Author's Note:
Night of 13-14 January 2011

As someone born near the end of the Brown Earth Rabbit Year of 1939-1940, I've been looking forward to creating this 2011 page for the Year of the Rabbit -- the first rabbit page I will have created for Myth*ing Links.  Frankly, however, were I to choose an animal for myself, it would not be a rabbit.  The owl or dragon would be more likely, or the Capricorn sea-goat, the Great Bear (Ursa Major), the Siberian Deer-Mother, or Grandmother Spiderwoman from the American Southwest.

But Chinese Lunar New Year does not include owls, sea-goats, bears, deer, or spiders.  Its line-up is this: Rat, Horse, Ox,  Sheep, Tiger, Monkey, Rabbit, Rooster, Dragon, Dog, Snake, and Pig.  Of those, only the dragon would find a place among my chosen "totems." So I have come to accept the rabbit as part of my crosscultural lineage.

...Growing up in the midwest in the 1940's and '50's, I had no idea that I'd been born at the tail end of the 1939 Lunar New Year of the Rabbit.  It was only in 1962, when I lived for several months in Vietnam with my father, that an elderly Vietnamese woman told me about my New Year animal.  She also told me that in Vietnam, the Rabbit had been replaced by the Cat.  I prefer Cat but since Rabbit is the focus of much of Asia, I have come to accept Rabbit, welcoming its soft gentleness, its long sensitive ears, and great speed as aspects of myself.

I've also found mythological motifs connected to the rabbit to which I deeply relate and which bind me to its symbolic richness -- the lunar rabbit, for example, grinding the Chinese medicine/elixir of immortality (which is related to the Hindu goddess Vak, who guards India's elixir in the depths of the primal sea).  There is also a lunar rabbit in the sacred narratives of Mexico. [For more on these mythic themes: see The Rabbit in Art, Literature, & Culture]

In looking forward to creating this Rabbit Year page, I have been collecting a number of images for several years.  I found the above "Orienta and Her Rabbit" only tonight but it touched a nerve.  The site where I found it doesn't name the artist nor give any information about its content.  Although the haloed woman's crown includes what looks like a metallic bird-dragon Garuda, her name has no mythic lineage, yet that metallic jewelry motif fits with this year of the Metal Yin Rabit (which, as noted in links below, includes jewelry as well as hidden daggers). It's the mood of the painting that attracts me most, for the woman (or perhaps Moon Goddess) holds her wild, wary rabbit with tenderness.

This Year of the Rabbit looks better than 2010 in some areas, but the outlook on the international and environmental front remains sobering.  As the old saying goes, "Forewarned is forearmed."  May the world's leaders act wisely, compassionately, and with restraint, putting humanity as a whole -- and the planet that is our endangered habitat -- ahead of their more self-serving loyalties.

Blessings to us all in this Year of the Rabbit,

Kathleen

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Chinese New Year:
Specific Information on
Current AnimalYear
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Chinese Rabbit
© James Tan

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2011/2011Zodiac.htm

[Both annual links + horoscope text updated for 2011]:  This is a page chockfull of odd bits of information about each Chinese Lunar New Year, Chinese astrology ("fortune-telling"), and much more.  The site looks at the fortune-telling aspect of the year in conjunction with wood, metal, fire, earth, and water elements in an individual's astrology chart -- there is enough information here to let you see how immensely complex it really is.  You would need to have your own chart cast according to Chinese rules to make sense of it but the site does offer a page in which you can at least insert your birth data to get an entry-level chart that will help clarify your own personal "luck." (Also see this page from the same site:
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2011ChineseHoroscope.htm, which offers more complex data as well as this brief summary:

...According to Chinese Five Element Astrology Calendar, 2011 is the Year of Metal Rabbit.  Female Metal. The color of Metal in Five Elements system is related to White, Yellow or Golden. Therefore we can say 2011 is a White Rabbit, Yellow Rabbit, Metal Rabbit or Golden Rabbit year. Chinese Astrology is a Balance Theory of Five Elements. Each animal can be converted into Five Elements. Rabbit contains only Wood. Therefore 2011 is a strong Wood year. Metal of 2011 is female and connects to jewelry. We can treat 2011 as a beautiful cute rabbit year.  This implies a sign of romantic year for some people. However. Metal and Wood are opposite elements; they have fighting relationship. Rabbit eventually won't feel comfortable wearing jewelry all the time....

[Updated for 2011]: This is Shelly Wu's Chinese Astrology site. She has an upbeat, sensible approach that I really enjoy.  Here are excerpts about this Metal Rabbit year:

On February 3rd we will enter a year of the creative, yet very private Rabbit. The essence of the year will be that of "detachment." The element or heavenly stem of the year will be Metal, taking it's turn moving through the Yin - feminine, negative,  night force.

For some, there will be rest for the weary; for others, 2011 brings a time of independence and even aloofness. An aesthetic year with emphasis on the fine arts, music & treaties made by the fireside. A diplomatic and slower paced year, in sharp contrast to the previous exhausting Tiger months of 2010.

...All signs will feel the pull toward quality, rather than quantity in their relationships. A year of mended fences, reconciliation, and good manners will prevail as the Rabbit is the ultimate diplomat and peacemaker.

Tense situations become more flexible while business and commercial activities look up. For some, marriage may be in the works, but for most, romantic commitments may not happen this year due to the Rabbit's independent and noncommittal nature....

Refinement and good taste color this coming year, as the diplomatic Rabbit teaches persuasion rather than force....

She includes a day by day, month by month, and moon by moon evaluation of each zodiac sign's good fortune (or astral clashes requiring extra caution). Since Wu's work is engaging and excellent, this is a good place to browse for information on Chinese astrology and related matters.  You can even get your Chinese year-animal and basic element by following one of her links (as indicated above however, for a thorough reading much more is needed than just those two ingredients).

Rabbits at Dusk by Spadecaller
Red Bubble Rabbit Art

[Updated for 2011]: Master Raymond Lo's website is much more somber, comprehensive, and covers a wide range of issues.   In addition to wars and other international affairs, he includes natural and manmade disasters, health, economy, investments, and Feng Shui.  About the year in general, here is his ominous opening, which I hope is not an accurate portent of what is to come:

The Year of the Rabbit, 2011, in the Hsia calendar, is symbolized by two elements – with metal sitting on top of wood. According to the cycle of birth and destruction, which governs the inter-relationship between the elements, metal is the destroyer of wood and so they are on the destructive cycle and have conflict relationship. .This aspect is same as the year of Tiger in 2010 which is also metal over wood. Only difference is that this year is yin metal, not yang metal. Unfortunately this means the year 2011 will also be not peaceful with more international conflicts coming up. The yin metal element on top is jewellery and decorative metal but it can also symbolize a dagger. Yin metal element is beautiful, charming and moderate on the outside but very hard and tough like steel at heart, because of its metal nature.

So the atmosphere in 2011 will be more peaceful on the surface but with disharmony, tension and surprise attacks. And this element always associate with assassinations, secret plots and hidden agenda.  The Rabbit underneath is also small wood, it is associate with back bones and neck of the body. The picture is a dagger at the back – this means back stabbing, assassinations and secret plots. As such, the best symbol for this year is an assassin with a dagger. I anticipate this elemental relationship will bring a year of conflict and disharmony in inter-national relationships and it is a year for more terrorist plots and attacks.

The yang metal is symbol of leadership, loyalty to friends, and sense of justice. Yin metal will appear to be moderate and peaceful on the outside but is actually more drastic and harsh than yang metal. As such, this may cause more danger of terrorist attacks and more fierce clashes and fighting and could cause more destruction and damage from cunning and surprise attacks. It is necessary for all world leaders to exercise caution and alert.

He then looks back to the last Yin Metal Rabbit year in 1951.  It's really almost spooky because of  the North Korean involvement, then as now:

The Chinese calendar year goes on 60-year cycle. This means that we have experienced the same year of yin metal over Rabbit in 1951. This was the year when the Korean War was at its fierce fighting stage with the Chinese and North Korean captured Seoul in January then the UN troops recaptured the capital in March. Also the world continued in competition in making atomic bombs with many nuclear testing for atomic weapons....

Crystal Rabbit
Feng Shui Sources

Fortunately, there are also some hopeful signs:

The Rabbit belongs to yin wood element and it is representing mid spring when trees and plants are getting prosperous. The Rabbit is flower and grass and branches of trees. It represents youth, motions and activities and so it will be energetic year with new movements of the young people and more young people demanding changes and reform in politics and social establishment....

But also disturbing environmental forecasts:

...The Rabbit is fragile and brittle wood especially it is under attack by metal element. As wood element is symbol of trees and the environment, we can expect the metal attacking wood in 2011 will also cause more accidents leading to more destruction of the environment. Natural disasters like forest fire will happen to cause damage to the atmosphere. Metal is also a symbol of breathing organ and lung. The conflict involving wood and metal indicates worsening of air quality and more sickness related to breathing organ. The Tiger year 2010 already brought serious damage of environment by incidents such as the ash cloud of volcanic eruptions and the oil rig explosion disaster in Mexican Gulf in April 2010. Such environmental disasters were caused by the attack of metal over wood, and it is expected that similar accidents causing damage of environment will continue to occur in 2011 with same metal attacking wood configuration....

... Also the powerful metal attacking wood is responsible for the BP oil rig explosion on 20/4 which caused very serious environmental disaster. This is again, consequence of metal attacking wood which is symbol of the tree – the environment. With this understanding, we should also expect such disruption to airline business and environmental problem could occur also in 2011 with the same configuration of metal suppressing wood. In 2011, months like July, September, October are the months when metal could be particularly strong and wood will suffer more setbacks....

Some excerpts on health and climate, which are far  from being separate categories these days:

...year 2010 is also not favorable for people who has weak immune system. Metal is the element symbolizing lung and breathing organ and skin, with metal further exhausted by wood there will be breathing organ problems related to poor air quality, allergy of the nose, and flu will be more serious in 2011.

...The pair of elements in 2011, yin metal sitting on the rabbit shows dryness with total absence of water.... So it is anticipated that 2011 could be a more dry year with drought occurring in many parts of the world. Also the apparent weakness of metal element showing up on top of Rabbit also reflect bad air quality damaging breathing organ, and that the metal element is destroyer of wood which is a symbol of the environment, these all indicates there may be deteoriation in global warming, leading to more pollution and worsening of the atmosphere and more unusual climate changes could be experienced in 2011....

On the economy:

...In 2011, the Rabbit is pure wood, it is not so strong in generating fire like the Tiger. So the economy will not be as fast moving as the Tiger but there is also strong summer fire supported by wood in 2011, so the stock market will continue to be vibrant and active most of the year. However, with strong water coming in 2012, one have to be cautioned against some setback in the autumn of 2011 commencing from around August and October as usual....

...In summary, the industries that will perform well in the year of the Rabbit will be industries related to Fire and Earth elements. Fire industries are entertainment, finance, energy, The earth industry such as property, hotel, mining, insurance etc is active but not making obvious profit as their money element – water is absent. The metal industry such as banking, machinery, engineering, computer, and high tech industries will enter a year of caution with some instability factors. And the sectors relating to water such as shipping, communication, drinks, spa will be moving ahead with conservatism. Wood industry may not be doing very well as their money element earth is absent....

Here's an overall political summary in a nutsell -- at the highest levels, much caution and constant vigilance will be demanded -- repeatedly, the dagger-image comes up:

In general, the Yin Metal Rabbit year, with Metal on top and wood below, is symbol of calm face with tension underneath.. It will bring conflict and disharmony and may not be a peaceful year with international clashes and disagreements. The yin metal is a destructive weapon so it requires more patience and restraint to prevent skirmishes and wars. Especially the Yin metal shows a peaceful mask but it is a dagger undercover so there is hidden threat and danger of assassination and terrorist attacks. .

However, the positive side of yin metal is that it is also an element of Justice, loyalty and hopefully such virtuous quality will help world leaders to make wise decisions to minimize any disagreement and conflicts. Yin metal is a gentleman image on the outside but one will be surprised by his harsh and drastic actions. So one should be kept on alert of surprise attacks and hidden agenda when making deals to solve global problems. The theme is always a dagger hidden under the cloak and there is atmosphere of distrust and back stabbing.. .

And on the USA's President Obama:

President Barak Obama is a strong earth person and he needs metal and water elements to exhaust his excessive earth energy. Wood is also favorable as it helps to suppress his excessive earth elements. The metal in 2011 is his favorable elements representing his skill and intelligence. As such, it is a year he has chance to show off his talent and gets recognition in his performance. The Rabbit is his extreme power element. As such, it will be a favorable year for Obama with display of strength, achievements and successes.

As always, this annual essay is lengthy but worth reading.  Even if he's wrong about certain specifics, it can't hurt to be extra cautious about his findings which deal with problem areas.

[Updated for 2011]: In 2008, this little page focused very nicely on what each individual sign could expect in the Rat Year.  I found the simplicity of taking that single focus appealing (sometimes, a more global approach can overwhelm a reader).  In 2009, however, the format changed and has been retained for 2010. I prefer 2008's approach but I also like their new focus on various categories, which so far, at least, change annually.  Here are some passages from 2011's catagories:

Characteristics of The Rabbit

The three words that best describe the rabbit? Calm and gentle, but persistent.

Quietly charismatic, thoughtful and calm, rabbits are admired for their tactful and considerate dealings with all who know them. As such, they are most often depended upon for their wise counsel, or as someone in which to put valued trust in a personal friendship or a business dealing....

Their highly developed natures can also be found in artistic pursuits. They have an impeccable eye for color and line that is evident in their thoughtful fashion sense. The rabbit is usually on anyone's Best Dressed list.

Despite (or because of) their outwardly calm demeanors, rabbits are extremely shrewd. In business dealings and may never show their hand until just the right moment. They are also quick to bolt from any perceived danger and intuitively know when to fold - and run!

Famous People Born in The Year of the Rabbit

Albert Einstein, Leon Trotsky, Frank Sinatra, Pope Benedict XVI, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, David Beckham, Tiger Woods, Whitney Houston.

General Predictions for the Year of the Rabbit

The year of the Rabbit is traditionally associated with home and family, artistic pursuits, diplomacy, and keeping the peace. Therefore, 2011 is very likely to be a relatively calmer one than 2010 both on the world scene, as well as on a personal level.

Conversely, nations will also become more insular and increasingly lock down their borders to protect against the "other". However, 2011 will also see new art movements projecting a distinct national identity taking the world by storm. Shrewd and creative new business partnerships will also form to the benefit of all.

Rabbits who thrive on delicate business dealings are best suited to navigating the year ahead. Those compatible with the Rabbit — the Sheep, Dog and Pig in particular — will also find 2011's circumstances inspiring them to greater personal happiness and professional success.

Others will suffer, by degree, depending on how flexible they are to the world mood. Those who have cultivated careful negotiation skills (or, perhaps more importantly, can sniff-out and swiftly dodge dangerous situations!), may attain similar good luck enjoyed by rabbits and those compatible with them in 2011.

I also like the sensible disclaimer at the end:

Remember, whatever the omens portend, for better or worse, you are the final master of your own fate.

[Added 1/17/11]: This is "2011: Year of the White Rabbit," a new website for my Lunar New Year pages this year.  It comes from Feng Shui expert, Donna Stellhorn, whose mailing list I've been on for many years.  Today her group-email included this link.  She discusses what we can expect in a Rabbit Year but her site is unique in that she also offers detailed advice on using Feng Shui to enhance good luck and to prevent bad luck in certain areas of your living space.

Her opening on general aspects of a Rabbit Year immediately caught my eye -- I especially love the image of Rabbit coming as a balancing force between intense Tiger and Dragon energies <smile>:

After a year of the Tiger jumping out at us at any moment bringing job losses, market ups and downs, and an economy dipping in and out of danger we enter a place of calm. We’ve been trying to outrun a Tiger. And then what pops out of the bushes on February 3rd, 2011 as our protector; a little, white, fluffy Rabbit. The little peacemaker. It is said that the Tiger conquers by force and Rabbit does it by diplomacy. And now we have a year to catch our breath before the Dragon wakes in 2012. Imagine that between two of the most powerful forces in the Chinese Zodiac, the Tiger and the Dragon, stands a little Rabbit keeping them in balance. Don’t let that soft, white fur and those big brown eyes fool you. Clever Rabbit uses his gentle, persuasive words to sooth the Universe into rest and relaxation. He is the diplomat, weaving plans together so the other animals drop their fighting stance and start working together. We are in the eye of the storm, where nothing moves, no wind, just calm.

We think of Alice’s white rabbit and her trip down the rabbit hole. Was that an expansion of her consciousness, like in the Matrix when Neo was instructed to “follow the white rabbit” and his life completely changed or was it an escape so Alice didn’t have to deal with the stresses of the real world? This year we need to listen to advice and be open to receiving instructions. Be aware of danger and follow rather than lead for now....

Hare
Tsui-po
(See directly below)

[Added 1/26/09; updated 1/19/11, an hour after this revised page was posted]:  From the Holy Mountain Trading Company comes this engaging, lengthy, beautifully illustrated essay on the Rabbit Year, personality and destinies of Rabbit people, and how other signs will fare during this year. I would put it under my following section on "People Born in a Rabbit Year" except that Holy Mountain has another page focused solely on that (see below). This page, instead, brings in a more "meta" level, as the following excerpts show.....

...The Rabbit is one of the symbolical animals corresponding to or having affinity with the fourth of the Twelve Terrestrial Branches, called the Mâo Mao Branch, and symbolizes longevity and diplomacy. It represents March, Spring, and the eastern direction. Pisces is Rabbit's Western counterpart.

The hare is common in the Yangtze valley and the northern regions of China. An old oriental proverb states, "A swift Hare has three holes," meaning that the smart rabbit has three holes dug in the ground, ready to escape through any one of them whenever a predator approaches. The animal is legendary as deriving its origin from the vital essence of the moon, and consequently is concluded to be subject to its influence. It was once believed by the Chinese that the rabbit conceived by merely gazing at the moon, and that her young were produced from her mouth. Folklore maintained that the hare, like the fox, could live over 1,000 years and became white in color when it attained the age of 500....

...Rabbits are cautious and circumspect about their stamina throughout their life. They will succeed in having the harmonious existence they desire with one precondition: that they avoid momentous events such as wars and other such calamities, both natural and man-made. Rabbits are not designed to survive long-term hardship or misfortune; above all, they desire and need a quiet existence. As they grow older they mellow into a benign good humor and are generally less tense, which adds to their longevity. This is the sign most likely to find happiness and serenity....

The Year of the Rabbit is said to bring peace, however it is a time when sudden, dramatic events change the world. Rabbit years have been cataclysmic, particularly this last century: the evacuation of Saigon (1975); the nadir of the civil rights movement in the United States and the assassination of President John Kennedy (1963); the North Vietnamese conquest of Saigon and the San Francisco peace treaty with Japan (1951); the German occupation of Bohemia and the Japanese taking of Hainan (1939); and Black Friday, the total collapse of the German economy (1927)....

This is an opportune time to entertain and enjoy long conversations in congenial settings. Diplomacy will shine and changes abound, particularly in the first half of the year and especially in matters involving the law. Prospects are auspicious for attorneys and other people concerned with the justice system. There are indications of secretive plots and unexpected offensives by corporate and/or political powers to hold down the middle and lower classes, perhaps once again through the banking and financial system. Property prices continue to fall at least through January 2012 and stock market growth is restrained.... Expect evidence to come to light of wide scale woodland and rain forest devastation and massive environmental degradation. The paper industry, publishing and teaching fields can expect challenges....

Many men and women of exceptional character have been ruled by this sign, composed of personality types who bring about changes in others without changing themselves. Unsurprisingly, a number of prominent politicians are among the group, including Fidel Castro, Queen Victoria, President Trujillo, Catherine de Medici and Joseph Stalin. Other important people born in the Year of the Rabbit are Confucius, Martin Luther, Albert Einstein, Longfellow, John Keats, Melina Mercouri, Cary Grant, Billie Holiday, Coretta Scott King, Agatha Christie, Marie Curie, Andy Warhol, Paul Klee, Orson Welles, Zhang Yimou, Henry James, Henry Miller, Rudolf Nureyev, Brad Pitt, Nicholas Cage, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Sting, Marvin Gaye, Ingrid Bergman, Ken Russell, Francis Ford Coppola, Tiger Woods, and Presidents John Adams, James K. Polk, James A. Garfield and William McKinley.

This section is then followed by forecasts for individual signs in this Rabbit Year, which I will leave you to explore on your own.

[Updated for 2011 on 1/17/11]: Zany, witty, often shallow, sometimes deep, this odd site provides just about anything you ever wanted to know about the tiger from a zillion perspectives.  It seems to go on forever with its graphics and silliness.  But it's entertaining and fun to watch <smile>.

Chinese Lunar New Year:
People Born in a Rabbit Year

[See Holy Mountain site directly below]

[Updated for 2011]:  Last year (2010) I wrote: "I first found this lovely "Holy Mountain" website in January 2009 and love their approach -- more of their pages will soon be scattered around my Lunar New Year pages (also see preceding section). Their copyrighted essays on people born in each animal's year offer interesting and often astute psychological portraits."

This year, however, for the 2011 Year of the Rabbit, I am less thrilled.  Perhaps this year's essay was written by someone whose sign is a zodiac-foe of rabbits, or perhaps it was focused on a different type of rabbit from the 1939-1940 Earth Rabbit year in which I was born (see link below for the 5 types of rabbits -- I fall within the category of "Somber Rabbit").  Of course, to be fair, Chinese charts are very complex and my "Rabbitness" would be much altered by other zodaic factors.  Holy Mountain's portraits might therefore accurately reflect the "pure" type.  Some excerpts:

The Rabbit is quick, clever and ambitious, but seldom finishes what he starts.  He epitomizes gentleness, refinement and elegance, turning his back on conflicts of any kind. Preferring a situation that is perfectly favorable according to his specific desires, the Rabbit bypasses all obstacles and persons he does not find suitable. As a result, he is rarely angry, hostile or aggressive. Companions quickly forget any discord, only remembering his seductive grace.

The Rabbit is the happiest sign of the Zodiac -- gifted, nice to be with, discreet, refined, reserved, ambitious but not too much so, and virtuous in the bargain. Nobody ignores Rabbits, for they are good company and know how to make the best of themselves. Unfortunately, however, Rabbits are superficial and their good qualities are superficial also....

Wars, revolutions, natural catastrophes have nothing to do with him; he wasn't designed for adversity. Anything that threatens his quiet life becomes insupportable. An old Chinese proverb says, "A swift Hare has three holes," meaning that the smart Rabbit has three holes dug in the ground, ready to escape through any one of them whenever a predator approaches. He is not a fighter and would rather flee than confront conflicts. There is usually something offbeat and mysterious in the Rabbit's makeup, as though he held the secret to some great truth that he dare not reveal. It must be remembered that the Rabbit's apparent weakness can easily be changed into strength -- from man to magician to god....

Chinese Zodiac Rabbit
© Steve Loya

[Updated for 2011]:This is "Astro-Chinese" -- a simple, elegant little site that I like.  Unlike last year, this year, it opens with soothing balm:

Relax. The tempestuous Tiger has gone, and the year of the docile Rabbit has arrived. Like his graceful and peace-loving nature, the Rabbit brings a much welcomed time of carefree days, comfortable living, and simply taking things easy. Everyone is on their best behavior, rigid rules and regulations become lax, and all things unpleasant are put on the back burner. A good time for those burnt by the Tiger’s claws to lick their wounds, lay back and enjoy the calm.

This site is the only one I've found that showcases and explains personality differences between the five various elemental modalities of each animal. Thus, for rabbits we have:

The Five Types of Rabbits

The Metal Rabbit: 1951: “The Arty Rabbit”
Inspired by music and the arts, this lover of aesthetics has impeccable taste an a discerning eye. Frequently an art collector and a connoisseur, he will strive to savor the best of what life has to offer. Self-assured and cunning, this Rabbit is sure of what he wants to achieve in life.

The Water Rabbit: 1903, 1963: “The Fragile Rabbit”
Sensitive and emotional, the water rabbit cannot bear unpleasantness or discord in any form and will avoid it at any cost, causing him to seem withdrawn. He is very empathic to the feelings of others, sometimes taking things too much to heart, putting him in frequent dark moods. However, his mental powers are above par, and he is a natural at attracting people, much to his surprise.

The Wood Rabbit: 1915, 1975: “The Charitable Rabbit”
This generous soul is a likeable and very friendly sort of rabbit. He enjoys working in groups, and could happily thrive in a large institution where he can climb up the career ladder slowly but surely. Compassionate and understanding to a fault, he leaves himself open to be used by the less scrupulous, compounded by his fear of authority figures and innate diplomatic nature. Fortunately, he is a lucky rabbit, and things almost always work out in his favour.

The Fire Rabbit: 1927,1987: “The Psychic Rabbit”
Known for their keen perception and intuition, this fun-loving Rabbit has a strength of character seldom seen in his sign. He has a superb understanding of human nature and comes across as a very likeable and outgoing chap, with a special way with children. Charming and natural, he enjoys socializing, and easily hides his hurts and disappointments discreetly. Highly sensitive, he could also become moody and neurotic when things don’t go his way.

The Earth Rabbit: 1939, 1999: “The Somber Rabbit”
Serious and realistic, the earth rabbit is less indulgent than his counterparts, seldom giving in to his emotional tendencies. He is the type who is treasured by his boss for his level-headedness, tenacity, and old fashioned good sense, ensuring him success in the workplace.

As you can see, each of the above comes with a brief but nicely expanded description.  Then there is a succinct, breezy section on compatibilities with other signs.  There are also lists of artistic rabbits, scientific rabbits, showbiz rabbits, musical rabbits, political & royal rabbits, etc. All in all, a charming little page.

[Updated for 2011]:  This is another site focusing on personalities determined by the Chinese zodiac.  Each zodiac sign is given its own page (with a search engine at the top for other signs).  About the Rabbit, here are some excerps:

...Socially, the Sign is extremely popular and has a wide circle of family and friends. Its compassionate nature leads it to be very protective of those it holds dear. Rabbits dislike arguments and other conflict and will try anything to avoid a fight.

Where romance is concerned, the Rabbit's sentimentality can lead it to idealize relationships.  The rabbit often ends up giving more of itself to a partner than is realistic or healthy. Rabbits love to entertain at home and always make sure their house is comfortable and tastefully-furnished.

Being a delicate Sign they need a solid base in order to thrive. Lacking close, supportive friends and family, the Rabbit might just break down in tears at the first sign of conflict.

Intellectually, Rabbits tend to move through life's lessons at their own pace....

Jade Rabbit
From a 1,000  year old Song  Dynasty jade artifact collection
[see directly below]

[Sidebar 1/26/09]: This is a very handsome site and I am sorry to see that its owner has let it vanish (I tried emailing him today but even the email address is gone). It's a relief to know that it's still temporarily available on Web Archive with its wonderful jade images. I hope it will remain there safely.

[Original annotation]: Here again the focus is on the personalities of those born in each of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. In addition to a survey of characteristics of each sign, there is also a jade animal representing each sign -- these come from a 1,000  year old Song Dynasty jade artifact collection of the 12 Zodiac Animals. The photos of these jade pieces are large and detailed -- many are really quite lovely.  [Note: for those interested in jade, click on Chronological History and you'll find a treasure trove of beautifully illustrated pages (including maps) of jade art from Chinese dynasties from Neolithic times through the Qing Dynasty.]

[Updated for 2011]:  Here is the entry for people born in a Rabbit Year:

RABBIT People fall under a most fortunate sign! Their sign is the emblem of long life and they possess the powers of the moon. Hares are very sensitive to beauty. They are gracious and soft spoken. RABBIT People are the diplomats and the peace-makers. They enjoy a tranquil life and love a quiet evening at home. RABBIT People are reserved and very artistic. They are thorough and good scholars. When RABBIT People are moody, which is often, they will appear totally indifferent to the world. RABBIT People are lucky in money matters and great at finding a bargain. They may look easy-going, but they are actually quite cunning! Being a strong-willed person, they go quietly but determinedly towards their goals. They don't like making waves and find other means to get their way.

[Updated for 2011]:  This link looks at the Rabbit with good, often detailed data not found elsewhere but you have to navigate through 8 individual horoscope-style categories (click on these along the blue bar near top of page for love, finances, etc). This is a difficult site to navigate if you're looking for the rest of the zodiac but in 2009, one link on the Wood Ox page finally took me to the full zodiac (depicted by too "cute" animals).  It should not have been this hard to find the main page but the site is still worth a look.  For example, here's the "general description" entry for Rabbits:

Rabbits, like their animal counterparts, are quite calm people who do not exhibit aggressive behavior and will avoid confrontation at all costs. When angry about something, a Rabbit will approach it calmly and considerately, hardly ever raising his voice or becoming visibly annoyed. Because of their serenity, Rabbits seem to miss things, whether they are confrontational in nature or not. However, the Rabbit is quite keen and pays close attention to the situations developing around him. He is intelligent and quick and can talk himself in or out of most situations with no problem.

The Chinese Rabbit is one of the most stylish creatures of the Chinese Animal Signs and finds interest in different cultures. He is classy and sophisticated, and can be found adorning one of the latest fashion magazine cover looks. Rabbits also like artistic ventures, such as painting and music and are generally quite present in these worlds. They love to express themselves, which is evident when joining them at home for a function or a cup of coffee.

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Chinese Rabbit Logo

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OTHER RELEVANT Myth*ingLinks PAGES:

General Data on Lunar New Year

The Rabbit in Art, Literature, & Culture:   Launched 22-23 January 2011, 12:30am

The Tiger in Art, Literature, & Culture: 3 January 2010 (officially launched 29 January 2010; updated 16 January 2011)

The Ox in Art, Literature, & Culture: 25 January 2009

Pigs in History, Religion, Culture, & Art:
[This is one of my new January 2007 pages with general information
but also great material on ancient China's pigs and pig-dragons.]

NOTE:
2010-2011 Year of the Metal Tiger is now at: Lunar Archives: MetalTiger
2009-2010 Year of the Earth Ox is now at: Lunar Archives: EarthOx
2008-2009 Year of the Earth Rat is now at: Lunar Archives: EarthRat
 2007-2008 Year of the Fire Pig is now at: Lunar Archives: FirePig
 2006-2007 Year of the Fire Dog is now at: Lunar Archives: FireDog
2005-2006 Year of the Wood Rooster is now at: Lunar Archives: Wood Rooster
 2004-2005 Year of the Wood Monkey is now at: Lunar Archives: Wood Monkey
 2003-2004 Year of the Water Goat is now at: Lunar Archives: Water Goat
2002-2003 Year of the Water Horse is now at: Lunar Archives: Water Horse
2001-2002 Year of the Metal Snake page is now at: Lunar Archives: Metal Snake
 2000-2001 Year of the Metal Dragon page is now at:Lunar Archives: Metal Dragon

To the ASIA menu-page

To Common Themes: Time
(Calendars, Millennial Issues, etc)

These Lunar New Year pages were begun 17 January 2000 for Metal Dragon Year:
for subsequent logs, see individual years.

2011-2012, Metal Yin Rabbit Year:
13-14 January 2011: began updating links and art.
16 January 2011: archived Metal Yang Tiger page and launched this one c. 2:35-2:50pm EST.
17 January 2011: added new Donna Stellhorn/Feng Shui page. Squidoo finally posted 2011 page so updated that.  Still waiting on Holy Mtn. -- even phoned them to ask when it'll be up.
19 January 2011, 11:45pm: Holy Mountain is now online as of about an hour ago. Hurrah!
Now I'm updating my own page with excerpts and one piece of art from theirs.
3 May 2011: added link to opening essay on Cat in Vietman -- & why Rabbit was replaced w/Cat.  Love it!
At the top of this page, added "Water" to 2012's Dragon Year and links to 2 useful charts with centuries of Lunar New Year animals & elements.  Also added revised info (below) on past life sessions.
7 January 2012: Archived this Rabbit Year and launched the Water Dragon Year.

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In addition to my other work, I am available by telephone for pastlife-regression sessions, something I love and have been doing for nearly 4 decades.......

.Explore Your Karmic Roots..
...See: Testimonials

With memory, with the reflection of an echo,
a gate opens both ways.  We can circle time....
                                      [Michael Ondaatje: Divisadero]

Ondaatje's insight is a perfect description of pastlife work, since a gate does indeed open both ways as we circle time and heal what has gone before.

My $75 - $150 sliding scale will remain in effect for 2011 for students, the elderly, and unemployed.  If you're interested,  please email me: jenks7ATfrontierDOTcom

..March 2011 -- NEW:Interspecies Past Lives.

In Genesis, Noah was directed to rescue all species against a time of growing danger. We are again in such a time.  I am suggesting that each of us is already a Noah's Ark filled with countless, unsuspected, interspecies lifetimes.  This means we can be far more than sorrowing observers of animal exploitation and extinction.  We can reconnect with our own secret wisdom, our own animal cunning, and join together to protect all species....

Click on Ark image for more info on $35 mini sessions as well as reports from volunteer subjects on their own earlier animal lives.

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$35.00 Green World Oracle Readings:

Green World Oracle

I was the Mythology/Religion/Psychology consultant on game-2, "Wisdom Quest," of this series.  I also wrote "Wisdom Quest's"Companion Guide.  As of  early 2009,  the new owners are no longer offering the Companion Guide but please email me if you're interested in a $10 PDF download: jenks7ATfrontierDOTcom.

"Rabbit" in Chinese Caligraphy