Your Chinese Horoscope 2014: What the year of the horse holds in store for you. Neil Somerville
to add to his skills and learn more about his industry. Whenever the Wood Rat has the chance to further his role in some way, he should make the most of it, for what he does now can pave the way to more substantial advances in the future, particularly as opportunities are likely to arise next year.
There will, however, be some Wood Rats who are feeling unfulfilled in their present position and looking for a career change. For these Wood Rats, as well as those currently seeking work, the Horse year will be challenging, but despite some difficult and often disappointing moments, many Wood Rats will be able to secure entry into a new type of work. These Wood Rats will need to be adaptable and show they are willing to learn, but the positions they take on now can often give them the chance to establish themselves in a new career. March, June, September and November could see encouraging work developments.
A further benefit of the year will be the training many Wood Rats receive and the insights they are able to gain into the industry in which they work. Not only can these be helpful in their present position but they can also reveal aptitudes these Wood Rats can build on and can alert them to other possibilities in the future.
Similarly, Wood Rats who are seeking work will find that if they take advantage of any retraining or refresher courses they are eligible for, new ways forward can open up for them. These may not always be easy times, but important seeds for the future can now be sown.
As far as the Wood Rat’s personal interests are concerned, however, this can be an encouraging year. Some Wood Rats will already have acquired considerable expertise in a certain hobby or pursuit and will now have the chance to take this further, either by following up new ideas, setting themselves a more ambitious project or sharing their knowledge with others. Some may also find a personal interest of financial benefit. Whatever they do, in the Horse year all Wood Rats should set time aside for pursuits they enjoy. In addition, some may become intrigued by a new interest or form of recreation, including one with a keep-fit element, and what is started this year can have benefits both now and in the near future.
Financially, this is a time for discipline. With the Wood Rat’s existing commitments, as well as the plans and hopes he has for the year, he will need to keep a tight rein on spending and set money aside for specific requirements. With good control, he will be able to proceed with many of his ideas, possibly including exciting travel plans, but money does have to be managed well and risks avoided. Also, should the Wood Rat enter into any financial commitment, he should check the terms and obligations. Where financial matters are concerned, this is a year to be thorough and careful.
For personal relations, the Wood Rat will find it an eventful time. With his genial nature, he has a wide range of friends and contacts and over the year some of them can be especially helpful to him. Whenever he has concerns or anxieties, he should not hesitate to talk these over with those around him, who may not only be willing to help but also have experience of their own to draw on. In this sometimes demanding year the Wood Rat could particularly value the assistance he is given.
There will also be excellent opportunity for the Wood Rat to meet new people during the year and he will enjoy an almost immediate rapport with some of them. Late March, April, June, September and December could see the most social activity. However, while the Wood Rat’s relations with those around him will generally be positive, the aspects warn against acting thoughtlessly or taking risks. Wood Rats who are newly in love or perhaps looking for romance need to proceed particularly carefully. Time should be allowed to build a relationship, especially if it is to endure.
While the Horse year calls for care, it will also have its high points, including the marking of the Wood Rat’s thirtieth birthday. Not only will family and friends be keen to celebrate, but also to underline the affection they have for the Wood Rat. There could also be another personal event which is something of a milestone, possibly a personal decision, a family event or an addition to the family. The Wood Rat may find the Horse year bringing several significant moments. Many will also have important decisions to make concerning their accommodation. By discussing their ideas with their loved ones, these Wood Rats will be pleased with how their plans turn out. Domestically, this can be a full and eventful year.
Overall, the Wood Rat will need to proceed carefully in the Year of the Horse. However, by nature he is practical and alert, and provided he remains mindful of the feelings of others and takes advantage of the opportunities that come his way, he can lay down a firm foundation on which to build in the future. In particular, skills acquired in his work can prepare the way for the opportunities that await in the near future. His thirtieth year will require effort, but what he takes from it can go a long way towards helping him realize some of the aspirations that he has for this new and exciting decade in his life.
Tip for the Year
Be attentive and give time to others. Also, think long term and look to further your skills and talents. Use this year well, for it can prove significant.
The Fire Rat
This will be a full and often demanding year for the Fire Rat, but it will also be one of considerable possibility. He will have the chance to develop both new and existing skills and often gain important qualifications. What he undertakes now can have considerable bearing on the next few years.
For Fire Rats in education, there will be exams to prepare for as well as decisions to make about the direction they would like their life to take. At times the pressure may be considerable and the Fire Rat may feel overwhelmed, but if he gives his best and works in a consistent and organized way, he may be pleased with what he achieves.
During the year he should make the most of the resources available to him. Not only can this help with his studying but, looking ahead, by contacting organizations and advice centres he could find out more about the possibilities available. He should also talk to those at home as well as his tutors. Knowing him as well as they do, they too will have ideas and suggestions he could benefit from as well as practical ways to help. In the Horse year the Fire Rat needs to be receptive to the advice of others.
However, while this can be a constructive time, it is important that the Fire Rat accepts that not all his plans will be easily achieved. The Horse year will require great effort and if he is lax or careless, disappointments could loom.
Many Fire Rats will devote a lot of their time to studying this year, but this can also be an important time for general development. In particular, the Fire Rat will often have the chance to take certain interests further. Whether he is developing his skills, exploring his ideas or just having fun, his personal interests can bring both pleasure and other benefits. Fire Rats who enjoy playing a musical instrument, like sport or are artistically inclined will find that joining others and learning more can lead to them developing their talents and being inspired to take them further. Also, if something new intrigues the Fire Rat during the year, he should follow it up. As with so much this year, it can lead on to other possibilities.
With his lively nature and wide interests, the Fire Rat has a good way with others and gets on well with most. Over the year he will enjoy going out with friends and attending parties and other occasions, and will value certain friendships in particular. However, the year does have its more cautionary aspects. If the Fire Rat finds himself in a situation about which he has misgivings or is tempted to over-indulge, problems could occur. This is no time for risks or personal lapses. Fire Rats, take note. Enjoy the year, but be careful. Late March to early May, June, September and December could see the most social activity.
Another area which requires care is finance. With the Fire Rat likely to want to do a great deal on often limited means, he would do well to take his time when considering purchases and avoid impulse buys. Also, if entering into any financial agreement, he should check the terms and be aware of the obligations. This is no year for risk.
For Fire Rats currently in work, the Horse year can bring the chance to build on their present position and move on to new duties. Although sometimes their work may be repetitive and they may be keen to make more of their abilities, by showing commitment and willingness to learn, they will have the chance to benefit when other openings arise.
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