A View from the Roof Beam; what to expect in the Rat Month.

December 7^th 08:21am.

Rationale

In the Rat month human beings are programmed to overeat. After that we’re supposed to sleep till the opening of the New Year with the Tiger on February 4^th. Unfortunately most of us have stuff to do. Few of us even get time to overeat seriously. And some don’t get the opportunity.

In Taoist practice this is a time of regeneration though even Taoists may keep out the cold by scarfing seasonal tang yuan (rice balls) and jiao zi (dumplings). Such confections restore the yang of warmth to our bodies. Perhaps better than turkey and chipolatas.

For many Masters this Rat month opens the Year of the Wood Horse. Obviously changes of year energy do not kick in like a door slamming. They’re more like those jagged lines on QBase; one type of energy changes, then another until the whole thing – still changing moment by moment – is new. The Rat and the Horse are diametrically opposed. The Horse is spontaneous, The Rat considered; the Horse extrovert, the Rat more reserved. The Rat talks deeply and at length, the Horse tends to be onto the next thing already. The Horse is full of bright ideas that the Rat wants to think through all the way before taking action. The arrival of the Horse is pretty irritating to the Rat which tends to wake both up. So expect a month of innovation and inspiration countered by the forces of conservatism; nothing wrong with that by the way. Bring on the Horse!

This month Animal by Animal.

In a Rat month the Ox, Dragon and Monkey are favoured; the Monkey gets focused on a project, more than likely and the Dragon finds his full magical abilities called upon. It’s at one and the same time the waning of the Snake year and the Pig month which could well come as a relief to the average Snake who may have been through the wringer recently. The Horse generally perky, can feel suppressed by the dead cold of Winter. The Ox enjoys unusual influence; don’t waste it. And be gracious.

Every ba zi as I’ve said before, consists of four such Animals; birth in a Rat hour implies a convivial maturity, in the Rat month (ie December) work that involves constant conversation, on the Rat day a sociable nature.

Tigers are generally not keen on the cold or wet but are smart enough to use this time for planning. The Tiger, as you know, never forgets. The Rabbit may in this month of grace as the sun dies and is reborn, lose his or her sense of moderation once or twice. Be as real as you dare. Pigs may be overwhelmed with opportunity – especially those in their first year at university.

The Sheep could be bristling; the Self-Righteous Brothers from the Fast Show behave like Sheep in a Rat month. The Rooster may invent rivals and the Dog travel further than (s)he expected. Best to use this information for self-awareness by the way.

Where to do what, when and why.

This month’s lo shu is a 1, to do with communication of all sorts. Like all Stars the 1is of itself neutral; communication can be a connecting or divisive force. The 1 implies, fluidity, flexibility and the willingness to negotiate. This may mean there is good reason to negotiate which may not be 100% desirable. For a decent chance of a positive outcome to negotiation place a large crystal to the North all day on the 4^th Jan. Pipes – literal and metaphorical – may block. To clear, simply place a bowl of fresh Water at the tai chi. And lag your pipes.

Forthcoming Events:

Richard Ashworth©, late in the month of the Water Pig, Dec 2013.