Who is a Rabbit?
Years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999.
Month*: March
Hour: 05.00 am – 07.00
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.
* 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 Zodiac Rooster crows 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 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 again 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 Progress#. 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 © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info
# These terms are 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 2021
It looks to be a fairly quiet year which may be somewhat of a relief after the incredible loudness of 2020. It’s time to call upon your art of the comeback. It’s probably not going to happen this year, however, it’s what you do and it will happen. You don’t need to make any excuses.
You might still have a lot to say about what was/has been ruined and who is responsible for that. Who could blame you? You have your reasons. The question is what are you going to do with this feeling of loss? Here’s a hint: forgiveness will set you free. It’s simple but maybe not easy. You’re the one whose stuck, not your offender. Choose you.
Tonight you belong to me
Patience and Prudence McIntyre (1942 Water Horse and 1945 Wood Rooster)
You’re up for a new relationship in 2021 if you want one. Be careful how you go about that. Stealthiness will likely result in your dirty laundry being aired in public. Make sure you know your new interest’s domestic/romantic situation. That way you’ll know in advance what secrets, if any, could come out.
Make choices based on what you want, rather than what you think someone else wants. Don’t accept something just because it’s being offered. Accept it because you want it. Say no thank you if you don’t. Accepting the unacceptable will wear away at your health. It’s not worth it so don’t do it just to maintain the status quo. You always have a choice about whether or not your flexibility will be turned against you.
Last year’s troubles have moved on to the southeast but you’re not quite out of the woods with the San Sha in the east. You’ll want to know that whatever you have to navigate this year, you’ll have people nearby to help you through it. The hard part is that you are all in the same boat. Even your reliable allies Sheep and Pig are struggling. This is why using your network is more important than ever. Push your search for assistance to farther degrees of separation. The Snake and Horse can help with that in the summer.
Make connections for yourself and on behalf of Tiger, Sheep, Dragon and Pig. That means help your neighbors and friends. When they understand their own positions in 2021, they will be happy to reciprocate however they can. We’ve all got a long row to hoe. Check in with the Sheep, who may be experiencing health issues. Don’t fret about what you can’t control.
In a Metal Ox year, the Rabbit’s natural disaster, if there is such a thing, might be defined as frustrated fertility. That’s about the material you can’t get published; the book you want to write, the creative path not taken. Don’t get hung up on it. If it’s not your time now, that just means it’s coming down the pike. If you’re attracted to having an affair, consider that you may just be looking for a useful way get your content out in the world.
Look at the year’s small blockages as your raw material. As for all of these aspirational pregnancies, births and adoptions that remain secret and unfulfilled, it’s just not time – yet. I’m sorry to say it but you’ve got other work to do for now. Mend and forgive. Take care of your health. See the opportunities that are right in front of you. Take them on.
If you’re feeling discouraged, look for ways to leverage the other pillars in your BaZi. At least read the fortunes for all four. 2022 and 2023 are coming.
| January | Someone in authority feels that someone in your network should be kicked out. |
| February | You’re strong but still find yourself tempted to conform to unfamiliar standards |
| April | Get some money by way of the Dragon |
| June | Reinvent yourself and expand your network. This could be embarrassing. |
| September | Private matters play out in public. |
| October | Sparks and endings. Hardest thing for the Dog to do? Stay |
| November | Meet or get reacquainted with a creative ally who will have important connections in 2022 |
| December | Find out what you learned, or didn’t, in 2020. Rinse. Repeat. |
Rabbits to Watch
1951 Metal Rabbit: Jill Biden
1975 Wood Rabbits: Russell Brand, David Beckham
1987 Fire Rabbits: Colin Kaepernick, Evan Peters
©Stephanie J Stewart 2021