The Chinese calendar is both lunar and solar (lunisolar). The Chinese calendar dates back to 2637 BCE, and the current calendar dates to the 14th century BCE. It’s based on a 60-year cycle, each of which is named with a celestial stem (element) and terrestrial branch (zodiac animal)…all of which correlate to astronomical calculations. This year the Lunar New Year was on Jan 22 this year. The Solar New Year or Spring Festival (Li Chun) commences on Feb 4, the official start of the Water Rabbit year. BaZi and Feng Shui cycles and calculations are based on the solar calendar, which is calculated on the orbit of the earth around the Sun, while the Lunar year is calculated on the orbit of the Earth’s moon. That’s why the Lunar New Year begins on a different day in January or February. The Solar year consistently commences on Feb 4. There are a lot of complex calculations for the lunisolar calendar, but this addresses questions I’ve received about the Chinese New Year.

This year the Gui Mao, or Yin Water Rabbit, is the “Grand Duke Jupiter” or Tai Sui of the year. The Chinese Zodiac animals are assigned according to the location of Jupiter’s orbit, there is a direction and season associated with it. The Rabbit is associated with the East (East 2, specifically), and the arrival of Spring. All zodiac animal “predictions” are calculated according to their relationship with the Grand Duke. This, however, doesn’t take into consideration the rest of the information in your personal chart, the complexities of those interactions, and outside influences. Accordingly, this is a “generalization” of the energies at play.

We experienced a Yin Water Rabbit month this year (March) that was engaged with the Yang Water Tiger year. How did that play out? The Russians were invading Ukraine, but the Ukrainians used the energy of the clever Rabbit to burrow in, remain calm, and resolute, and moved quickly to turn the momentum of the Russian force against itself. The world immediately joined with Ukraine, providing aid and assistance. The Rabbit, unlike the Tiger, is thoughtful before it makes a move. But once it determines a strategy, it moves quickly. It is said that the Rabbit is gentle and tender, but it is clever. The Chinese idiom, “a crafty rabbit has 3 burrows,” implies that the clever rabbit has many ideas, adapts to the environment, and moves quickly to protect itself in unfavorable situations. We begin the Rabbit year in a Wood Tiger month, which will have some similarities, but the Heavenly Stem of Wood has a little different nuance of strong growth, versus swift and chaotic movement. The Gui water of this year is like dew, gentle rain, or a gentle stream, versus the white rapids or waterfall energy of last year’s Ren Water.

This year’s BaZi chart does not include all the elements and the “self” is weak, lacking metal that produces water. For that reason the yeas has the potential to lack resources, resulting in lost opportunities in some months. In other words, there may be opportunities, but also lots of competition. The missing Metal also indicates a lack of real authority (a lack of Earth element), which can create instability. Inflation will likely not begin to subside until the last half or last quarter of the year. It’s also a year of transition between Era 8 and Era 9 of 2024, so be careful of how you invest or spend your money. This shows up as an excess of fire in the chart. Proper planning is imperative this year. Those with extra cash in the bank will be in a position to take advantage of the right opportunities.

The Rabbit is refined, diplomatic, and calm…known as the gentlest and most tender of the 12 zodiac animals. It couldn’t be more different from the high energy of the current Yang Water Tiger year, which was characterized by strength, vitality, and growth. Additionally, the differences between Yang Water and Yin Water are that of a white-water river vs a meandering stream. In 2022 people may have felt enthusiastic and positive, but they were also a bit restless and inflexible…don’t you agree?

The coming Year of the Rabbit is the very embodiment of “yin”…the passive principle of the universe. It is relaxed, fluid, quiet, peaceful, and contemplative. While 2022 was fast-paced, 2023 will offer time for contemplation and nurturing…providing balance.

So, the overall energy of 2023 is very likely to be calmer. But there could be more movement/travel. We can only hope that a wave of calm will be a primary energy of 2023…that the Rabbit with soothe the agitation of the Tiger year, that we will benefit from the constancy of the Rabbit’s nature…that it moves steadily and confidently forward regardless of hurdles.

With the Yin nature of the Gui Water, it will add to the calm. While the Ren Water of 2022 was dynamic, the yin aspect of Gui Water will be gentle, emphasizing the gentle aspect of the Rabbit.

The Rabbit is also associated with romance and social interaction. So, as they say, love and/or flirtations may be in the air under this affectionate sign. The Rabbit is the harbinger of Spring with a primary element of Yin Wood…a symbol of popularity and attractiveness. As such, this may be a year of singles finding romance, or at the very least for us to connect with our loved ones in a more profound way.

Your best strategy this year is to be kind to others, be a problem solver for others, and be conveyers of more noble expressions of human nature. It is through your charitable heart and desire to help others that you will find your rewards.

If you have Monkey or Yang Metal in your BaZi chart, this will be a clash year for you. Clash indicates a year of change.

If you have Yin Water, Yang Water in your Day Master, or a birth year ending with a 2 or 3, this is a Nobleman Year for you.