will move you
ahead without danger. Plan inexpensive, relaxing vacations with friends and
family to clear your confusion and find peace.

Sheep / Goat : 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

The rat year brings sheep romance that may be true love, but overall the year
will seem less positive than what you may be used to. The year may see
unhappiness in romantic relationships. Accepting your part in the disharmony
will help to return happiness. In this area, your family may be part of the
problem. A trip to a faraway land brings calm back to your love life, but beware
of seeming to promise more than you are willing to give. Foolish decisions in
the early part of the year can bring ill fortune for this cycle. Seek the advice
of family and trusted friends before making hasty decisions about money or
career. There are many opportunities but choosing the best path is important.
The rat offers chances for learning and culture. Looking at the past or cultures
that are different from your own may lead to knowledge that will bring success
in personal and business ventures. Find a group that will offer you the chance
to talk about these things. Travel to new places adds to the good fortune and
gives you a chance to spend energy in growth instead of following roads that
will lead to dead ends.

Monkey : 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

The Monkey who has worked hard will see many rewards in the year of the rat. The
year may start off slow, but by the end of March the full richness of the rat
year will be evident and continue through the year. The battle of earth and
water can bring confusion. Tolerance helps you to avoid making enemies by
judging friends or coworkers too harshly. Overall the rat is a good friend to
the monkey and provides many chances to find good fortune in love and in your
career. Take your time in picking the best of these. Avoid the temptation to
spend unwisely. This is a year for saving, not spending. The right decisions
will see the foundation of a comfortable nest egg building during the rest of
the cycle. Enjoy your good fortune.

Rooster : 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Rooster will find many challenges to overcome during the rat year. Energy is
high, but much of it is not positive and there is stress ahead for the rooster.
Quick decisions and emotional outbursts will lead to trouble. Keep a positive
attitude and pace yourself. Make a plan for your time and your money and stick
to it. Relationships will be unsteady if the crowing rooster shows aggression.
When that urge appears, step back and use your strong intellect to analyze the
problem and create a positive outcome. Matters of money and career will also
need this steady approach. The rat year favors learning and you can overcome
many negative aspects at work by seeking training and sharing your knowledge
with coworkers. Remember that what you do this year will follow you throughout
the cycle, so keep that positive attitude intact and build a foundation for the
upswing in your fortunes in the coming years.

Dog: 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

The dog continues to find good fortune as the rat opens a new cycle. Family and
friends are more important than ever this year, but avoid pressure from this
source on business and financial decisions. Relationships that began in this pig
year may be a source of good fortune in this new 12 year cycle. Don’t be afraid
to let superiors and coworkers see your skills. Accept both the praise and
advice that comes to you from this source. Keep your focus as you may find
yourself drawn to chasing the rat, but don’t be timid when the time comes to
make decisions that will bring change and good fortune.

Pig : 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

The pig still enjoys the benefits of good fortune as the new cycle begins. The
fire pig, those born in 1947 and 2007, will be especially fortunate in the year
of the earth rat, but anyone born in a pig year will find the rat year bringing
good fortune. This year promises success in romance and there may be marriage in
the year ahead. Finances are no problem for you this year, but be careful of
those who would take advantage asking for loans or applying pressure for you to
make a major purchase or investment. Steady work will move your career into
places you had not expected. Be open to the energy and excitement that this new
cycle brings, but conserve your physical strength. There is a pig tendency to
push too hard. There is no need to exhaust yourself in seeking prosperity –
especially in the second half of the year.

source: http://www.chiff.com/a/chinese-horoscopes.htm

And on a personal note, We got a red envelope or what we call “ang pao” from our Chinese boss yesterday! with 18 bucks in it which signifies “Definitely Lucky”. Also, We learned a lot of Chinese trads like the envelope thingee. Married couples are the only people who’s suppose to give it because they are those “lucky”married… and it’s unlucky for the single to give ‘em. You have to keep the envelope until next year (or forever) to keep the luck

What else, oh yeah, the orange fruit! It signifies gold. Longan is in, grapes are out.

More… oh the twig in our office! It has no flowers in it when it got there. She explained that if it blooms flowers during new year then it means good luck!

Id love to share more but i have to hit publish so i could eat!

Love you baby and Jivy! Cheers everyone and happy Chinese New year