Rat is Yin. Rat is the first sign in the Chinese horoscope.

Rats have the following characteristics:

APPEAL
SOCIABILITY
INFLUENCE
INTELLECTUAL SKILL
THRIFT
CHARISMA

Rat sins may include:

NERVOUSNESS
THIRST FOR POWER
VERBOSITY
GUILE
ACQUISITIVENESS
MEDDLING

Chinese astrology, like the rest of life, is really just another rat race. According to legend, many many years ago Buddha summoned all the animals in the kingdom to his side. Only twelve showed up and the rat got there first. To compensate the dozen animals who answered Buddha's behest, their leader awarded one year of the Chinese calendar to each. As the rat had won the race, he got to have his name on the first year out of twelve. How Buddha classed the rest of the animals I don't know, except they fall in this order: Ox, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, following the Rat. Each give his name to a year.

Whenever I inform people that their astrological sign is Rat, they squiggle up the little snouts in disgust. "Ugh!" They don't want to be Rats/ They'd rather be something less revolting. A hummingbird? A hamster? Let's face it. Rats don't have a very elegant reputation in our occidental urbanized society.

But think for a moment of the clever farm rat. It is this rat, the collector, the deft and admirable country rat, whom Buddha honored. This rural rat is, to this day, an amazing scrounger for food, finder of places to nest and procreator par excellence. But let's put aside our base image of the city rat and concentrate on his country cousin.

The key words I always use for Rat people are "charm" and "aggressiveness." You'll never meet and unattractive Rat. Nor will you find a Rat person who does not seek to achieve and succeed, stand out from the crowd and even assume power over others. Rats are movers and drivers. They are born with leadership qualities and a hefty measure of guile. The Rat's ends frequently justify his means.

Rat people usually appear calm and at ease in company. They're talkative (to a fault sometimes) and make pleasant conversationalists. But take a closer look. The Rat has a rubber band in his hand which he incessantly snaps back and forth between two fingers. The Rat woman keeps jiggling the fastener on her handbag. Rats only seem tranquil. Inside they are nuclear reactors of nerves that bubble and twist, but never--or rarely--explode.

Rats or stashers of food and have a well-developed sense of economy. They know where their money goes and for which frivolities they are willing to spend lavishly. Parties and gatherings of all sorts please the Rat. In fact, any chance to communicate with others is seen as a joyful occasion. Rats love--no, need--to talk. If Rats have problems, they talk them through. If they are depressed, they blab it out. If they lose a lover, they can only cure themselves of heartbreak by exposing the whole gory story until the listener's ears are red from hearing and the Rat has emptied his soul of despondency. If you have a grabby Rat pal, keep your Walkman handy and turn up the volume.

If you are loved by a Rat, consider yourself lucky. Rats will defend and spoil the people they love without hesitation. Outsiders don't count. The Rat wants to be surrounded with those who like and admire him. He will lavish presents on them and feed them till they burst from admiration. Companionship is the Rat's idea of contentment.

Rats are not necessarily high-minded. Nor are they artistic dreamers. Rats are simply smart. They make excellent lawyers and executives. Rats dabble more than a little in politics. Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter are both Rats.

Rats are not infrequently found dabbling in other peoples' lives. They enjoy a facility for getting involved with friends and neighbors. Rats are not quite busybodies, but almost. They loved to be engaged in the running of some committee or the administration of a board of directors. Rats will not volunteer to be the cleanup committee. No. It's power they are after--power and influence and lost of big old-fashioned kudos.