Counting Up the Change

In a Rabbit year, it’s the Rooster’s turn to be clashed, so let’s get clear about what that means. A clash means that things are going to change. Of course, change is happening all the time but when it’s your year to be involved in the clash, it will feel like the changes come thick and fast.

When we humans experience more rapid and focused change, we tend to feel stressed and anxious, even if the changes are good. The feeling I associate most with a clash is stimulation. In most cases, a clash year is bothersome because of the feelings that accompany the events, rather than the events themselves. From the outside, your life may look much the same.

Each year, there is an animal branch that is in charge of the year and one that is opposite of it on the compass. This is how the clash is identified, therefore in 2023, we have a clash of Rabbit in the east and Rooster in the west. In a Rabbit year, the Rabbit is reckoned to have certain advantages over the Rooster but this may not be true in every case. Let’s not forget that Metal controls Wood. That hasn’t changed.

It’s a year for Roosters to rely on relationships even if that’s not their natural way. If you can find it in yourself to trust, this will give you ease. At any time you can choose to make peace. Maybe the best advice I can give you is: don’t fight your success. When a Rooster is clashed, as they are in the Water Rabbit year, that means they are surrounded by the possibility of success. Why not accept some?

Every clash also carries the opportunity to learn but in 2023, this is emphasized for the Rooster. You are given a facility for learning and scholarship so whether that is in a formal or informal setting. Look for the lesson. What are you supposed to learn from these experiences you have in 2023? It’s probably going to have to do with your ideas of success or money. It might have to do with your ideas about romance or partnership. It might be about jealousy – the jealousy that you have and the jealousy you experience from others.

Elementally speaking, we are talking about a clash of the Rabbit’s Wood and the Rooster’s Metal. Metal controls Wood. What I mean is, in a Rabbit year, there are advantages to be had for the Rooster too. Possibly all you have to do is avoid making winning your only goal, and recognize and acknowledge that there are people who are loyal to you. If they’re not nearby, make sure they know you want to be closer, whatever that might mean. Otherwise, in seeking relief from your overstimulation, you might end up damaging yourself.

As the Year Breaker or 歲破 Sui Po, the Rooster can expect big changes. It may take some effort to avoid having a year that is all about winning and losing. What you’ll have to change is your mind. This year you may have some ideas about that greener grass on the other side of the fence and how you’re never allowed to have it. This isn’t really true but your thoughts and memories of that kind of experience will tend to rise to the surface in 2023.

Stick to logic but avoid keeping score. That feeling you have regarding everyone wanting to copy you or compete with you is from your habit of checking and hoping to maintain or reestablish the pecking order. That’s not to say you’re wrong, a Rooster has a certain status that naturally attracts others to emulate them. Cultivate humility and patience. It might be to your advantage to keep plans to yourself or only share with a trusted few. This is something you can control.

A clash year is a year for reinventing yourself and the particular energy of the Water Rabbit carries this specific meaning for the Rooster. You’re due for some kind of rebirth. The position of the Rooster in your Ba Zi will give you a clue about what part of your life is involved.

With Rooster as your year, this reinvention could happen in a more public way and could even involve your physical body so you may want to explore new ways of exercising or nourishing yourself. It may affect your reputation.

If Rooster is in your month, I expect you could get a raise at work. You might also have some turbulence at work in March, so I challenge you to look for ways to take advantage of that ahead of time. It could be that you learn to handle stress better. Alone time may help with that.

If Rooster is in your day and you have a partner, 2023 could bring some mutual irritation or jealousy. There may be a competitive feeling between you and your partner. Whose aspirations will be the priority? Possibly both of you are looking to be “number one” whether that’s in the context of managing the home, or moving to a different city for a job. This energy of the Rabbit year calls for compromise but it’s also difficult to resist its pull to choose victory. It’s funny how you and the Rabbit may have this experience in common in 2023. Then again, in a clash both parties are affected, so maybe it’s to be expected.

If Rooster is your hour, you might be reinventing your own future or it may be your children doing that. I expect you may feel very uncertain about the truth of this possibility. Try it on.

Should it be your choice to avoid change this year, Roosters may find themselves feeling trapped or imprisoned. Unless you are actually in jail, this is just a feeling. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to handle and indeed you may come upon some obstacles that make you feel hopeless or powerless, however, being a Rooster you tend to forget your power on a regular basis. This year is meant to make you learn the power of remembering who you are and acting accordingly. You know there are going to be changes, so you can get free of the “trap” by identifying the changes you want and enacting them. If you are worried or scared, talk about it. You know this helps you shrink problems to their actual size.

When it’s your clash year, it often means spending; spending in a bigger proportion than usual. To work with that kind of energy, I recommend you decide how you want to spend it. You might choose to invest in yourself or make a big purchase. In some years I would recommend remodeling or renovation as a potential investment but not for you Rooster. Spending on travel could be helpful as long as you make sure you are not traveling to a place that is prone to fire, flood or earthquake. That trip to California might be off for this year.

Being one of the four Self Clash signs, Roosters generally don’t enjoy each other’s company.* That said, if you need assistance, look for people who share your interests or with whom you have a common background such as Snake and Ox. The three of you make a powerful Metal team that can challenge the Wood of the Rabbit if needed. The Dragon, your Secret Friend, is always on call for you and this year they can help you solve whatever problems you might have.

Should you need a rescue in March, or feel that you do, call on the Horse who often has a strange sort of crush on you. You might think they come on too strong most of the time, but the Horse is capable of turning anger to joy. The Horse sees your shininess and wants to help you maintain your sparkle. The Horse and Rooster have an uneasy relationship, but when they team up, great things can happen out of humble beginnings; successes that no one would have expected. Above all, seek joy Rooster. Take it wherever you find it.

Job Title: Peacemaker
Allies: Snake, Ox, Dragon
Best Months: April, May, August, January
Romance: Winning isn’t everything.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*Did you hear about that proposed collaboration between 1981 Metal Roosters Beyoncé and Britney that didn’t pan out?