Year of the White Metal Rat: First rule – DON’T PANIC; second rule – Beware wrath of Grand Duke of Jupiter

The Year of the Rat arrives on Saturday. It is the first animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac. How did rattus get to be Number One? Because of its cunning. The Jade Emperor, ruler of Heaven, Earth and Hell, was behind it all. His advisers picked 12 animals to enter a competition based on appearance, lifestyle and good deeds. Before the competition, the cat asked the rat for a wake-up call.

But the rodent came up with a Baldrick. A cunning plan. He did not make the call, fearing competition from feline beauty, and the cat was late. Rattus won first place by playing the flute riding on the back of an ox. The Jade Emperor was impressed and awarded the ox second place in the Zodiac for allowing the rat to bestride him, tootling on his instrument, whiskers twitching in time to the music.

It is actually the Year of the White Metal Rat. Others in the Zodiac under the Five Elements include the Water Rat, Fire Rat, Earth Rat, and Wood Rat.

Some things are important to remember:

• If you are a Rat, born in that year, never, ever, get into a relationship with a Horse.
• You may, however, have a wonderful romance with a Snake, Rooster, Ox, Pig, Rabbit, Goat or Tiger.
• Lucky colours are gold, blue and green. Avoid yellow and brown (Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, take note).
• Auspicious flower is the lily.
• Bank on the numbers 2,3,6 and 8, but stay away from 4, 5 and 9.

The year has nothing to do with Mickey Mouse, known in Cantonese as Mikey Lo Shue, despite Disneyland’s inventions and Professor Ratigan. Famous people born in the Year of the Rat include William Shakespeare, TS Eliot and George Washington. The Chinese Zodiac’s 12-year cycle is an approximation of the 11.85-year orbit of Jupiter and is the 4718 year in the Chinese calendar.

Delve into Feng Shui for the Year of the Rat and you will find advice on how to avoid health and wealth issues. The directional bearings of your home in relation to the Flying Stars are crucial. Examples: Beware of a door, window or bedroom facing South. And don’t make loud noises or break ground in the East.

The first rule is DO NOT PANIC. “You will soon discover… you are loaded with an arsenal of cures…” To learn more about the do’s and don’ts of the Year of the White Metal Rat, take a look at www.fengshuiweb.co.uk

Final note: Beware at all costs of the wrath of Tai Sui, Grand Duke of Jupiter. This is a body of energy you do not want to offend. The Grand Duke will be at North 2. Wear a protective amulet.