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Ox : 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997
The year of the earth rat brings good more good fortune for the steady ox. The solid back that carried the rat across the river will be well rewarded. The influence of the Brown Earth Rat means a prosperous and healthy year for the ox but the influence of water will make the year interesting. There will be many choices that will lead to success if the ox remains true to the earth nature. Do not follow on paths that seem to lead to easy success. The wise ox knows that perseverance brings permanent good fortune. While your hard work will begin to bring rewards in this last half of this year, the real success awaits in the year of the ox that is coming. Conflicts and confusion can be a problem in the beginning of the year as water and earth elements of the Brown Earth Rat seek balance. Attention to romantic relationships will bring harmony but neglect will bring conflict. Giving tokens of affection will bring great rewards. Do not be obstinate in your business or personal relationships. The last few months will feel the influence of the upcoming sign of the ox strengthening and lead to full serenity. Wait until then to make those difficult decisions.

Tiger : 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998
The wild tiger prospered in the year of the dog and the pig. The rat year will change the good fortune of the large cat. While not the enemy that the true cat is, there is still some adversity. Both business and personal relationships will be a challenge. You may find many flirtatious moments but they will not lead to serious commitments. You will need to rely on family to move through this confusing time. Happy relationships will suffer from conflict in the early part of the year, but attention to romance and faithfulness will return good fortune. At work you will also feel these conflicts. You will be more aware of criticism from coworkers and employers. Learn to control your aggressive nature when responding to this and you will find prosperity. Use your abundant energy to turn dreams of success into real plans that will bring rewards as the year ends. Be careful to avoid excesses in work and all things physical especially in the last half of the year.

Rabbit : 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
Many rabbits will find the year of the earth rat unusually fortunate if they can control the tendency to hop about. The rat is not normally a harmonious sign for the rabbit, but this brown earth rat year remembers that both are rodents and does not confuse the rabbit with the cat. Flirtation, romance and marriage lie in wait for the amorous rabbit. The conflict will be to find harmony between the three. Take care not to endanger a possible life long love by continued flirtation. Looking for perfection instead of happiness in love can cause grief. At work the urge to pick on the shortcomings of coworkers and find dissatisfaction with a good position will cause unhappiness. This may be an auspicious time to make changes in your career path with the earth influences fueling new growth for you, but be sure that the change comes from a positive source. Moving toward prosperity will bring a positive cycle, running from adversity will not. Whether you decide to stay or go, a focus on the positive aspects of your current position will lead to long term success and good fortune through the upcoming cycle.

Dragon : 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
The rat is a good friend to the dragon. The new cycle that starts this year will bring prosperity to the dragon after what may seem like a long time of struggle. The stream of good fortune that you saw coming your way in a trickle last year will reach fullness this year. Your energy is strong after resting in the year of the pig and you will find that difficulties are able to be overcome. You will need energy to keep up with the social whirl coming your way. While much of your focus will be on friendships and love, put some of that energy toward career networking opportunities that will develop this year and will benefit you throughout the next cycle. The conservative nature of this rat year may give moments of frustration to the dragon who cannot tame a fiery nature. This is a time to begin ventures that will benefit from the steady nurturing earth influence but you will need patience and persistence to see them through to success. The signs are very good for your soul mate to appear. Take care to recognize this most special person or the opportunity may be lost in your busy social life. Home influences are strong and if you have been dreaming of a major purchase - of a home or for your home - this year is a good time to see the dream fulfilled.

Snake : 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
This year will find the energetic rat providing a wonderland of opportunities to the awakening snake. Show your true self and be honest with those who care about you. This may be difficult for the snake who is used to keeping tightly coiled, but there will be little need to use your venom to protect yourself this year. Happiness will be abundant in relationships with friends and family as long as you can uncoil. Successful results in business, especially new ventures, lie ahead for you. Your ability to take quick, decisive actions and make the right decisions will be a great benefit to your career. This may lead you to some big opportunities that you will be ready to take advantage of. Curb the impulsive to spend unwisely. Earth influences favor conservative spending for the snake, but with energy flowing so strongly, you may not be able to resist a quick buy that can turn out to be a mistake .

Horse : 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
The horse is not happy to find the rat in its barn. Distracted by the energy of the rat, the horse will be easy prey to others. By nature, the horse listens more to what the heart says, but this year it is the head that will give the best advice. Take comfort in the company of close friends and family and also make sure to exercise, eat well and keep a regular schedule. These will weave a blanket that protects you from the blasts of ill fortune and physical distress that the rat year can bring. Try not to let your nervousness cause conflicts at home and work. This is not a time to start new ventures or make major decisions. Plans for the future are the way to take advantage of your time. Building knowledge about your career through job training or education will move you ahead without danger. Plan inexpensive, relaxing vacations with friends and family to clear your confusion and find peace.

Sheep / Goat : 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
The rat year brings sheep romance that may be true love, but overall the year will seem less positive than what you may be used to. The year may see unhappiness in romantic relationships. Accepting your part in the disharmony will help to return happiness. In this area, your family may be part of the problem. A trip to a faraway land brings calm back to your love life, but beware of seeming to promise more than you are willing to give. Foolish decisions in the early part of the year can bring ill fortune for this cycle. Seek the advice of family and trusted friends before making hasty decisions about money or career. There are many opportunities but choosing the best path is important. The rat offers chances for learning and culture. Looking at the past or cultures that are different from your own may lead to knowledge that will bring success in personal and business ventures. Find a group that will offer you the chance to talk about these things. Travel to new places adds to the good fortune and gives you a chance to spend energy in growth instead of following roads that will lead to dead ends.

Monkey : 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
The Monkey who has worked hard will see many rewards in the year of the rat. The year may start off slow, but by the end of March the full richness of the rat year will be evident and continue through the year. The battle of earth and water can bring confusion. Tolerance helps you to avoid making enemies by judging friends or coworkers too harshly. Overall the rat is a good friend to the monkey and provides many chances to find good fortune in love and in your career. Take your time in picking the best of these. Avoid the temptation to spend unwisely. This is a year for saving, not spending. The right decisions will see the foundation of a comfortable nest egg building during the rest of the cycle. Enjoy your good fortune.

Rooster : 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Rooster will find many challenges to overcome during the rat year. Energy is high, but much of it is not positive and there is stress ahead for the rooster. Quick decisions and emotional outbursts will lead to trouble. Keep a positive attitude and pace yourself. Make a plan for your time and your money and stick to it. Relationships will be unsteady if the crowing rooster shows aggression. When that urge appears, step back and use your strong intellect to analyze the problem and create a positive outcome. Matters of money and career will also need this steady approach. The rat year favors learning and you can overcome many negative aspects at work by seeking training and sharing your knowledge with coworkers. Remember that what you do this year will follow you throughout the cycle, so keep that positive attitude intact and build a foundation for the upswing in your fortunes in the coming years.

Dog : 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
The dog continues to find good fortune as the rat opens a new cycle. Family and friends are more important than ever this year, but avoid pressure from this source on business and financial decisions. Relationships that began in this pig year may be a source of good fortune in this new 12 year cycle. Don't be afraid to let superiors and coworkers see your skills. Accept both the praise and advice that comes to you from this source. Keep your focus as you may find yourself drawn to chasing the rat, but don't be timid when the time comes to make decisions that will bring change and good fortune.

Pig : 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
The pig still enjoys the benefits of good fortune as the new cycle begins. The fire pig, those born in 1947 and 2007, will be especially fortunate in the year of the earth rat, but anyone born in a pig year will find the rat year bringing good fortune. This year promises success in romance and there may be marriage in the year ahead. Finances are no problem for you this year, but be careful of those who would take advantage asking for loans or applying pressure for you to make a major purchase or investment. Steady work will move your career into places you had not expected. Be open to the energy and excitement that this new cycle brings, but conserve your physical strength. There is a pig tendency to push too hard. There is no need to exhaust yourself in seeking prosperity -- especially in the second half of the year.

Remember, whatever the omens portend, for better or worse, you are the final master of your own fate.

These ideas are provided for your enjoyment and amusement and are not meant to take the place of your own good sense.

Wishing you and your family a year of health and prosperity! Gung Hay Fat Choy!

What year were you born in the Chinese zodiac calendar?

Browse the calendar to find your birth year and more about your Chinese zodiac sign :

Chinese New Year 4705 or 2008 in the Western calendar is the Year of the Brown Earth Rat. This year of the rat begins a new 12 year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

Like the houses of the zodiac, the animals of Chinese astrology are said to influence your luck during the year. Your horoscope for 2008, the year of the rat, depends on which animal signifies the year you were born.

Rats are water signs and it is said that they make a very good match for monkeys and dragons, but do not get along well with rabbits, horses and roosters. The brown earth influences of this year also make oxen a favored friend of the persevering rat but add conflict to the year as the elements of earth and water seek a balance - especially during the early part of the year.

The rat's stone, the deep red garnet, is the color of joyful celebration. It signifies the loyalty and passion of the most honorable traits of the sign that will rule the year ahead.

In China, it is said that there are few poor rats. It is considered very auspicious to be born in the year of the earth rat. Babies born under this sign are intelligent and hard working. They are intelligent, curious, sociable born leaders who do well in any group, but value ties with family and close friends more than social contacts. The earth influences balance the rat's water nature for those born in this year making them able to control the flights of intellect that often draw the rat away from a good course. The selfish and calculating aspects of the rat are toned by the nurturing earth force. These are leaders to be followed with trust and good partners for a life filled with good fortune. The rat is clever, sometimes too clever. When mixed with the passion and charm of this sign, the rat can be manipulative as a life partner or business associate. The ability to initiate new ideas and work hard to reach a goal led the rat to the first place of honor at the side of Buddha. These are traits that bring success in both business and personal affairs.

The last time the earth rat was seen as the ruling influence was February 10, 1948 - January 28, 1949. Baby boomers who were born under this sign will be celebrating their 60th birthday looking back on many years of good fortune and looking ahead to many more.

If you aren't sure which animal ruled the year that you were born, this list will help. To get more specific information and learn more about what the omens are for your future in the New Year, check out related links of interest and find out what else the animals of fortune predict for you in 2008.

Since the rat year begins a new cycle, remember that decisions made during this year will carry long term consequences. Do not make changes without careful planning especially during the beginning of the year.