Who is a Rabbit?
Years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999.
Month*: March
Hour: 05.00 am – 07.00
Day: Ask Us
* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.
What is a Rabbit?
The Rabbit is yin Wood, essentially gentle and domestic. Her time is early morning; the legend has it that she and the Rooster swapped places which is why the cock crows in the Chinese Zodiac not at dawn but at dusk. The Rabbit rules the Spring therefore – think of March Hares and Easter Bunnies – and the Rooster the autumn. This story may also serve to illustrate the mistrust that can exist between Rabbit and the yin Metal Rooster.
The Rabbit is subtle, in keeping with her yin nature. She provides service readily and is often suited to catering and caring. But her preparedness to roll up her sleeves makes her the unexpected queen of networking. If you want to be introduced to the person in charge, ask a Rabbit.
Although giving an impression of reluctance to be in the spotlight Rabbits are often performers but equally often are more at home behind the scenes. Writer-composer (of the musicals Matilda and Groundhog Day) Tim Minchin fits this bill. Devoted Dad David Beckham perhaps also and strangely introvert ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. All clearly pretty good at making connections also.
The Rabbit can wait her turn; vigilance and patience are typical. Her natural allies are the Pig and the Sheep. This is a house-proud team and the Rabbit is a team player. Her unexpected friend is the Dog who values her ability to charm without threat.
The Rabbit also belongs to the gathering known as the Flowers of Love# (or Plumflowers) along with the Horse, the Rooster and Rat. She may often find herself clearing up behind these three extroverts and quite often the cuddle-bunny will obtain a life partner from the leavings of her more obviously glamorous colleagues.
Rabbit tends to be conservative with a small “c”. Early rising is typical but the yang of early alertness may be balanced by the yin of sleeping in. Lazybones or insomniac, sleeping is an issue. This is yin and yang.
In Vietnam this Zodiac Animal is called the Cat. Intuitively this does not sit right, the ideogram so clearly has ears. Furthermore yin Wood relates to the late Spring, leaves and flowers and grass, none of which are obviously feline attributes. Btw the song “Year of the Cat” written by 1945 Rooster Al Stewart in the Rabbit Year of 1975 illustrates the misunderstanding that often occurs between Rabbit & Rooster.
In some ways the Rabbit epitomises yin. Yang Wood may be characterised as an upwards movement like the growth of a tree. Yin Wood is more of an outward expansion like the spread of grass. What these two expressions of Wood have in common is irresistibility. But they are very different types of irresistibility. To counter yang Wood we need yang Metal: an axe will cut down the biggest tree. But you could attack a lawn with that same axe and not remove all the grass in a lifetime. This is the power of yin Wood.
Wood is both stubborn and flexible. Yin Wood (as characterised by Soen, the wind of the South East) is thorough as well as organised: “gentle and thorough but ultimately adamant” as the Book of Changes has it.
Hexagram 53 of the Book of Changes, “Gradual Progress” describes this: the tree on the mountain grows against all the odds either because it throws itself absolutely upon the mercy of the tao or because it has a detailed plan that it follows meticulously. Or both.
The Rabbit is said to cause the Dragon (next in sequence) to lose money. Perhaps the Dragon is distracted by a neighbour so apparently different in nature. These two are not a great pairing but the fact is that the Rabbit sitting between the Tiger and the Dragon, shares qualities with both.
Partnership with the Tiger is sometimes formalised as the House of Diplomacy#. The Rabbit offers carrot while the Tiger wields a stick. This arrangement exemplifies the truism that more is achieved with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone.
Wood represents bone, spine and hair as well as eyes: the light is Fire but the receiving organ is Wood. The Rabbit is often not strong in these regards unlike the Tiger. This is yin and yang.
Finally it’s worth appreciating that the wooden table you’re probably seated by is wood but not Wood. Wood is always growing which is not true of anything else; not animals, people, cutting edges or stones. Usable Wood in feng shui terms, is alive. Dead Wood is often considered to be Earth, motionless and ashen.
Richard Ashworth © 2020
www.imperialfengshui.info
# These terms ae the brain children of the man who first introduced me to the Chinese Zodiac Derek Walters, still the only Western authority respected to any degree in Asia. I sometimes tell my students that of the many thousands of books written on Chinese Astrology in the West, 99% are either nonsense or derived from Derek’s The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology. Or both.
The Rabbit in 2020
For the Rabbit, 2020 is very much what you make it. You’ll have a facility for organizing and making sense of things. Rabbit counselors, advisors or headhunters will have plenty of clients. Business should be good but you may be preoccupied with personal and domestic stuff.
You’re in line for further education or training. With so much Water in play there will be plenty of opportunities both formal and informal. Learn new life skills or finish that degree. Learn how to forgive. Learn to set new standards for your behavior in relationship.
Because of how others respond to you, you may have become convinced that your appeal comes from your softness and acceptance. Those who need support for basic human needs are familiar with your reliable domesticity but there’s much more to you than that.
Rabbits who are the oldest son or a 3 gua will be deciding whether their side of the story is worth expressing. It is. For best results stay open to uncomfortable feedback. Caution: Even with your retiring nature this year you risk being overly resistant and impossible to persuade.
Some masters would say the Rabbit is in a great position for a new romance or other alliance in 2020. I get it, but here’s the most important part: your new partner could demand that you conform to their standards rather than your own. That’s a likely scenario for both Rabbits and Yin wood day stem people.
In a Metal Rat year Rabbits experience the Ingratitude Penalty, especially in March, October and December. Rabbits may think Rats are not woke. They will tend to lay blame for current problems on the Rat’s past actions. Rabbits may be questioning the ethics and practices of ancestors. Rats may think Rabbits are entitled and unappreciative of what they’ve inherited. Sound familiar? OK Boomer.
The penalties and the self clashes create the riskiest situations in a BaZi in the sense that they are so…psychological. It might be easier to heal a clash – like a broken bone may heal more cleanly than a sprain. The Ingratitude Penalty has to do with intergenerational values that are shared or not, therefore the solution is to get to know each other better. Talk is required on both sides. Exploring your BaZi may be helpful if you’re feeling adrift.
In August, Rabbits are going to have to make a decision about how to handle the anger that may accompany the penalty because it carries a physical risk of harm.
In October a close friend is unsatisfied in their relationship and may be looking to start one with you. You may be duplicating the bad judgment you’ve attributed to the Rat unless you are careful. These patterns are in our DNA.
A Rabbit is not known for their frankness but this year demands it if you want change. With the Wu Huang in the east, you might tend to forsake the vulnerability of openness for the power of silently being right. The regret you think you are avoiding will linger on. Don’t let it turn to bitterness. That’s not your thing.