Your Chinese Horoscope 2014: What the year of the horse holds in store for you. Neil Somerville

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ will, in particular, continue to experience great change during the year.

      Although the accent will be on progress, there will, though, inevitably be flashpoints and sudden acts of aggression, as in the Horse year of 1990, when Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait, but generally the troubles will be of short duration and the reaction from international communities swift.

      Another area which will continue to exercise the minds of those in authority will be the world economy. After the austerity and fiscal measures imposed by some governments, 2014 will bring improvement. The green shoots of recovery already seen in some economies will grow stronger during the year, with many governments taking greater measures to stimulate growth and reduce unemployment. With the Horse year favouring initiative, several dynamic approaches will be put forward. Quite a few sectors will see steady growth, but industries which are likely to fare especially well are transport, technology, fashion and those connected with the use and manufacture of renewable energy. Also, while economic considerations will be paramount, attention will again focus on environmental concerns, particularly on reducing pollution in heavily industrialized areas.

      This Horse year will also see lively debate in quite a few countries as governmental and constitutional issues are discussed and new ideas put forward. In the UK in particular, great interest will be focused on the Scottish referendum and the constitutional implications. Other countries, too, will see significant issues debated which could affect national identity and ways of governance.

      Horse years have energy and passion and focus the mind. They have their lighter sides too, including great successes on stage and screen and in the music industry. This year again some influential new figures could emerge on the music scene and new television series and film releases attract great followings. Star Trek and the American reality series The Osbournes both started in Horse years, and Spider-Man and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers were especially successful in 2002. Interestingly, it was a Horse year, 1894, when Louis Lumière invented the cinematograph, and another Horse year when Sony made the first Walkman, a device which was to transform the listening habits of so many. The entertainment industry is set to have another pioneering year in 2014.

      The fashion industry too will enjoy a revival, with new trends and styles quickly coming to prominence. A more elegant look could well be a feature.

      The energy of horses will also be seen in sport. The 2014 Winter Olympics and then the World Cup in Brazil will be colourful and exciting spectacles and there will be historic moments as new sporting milestones are achieved. It was 60 years ago, in a previous Horse year, that Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile, a record that made sporting history.

      As with all years, there will be bleaker moments too. Natural forces and the vagaries of world weather patterns will bring tragedy. There will also be concern about world resources, including the difficulties of meeting ever-growing demands and compensating for crop failures. But while there will inevitably be some problems, the emphasis will be on moving forward and the year will favour growth.

      For the individual, too, this is a year for being willing to take that one step further and work towards goals. With willingness and purpose much can become possible this year. While some Chinese signs will fare better than others, the Horse year is essentially a time for action and I sincerely hope that your actions will bring you the results you desire and that you will fare well.

      Good luck. Be purposeful and I hope this will be a good year for you.

The Rat

      Wood Rat 5 February 1924 to 23 January 1925

      Fire Rat 24 January 1936 to 10 February 1937

      Earth Rat 10 February 1948 to 28 January 1949

      Metal Rat 28 January 1960 to 14 February 1961

      Water Rat 15 February 1972 to 2 February 1973

      Wood Rat 2 February 1984 to 19 February 1985

      Fire Rat 19 February 1996 to 6 February 1997

      Earth Rat 7 February 2008 to 25 January 2009

      The Personality of the Rat

      To see,

      and to see what others do not see.

      That is true vision.

      The Rat is born under the sign of charm. He is intelligent, popular and loves attending parties and large social gatherings. He is able to establish friendships with remarkable ease and people generally feel relaxed in his company. He is a very social creature and is genuinely interested in the welfare and activities of others. He has a good understanding of human nature and his advice and opinions are often sought.

      The Rat is a hard and diligent worker. He is also very imaginative and is never short of ideas. However, he does sometimes lack the confidence to promote his ideas and this can often prevent him from securing the recognition he deserves.

      The Rat is very observant and many Rats have made excellent writers and journalists. The Rat also excels at personnel and PR work and any job that brings him into contact with people and the media. His skills are particularly appreciated in times of crisis, for the Rat has an incredibly strong sense of self-preservation. When it comes to finding a way out of an awkward situation, he is certain to be the one who comes up with a solution.

      The Rat loves to be where there is a lot of action, but should he ever find himself in a very bureaucratic or restrictive environment he can become a stickler for discipline and routine. He is also something of an opportunist and is constantly on the lookout for ways in which he can improve his wealth and lifestyle. He rarely lets an opportunity go by and can become involved in so many plans and schemes that he sometimes squanders his energies and achieves very little as a result. He is also rather gullible and can be taken in by those less scrupulous than himself.

      Another characteristic of the Rat is his attitude towards money. He is very thrifty and to some he may appear a little mean. The reason for this is purely that he likes to keep his money within his family. He can be most generous to his partner, his children and close friends and relatives. He can also be generous to himself, for he often finds it impossible to deprive himself of any luxury or object he fancies. He is very acquisitive and can be a notorious hoarder. He also hates waste and is rarely prepared to throw anything away. He can be rather greedy and will rarely refuse an invitation to a free meal or a complimentary ticket to a lavish function.

      The Rat is a good conversationalist, although he can occasionally be a little indiscreet. He can be highly critical of others – for an honest and unbiased opinion, the Rat is a superb critic – and will sometimes use confidential information to his own advantage. However, as he has such a bright and irresistible nature, most people are prepared to forgive him his slight indiscretions.

      Throughout his long and eventful life the Rat will make many friends and will find that he is especially well suited to those born under his own sign and those of the Ox, Dragon and Monkey. He can also get on well with those born under the signs of the Tiger, Snake, Rooster, Dog and Pig, but the rather sensitive Rabbit and СКАЧАТЬ