Thomas Canfield
The chart is for the Aquarian New Moon, the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit in Chinese Astrology (Jan. 21, 2023, Washington D.C., 3:53 pm). According to the Chinese Astrology author Theodora Lau, the Year of the Rabbit is “A placid year, very much welcomed and needed after the ferocious year of the Tiger. We should go off to some quiet spot to lick our wounds and get some rest after all of the battles of the previous year.”
This advice is confirmed in the New Moon chart, with the Part of Fortune and Pallas rising above the Cancer Ascendant. With Ceres in the Fourth House, it is a good time to stay at home and deal with domestic matters. Ceres is trine Mars in Gemini in the Eleventh House. A loud and enjoyable house party may be the best solution for bringing people together. This fits in with Theodora Lau’s statement that “Good taste and refinement will shine on everything and people will acknowledge that persuasion is better than force. A congenial time in which diplomacy, international relations, and politics will be given a front seat again. We will act with discretion and make reasonable concessions without too much difficulty.”
The themes of “diplomacy, international relations, and politics” are seen with Jupiter conjunct Juno at the top of the chart. New respect and popularity for political figures may be evident at this time. After the failed personal attacks in the year of the Tiger, some people may get the message that such negative campaigning does not work. Jupiter-Juno are sextile the New Moon, which may bring more harmony between the sexes, especially since so many female candidates won in the previous election. There is a Grand Trine in Air with the New Moon, Ceres, and Mars, linking the other-directed houses of Family, Partnership, and Friendship. This combination should help make it clear “that persuasion is better than force.”
What to beware of in the Year of the Rabbit is that it is “A time to watch out that we do not become too indulgent. The influence of the Rabbit tends to spoil those who like too much comfort and thus impair their effectiveness and sense of duty.” The threat of indolence may be seen with Saturn conjunct Venus in the Eighth house. Rather than make new investments, some people may be living off of old dividends and inherited property. Saturn and Venus are sextile Eris, and there may be arguments on the nature of money and future expenses. Eris in the Tenth House may promote more business growth. Saturn and Venus in the House of Scorpio could be promoting “vulture capitalism” by making money from selling the assets of companies taken over in a merger. Mercury in Capricorn will be squaring Jupiter-Juno and Ceres. Financial scheming may disrupt political harmony. Reports are coming in of some corporations that are buying up hospitals, and taking out equity loans on the assets, leaving the hospitals saddled with debt. With Chiron squaring Pallas, no one may be listening to practical wisdom in medical affairs.
Theodora Lau also warns that “Law and order will be lax, rules and regulations will not be rigidly enforced. No one seems very inclined to bother with these unpleasant realities. They are busy enjoying themselves, entertaining others, or simply taking it easy. The scene is quiet and calm, even deteriorating to the point of somnolence. We will all have a tendency to put off disagreeable tasks as long as possible.” The laxness of law and order may be seen with Neptune in the Ninth House, conjunct Vesta, asteroid of hearth and home. People may be more concerned about their “dream home” rather than political scandals. With Jupiter-Juno opposing Ceres, the horrors of Hunter Biden’s laptop may be ignored in favor of home improvement. Even the documents hidden by a certain former president may not seem to be of interest. Some of it may be due to scandal burn-out from the previous year. When some officials threatened the Constitution, it made most of them seem like they were “crying wolf.”
On a positive note, Theodora Lau concludes that “Money can be made without too much labor. Our life style will be languid and leisurely as we allow ourselves the luxuries we have always craved for. A temperate year with unhurried pace. For once it may seem possible for us to be carefree and happy without too many annoyances.” The North Node in the Tenth House trine Mercury in the Sixth House may help with financial gain. Uranus is also in a trine to Mercury, and rapid communication may bring good news. With Uranus sextile Pallas, new developments in social media may help with the prosperity. The Year of the Rabbit could be looked at as “the good old days” in which times are more relaxed. It is also a year for preparation for when the year of the Dragon shows up in 2024.
Lau, Theodora, The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes, Harper & Row Publishing, New York, 1979
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