Chinese New Year: what the Year of the Water Rabbit has in store for you
On 22 January, we celebrated Chinese New Year, and a new year means changes and good resolutions. This new year is placed under the sign of the Rabbit and is dominated by the Water element.
What does it have in store for us, and how can we prepare for it?
The sign of the Rabbit in Chinese astrology
Its characteristics
In Chinese astrology, the Rabbit is the fourth animal of the zodiac. It is known for being calm, a little narcissistic and persuasive. The Rabbit is also sociable and gentle and has great adaptability, but it runs away as soon as it feels in danger and prefers not to face its fears.
The signs most compatible with the Rabbit are the Goat, the Dog and the Pig, and the least compatible sign is the Rooster.
The rabbit in Chinese culture
The rabbit has an important place in Chinese culture. It symbolises wealth and prosperity and is at the heart of many legends, such as the one associated with the Moon Festival (the legend of Chang'e).
It also often appears in Chinese artwork and folk paintings dating back to Antiquity.
What the Year of the Water Rabbit has in store for you
In Chinese astrology, each animal comes back every 12 years and changes element five times. The years of the Rabbit are: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035, etc. This new year is therefore associated with the Rabbit and the Water element.
Yin in nature, the Rabbit is associated with winter, night, calm, rest, the moon and women. So 2023 is predicted to bring luck to women!
The Year of the Rabbit marks a pause between the fervour of the Tiger (2022) and the power of the Dragon (2024). This return to calm heralds a peaceful year, dotted with moments of relaxation and without major changes (and therefore relatively stable). However, some very interesting new encounters are in the offing.
As for Western astrology, it is said that an astral phenomenon will have a negative impact on three signs: Virgo, Sagittarius and Leo. But don't panic! We share with you the golden rule for living the Year of the Rabbit well.
The golden rule of the year: find calm and face your fears
The Water element can irrigate but also flood. So this year, you will need to learn to channel and manage your emotions so as not to feel overwhelmed. It is best to favour stability and find calm. So give yourself moments of relaxation throughout the year.
Taking time for yourself every day to meditate or do a few Qi Gong postures can help you manage your emotions better, preserve your peace and let calm take over.
In addition, the Water element is linked to Fear in Chinese medicine. As a result, you may encounter this emotion during the year (fear of failure, fear of the future, fear of conflict, fear of being alone…). To face this feeling and get rid of it, you need to reconsider it.
Some introspection and looking for the origin of this emotion (which, let us remember, is always internal, unlike panic, which comes from an external source) helps you understand it better and gather enough courage to face it. It may even push you to consider change and follow new paths…
Leave the door open to new experiences: they will be particularly rare! And above all, accept the precious moments of rest and tranquillity that the Rabbit will offer us this year.
Happy Year of the Water Rabbit to all!