Chinese Zodiac
The Rat

The first creature in the Eastern zodiac, who according to legend triumphed in the Jade Emperor’s race by hiding in the ear of his dear friend the Ox, is the Rat. As charming as they are beguiling, Rats are famously rapier-witted, shrewd, and financially astute. They are the wordsmiths of the Chinese zodiac—Shakespeare was a Rat, after all—but equally appreciate the value of secrecy. They are likely to excel at any role involving judicious disclosure or confidentiality. Above all, they are ingenious in their ability to anticipate and strategize, skills that often last them long into peaceful old age.

In the middle ground, with plenty of potential but some reticence, are signs from the Trine Families that the Rat does not share a direct connection with. These include the Pig and Rabbit, and the Dog and Tiger. The Chinese zodiac makes some harsh judgements about unfavorable energy connections. For the Rat, these are their Opposition sign, the Horse, and their Adversary, the Sheep.