2023 – The Year of the Rabbit
Jefferson Breland
(1/2023) The Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year or Chinese Spring Festival), one of the traditional Chinese festivals, is the grandest and the most important festival for Chinese people. It originated during the Shang Dynasty (about 17th - 11th century BC), and it is an important time for families to gather, similar to Christmas Day for Westerners. It is also a time to hope for the return of Spring, to welcome prosperity, wealth, and longevity, and a time to remove any negative Qi (pronounced "chee"). It is a tradition prior to the New Year for every family to thoroughly clean the house to sweep away any ill-fortune to make way for incoming good luck.
The Chinese calendar was originated by the Yellow Emperor, Huang Ti. It has been used for centuries. It is called a lunar calendar but is really a based on both the moon and the sun. The Gregorian calendar which the world has used for the past 430 years is purely a solar calendar. The Chinese Lunar New Year always begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice, in case you were wondering why it’s on a different date every year.
The twelve animals of the Chinese calendar: The Chinese calendar is made of five, twelve-year cycles. Each of the twelve years of the Chinese calendar is appointed one of the following 12 animal’s names (in this order): rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon (the only mythological animal), snake, horse, goat/sheep/ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig/boar. The animal that rules the year of your birth is said to exercise a major influence over your life, and that year in general.
There is a legend of how these animals came to be in the Chinese zodiac. In it, and there are a number of versions, either the Buddha or the Jade Emperor (the Emperor of Heaven), held a competition open to all animals to see who would take their place in the twelve positions of the zodiac. How these animals competed gives clues to their strengths and their inner natures. Some people take the meanings of the animals more literally and base life decisions on their interpretation. Others, use the concept or lens of the animals’ natures as a way to live more fully and become more aware of certain aspects of their lives.
On January 21, 2023 the year of the Tiger will come to a close. January 22, 2023 through February 9, 2024 is the Year of the Rabbit.
The fourth sign of the Chinese zodiac, the Rabbit, as one might expect, represents quite a different set of qualities than that of the daring, powerful, and passionate Tiger.
I find it very interesting the year of the Tiger is followed by the more measured, sensuous, and polite Year of the Rabbit. This can be seen as an example of Yin - Yang Theory applied on a cultural level. The Tiger with its outgoing and powerful nature represents qualities of Yang energy. The Rabbit’s calm nature represents Yin energy.
The Rabbit
I am in tune with the
pulse of the Universe.
I set new trails ablaze,
In my quiet and solitude
I hear the melodies of the soul.
I float above the commonplace
dissent and decay.
I subdue by my ability to conform.
I color my world
in delicate pastel hues.
I epitomize harmony and inner peace.
I am the Rabbit.
(Lau & Lau, 2007)
Tiger Personality: If you were born in one of the following years, your sign is the Tiger
February 2, 1927 – January 22, 1928; February 19, 1939 - February 7, 1940; February 6, 1951 – January 26, 1952; January 25, 1963 - February 12, 1964; February 11, 1975 – January 30, 1976; January 29, 1987 - February 16, 1988; February 16, 1999 – February 145, 2000; February 3, 2011 – January 22, 2012; January 22, 2023 – February 9, 2024
Rabbit is considered to be very fortunate. He serves as the symbol of longevity and is said to derive its essence or spirit from the moon. Rabbit is the soul of graciousness, good manners, sound counsel, kindness, and sensitivity to beauty. The Rabbit’s soft-spoken, graceful, and elegant ways embody the traits of a successful diplomat or statesman. A person born in the year of the Rabbit will lead a tranquil life if he chooses to adopt a peaceful and congenial environment. He is naturally reserved, artistic, and likely to possess good judgment. This thoroughness will also make them a good scholar.
When detached from his environment and indifferent to those close to him, a Rabbit person can also be moody. While outwardly indifferent to the opinions of others, inwardly he withers under criticism.
The Rabbit person is lucky in business and in all kinds of monetary transactions. He is astute at striking bargains and can always come up with a suitable proposal or an advantageous alternative.
The Rabbit’s gentle nature may be deceiving. They can be deviously cunning when necessary. A Rabbit person may be kind and obliging to loved ones and can be superficial and ruthless in his dealings with outsiders.
Generally speaking, Rabbit people are suave and self-indulgent. He enjoys his creature comforts and likes to put his wishes first. He is irked by inconvenience. Rabbits are considerate, modest, and thoughtful and would like others to be the same. He thinks it costs nothing to be nice to each other and chooses to be civil, even to his malefactors, abhorring brawling and any overt animosity or belligerence.
While apparently calm and still on the outside, the Rabbit person has a strong will and an almost narcissistic self-assurance. He pursues objectives with methodical precision in an unobtrusive manner. While others are running themselves ragged, the Rabbit knows the world will be still be here tomorrow. In any situation, the Rabbit person will be in control of himself. The guiding principle of the Rabbit is "ease."
The best Chinese zodiac animals for the Rabbit to befriend are the Pig/Boar and Sheep/Ram. These three are emotionally and artistically guided. They are expressive, intuitive, eloquent, and talented in fine arts, architecture, design, fashion, and innovative computer software. Diplomatic and compassionate in nature, they have calmer natures than other animals of the Chinese zodiac. The Rabbit, Sheep, and Pig are dependent on others for stimulation and leadership. They are flexible because they are tuned in to their environment and are drawn to beauty and the higher aspects of love.
The least compatible animal for the Rabbit is the Rooster. They simply do not see eye to eye. They are worlds apart in their way of thinking because they occupy directly opposite positions on the zodiac wheel. It is best if they work through intermediaries and mutual friends.
Notable people born in the Year of the Rabbit:; Cary Grant, actor; Michael Jordan, athlete; Orson Welles, actor, director, & writer; Sallie Ride, astronaut; Ali MacGraw, actor, Ingrid Bergman, actor; George C. Scott, actor; Queen Victoria of England; Michael Buble, musician; Kate Winslet, actor; Henry Miller, writer; Albert Einstein, physicist; Billie Holiday, musician, Josef Stalin, dictator; Bradley Cooper, actor; Marie Curie, scientist.
General Predictions for the Year of the Rabbit: 2023
In the company of a fellow Rabbit, he will enjoy a very happy year of serenity and security. This environment will provide the necessary conditions be more productive and popular. He will renew connections easily. It is also an auspicious time to rekindle past relationships.
At work, the Rabbit is in a strong position to move forward. His creativity and productivity will be noted and may be influential.
Most of the information used for this article is taken from The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes by Theodora and Laura Lau, 2007.
Jefferson Breland is a board-certified acupuncturists licensed in Pennsylvania and Maryland with offices in Gettysburg and Towson, respectively.
He can be reached at 410-336-5876.
