Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE THREAD;  the SOLAR INDEX is  DIVIDE.

Master Mouse Says:

The WATER SNAKE on duty today has a sober demeanor, conservative ambitions, and a soothing coolness of style which will prove congruent with the Dragon Moon, while capturing the fascinated attention of the Hare.  This Snake may be more competent than anyone to act as go-between for the Dragon and the Hare, and to balance the considerations of philosophy, power politics, and pragmatism.  For your own purposes, it’s wise to lean most on pragmatism, and to place practical needs above ideological stance;  what can be accomplished is fundamentally more significant than the way your actions will make you look to outside observers, on the one hand, or to those with whom you may be contending, on the other.  If something doesn’t express forward movement before too much more of the Dragon Moon has elapsed, you may feel as if you’re holding your breath to make a point:  it’s showy alright, and seems to indicate great dedication to principle, but ultimately you’re the one who’s going to pass out from lack of oxygen.  Look for ways in which you can take the lowly position in which the Snake specializes, and you’ll find passages that offer far less obstruction to your progress, keeping your ambitions well-rooted in the ground beneath you, and your efforts more dedicated to results than to your favorite idea of yourself.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: The Snake on the watch will dedicate himself to mollifying both the Dragon and the Hare at the same time, and you’ll end up in the spotlight, if only to make it more possible for him to work behind the scenes and out of public scrutiny.  Take up your visibility with glee, and follow your hunches about what to do with it;  you have a great deal to tell the world today, but you won’t know until well after the sun goes down which part of it was taken as meaningful, valuable, and influential, and which part of it as just Darn Good Entertainment.  Don’t stress your health;  what you lose today in energy or practice will be extremely difficult to make up for until much later on.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and you should consider all you say to have the force of Story-Telling.

Born in the Year of the Ox: The Snake on the watch will dedicate himself to mollifying both the Dragon and the Hare at the same time, and your style of continuous pressure and unflappable mood will be looked upon with admiration and envy by those who wish to take benefit from the resolution the Snake is about to broker.  Taking time to try to instruct others in How To Do It is probably not going to be an efficient use of your opportunities, but it would be very satisfying nonetheless, and will gain you some friends for the future, and more admiration in the present, as they find out just how difficult what you make look easy is.  Don’t rely on your bosses, and don’t trust your assistants;  you’re the one who should be acting hands-on today.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and if you simply lean more into your own independence, you’ll add to the effect without stealing the spotlight.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: Normally, the entrance of a Snake on the watch causes you to brace for impact, or at least to lie low in suspicious anticipation of difficulty;  since this one’s arriving to dedicate himself—almost exclusively, as it happens—to achieving some functional agreement between the Dragon and the Hare, I can’t imagine that you won’t feel, instead, some (very justifiable) relief, and a sincere desire to help out.  You’ll need to stay responsive to circumstances and demands around you, if you wish to help things unsnarl at the deeper levels, and while this may not be your favorite style of action—particularly as it will mean biting your tongue instead of growling out complaints when you see something questionable being proposed or enacted—you’ll find yourself perfectly competent to maintain your external composure, and highly thought-of in making the demonstration of such Smooth Social Skills.  Trust your understanding of your bosses, and be extra gentle with your assistants;  your presence by itself expresses your protective urges.   Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and you’ll have to put more attention on guidance, instruction, and control if you want to keep moving forward correctly.

Born in the Year of the Hare: With the Snake on the watch arriving to broker an agreement—or at least a some sense of congruence—between Team Rabbit and the Clan of Scales and Claws, you’ll feel a definite drop in that burbling sense of anxiety that’s been troubling you, a slight rise in your hopefulness that “things will work out,” and an upwelling of confidence in your own position and access to the resources that could Make The Difference.  Some of them are outside of you, and will require your attention to request and manage successfully;  but most are within you, and have only been “unavailable” because you simply forgot to remember that they were there for the asking.  Take this, then, as a day to bloom, and to demonstrate how competent you are at using your natural talents with poise, planning, and perseverance.  If you start feeling tired, you will need to take some rest.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and you’ll discover what you’ve committed yourself to.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: The Snake on the watch will be perfectly happy to be instrumental in brokering a deal between your side of the argument, and that of Team Rabbit, and it will benefit you greatly to take him up on the offer.  Unfortunately—while it doesn’t need to amount to a painful process—this will require that you put your Big Boots on, and step up to the podium for your deposition with every intention of dedicating your full energies to the task at hand.  Fortunately, your famous Luck is with you today, and you’ll find the exertions both exhilarating, and about 93% effective in accomplishing what it seems you were aiming at.  And since the other 7% will accomplish what the Snake had in mind, I’d say it’s a banner day for Team Dragon, after all.  Don’t worry if you feel a bit anxious;  worry if you don’t feel a bit anxious.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and put you in the driver’s seat.

Born in the Year of the Snake: With your Clan-Mate on the watch dedicating himself to brokering some sort of agreement between Team Rabbit and the Clan of Scales and Claws, you’re going to find yourself in the cat-bird seat, indispensable to the goings-on around you, and able to steer things pretty much in whichever direction you feel might be productive, profitable, or just a bit of fun.  Problem is, the more you put your position to use, the more you’re going to discover just how much is at stake, and how dangerous to your ambitions a momentary lapse in attention, or a slight miscalculation of force, might be.  Stay cool;  you’ve got this handled, and it only requires that you decline to move into desperation for you to demonstrate the fact.  You’re not in complete control, but then:  the fish on the end of the line ought to be difficult to play into your net, or where’s the delight going to come from?  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and you’ll have to play him with a gentle hand and a knowing smile.

Born in the Year of the Horse: The Snake on the watch is going to have most of his attention taken up by the rather thorny task of bringing about some agreement—or at least an experience of some Natural Congruence—between the Redoubtable Rabbit and the Dynamic Dragon.  Fortunately for him, his skills are almost taylor-made for the purpose;  fortunately for you, he’ll have to put some of his attention on you as well, if only to make display of his goodwill and effectiveness in Getting Good Results.  Consequently, you can feel perfectly comfortable in your penchant for “making friends and keeping them,” and in the true delight you take in Helping Out.  Don’t worry about what decisions you’ll have to make;  your friends are going to be quite clear about that.  If their requests complicate your schedule, just as for a few minutes to sort it out;  borrow their cell-phone of computer, if you need to.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and you may find it necessary to restrain your competitive instincts.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: The Snake on the watch is slinking in to act as peace-maker between Team Rabbit and the Clan of Scales and Claws, and while you might imagine that this means he’s going to be poaching in your pond, and stealing your usual thunder, the truth is, he doesn’t really want to generate any notoriety for himself—preferring to act behind the scenes and out of the public eye—and will therefore highly appreciate it if you step in as Designated Diplomat, with all the gold braid and medals on your chest, handling the press corps, and answering questions about how all the “delicate negotiations” are going.  This is such a brilliant device the Snake has hit upon to bring some solution to the loggerheads at which the Dragon and the Hare find themselves, that I can’t imagine you thinking that taking a fronting position on his behalf is beneath you, or that—being presented with such an optimal opportunity to make a Gracious Showing of your p.r. skills—you’d even think about turning it down.  If you find it convenient to delegate some tasks to others—might be very helpful, today!—do that while in High Visibility, too.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and you’ll be taking over the Snake’s low-profile position.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: It’s easy for you to expect the Snake to arrive as Dedicated Playmate, eager to whip up your enthusiasm, and help you improve (some would say, “complicate“) everyone else’s life.  Today however, the Snake on the watch will have his hands full with the delicate negotiation process he’s signing up for, aiming to get the Rabbit and the Dragon to come to some sort of accommodation, if not an outright agreement, as to their further—and, it’s to be hoped, more productive—progress for the duration of the Moon, and towards the completion of the Year.  His dedication will not leave you feeling out-of-the-loop, however, as he’s going to be handing you Things To Get Done, one after another, for pretty-much the entire day.  Since they will all be hand-selected to match your skill-set—though you might not recognize that fact as each of them arrives—your entertainment and satisfaction have been fairly-well guaranteed for the day.  Don’t worry is some of the results seem not to be up to your own standards;  everyone else will still think they’re “phenomenal.”  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and your enthusiasm might arrive after all, but bringing its own problems with it.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: Normally, you can expect a modicum of deference—if not outright favoritism—from the arrival of a Snake on the watch;  but today’s is going to have his attention so taken up with the task of brokering an agreement between Team Rabbit and the Clan of Scales and Claws, that you may very well feel that he’s giving you the cold shoulder, and leaving you to your own devices for the day.  This will be doubly troubling if you’ve been waiting for the complementary favoritism you’re used to receiving from the Dragon to kick in, and found yourself coming up dry there, too.  But if you think about it, just getting the Rabbit’s attention diverted from you and your aims might be gift enough, in and of itself, to amount to one day’s “favoritism” from both of your Best Friends, and to sponsor gratitude—if not outright joy—on your part.  As for “your own devices,” apply them to small tasks, and without calling any attention to them, and you’ll have a very productive day.  Both your bosses and assistants want to help out, so give them permission to answer the phone for you and make small decisions in your stead, and do your work in the back lab.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and both your confidence and your affability will rise.

Born in the Year of the Dog: The Snake on the watch button-holing both the Dragon and the Hare, and sequestering them in some private room somewhere, in which he can cajole them into seeing eye-to-eye on enough to emerge with some public statement of accommodation (if not outright agreement) as to their mutual progress for the duration of the Moon, and towards the completion of the Year.  As a result, you’re going to receive the mixed blessing of Diminished Threats from the Dragon’s side of the equation, and Deflated Thrills from the Rabbit’s.  Even if you feel as if that sticks you with the position of Door Guard outside the “delicate negotiations,” you’re going to have to take it with a smiling countenance and a willingness to be of service.  Anything less will only delay the end of the deliberations, or mean that when the Important Parties emerge, the Dragon’s going to be more irascible, and the Rabbit’s going to be more irate—neither of which conditions will serve your interests, or enable your happiness and satisfaction.  So assume that where you are is exactly where you’re supposed to be, and take up the motto: “Look happy, be happy.”  If that doesn’t work for you, just “Look happy” will do as far as everyone else is concerned.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and you’ll indulge your abilities to display both.

Born in the Year of the Pig: It’s very difficult for you to find a reason to feel sanguine about the arrival of a Snake on the watch, but today’s may very well supply you with one.  He’s here to enforce a sort of truce between the Dragon and the Hare, and (it’s to be hoped) broker some sort of agreement between them, upon which everyone’s expectations for the duration of the Moon may rise.  While you may not agree with the style or demeanor with which he’ll breeze into his presumed office, you’ll have to admit that he’s at least more balanced in his relationships with the Two Parties than you are, and though that doesn’t come from also being more unbiased towards them, he’s far more likely to achieve a workable result than—say—you would be.  You will no doubt have your ideas about how the sequestered proceedings should go, and I suppose there would be little danger in you slipping them under the door in a series of Little Folded Notes throughout the day—you might find it satisfying;  they won’t read them—but fundamentally, this is not your gig, and you ought to keep your own ideas and viewpoints to yourself.  On the other hand, “a Pig alone is always in good company,” and a bit of solitude might do you a world of good.  Tomorrow’s Horse will bring buoyancy and hopefulness back into fashion, and your self-confidence will do you no harm whatsoever.

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“On new travels, pack your hope in your bags, but carry your caution in your sleeve.”

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE STRIDE;  the SOLAR INDEX is  DESIGN.

Master Mouse Says:

The WATER DRAGON on duty today has a conservative and self-conscious nature, a preference for deliberation over speed, and a trust in hidden resources as perpetual as an underground stream.  In a perfectly regular progression, this Dragon appears as the Twin of the Dragon Moon, and as if to counter the Twin Hares who made their stand yesterday, arrives to double down, as it were, on their critical stance.  While this might seem to indicate blocked loggerheads for the day, there are more promising signs that the see-sawing back and forth between these two camps will produce progressive results as the Dragon Moon ripens and comes to a close.  For today, take a pensive and non-declarative position in as many matters as you find to be feasible;  when effort will produce little result, there’s wisdom in simply maintaining your poise.  ”Stillness is the ruler of motion,” and insight will come from giving up contending with the situation as it is.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: Even with Twin Dragons to rely upon, your position today is weak;  your Scaled-and-Clawed Friends may be able to make a few degrees of difference in the compass point, but you need to keep in mind the long-term implications of placing yourself on their side of the confrontation, demanding definitive movement, clear objectives, confident promises, and grand certainties.  The Hare Year will not be kind to this sort of imaginative empiricism, and you’ll eventually have to comply with the go-as-you-go approach the Way of Rabbits and Hares supports.  You’re completely up to the task, but you should take today as an example of how to comport yourself:  be patient rather than pushy, trusting rather than calculating, and composed rather than over-extended.  The Dragons actually know this about you already, and if you listen, you’ll hear them whispering it in your ear.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and your power to contribute will be called upon.

Born in the Year of the Ox: The Dragon on the watch has re-established negotiations with Team Rabbit, but unfortunately, since he has an essentially identical viewpoint to that of his Twin, he’s not bringing much that’s fresh to the bargaining table.  In this sort of situation, where a “wear ‘em down” approach seems to be maintained by both sides, your mode of deportment can be a model for all—and that includes the Innocent Bystanders.  You will not need—as most others will—to forego your normally expected state of progress;  you’ll only have to summon a bit more patience, a bit more strength, and a bit more insistence that it will take place.  You’re actually in a strong position to alter the eventual outcome, simply by showing how unflappable your determination to continue is.  As to particulars, you have only to exert yourself as softly and as graciously as possible—given your circumstances—to gain your maximum effect.  ”Iron hands,” after all, work best with “velvet gloves” on.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and your style will start to look popular.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: It’s not, perhaps, what you would expect with Twin Dragons threatening to throw down with you, but you’re in one of those rare positions today in which you’ve ended up on the high ground with armaments vastly superior to any who might wish to challenge you.  Given the tentative delicacy of conditions around you, I’m of the mind to advise you to make little active use of your unassailable encampment, and to advertise yourself as the King of the Hill—or Queen!—only in order to inspire some stability amongst those around you.  If, on the other hand, you see some needful or desirous object to be gained by dashing down from your precipice with whiskers flaring and your tail high in the air, you certainly wouldn’t find the likes of me standing in your way.  If you do so, please don’t do it out of hastiness or worry;  you’re going to be in your Super-Hero suit for most of the rest of the Moon.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and you’ll need to take a softer stance if you wish to be of assistance.

Born in the Year of the Hare: While the presence of Twin Dragons won’t do much to inspire your bone-deep confidence in the way your affairs will move today, you should not take temporary fretfulness as a sign that your position is weak, or that your long-term objectives are in jeopardy.  In fact, that “feel your way along” style, which is so fundamental to the Way of Rabbits and Hares, is destined to succeed today, and the more you’re not quite sure what you’re getting yourself into, or how you’re going to get through it, the more you can be sure of success.  It’s to be hoped that you won’t take this information as justification for doing something rash;  but simply hanging back on account of Lack Of Certainty would be silly when you’re so attuned to what you’re after, if not exactly how to approach getting it.  Don’t do anything with your money today without a knowledgeable friend involved to advise you.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and to inspire your sense of self-confidence.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: With your Twin Clan-Mates backing your position today, you might imagine that your prospects for influence and success are high, and that your voice and viewpoint may finally be heard and responded to.  While this hopeful possibility does exist, the truth is that your position is still weak, and that if you want to use your (temporary) numerical advantage, you’ll have to add a serious dose of Sideways Thinking to pull it off.  No technique you’ve displayed in the last 6 or 7 months is going to be effective;  they’ve all been well-noted and researched, and you can be sure that counter-measures for each of them will be held in reserve, ready to be deployed, and rendering your tactic an empty feint.  No, you’ll have to get Truly Twisted in your logic to make use of the (temporary) strength you’ve put yourself in contact with by simply refusing to give up.  You’ve used up all the other options;  reach out for something that doesn’t look like an option, at all.  …Yes!  That one will do!  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and you’ll have to be willing to grasp The Problem by the heavy end.

Born in the Year of the Snake: The Dragon on the watch will express perfect willingness to pick things up exactly where they were left a couple of days ago, and while his Twin won’t have changed position at all, your opportunity to be influential will have risen dramatically due to the break inspired by the Bunny Boys while they were the ones showing overwhelming numbers.  Now, you shouldn’t expect that your position makes you capable of immediately brokering Full Resolution of the current impasse;  in fact, it’s scheduled to continue for today.  But the leverage you gain acceptance for today, will open up Grand Vistas of attainment tomorrow, and that opportunity is Not To Be Missed.  This is not a matter of raising your reputation, or even of ensuring that you get some sort of brokering fee;  it’s all about removing impediments to your long-term prospects with Team Rabbit, and putting yourself in their unobstructed view.  Act casual and confident:  both sides think you look perfect for the job.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and you’ll only need to remain cool-headed to get excellent results.

Born in the Year of the Horse: The Dragon on the watch will not be intending to render much difference in the array of his forces, or in the range of options he’s apparently willing to consider in reaching some progressive resolution of the current impasse with Team Rabbit.  The fact that he’s joining his Twin will only re-double their effrontery in challenging those with Long Ears to see things from the Scaled-and-Clawed point of view.  This is an awkward condition in which to find yourself, and if you feel somewhat embarrassed or vaguely confused by it, let me hasten to reassure you that it’s Not Your Fault.  The only true danger today, however, is that your willingness to make a Valid Contribution will be so strong that if you see an opening for it, you may charge in with too much zeal, and over-do what would be Quite Helpful in a more moderated form.  The Twins will aid you in the deft accomplishment of your aims if you take their stimulations with a dose of slow-as-you-go, and give everyone a good opportunity to see you make your moves, from preparation, through trajectory, and on to triumph.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and help you feel that your exertions are correctly placed.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: The Dragon on the watch will come back to the bargaining table arm-in-arm with his Twin, and with his resolve Not To Yield strengthened, and his willingness to Go The Distance toughened.  You know the Clan of Scales and Claws well enough to know that the fact that they’re showing Good Game Face may be all about appearance, or that it may simply be a set-up for the announcement of a new set of demands, or a change in tactics altogether.  You position here is strong, particularly because you haven’t got any Official Position to maintain, and because when it comes to Strategy and Tactics, you have an almost photographic memory, and a complete willingness to mix styles and approaches to whatever degree the situation seems to require.  You’re going to need these skills today, and they’ll produce good results, as long as you remember the dictum:  ”No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.”  You’ll need to expect the arrival of what you don’t want, if you want to get to what you do.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, allowing you to change out of your military uniform into your ambassadorial regalia.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: The entry of the Dragon on the watch to take up negotiations again will rightfully raise your hopes for an Interesting Event to transpire, particularly since he’s making a show force with his Twin, and perhaps even winking at you upon his arrival.  Though he’s counting on you to display your partisan leanings, and hoping as well that you do so with an affable spirit and beaming optimism, I’m sad to have to report to you that not much is likely to happen under his watch, and your expectation of Something Entertaining going down is likely to leave you crest-fallen.  Still: no pouting!  The Dragon is making a tactical choice to demonstrate his willingness to Go The Distance, and your smiling approval is fundamental to the success his ploy.  If called upon, jump up energetically and shout “Yes! Here! Ready to go!” but don’t expect to be actually sent out on a mission.  Appearance is everything today, and your enjoyment will come from putting up a Good Showing.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and you’ll be called upon to do more than even you can keep track of.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: The Dragon on the watch will arrive to take up almost exactly the position left on the table before his Twin’s temporary neglect of the proceedings yesterday;  and with the show of force they’re able to put on, one might almost expect it to be the Hare this time who takes a powder, and slips out of the room on some pretext.  Mr. Long Ears, however, having much more in the game to win or lose, will display no such slippery tactics, and will glare back across the table as solidly as if he were carved out of stone.  For most, this return to The Problem As We Know It will prove disappointing, as if they were hoping for at least a good shouting match, if not movement towards Demonstrable Resolution.  For you, however, the contrast between the sets of Twins will prove a source of fascination in and of itself, and you’ll find yourself flipping back and forth between your experience of yesterday, and that of today, as regularly as a fan in the center-court stands at a tennis match.  You might find yourself humming “What a Difference a Day Makes” to yourself (if you know the tune);  you won’t find any explanations in your comparative research, but the information you glean will prove valuable before the Moon is out.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and you may feel that he’s trading away your interests just to keep the negotiations going.

Born in the Year of the Dog: With the Dragon on the watch joining his Twin, if you’re already wincing to imagine the Two of Them hatching plots to damage your interests and frustrate your objectives, you’ll be a little mystified and perhaps more than a little shaken to see them smile slyly in your direction, as if they’ve got something delectable to toss you during the day’s proceedings, or something delightful to throw down on the table, just to get you to consider switching over to their side of the negotiations.  Of course, you’ll not fall for any of their devious ploys, even if they do make a good show of aiming to add to your Position and Prospects;  fundamentally, what they’re putting on display for your benefit is advertisement only, and what they offer in Solid Salesmanship, you’ll have to counter with Shopping Savvy.  Since they’re making their united return to the bargaining table primarily to announce that their stance has not changed one whit, there’ll be very little chance for you to feel that you’re making progress towards your Long Eared Quarry.  Still:  just being seen is a good thing, and being seen not to be gullible, an even better one.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and you’ll have to act amiable, even if it’s just an act.

Born in the Year of the Pig: It’s a lucky thing for you that the day is so full of omens auguring for Sitting and Waiting;  the Dragon on the watch is planning on leaving you no angle of approach from which you could achieve an alteration of the forces he’s got arrayed, and with his Twin backing him up, you’ll have no chance of Strategic Withdrawal, either.  You might think this amounts to a necessity for taking a Wait and See attitude, but what I’m seeing is actually a little more pro-active than that phrase suggests;  while everything has ceased moving, and all the items on the game-board are open to view, you have plenty of opportunity to run all the scenarios you can visualize in your imagination, and examine them for likelihood of tactical success.  I know you’d rather be delighting your senses today, but I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with occupying your mind.  Tomorrow’s Snake will arrive to arbitrate the obstructions, and you’ll have to be careful that your own self-certainties don’t amount to obstruction of your own options.

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“Shoes without socks is one thing; socks without shoes is another.”

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE WALL;  the SOLAR INDEX is  SHUT.

Master Mouse Says:

The METAL HARE on duty today is the Twin of the Year, and he will show his well-mated defiance of the Dragon Moon, by carrying himself with a pensive attitude, a high tolerance for tension, and a sharp-edged sense of what will not be acceptable.  Facing this united front, the Dragon will take it as a sign to exercise the option—indicated also by the SHUT Day—to cease to press his program forward, and to call a moment of truce.  In whatever way you can, follow this same mode, stepping back from the prongs of your own considerations, and allowing yourself to move towards rest and restoration.  Sometimes this sort of break in engagement is what is needed for the sides of an argument to review their true aims, and find the way to help their opponent voices reach a satisfactory and workable resolution of differences.  Whatever your internal troubles or dilemmas, imagine yourself stepping out of the room, and allowing the component factions to work out a solution between themselves, and without your interference.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: With the Hare on the watch causing the Dragon to relent in his critical commentary, it can’t be a wise thing for you to appear to continue with it in his absence;  your efforts to do anything but moving—as much as is feasible—towards energetic deflation and deep rest, will only stiffen the resistance of the Bunny Boys to change, and put you in danger of some level of exhaustion which might take you the better part of the next week fully to recover from.  You do know exactly what you have to do in order to strengthen your resources and de-stress your nervous state:  just ask yourself.  Make it a Top Priority to follow your intuition to divine where Nourishment, Rest, and Enjoyment are convening, and make the trip there;  consider it the Dragon’s intent, and the good-will gift the Twin Hares have sent you.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and you’ll need to remember to remain friendly to both sides of any disagreement.

Born in the Year of the Ox: For one such as yourself who needs far less time devoted to recuperation than almost anyone around, it might seem that the clearing of the field of combatant parties is almost designed for your particular benefit, and will leave you free space to increase your speed and your sense of progress.  As long as you promise to make that the result of raised efficiencies and lowered effort, I can’t see any reason to argue with the idea.  But if you’re due for some “scheduled maintenance,” you’ll find it serendipitously useful to get it taken care of today, while nothing much is cranking forward around you, and the fine points of What Needs Fixing can be dealt with with exactitude and completion.  You might be fooling others—or even, yourself—but I’m quite clear that you do have a taste for indulging yourself;  put it to good use today, and let somebody else take responsibility for the Hands On The Job part.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and your example may prove to be instrumental in reaching resolutions.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: With the Dragon declaring a strategic temporary withdrawal in the face of the Twin Hares’ perfectly-meshed front line, your enthusiasm and energy are going to bounce upwards, as if in triumphant victory.  Of course, no-one will be more aware than you are that, while there have been hostilities and tensions arising with the Dragon Moon’s arrival, none of them have in fact led to Open Combat.  Still, since disengagement might lead to negotiated solutions, and improved options for all concerned, perhaps a celebratory moment is justifiable, and I can’t think of anyone more trustworthy in taking it:  consider yourself the Designated Celebrator.  Whether you fulfill that office by entering a frisky cycle of stalking-and-pouncing, or by curling up for a cat-nap or two, is best left to your own whims of the moment.  But whatever you do, make it playful:  this is not a good day to Take Things Seriously.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and you’ll have such a powerful position that you might think you’ve reached Super-Hero status.

Born in the Year of the Hare: What with your Clan-Mate on the watch perfectly mirroring the shape of the Year, and the Dragon judiciously calling a Time Out, the list of concerns troubling you will seem much less burdensome, and your wits in setting them into proper order will seem refreshed and re-energized.  Be very careful not to go forward with too much speed;  you too need your batteries recharged, and the relatively empty space around you will mean that you’ll get lots done even if you don’t hustle-and-bustle.  Beyond that, any haste you demonstrate will only put your actions ahead of the understanding of those to whom the results matter, and make them question whether you quite know what you’re doing.  Put your attention on clarifying your demands, and on simplifying your argument as to why they should be met:  it will help a lot if you look at the issues from the Opposite Point Of View.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and if you maintain the wisdom not to worry, you’re going to come out ahead in them.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: What with the Hare on the watch perfectly mirroring the shape and attitude of the Year, and your Clan-Mate calling a judicious Time Out, you won’t need me to tell you that you’re in a seriously weakened position today, and—given the dryly quaking terrain you’ve been on since the Rabbit Regime took up with your affairs—that’s saying something.  All will go well, however, if you show your famous ability to turn on a dime and disappear into a cloud.  Such an action will be the opposite of cowardice or panic, and will display your command of the situation in the most clear-cut terms:  the Big Problem must be ignored properly before it can be dealt with properly.  You know how to play this sort of cat-and-mouse game better than almost anyone, and I urge you to make a brilliant demonstration of it today.  You motto for the day:  ”Strong hunches make high hopes.”  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and you’ll display the art of departing from convention.

Born in the Year of the Snake: The arrival of the Hare on the watch to reflect so perfectly the shape and texture of the Year, will raise your confidence in your own aims, but weaken your grasp of the tools you think you’ve summoned to accomplish them.  This is all to the good.  The Dragon’s judicious departure from the negotiating table will lower your stress significantly, and the softer focus you feel—being left to bask in the attention of the Ravishing Rabbits—is exactly what you need to carry yourself more securely towards your satisfactions.  As if moving through a dense, sweet fog, the closer you come to each goal, the more sharply you’ll see its exact location, and how most deftly to lay hands on it.  Don’t presume to know what you’re doing, however, while things still look grey and fuzzy;  move forward without haste, as if feeling your way along through your tactile sensations.  Remember:  that you can’t see others doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t see you.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and your partnering skills will look indispensable to all sides.

Born in the Year of the Horse: With the Hare on the watch virtually merging into the image of the Year, and the Dragon taking a powder to wait for a more propitious time, you may feel curiously abandoned, or at least a bit confused about what you’ve been left alone to deal with.  While it’s true that the main points of negotiation between the Demanding Dragon and the Bunny Boys have little to do with your concerns and interests directly, the way they get worked out will have a lot to do with your comfort and productivity for the remainder of the Year.  The blank time you’ve been left with today will serve you well, if you’ll take it as an opportunity to mull over—without a particular goal or purpose in mind—the events and issues of the last 6 or 8 weeks, and give yourself the chance to view your experience without the contemporaneous idea that there’s something to be done about it.  You don’t need a lot of rest today, but any you’re able to allow yourself will be both delicious, and very, very good for you.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and if you’re called in for testimony, you’ll have to be careful not to answer more than you’ve been asked.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: With the Hare on the watch reflecting so perfectly the tenor and trajectory of the Year, it won’t surprise you at all to find the Dragon demonstrating his wisdom by taking a powder.  And it won’t surprise me at all to find you displaying your shrewdness by button-holing the Bunny Boys, in order to skim over your current game-plan, and the new range of options the Dragon’s vanishing act seems to have made available.  While it’s true that you’re in a strong position this Year—and an indispensable one, today—you’ll need to be careful not to over-estimate the leverage you can render from your advantage, or to plan farther into the future than your current range of visibility justifies.  The truth is, we’re going to be in a fog bank for at least a couple of more days, and though you’ve got your hands firmly on the steering wheel, you’ll need to keep a light touch on the accelerator pedal.  You can go virtually anywhere you want;  don’t make it into a ditch.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and you’ll have to balance your game-plan against how you play it.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: If you’ve been playing fast-and-loose with your options under the demands of the Dragon Moon, you’re very likely to feel that you’ve been left holding-the-bag when the Hare on the watch arrives to mirror so perfectly the image of the Year, and to give the Dragon good reason to pull one of his famous vanishing-acts.  On the other hand, if you’ve been judicious in your engagement, and properly indeterminate in your location, the blank left by the Dragon’s excusing himself for the day will open the strange possibility that whatever it is that you’ve been hoping to get out of the negotiations could be left right there on the table, ready for you to insert into the deliberations, if not to grasp and depart with, outright!  I’m not talking “theft” here;  you’ll need to ask permission before you do anything today.  But if you’re sharp on the particulars, you may find that what you’re after is not part of the argument at all, and that no-one will be deprived if you walk out of the room with it under your arm.  Do not let yourself get greedy;  if you can’t carry it out by yourself, and under your own independent power, just leave it alone.  Less is more, less is more, less is more.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and your affable satisfaction will be one of his trump cards.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: If you’ve been operating under the presumption—since the arrival of the New Moon 4 days ago—that you’re somehow under the Dragon’s power to protect, you’re going to be perfectly astonished to discover that even with him making virtually no show of his presence or influence at all, your prospects for the day can rise.  It’s a mystery, of course, but the Hare on the watch is just like the Clan-Mate he’s so perfectly mirroring:  so inscrutable as to seem absolutely crazy.  There you are, left in the room alone with the both of them, where hostilities were just about to break into Open Warfare, and now they’re joking and guffawing with you, and wanting to invite you out to lunch—on them—at their favorite malt-shop.  Don’t try to figure it out;  that would only make your head hurt.  But take it as a bit of wisdom the Dragon left you on a note, before he dashed out for the day:  ”What you don’t think you know, is powerful.  What you’re sure you know, is dangerous.  What’s left in between, is just a hunch, but it’s all you’ve got:  follow it.”  For my part, let me only add:  you’re not the only one who thinks “they’re crazy.”  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and if you don’t forget the joking-and-guffawing, what you know will turn out to be useful again.

Born in the Year of the Dog: Lucky Dog!  Not only is the Hare on the watch the perfect image of the quarry you’re dedicated to hounding down this Year, but his appearance to join forces with his Twin seems to have given the Demanding Dragon a case of the frights, and good reason to vanish for the duration.  It might look as if all you’ve been working for is right there in front of you, ready to be bagged, tagged, weighed, and displayed;  but if you’ll notice, the chase has taken you into a Neutral Zone, and your hunting license is invalid in these parts.  Damn!  ”So close, and yet so far!”  Still the day cannot be a total waste:  calm yourself, and summon the one question you think is most important for you to get answered.  If you ask it with precision and self-possession, you’ll get an extremely informative reply.  Don’t delay:  the Dragon’s only gone to the wash-room, and will be back before you know it.  (Special Note:  do not be cautious with your money, today.)  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and dangle promises in front of your nose.

Born in the Year of the Pig: The Dragon has roiled-and-broiled your carefully laid plans for long enough—since the New Moon arrived 4 days ago—for you to take great delight in his making a hasty retreat to the wash-room, leaving you to have a tête-a-tête-a-tête with the Hare on the watch and the Twin he so perfectly mirrors.  You won’t have long in privacy, but if you clear your head, gather your thoughts, and lay out your plans in clear, direct terms, you can more than make up for any lost time or obstructed opportunity since the Demanding Dragon muscled in and started getting in your way.  Minimize your gestures, and lower your voice;  acting excitable and over-wrought will only cloud your meaning, and waste energy you’re going to need over the next few days to keep your attention on your intention, and your eyes on the prize.  Leave plenty of room in your strategy for things to go off into uncharted territory, or to simply refuse to unwind in The Normal Way.  Think of it this way:  ”If you’re caught by surprise, that’s not necessarily a problem;  if you’re surprised that you’re caught by surprise, that’s definitely a problem.”  Special Note:  Your appetite will be healthy;  satisfy it in small doses, taken frequently.  Tomorrow’s Dragon will re-open the negotiations, and your attention will have to shift from strategy to tactics.

•

“If your ancestors made the sacrifice, surely you should supply the labor.”

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE HOUSE;  because today is the day of the Solar Qi Node, CLEAR BRIGHT—and therefore, the beginning of the Solar Month of the Dragon—the SOLAR INDEX is a repeat of yesterday’s, OPEN.

Master Mouse Says:

The METAL TIGER on duty today has no problem generating patience, and continually maintains a practice of cagey calculation of opportunity against risk, commanding force against stealthy subtlety, and seeming indifference against full-tilt commitment.  The Tiger will stand with the Hare in confronting the disruptions of the Dragon Moon, and will insist that complaints and misgivings be well-grounded in the actual, and dealt with in consideration of hard facts.  This is a day to practice the well-timed “No,” and the judiciously placed “Show me what you mean.”  There’s no need for demands to be made without a gracious attitude, as long as smiles don’t keep communications from lacking their proper impact.  Make sure your presentations address both your own limitations and the lowest-denominator aims of those you’re aiming to serve;  this is not a day for leaping high,  it’s a day for making sure that your landing will be artful, confident, and secure.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: It will be difficult for you to maintain a purely non-partisan stand throughout the entirety of the Dragon Moon, but if you aim to do so today, the Tiger on the watch will honor your attempt, and reward you with a clear space in which to see to your own affairs.  Meddling in those of others, however, should only be attempted if you’re called in on a matter of your expertise or advice, where you can put forward the facts as you see them, and step back out of the decision-making process.  Being out and about in the world is auspicious:  you have a lucky sense of timing in the public sphere today.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and you’ll have to limit your own exertions.

Born in the Year of the Ox: The Tiger on the watch isn’t exactly coming to the rescue of the Hare—who’s quite capable enough of settling his own affairs—but he will at least be tilting the balance definitively enough in the direction of Team Rabbit that your pathway will gain in traction, and perhaps even straighten out a bit.  Try to show your most gracious demeanor—if only to display your enjoyment at making better progress—and your capacity for independent focus will be rewarded with a hands-off attitude towards what you’ve already claimed as needed or in-use.  Don’t be afraid to summon your resources;  you’ve got at least a week of Good Work ahead of you, as long as you don’t let pretty appearances convince you that “what you see is what you get.”  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and you’ll have to sharpen your focus on your Next Step.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: It’s not that the Hare particularly needs the buttressing he’s getting from your Clan-Mate on the watch, but he’ll find it reassuring, nonetheless.  For your part, it will put you in the center of your powers, with the sweet assurance that you probably won’t have to put any of them into actual use;  in most matters, your mere presence is going to be enough to make the outcome a fore-gone conclusion.  Put the excess energy you’ll undoubtedly feel, into pleasing your Higher-Ups;  they already think you’re indispensable, but every now-and-then it’s a nice touch to prove—yet again!— that it’s true.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and you’ll probably select the most difficult of your own.

Born in the Year of the Hare: With the Tiger on the watch entering the field, you’ll have, at the very least, the strong sense that he’s “got your back,” and the defined feeling that the pressures arising from the smirking gaze of the Dragon Moon have been cranked back a notch or two.  While this will create an obvious opportunity to collect your wits and straighten out your ideas, it should not pass your notice that one of the things the Tiger is demonstrating is that there’s a History to be referred to;  if you don’t want to repeat it, you’ll have to be making some Fundamental Changes in your aim.  They don’t need to be large changes, but they do need to be actual ones.  It’s a thorny consideration, but you’ll feel better after having entering into it.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and open up your ability to make counter-demands.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: It’s not really a challenge to your position that the Tiger on the watch is presenting, but rather a clearer light on what it is you’re faced with in dealing with the Year of the Hare, particularly in regard to the problems that need to be ironed out during the Dragon Moon. Your famous Luck will remain strong, but you’re going to have to continue considering what it is you’re willing to give up in the negotiations, and be willing to change your position step-by-step as you go forward.  Put forward your best summaries today, and don’t be afraid to risk the odds.  Dress well:  looks count!  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and you’ll show your skill in playing a weak hand.

Born in the Year of the Snake: Your situation is delicate enough between the amorous opportunism you feel for the Hare, and the indulgent camaraderie you feel for the Dragon Moon, without the Tiger on the watch sticking his nose into your affairs.  But stick it he will, and you’ll have to withdraw to a more neutral distance than your ambitions alone would suggest, if you don’t want to tip your hand, and lose the range of options you’ve worked hard to gain.  You can count on the game-board still being tilted slightly in your favor afterwards, so don’t be afraid that “doing nothing” will “get you nothing.”  What’s that aphorism…?  Ah! “Smile:  it pleases your friends and terrifies your enemies.”  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and you’ll have to soften your actions to get sharper results.

Born in the Year of the Horse: While the Tiger on the watch will have most of his attention on the tense space between the Dragon and the Hare, and will be making it clear that he’s standing on the side of Team Rabbit, his entrance will rouse your willfulness to show your affinities as well, and make you feel you should have a place in the preparations for whatever-it-is that looks like it’s about to be happening.  Actually, the stand-off is going to be in effect for at least a few more days, so your excess energies will have to be placed somewhere neutral, unless you can put up with letting them rise without putting them to use.  The Tiger’s constraint will help make that option available to you, but for your own satisfaction, I’d suggest leaning into some sort of Practice Drill or purely calisthenic exercise regime;  you’re going to feel better if you can blow off some steam, and your outstanding form and execution will be noticed by the Higher-Ups.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and give you a great deal to Think About.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: Against the disruptive assertions of the Dragon Moon, the Tiger on the watch will be standing in clear alignment with the Hare, and though Team Rabbit doesn’t really need this kind of reinforcement, the affirmation will still be heartily welcomed.  This puts you in a strange position for the day;  you’ll be in the very center of your strengths, but not in any position of power from which you could wield them.  Picture yourself, then, as the member of Team Rabbit who’s responsible for carrying the (as yet) unloaded weaponry, and making sure that the other side of the table gets a Very Clear Viewing.  Maintain a jovial attitude as your contribution to the Hare’s sense of his prospects, and don’t risk stepping on the Tiger’s toes by acting like you’re the Bad-Ass in the room.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and widen the range of yours.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: The Tiger on the watch is planning on putting in an appearance only, as if to certify that in the confrontation between the Dragon and Hare, he’s on the side of Team Rabbit;  still, his dedication to inaction could melt away like snow on a hot-plate if you give him any reason to feel that you’re siding with Team Dragon.  If you find your brain seized-up and your body slumping down in your seat, look around for me because I’ll be beaming in satisfaction to see you demonstrating such Inner Wisdom;  the alternative—selecting just the right step to take, and accomplishing it with unerring exactitude—would be beyond even your Magical Powers to pull off with any certainty of success, and would waste the chance you have tomorrow of having a Real Effect on the situation.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and you’ll have to hold Effect in one hand, and Exactitude in the other.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: It may seem strange to discover that the Tiger on the watch is going to offer you some benefit, as he signs onto Team Rabbit and glares across the (as yet unoccupied) field of competition, staring down the Dragon and his assembled forces.  But your very weak position under the Rabbit’s Rule makes you doubly important amongst the Dragon’s cohort:  first, because you’re (very wisely) not putting yourself forward with confidence or bravado, and second, because you see more clearly than the Dragon himself the timing with which movements must be made if they’re to have their best effect, and result in the smallest number of awkward repercussions.  For both these reasons, your actions will be Highly Noticeable today, and you have a chance to make them mean something if you make them about demonstrating what is known, rather than gambling on what isn’t.  Be generous with your finances:  it will impress the hell out of everybody.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and leave you some options you probably hadn’t counted on.

Born in the Year of the Dog: The Tiger on the watch is putting in an appearance today primarily (as far as he’s concerned, anyway) for the purpose of shoring up the Hare’s position, and demonstrating to the Dragon that “respect must be paid.”  If you feel wedged to the side, and handed the menial job of taking orders for lunch while the Big Boys glare at each other from across the negotiating table, take it as a novel way to gather intelligence about your quarry, and a satisfying way to demonstrate where your loyalties lie.  If you find that you’ve neglected to gather all the information you need to carry out your mission, just go ahead and take a guess;  your hunches are very strong today, and it will be quite impressive when you show up with the goods without having to have been instructed.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and you’ll get to sneak up so close to what you’re after, that you could almost reach out and touch it.

Born in the Year of the Pig: The current stand-off in the negotiations between the Dragon and the Hare will not be seriously altered by the entry of the Tiger on the watch;  his only real contribution will be to demonstrate to both parties that there’s a history to be dealt with, as well as a future to be aimed at, and that nobody’s going to get to walk out of the room claiming they got everything they came in with.  For your part, you’ll have to take the situation as an opportunity to be of service, rather than as a chance to make your opinions and feelings known.  As much as might you see some unexamined options lying around, you’ll only snarl the process if you insist on pointing them out.  Trust your friends;  look past your enemies.  Tomorrow’s Hare will close down some of the Dragon’s options, and give you access to the control panel.

•

“When opportunity expresses itself, don’t insist that it speak your language.”

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE ROOFTOP;  the SOLAR INDEX is  OPEN.

Master Mouse Says:

The EARTH OX on duty today has a self-certitude that can easily be taken for obstinance, with a calmness of demeanor that springs from deep belief in the power of the present moment, and a fundamental disinterest in emotional dramatics.  Though these characteristics will do nothing to improve the flow and freedom so well-intended by the Dragon Moon, and might in fact cause a sense of subliminal turbulence and strain through the day, they will at least add some counter-balancing stability to the tensions arising from the argumentative confrontation the Hare is liable to fall into quite soon.  There’s very little chance of making fundamental adjustments either to the faults being thrown into view by the Dragon’s disruptions, or to the range of options you have at present with which to begin to resolve them.  Take the opportunity made available for a lingering view of your situation as a gift in and of itself, and follow the Ox’s taste by frustrating the Dragon for one more day, and laying out your plans on a long-term basis.  Though progress is not really indicated, movement is:  when you can’t get away from a problem, at least you can mosey around it a few times, to make sure you’ve taken a 360º view.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: The Ox on the watch will allow you to make small adjustments around you, whether for increased comfort, better nourishment, or domestic peace, but you’ll have to be careful not to assume that you can build something big out of many small things.  That path will lead to mental exhaustion, depletion of your resources, and cranky feelings all around.  Satisfy yourself with small victories, and try to be a demonstrator model for the best way to deal with an Ox:  refusal to compete.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and you’ll have to avoid showing too much partisanship.

Born in the Year of the Ox: The arrival of your Clan-Mate on the watch will give you extra confidence in your power to control the situation in which you find yourself, but you’ll be hard pressed to turn that into a demonstration of much true advantage.  He’s already showing enough influence to cause the Dragon to smolder in irritation;  the more you can show your gentle inner nature by using more sensitivity in dealing with those around you than you’d otherwise feel to be necessary, the more efficiently you’ll be able to attend to your duties, and earn the praise of those who are relying on you.  Some things are just going to be too slippery for you to control;  don’t fall into the futile exercise of trying to master them all.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and you’ll gain some traction as a result.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: The Ox on the watch is liable to put you in a sleepy mood, and failing that, at least give you confidence that his broad-shouldered strength is reliable enough to allow you to slacken your attention, and see to the small affairs that sink so easily to the bottom of your daily to-do lists.  A quick look around will make it clear that not much is going to change because of you demonstrating your own strengths, and that will prompt the notion that where growling-and-prowling won’t do the trick, perhaps playful antics will.  Work the most harried around you by finding their ticklish spots and teasing them into loosening up a bit.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and you’ll be in your full powers.

Born in the Year of the Hare: The Ox on the watch will slow the rate of change enough for you to feel that you are building up a head of steam, but he won’t be able to restrain the Dragon Moon quite enough to make you feel that you’ve got your hands on the controls yet.  The issue is that the weaknesses in your position and the impracticalities in your plans are due to come to light under the Dragon’s tour of duty, and while wincing away from his sharp critique would be understandable, you’re far better off aiming to brace yourself and take it as a frontal assault when it comes.  Put your attention on resting today;  those things that look like they need attention are not hot enough quite yet to make hammer blows coming down on the anvil either efficient or effective.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and if you look over his shoulder, you’ll learn something important to the defense of your views.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: The Ox on the watch won’t do much to contribute to your enjoyment of the day, but at least—since he seems to be stopping the train, as if for maintenance or repairs—you can be confident that no-one else is making better headway than he’s allowing you.  You’re actually in a stronger position today than you probably realize (and certainly than you have any right to expect) so make use of the pause the Ox is instituting by sorting through your list of resources, and making sure you have them in an arrangement that will make it easy to get to them quickly when things start moving again.  Showing resistance will get you nowhere, and allowing your impatience to boil over will only make you look silly; take that cool over-view you’re so good at, and don’t let them see you sweat.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and you’ll have to play your probabilities.

Born in the Year of the Snake: The Ox on the watch—in spite of his friendly regard for the Clan for Scales and Fangs—will be seriously limiting your ability to make use of that invasive flexibility you’re so well known for, but since he’s stopping everyone else in their tracks as well, at least you’ll not feel singled out for punishment.  What you’ve lost for the day in flexibility, though, you can make up for with shrewd and close examination of your openings;  but you’ll need to be sure that you’re making for them only after you’ve fully summoned your confidence, and only if you can do so in full public view.  Don’t press the matter too far, however, or you’ll lose the Ox’s protection;  take a small result as a triumph under these conditions, or you’ll risk ending up at “square one” again.   Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and you’ll have to be very wary of showing your partisan leanings.

Born in the Year of the Horse: You’re one of the very few who will take the Full Stop that the Ox on the watch is dictating, as reason to dip into enjoyment of your surroundings, and a chance to get a bit of exercise that satisfies your appetite for frisky frolicking without it being about Getting Somewhere.  To all the charmed onlookers, this will seem like another demonstration of your willingness to Play Along, and they’ll take your actions as a model they should strive to emulate, if only because you look so magnanimous and hearty when you’re going with The Program as it presents itself.  If you’re still a bit irritated by the Ox’s delaying tactics, you can show that too;  it will only add to your credibility as someone To Be Trusted.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and make you want to spring into action.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: While you normally find the interventions and obstructions of the Clan of Hooves and Horns to lie at perfect cross-purposes to your movements and methodologies, the general edict to “cease and desist” that the Ox on the watch will be issuing could play right into your designs, giving you time to finish your estimation of the forces the Dragon Moon is bringing to bear, and to select the proper angle at which to deflect them towards your own accomplishments.  This is a tricky business, and until more evidence comes forward, your work-sheet will look like mostly-blank paper.   Make a show of how compliant you are with Stultified Progress, and chat up the other frustrated passengers;  the more directions and sources you’re getting information from, the faster that work-sheet will get filled in.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and put you in the very center of your strengths.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: The train you’re riding on, through that strange amusement park known as Bunnyland, will come to a halt today, since the Ox on the watch—who’s standing in as engineer—will declare the necessity of taking on coal, or checking the baggage compartment for contraband, or seeing to necessary maintenance, or whatever reason he figures will be incontrovertible by any of the passengers.  For you—since you have no idea where the train is supposed to be arriving, or when—the impromptu pause will offer the happy delight of getting to jump up and stretch your legs, and chat up the other passengers milling about in various states of boredom and irritation.  It will seem quite natural to volunteer yourself as Designated Delighter, and to bring out your bag of tricks, jokes, and magical effects with which to divert the crowd.  Even if your audience is assembled by chance instead of choice, I say: “Give ‘em a good show!”  Stay ready, however, to get back on the train with a minimum of fuss:  tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and you’re going to want to be back in your seat with your hat pulled down low over your brow.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: The Ox on the watch has such a soft spot for the Clan of Feathers and Claws, that it wouldn’t surprise me to discover that he’s secretly engineering the halt in affairs today in large part to benefit you.  In any case, his impromptu pause will put you in a position from which your view matches up with your expectation, and gives you perhaps the first really clear inkling of where you are in the landscape of Bunnyland, and of what you can look forward too a bit further down the tracks you’re on.  You must remember, however, that even if your surmises prove to be basically correct, they’re almost certainly going to be lacking in detail, or leaving out important information that will only become available in the due course of time.  Thank your Great Friend, the Ox, then for a moment of respite, but don’t take those Long-Term Plans he likes to make available to your view as lacking in flexibility regarding New Conditions, or in responsiveness to What’s Needed Next.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and put you in a position of surprising influence.

Born in the Year of the Dog: On the one hand, you’re always more likely to find labor more intensive and rest less available under the commands of the Clan of Hooves and Horns;  but on the other hand, since the Ox on the watch is putting most of his attention on getting the Dragon Moon to pull up short, perhaps this time you’ll be smiling and smirking, instead of shifting around looking for some relief.  In any case, you’ll be very wise to use any cessation of activity in your vicinity, or release of pressure from your agenda, to catch your wits and approach the question of Long-Term Strategy.  The Year is long—as I like to keep reminding you—and your efforts will need to be more Ox-like in order to be successful, and less impetuous in order to prove satisfying.  Rest your body today, and busy your brain.  Your thoughts about the future don’t need to be The Correct Ones;  but the more ideas you have in store, the more easily you’ll select the Right One at the Right Time when you come to it.  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and your work-load will rise.

Born in the Year of the Pig: The Ox on the watch is calling Time-Out for the day.  Now, that could be taken as meaning you’ve done something wrong and must stand in the corner facing the walls;  or it could mean that you’re to be rewarded for your diligence and drive on the field of play with a chance to get refreshment and a moment to catch your breath.  But whatever the case, it’s fortunate for you that the Big Brute has decided to give everyone a breather, and you, in particular, a chance to compose your thoughts.  The sojourn through the Dragon Moon is going to be very tricky, what with your wanting to support and guide the Rabbit, but not knowing exactly how much of your input he actually needs, or how much lee-way the Dragon will allow you for putting in your two-cents’ worth.  Take the Ox’s gift as a chance to look a the Big Picture, and to summarize for yourself what the Big Problem is.  You may have to change your mind about it in the near future, but it’s worth it to put together a solid starting point, even if it is “just a model.”  Tomorrow’s Tiger will confront the Dragon Moon, and you’ll get to put some energy into action.

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“Pocket the nails before climbing the ladder.”

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE VOID;  the SOLAR INDEX is  HARVEST.

Master Mouse Says:

The EARTH RAT on duty today has a composed attitude and a restrained sense of ambition, but his shrewd wit and diplomatic creativity will be put to the test, as he attempts to welcome in the Dragon Moon while averting direct confrontation with the Hare.  The Dragon and Hare will have a great deal to hash out during the course of this Moon, and though its beginning is a time of rising Luck, the balance of forces and aims is so tricky here, that a small misstep could lead to large complications and diminishing options.  Put your faith in stillness, patience, and delay, and don’t express your own ambitions when silence and lack of evidence will be perfectly acceptable.  There is power in the use of language today, but it springs both from what is said, and from what is not said;  do not underestimate the leverage you can gain through attention to proper timing, deference to expected protocols, and a judicious reliance on implication and ambiguity.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: Your Clan-Mate on the watch will be able to throw little support your way, as stressed and stretched as he’ll be between the deference owed to the Dragon and the delicacy needed to avoid offending the Hare;  don’t make matters worse by picking today to get whimsical in your aims or inventive in your tactics.  The closer you stay to what you know for certain, the more your diplomatic skills will prove successful;  those around you will be counting on you to maintain the Middle Ground without over-expressing either your partisanship, or your Good Ideas.  You’ll only put your longer-term plans in jeopardy if you don’t wait for matters around you to demonstrate their momentum and direction of drift.  When in doubt, just stay home.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and you’ll need to be careful not to over-estimate your freedom to make small adjustments.

Born in the Year of the Ox: The whole game-board is tilting with the entry of the Dragon Moon, and while it’s not clear yet which way, the Rat on the watch will be counting on you to maintain your steady-as-you-go course, and to keep up both your speed and your attitude.  Acting as if nothing has changed—whatever shudders or rumblings you feel under your feet—will also give you the time you need to orient yourself to the new conditions as they display themselves.  If part of what you sense is a steeper incline or a sense of greater resistance to your progress, lean into them with confidence:  you true strengths have not yet been tested this year, and you’re going to be surprised to discover their power when your need most requires them.  If your curiosity causes you to dally, do not resist;  your intellect needs nourishment as well as your body does, and your pause to reflect will demonstrate your confidence in your course to all who are making observation.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and you can make yours by taking a soft and yielding attitude towards your duties.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: The whiff of a Dragon making his approach is enough to rouse your awareness, and the full entry of the Dragon Moon will most likely put you on your guard, and give rise to a host of concerns about your positioning and deliberations over Proper Caution and Potential Tactics.  Fortunately, the Rat on the watch will be doing everything he can to forestall the instigation of The Battle itself, and there’s every hope that he can do so in a way that might lead to a Grand Show of Force rather than a scenario in which “ignorant armies clash by night.”  To do your part to support the Rat in his diplomatic mission, you must be careful not to interpret a will to make yourself ready, as reason to take action first, and “take names” later.  Your inclinations may be urging you on, but your Good Sense will keep you well-hidden, and give you time to gather more intelligence.  You may hold the deciding vote, but casting it today would be premature.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and you’ll make yours by showing some kittenish compliance to charm those you normally terrify.

Born in the Year of the Hare: The Dragon Moon has a few curve-balls to throw you, but you should consider him today as simply striding out to the mound to take up his pitching stance;  a few practice swings through the empty air—well-away from the plate, mind you—will help you to steady your nerves and get your blood moving, but it’s very important for you to hold back your true energies until there’s an actual chance of a ball meeting your bat.  The Rat is acting as umpire for the day, and he’ll be sure to ascertain that Home Plate is whisked clear of dirt for you, and not to allow matters to proceed until you’re in full readiness.  Slow your breathing and still your senses;  if you take this time to get into The Zone, there’ll be some happy fan soon reaching up to try to catch the home run you hit up into the stands.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and you’ll make yours by applying your sense of urgency to your sense of duty.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: With the entry of the Dragon Moon, you’ll no doubt feel your advantages rising, and your opportunities beckoning you forward.  It’s extremely important, however, that you return the deference the Rat on the watch is eager to offer you, by observing the slow formalities of his Diplomatic Protocol, and not rushing forward with your banners flying as if to Seize The Hill in one moment of instantaneous “shock and awe.”  Your aims and predilections are teetering against each other, and though your leverage is improving, the forces at play are so volatile, and their balance as yet so unclear, that you shouldn’t trust even your grand powers to Surf Through Changes and come out smiling.  You may have a crown hovering over your head, waiting to descend, but you’ll have to hold your head still today if you want the coronation to go forward successfully.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and your best response will be to rest in your confidence and show your ability to “roll with the wave.”

Born in the Year of the Snake: Only some member of your Clan could do a better job of guiding in the Dragon Moon than the Rat on the watch, to whom the duty happens to fall;  but since you’re in a supportive position only, it will be doubly easy for you to take the opportunity to ensure that your interests are protected, and your options enhanced, simply by doing what you can to add Diplomatic Resolve to whatever the Rat can summon, and by making a smiling show of confidence in his competent and understated ministrations.  Your reputation is on the rise this Year, and this is perhaps the first chance you’ve had in a Very Long Time to demonstrate the kind of influence Being Well-Thought Of gives you.  Soft words and small gestures are best:  they demonstrate your Imperturbable Repose.  You have power to bestow, but you should remain wary and unhurried in bestowing it.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and you’ll need to consider with exactitude, and move with commitment.

Born in the Year of the Horse: Your powers to make contribution will be enhanced by the entry of the Dragon Moon, but as it’s a Rat on the watch who’s welcoming him in, today is not the time to test those powers, or even to look for evidence of their arrival.  Still, if you’re offered a chance to kick up your heels in delight, or to show the quirky side of your sense of humor, it may aid the Rat in his careful attempts to maintain a diplomatic mood of Proper Protocol, by lightening the mood, and easing the sense of tension that will be hanging in the air.  Your aim to “fit in” will be highly appreciated, of course, but the truth is that the more you feel you’re behaving “out of the ordinary,” the more you’ll fit into the Rat’s careful and flexible planning.  The more off-hand you allow your actions to be, the more grist you’ll be giving him to work with, and the more you’ll therefore garner admiration and support from those around you.  It may only be a ceremonial paper crown, but you’ve got a good chance of winning the popular vote today as to who will wear it home.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and you’ll make yours by demonstrating team-work and maturity to those who need to learn.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: When it comes to Diplomatic Aplomb, there are few who can equal the best of your Clan.  And so, you may have a few critical complaints concerning the way the Rat on the watch is fulfilling his plan of action;  to wit, welcoming in the Dragon Moon with stately enough pace to ensure that Proper Protocols can forestall the outbreak of clenched fists and angry glances—at least, that is, until the Dragon and Rabbit have reached their respective corners, and the referee can give them their instruction before the bout.  If you do have a comment or two to yell out, rest assured that your position at ring-side will make it easy for you to be heard;  you should therefore consider your own reputation before raising your voice, and assume that your picture is going to appear all over the internet the day after.  Smile, demonstrate your confidence, wave at the crowd, grant autograph-seekers a signature.  And perhaps, be grateful that it’s the Rat who’s doing the Difficult Duty, and leaving you to your celebrity and your adoring fans.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and for once you’ll find it easy to subscribe to his program and underwrite his rules of conduct.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: In his attempt to usher in the Dragon Moon with the proper balance of dignified solemnity and celebratory delight, the Rat on the watch will be handing you small items to hold or to deal with all through the day, and uttering such phrases as:  ”Hold this,”  ”Sit here,” “Open that for me,” “Stand right there,” “Turn a little that way,” and “Don’t.”  His aim is to make full use of your Brilliant Skills in such a way that his work is eased, your attention if fully occupied, and that you don’t take the fact that the Friendly Dragon is about to walk in the door, as reason to fly into action before you know what the repercussions might be.  The net result—if all participants co-operate correctly, that is—will be a dawning awareness on your part of how powerful your abilities are when they’re not being fully made use of, and of how much utility you can make of Suggestion and Implication, once you’ve balanced Idea with a healthy dose of Not Yet.  Mind you, it’s not easy going through this kind of training;  you’re going to be exhausted by the end of it, and heading to bed early, if you’ve done well.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and you’ll make yours by showing your quirky side.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: In the arrival of the Dragon Moon, you’ll recognize a stalwart partisan in your cause, and a potential harbor of safety in the midst of your travels and travails across Bunnyland.  However, the prospects for the Moon are still hanging in the balance.  It will be wise of you to observe quite carefully the protocols established by the Rat on the watch as he aims to slow the parade down to the pace of something like a dirge or religious ceremonial, in order not to alert or infuriate the Hare through allowing the Dragon to make his entrance instead, as if it were a Triumphal March of (Presumed) Victory.  Your natural powers and predilections spring from exactitude and quickness, and if you can catch the Rat’s drift today, you have a very good chance at learning something about the powers of poise and pausing, to enhance your understanding, and to add to your Traveler’s Kit-Bag.  Keep looking around you;  there’ll be plenty of time to do so, and plenty of importance to make note of.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and though you may not like the pace, you’re going to love the possibilities.

Born in the Year of the Dog: With the arrival of the Dragon Moon, you might well expect a fall in your fortunes, and the onset of vexing complexities to ruin all your plans.  I’m happy to report that such is not to be the case.  Your affinities with Team Rabbit, as it happens, far outweigh whatever enmity you might rightly hold for Ol’ Scaly-Claws—given your long and troubled history of tangling with him over matters both trivial and momentous—and you’re to enjoy enhanced access to your Happy Hare-Hounding throughout most of the Moon.  Part of the credit (and, I might add, perhaps cause for your gratitude) comes from the Dragon himself, who will be displacing the Rabbit’s Certitude and Confidence with a rising awareness of Need For Friends (which could very well be you) and a Desire For Direction (which is exactly your contribution, where the Clan of the Long Ears is concerned.)  Mark well, then, the well-eased pace and the diplomatic decorum with which the Rat on the watch is endeavoring to ensure the safety and smoothness of the Dragon’s entry;  don’t do anything to mar the formal and ceremonial atmosphere, or you’ll spook Said Rabbit, and dump your incipient opportunities in the drink.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, allowing you to lay plans, and see to Proper Execution.

Born in the Year of the Pig: You may well observe the efforts of the Rat on the watch to establish Dignified Decorum as the platform on which the Dragon Moon may make entrance, as well-intended but weakly executed.  And yet—given your partiality for Team Rabbit, and your long track-record of mixing it up in an embarrassingly unproductive way with the Clan of Scales and Claws—you might be perfectly happy to let the Rat take the heat and deal with the difficulty, while you smile on approvingly from the side.  While the omens are good for inaction, and simply staying out of the way may be a Great Favor to offer Mr. Round-Ears while he’s “laboring hard at making it look easy,” you should not pass over any small opportunity to lend a hand or make an energetic contribution.  You, perhaps more than anyone, can see exactly what he’s trying to accomplish—and what he’s trying to avert—and if you have some small part in making the day go as smoothly as he’d like, your repose will be undisturbed, and his gratitude will prove rewarding.   Also:  You should be the one answering questions;  he’s going to be far too busy.  Tomorrow’s Ox will make his contribution by limiting Further Developments, and you’ll make good use of the “delay of game.”

“Dim light and dense fog make meditation easy.”

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE MAIDEN;  the SOLAR INDEX is  COMPLETE.

Master Mouse Says:

The FIRE PIG on duty today has a restrained character, a staunchly held point-of-view, and an unromantic attitude towards appetites and priorities, all of which he’ll apply with great composure to the task of smoothing the departure of the Hare Moon.  Take it as a good omen that the close of the Moon is to be negotiated by such a competent ally, and let your own efforts fall slack in respect for his intelligent efficiency.  Whatever results have been achieved during the last four weeks cannot be improved by a jolt of exertion at this point, and hoisting yourself up for one last push would smack of romantic heroism, and would only weaken your state of readiness for the Dragon Moon entering tomorrow.  Loosen your time-table in whatever way you can, and try not to hold stiffly to any decision you are pressed into making.  Flexibility is an ally in itself, and on a day like this, it will help you to avoid any number of silly embarrassments, and the folly of working too hard for very little result.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: The Pig on the watch will exert himself in equal degrees to make sure that the Hare Moon is sent off with dignified gratitude, and that you have a proper place at the proceedings.  His quiet festivities will leave you no space in which to pursue either ambition or productivity, however, and you may as well settle in for some creature comforts, a few entertaining anecdotes, and a casual enjoyment of the soft formalities for which he’s famous.  If you can relax enough, you’ll witness a demonstration of what you’re almost always forgetting when dealing with the Mysterious Rabbit:  that the presumption that your effort is unnecessary, and that your wishes have already been granted, even if not yet fulfilled.  The Pig is masterful here, and you ought to spend the day lounging under his direction.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and your own diplomatic skills will prove useful to all around you.

Born in the Year of the Ox: The Pig on the watch is no stickler for formality, preferring to ensure that an atmosphere of comfort and ease is made available, whatever the occasion.  But he does have a taste for delicacy and good order, which you’ll find somewhat difficult to fulfill.  It’s not that you don’t understand the spirit of his intention to escort the Hare Moon out of service with graciousness and affability;  rather, it’s that you’ll have to come to a complete stop in your exertions, and strive to remain as still, calm, and immobile as possible, in order to fit in with the Pig’s sociable dictates for the day.  While this isn’t going to be perfectly satisfying for you, it will have its delights:  focus on food and drink, and don’t hesitate to offer your assistance in seeing to whatever small details might catch your notice.  Keep a joke or two up your sleeve;  the atmosphere is more casual than formal, and your style of humor is going to put everyone at their ease.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and you’ll learn something about your own force and fortitude.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: As the Pig on the watch takes up the official position of Master of Ceremonies for the Hare Moon’s Farewell, you should already be aware that there’s a place on the dais for you, and that you’ll be visible from every point in the room for the entirety of the event.  Mind you, there’s nothing out of the ordinary you’ll be expected to do or to accomplish, and your simple presence will be entirely satisfying to all in attendance.  But if you were hoping to slink away into some comfy corner, you’ll have to surrender that wish, however congruent it might seem to the energies of the day.  Smile and joke with any who have the good luck to be seated next to you, and be careful not to try to pay attention to too many things at the same time.  There’s a meditative angle to your social demands today, and if you strike the proper balance of attention and repose, you may find it as refreshing as that nap you’re not going to get would have been.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and you’ll have to balance your urges against your good sense.

Born in the Year of the Hare: As much as the Pig on the watch will be aiming for Casual Repose to be the atmosphere established to honor the departure of the Hare Moon, it will be difficult for you to fall into the proper mode of behavior to answer it.  True enough, you’ll feel the sinking of energy that precedes the New Moon, and you’ll be perfectly aware that your job, as Representative Member of the Clan of the Long Ears, is to stand around making your self obvious, while doing nothing in particular.  But your eagerness to Get On With Things will be unabated, and you’ll have ideas and urges pounding in your skull, even though there’s little you’ll be able to do today to put them into practice, or to test their worth and workability through experimental action.  Assume this discomfort is the entry price for the little affair the Pig is doing you the honor of hosting, and put your attention in the assembly of other guests:  there’s someone you’re supposed to meet today, and your job is to sniff them out.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and you’ll only make that more difficult for him if you let your appetites run ahead of your good sense.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: Neither the departing Hare Moon nor the Pig on the watch (who’s seeing to the Farewell Party arrangements) will have captured more than your passing interest;  but since the ambient number of Rabbits is about to decrease, and the departure of yesterday’s Dog means that the raucous yapping has stopped for a while, perhaps you’ll find your own reasons to put on your casual finery and put in an appearance at the affair.  You can be sure that the number of demands put on your goodwill will be low;  in fact, they’ll amount to nothing more than observing the most basic rules of sociable behavior, and wandering about among the other guests at your own whim.  Stay stately in your deportment, and deferential in your conversation, and you’ll not only make a fine showing of yourself, you’ll find that you’re having a delightful time of it, as well.  Remember that one of those “basic rules” is to turn away before a bit of irritation becomes anger or aggression.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and to seat you on the very throne of your appetites.

Born in the Year of the Snake: Given your developing connection to Team Rabbit, it would be unthinkable for the Pig on the watch to take up the task of hosting a Farewell Party for the departing Hare Moon, and leave you off the guest list.  Indeed, your innate gift for making a low-profile entry and smoothly working the room, will be a model for all the other guests to wish they could emulate;  it will strike exactly the right note of casual celebration the Pig wishes to ensure.  Still, you’re going to have to keep a rein on your appetites to keep them from sponsoring the kind of thought-leading-to-action that will only ensure your embarrassment in front of the assembled guests;  if it’s only in your mind, you can make a joke of it perhaps, but if it becomes visible gesture, you’ll be the focal point of the room before you’ve quite realized what you’ve done.  Maintain your mystery;  let them look at you and wonder what you’re thinking.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and bring you stronger conditions in which to make good use of your visibility.

Born in the Year of the Horse: The affair being organized by the Pig on the watch to celebrate the completion of the Hare Moon will be simple in protocols, casual in atmosphere, and loose in timing;  still, you’re going to have to make your appearance with every intent to summon a delicacy of action that will keep you from standing out like a cricket player in full gear who’s crashed a ballet recital.  Actually, come to think of it, showing up in athletic attire might be entirely suitable, but it will become a problem if you don’t use it to remind yourself to be extra careful in your speech, and rather more formal in your actions than others seem to be.  You’re not due to come to a workable understanding of the Way of Rabbits and Hares until much closer to the Summer Solstice, and the less you distinguish yourself upon the close of the Hare Moon, the less you’ll have to apologize (or feel apologetic) for.  This is not a dark piece of advice, however;  you’re really going to enjoy Just Standing Around today.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and show you how a little bit of strangeness can lead to a lot of empowerment.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: It’s extremely easy for you to read the choices which the Pig on the watch will be making—the better to host the Farewell Party for the Hare Moon’s departure—but it’s just as easy to see that there will be no talking him out of any of them either, even if you see their potential flaws, or conceive of a More Reasonable Solution to the difficulties that might arise through the day.  Consequently, though you’ll have no difficulty striking the easy elegance and casual respect which will perfectly fulfill the Pig’s intentions, you will nonetheless feel a certain constraint to your actions, and a strict limitation in your capacity to Make Your Contribution.  Think of it this way:  you’re a guest as much as anyone is, and since your affinities with Team Rabbit are both well-known and time-tested, perhaps it’s appropriate that you should be taking more than your share of the Relaxation and Enjoyment.  Trade in your wish to be influential for an extra-comfy chair, and another trip or two to the buffet table.  While you’re there, by the way, aim for the dishes lacking in extra sugar or salt;  ”simple and fresh” should be your dietary watchwords today.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and your ambitions will turn towards teaching rather than doing.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: You might find yourself a little mystified when you check your email, and find yourself invited to the Farewell Party that the Pig on the watch is hosting to celebrate the departure of the Hare Moon;  first, you didn’t think the Hare actually remembered your name, and second, while you’re sure the Pig remembers it, that’s not exactly because you fall in the center of his affections.  Still, a party’s a party, and you should brush up something elegant to wear that doesn’t look too formal, and plan on making your appearance well before it would give the impression that you were arriving late on purpose.  You’ll have to play this one “by the book,” and exert yourself to fit in with all the other guests;  all the little niceties of social deportment (which seem to put such a cramp on your style, and such limits on your creativity) will be imperative to maintain.  If it feels like you’re only putting on a performance (and not really enjoying yourself) seek me out in the crowd;  I’ll give you an award for it, and take you out for some after-party fun to reward you, as well.  I’ll insist on an early evening’s bedtime for you however:  you’ve got a big day ahead.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and to show you something that even you didn’t know about the power of your Magic Tricks.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: Though it might seem so, it’s not really a cruel trick that the Pig on the watch will be playing on you;  as host for the Farewell Party to honor the departure of the Hare Moon, he has every right to see to the seating arrangements, and it’s part of his Clever Plan to have you take a position of note-worthy visibility up on the dais, where everyone will be able to see you, and from which you’ll not be able to escape.  Though this will no doubt lower your state of enjoyment in the proceedings, and make it more difficult to strike the relaxed fluidity that such social events as these seem to require, you should be quite confident that the Pig knows what he’s doing, and that your safest place to hide (with all the Rabbits in the room) is out in Plain Sight.  Some who need to make your acquaintance are going to discover that fact today, perhaps simply because they’ve never noticed you before in a context in which you’re so… well, noticeable.  You won’t have to talk a lot, if you don’t feel like it, but you will have to answer questions if you’re asked.  You can always deflect the conversation by asking questions yourself, of course;  but you’d better act like you’re interested in the answers.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and he’ll need you to summon your attention to duty in order to pull it off correctly.

Born in the Year of the Dog: Perhaps it seems a bit unfair, just to have finally made your dash after the Twin Hares, and immediately to see one of them excusing himself from the competition and dropping out of the race.  Still, it’s proper Sporting Style to honor the occasion with a send-off for the departing Moon, and your Friendly Neighbor the Pig has (no surprise here) volunteered himself as host.  Just as there’s a strict code of honor on the Race Track enforcing the notion that delays in the proceedings must be observed by maintaining current order of contestants, you’ll find that you lose neither position nor momentum by attending the celebration today;  and, on the other hand, you could use a bit of refreshment and casual banter among the assembled guests.  Don’t sit down for too long;  it’s better for you to keep up a sauntering pace.  And if you saunter to the buffet table, make sure you only use the small plates for your snacking.  Plenty of running left ahead of you, and you’ll want to Keep In Training for it.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and your new prospects will bring you refreshed enthusiasm.

Born in the Year of the Pig: With your Clan-Mate on the watch seeing to all the necessities of art and hospitality to ensure that the Farewell Party for the departing Hare Moon goes off like clockwork, you might imagine that the casual relaxation guaranteed to all the guests would be something you’d have to sacrifice in order to help out with the work and the worrying.  Such is not to be the case.  Your place at the affair is de rigueur, of course, but you’re to regard yourself as Guest Only, and not to allow yourself to butt-in where your Clan-Mate has already Got It Handled, or indeed, even where he seems to be missing a step.  Normally, such permission (or in this case, orders) would mean you’d be found frolicking amongst the conversationalists in the group, or hovering over the buffet table, tasting and analyzing all the glories to be found there.  But today, you’ve got a lot of thinking to do, and I’m fairly certain that if I want to locate you, I’m going to have to look into some quiet corner of the library, or wander out into the terrace-garden where you’ll be absent-mindedly staring at flowerbeds or up into the clouds.  If I can find you, I’ll bring you a little plate of something (you’ve got to keep your strength up, after all) and then, slip back to the festivities, and leave you to your Deep Thoughts.  Tomorrow’s Rat will attempt to ease the entry of the Dragon Moon, and your inclinations to help out will be more than welcome.

•

“Don’t stand when you can sit;  don’t sit when you can lie down.”

—Merce Cunningham

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE OX-BOY;  the SOLAR INDEX is  DANGER.

Master Mouse Says:

The FIRE DOG on duty today has cheerful drive, strong appetites, and a fierce defensiveness of domestic stability, and will attempt to rouse the Twin Hares to match his level of enthusiasm and zeal.  Since he will take it as both his duty and his delight to give chase after the both of them, his energy will appear boundless and his attention unrelenting;  while his dash will be of a necessarily limited duration, he still has every chance of getting wheels to start cranking, and mechanisms moving, even though they have been stalled for a number of days.  Take your opportunities as you find them, and press them forward without delay.  The more you can encourage progress where indecision has been the case, the more solid information you’ll rattle loose for examination;  even if you feel you’re only shaking things up, you’ll likely find directions worth chasing emerging from their hiding places.  Keep your mind on what others expect of you, and aim to justify their trust in your abilities, but don’t be afraid to offer up what’s become suddenly available, rather than continue searching for what was ordered or asked for;  as long as you’re not purely going for a joy-ride, it will be a day of surprises and serendipities.  Talley-ho!

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: The Dog on the watch won’t be doing it with your tastes and predilections particularly in mind, of course, but he’ll be kicking up plenty of interesting options for your opportunistic streak to take delight in;  aim to keep your eyes and brains moving faster than your body, or you’ll end up exhausted by lunch-time, just trying to keep tabs on all the possibilities.  You’ll only add complications to an already-busy day if you don’t remember to form your explanations and requests before you start talking;  and if you leave out all the extra details with which you like to justify your decisions and clarify your purposes, you’ll have much more successful communications on the whole.  Adding further information later won’t be that difficult, and it’s a day for action, not for lectures, anyway.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and you’ll get some lessons in Hare Handling.

Born in the Year of the Ox: The Dog on the watch will be striking out with a speed and impetuosity that will be a bit difficult for you to stomach, and if you find yourself with a slight case of motion sickness, you can chalk it up to his verve and daring when taking his turn at the steering wheel.  Still, there’s a lot you can gain by simply looking out the window—which in any case will be far better for your comfort and composure than closing your eyes and wishing the nausea would pass—and if you can get past your objections to his manner, he’ll be giving you at least a couple of reasons to be glad you made the trip with him.  At the very least, you should thank him for dragging you away from what you already know you’re good at, and giving you a giggle or two while you try your hand at something well out of your skill-set.  ”Go on!  Give it a try!”  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and you’ll have to apply yourself to summon the delicacy and imagination he’s asking of you.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: Between the composed but nervous reticence of the Twin Hares, and the perky excitement of the Dog on the watch, you’re going to have a hard time deciding which of the two to side with;  going back and forth from one to the other is going to seem like no option at all, and picking one against the other will seem to add structural and ethical complications that you don’t wish to involve yourself in.  My advice is to take a comfortable place in the Reviewing Stands from which you can wave General Encouragement at the display before you, without having to declare any partisan position.  If you have to give advice, or take some supportive action just to keep from making offense, offering bland platitudes will prove strangely satisfying to those who’ve made the appeal;  sometimes those around you just want to convince themselves that you’ve “got their back,” even when it’s clear that they’re fine on their own.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and demand that you show your social side.

Born in the Year of the Hare: The verve and vigor which the Dog on the watch is aiming at your Twin Clan-Mates will not pass by without having an effect on you as well;  it’s a fundamental part of the harmony you feel with Clan Canine that their natural interest in your condition and potential leads them to press you towards your highest accomplishments and your fullest display of your own ambitions.  Take off the brakes, then, and allow yourself to be ignited by the heat of the Dog’s demands;  he’s only asking that you Be Yourself, and that you give him the blessing of getting to go along for a while to be your Fair Witness.  Don’t be afraid to take some risks;  you’re under two Lucky Stars today, and besides being a Hare Hound, the “Dog on the watch” makes a terrific Watch Dog.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and you’ll find out how big your drives are when you’re not being pressed to exert them.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: The Dog on the watch will be devoting himself to harrying the Twin Hares, and while just watching him do it will be enough to set your teeth on edge, it may come as some surprise to you to see how much the Hares actually enjoy the experience.  ”Huh!  Rabbits!” I can hear you muttering under your breath.  While others around you will either be sidling towards the Dog’s racing pit (hoping to catch a close-up view and yell out some encouragement when he stops in for refreshment or repairs) or towards the Hares’ (hoping to catch the secret of just how it is that they always manage to stay in the lead) you probably won’t even want to take a seat in the Reviewing Stands to observe how the whole round-and-round goes down.  I applaud your boredom, and urge you not to countermand it;  staring at the clouds, even, would be a far better use of your energies and attention than allowing yourself to get dizzy and disgusted following those who wish to Run In Circles, getting nowhere.  Wear sunglasses;  if you’re noticed in the crowd, they won’t be able to tell in which direction you’re not looking.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and allow you to regain your aplomb.

Born in the Year of the Snake: As much as you have your own designs on the Twin Hares, it will not escape your notice that the Dog on the watch can serve them just as well as his own, as long as you don’t interfere with the course he’s taking, or with the dash-and-dart evasive maneuvers which his Quick-Footed Quarry will be making, so teasingly to elude him.  You’ll have to exert some self-control not to take advantage of small opportunities which seem to present themselves as either the Bunny Boys or their Pursuing Pooch pass by;  but if you remember that the race they’re engaged in is just going to go around and around all day long, and that—therefore—they’re fundamentally Not Going Anywhere, you’ll find it easy to summon your patience and maintain your composure.  In any case, there are bigger opportunities coming to you soon, and settling for the small ones that present themselves today would prove to be a disappointing bargain.  If you find yourself getting jittery, get into some physical exercise;  it’s very good for you today.  Just make sure you get it well-away from the Race Track.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, but he’ll have a sharp eye out to make sure you’re on your best behavior.

Born in the Year of the Horse: Though it won’t be perfectly self-explanatory why the Dog on the watch is so hell-bent-for-leather determined to Get Them Rabbits, the sheer energy he’s putting forth to launch his pursuit will fill you up with sympathetic enthusiasm, and you’ll have no trouble either in offering your whole-hearted encouragement, or in agreeing to go along for the ride.  Don’t be surprised if you fall naturally into a coaching role, making sure that those who have signed on with The Program keep up the pace, and preventing them from giving up on themselves out of pure habit, or out of some under-estimation of their own natural abilities.  Those in your charge may claim that they don’t like you while you’re barking orders and demanding better results, but once the triumph is theirs, they’ll be all grins and high-fives in gratitude.  Make sure that you offer to host at the celebration afterwards, at least for the first round.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and you’ll have to turn in your whistle and clipboard in favor of white gloves and patent leather shoes.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: The Dog on the watch will be dedicated to hounding down the Twin Hares, and they, for their part, will be just as dedicated to evading his pursuit.  For some in the Reviewing Stands, there will be the mystery of Possible Outcomes on which to wager, and for others, the sheer exhilaration of speed married to commitment will be cause enough for rapt attention and awe-struck expressions.  For you, however—who know so well all the Competitive Parties—the entire display will simply be a chance to show your nonchalance in offering service, and your command of timing and resources in making all As It Should Be.  Make sure that you dress as you wish to be viewed, because you will be seen, remarked upon, and complimented.  Don’t hesitate, if drawn into chat that will obstruct your attention to your duties, to make use of the polite phrase “Excuse me…” as you graciously step away.  In a way, your future is in your hands today;  I can’t think of any place better for it to be.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and a more controlling attitude towards your choices.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: While I’m sure that you’ll applaud the Dog on the watch in his explosive burst of speed and determination, I’m also fairly certain you won’t have any idea why he’s so interested in Getting Them Rabbits, or what he plans on doing should he pull off the rather remarkable (and, as it happens, perfectly unlikely) feat of catching up with them.  Others around you will find their attention drawn in tighter and tighter as the day progresses, and the Race Course on which the revolutions are taking place with increasing velocity and intention, will capture there interest entirely;  you, more likely, are going to find your mind drifting away to Other Possibilities, and if you find your body drifting away from the crowd of friends you came with, there probably won’t be any among them who even notice.  Do make sure that you’ve arranged the Meeting Place you’re all to assemble at the end of the affair, unless you want to cause alarm at your unexplained absence, and (also) don’t mind having to make your own transportation arrangements for returning home.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and a much more demanding attitude towards your Good Behavior.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: The flush of excitement most around you will relish in—to see the Dog on the watch take off with such verve and dedication in his quest to Get Them Rabbits—will pass over you more like the roar of a distant crowd than like a shiver of electrical fascination.  As far as you’re concerned, why the Dog should wish to demonstrate such maniacal obsession towards the Twin Hares, or on the other hand, why they should demonstrate such obvious delight in being its object, is each as mystical and esoteric a question as the other.  Certainly, however, you can understand the benefits that their mutual interest imparts to your affairs, and you’ll find it both easy and a great relief to discover that where your disinterest is concerned, both the Pursuing Pooch and the Bunny Boys themselves will be returning it, by paying you No Attention At All—at least for today.  Revel in your invisibility, and saunter about at your leisure;  if you’re noticed by someone else, look casually away, and maintain your own mystery and aloof distance.  Wear sunglasses:  it will make them wonder about you.  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and insist that you become the center of attention.

Born in the Year of the Dog: While your Clan-Mate on the watch will raise your energy levels into the Red Zone, his explosive burst of action in pursuit of the Twin Hares will at least give you permission to dash after them as well, letting off steam, and ensuring that your likelihood of blowing a gasket drops off dramatically.  Now, as long as you’ve been waiting for this moment to arrive, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t embarrass yourself by tripping over your own shoelaces at the start, or jumping the gun so many times that the officials have to consider disqualifying you from the field of entrants.  Gather your wits, and see to Proper Preparations.  If you maintain your own composure, you can be certain that the Bunny Boys will do the honorable thing, and refuse to take advantage of a start to the race that doesn’t allow you to be in a ready state.  Go down your whole check-off list before placing your front foot on the line;  then, take a deep breath, and Go Get ‘Em!  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and you’ll be able to drop into your stride.

Born in the Year of the Pig: While others around you are going to be having a Day At The Races, thrilled to see the Dog on the watch demonstrate such single-minded verve in his pursuit of the Twin Hares, and awe-struck to see the Hares, for their part, so delighted to have the Happy Hound chasing after them, and so teasingly competent at staying just out of his reach.  For you, however, who are—as it were—holding all the betting stubs, the day is the summation of all the Risks you’ve got cantilevered out over the chasm of Possible Failure and of all the Daring you’ve got tucked under your boot-heels, ready to spring up in the air off it, should Winged Victory bless you with her favors, ensuring your future happiness and good fortune.  Don’t let what you’ve got on the line dent your capacity for enjoyment;  even if you lose it all, you’ve still got the best brains in the crowd, and the tightest circle of friends amongst them.  And if you win big?  Ah! What a party you’ll throw then, eh?  Tomorrow’s Pig will take a much more composed attitude towards the Twin Hares, and you’ll get to see to your accounts.

•

“Looking towards can express invitation;  looking away, even more so.”

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE LADLE;  the SOLAR INDEX is  DESTROY.

Master Mouse Says:

The WOOD FOWL on duty today has a modest and attentive nature, and a sober style that’s a bit perturbed and deflated by the obstruction of the Twin Hares.  As a result of his rationalist’s assessment of his very weak position, he’ll crumple down to a very low profile, and offer virtually no target for objection or confrontation.  The Twin Hares, for their part, will recognize both the imminence of the close of the Moon, and the blank space left by the Fowl’s judicious refusal to contend, as worthy reasons to conserve their own forces, and will decline either to advance or retreat.  While this doesn’t really amount to them “sulking in their tents, refusing to come out,” it does mean the day will have an austere atmosphere, in spite of the brighter indicators offering hope of buoyant energies and strong results.  Aim for simplicity in your view, and not caution, but care, in your movements.  Leave as much as you can unstirred and unshaken;  there’s a strong day coming tomorrow, and you’re giving affairs an empty space in which to shape themselves up, in preparation for it.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: Whatever affairs you find must be dealt with today should be undertaken with an air of friendly formality and diplomatic distance.  Your more aggressive qualities can easily blow the Fowl’s cover, and give cause for the Twin Hares to think of defensive retributions, even if there’s not really much they should make defensive retributions for.  On the other hand, if you think of the day as a race in which you’re required to carry an egg in the bowl of a table-spoon as you run, you’ll do just fine.  You’re quite talented at these dexterity-meets-attentiveness tests, and you just have to apply yourself to get good results.  Try not to choose any rich or unfamiliar foods to eat;  they’ll slow you down and make you drowsy.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll have to kick into higher gear.

Born in the Year of the Ox: If only on account of your natural affinities with the Fowl on the watch, you’ll have to be careful to match his austerity program, and neither to offer what you think of as “assistance,” not strike out with renewed energy towards your own goals.  You’re in a social situation today, and it’s got some rather prickly complexities;  if you don’t want to make your road much more steep and difficult later on, you’ll have to submit to a day of careful attention and willingness to make subtle adjustments as you go.  This won’t be terribly difficult, but it’s likely to be more annoying than satisfying.  Consider it as a way in which you can carry some of the brunt of the Fowl’s difficulties for him.  Don’t be afraid to do something puckish, or to crack a joke from time to time;  you don’t have to play the part of The Heavy to get through the day successfully, and others will appreciate your gestures of ease and levity.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and if you follow his style, you’ll gain some of his energy.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: The collapse of confidence demonstrated by the Fowl on the watch will do nothing to weaken yours, and though the Twin Hares may take it as a signal to back off and stand down, you’re more likely to feel that an unexpectedly blank space deserves some exploring.  In spite of your connections to those of the Rabbit Persuasion, and your lack of connections to the Clan of Feathers and Claws, you’re in a very good position today to be the Field Judge of their lack of competition, if not quite the Peace-Maker in their ongoing quarrel.  Spread your good-feelings and your good-will around, but don’t be too disappointed if those around you don’t instantly take them up from you model.  You’re actually attempting something quite difficult to accomplish, but you don’t have to look like you are;  and there’s certainly nobody around better equipped than you are to attempt it.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll be a bit stretched placing yourself at the service of both parties at the same time.

Born in the Year of the Hare: It will be very easy for you to take the non-appearance of the Fowl on the watch as some kind of Clever Ploy or Feigned Retreat, designed to put you off your guard and at a disadvantage;  it will be even easier for you to mimic the response of your Twin Clan-Mates, and to fall into heightened defensiveness, hunkering down into whatever you consider to be a safe place from which to expect an assault on your impromptu entrenchment.  While there’s no harm in either of these presumptions, I hasten to point out that they’re fundamentally off target;  what’s actually going on is Nothing At All, and you can just as easily take the day as an Enforced Truce as an opportunity to wax paranoid.  Since it’s your Clan that’s got the high ground here, perhaps you can find it in your boundless goodwill to be the first to send a little note across the embattled (or un-embattled, depending on how you look at it) field, inviting the other Observers-of-Truce over for tea and cakes.  The chat will be very interesting, I promise you.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and inspire your self-certainty and willingness to take action.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: As low as the Fowl on the watch will wish to lie—on account of his confidence having fallen even lower—your certainty in your situation, and in your power to deal with it, will be clear, high, and free of doubt.  It might seem that the proper thing to do—simply on the basis of your root affinities and antagonisms—would be to swoop in and rescue the poor Fowl, and give the Twin Hares a tweak on the nose for good measure.  You are not, however, famous for your wisdom for nothing, and you’ll see with equal lack of doubt that such an heroic use of your vision and capacities would be both ill-timed and unnecessary;  the Fowl is in a secure position—albeit a weak one—and risking mixing it up with the Bunny Boys is exactly what he’s trying to avoid.  Consequently, you’ll see what you should be doing, to wit:  as close to nothing as is comfortable, from a distance high above the un-embattled field, where you can keep your over-viewing angle with serenity and ease.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll have to take pains not to become entangled in their festive little fracas.

Born in the Year of the Snake: The model set by the Friendly Fowl today by lying low will be of no difficulty at all for you to appreciate, approve, and copy—Lying Low being one of your most well-practiced arts;  and even though his reason for doing so in regards to the Twin Hares is not something you need to share, it will make perfect sense for you to diminish your profile and dim your prospects, if only to give him the sense that you’re willing to keep him company.  Curiously, while hiding out inspires caution and defensiveness in the Bunny Boys when they catch him doing it, they take it as reason to heighten their interest and deepen their dedication when they see you demonstrate the art.  So at one and the same time, you’ll be disarming them from their irritations with the Fowl, and enchanting them in their interests with you.  Well done!  Happy Hiding!  (By which I mean, of course:  ”Showing Off!”)  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll have to exert yourself, but not by joining their race.

Born in the Year of the Horse: What with the Fowl on the watch striking a discreet position somewhere in the landscape, and endeavoring not to give it away, and what with the Twin Hares taking his disappearance as a sign of warning rather than victory, you’ll find the field between them open and unoccupied, and available for whatever explorations or exercises you might wish to fill it with.  For most around you, the blankness of the space is itself a good reason to strike a defensive attitude every bit the equal of the Fowl’s or the Twin Hares’;  your sensitivities to space, energy, and time, however, will convince you almost immediately that what they’ve left open is much more a playground than a battle-field, and if you make use of it, you’ll convince everyone else of the fact as well.  As lowering the social tension in the atmosphere can only make it more likely that your friends will come out to play with you, I have no hesitancy at all in advising you to get out there and show them how it’s done.  Get one of your friends to be time-keeper;  if you don’t have regular breaks called, you’re likely to end up exhausted.  Satisfied, alright;  but still “exhausted.”  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll find yourself perfectly willing to go along for the festivities.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: Your affinities with the Twin Hares will make  you wince to see them taking a semi-paranoid attitude at the Fowl on the watch, as he declines to make much of his expected appearance, hiding instead in some fold or fortification in the natural landscape, where his safety and composure are much more assured.  It will be quite natural for you to point out to the Bunny Boys that they’re being a bit over-cautious, and while going on a hunt for the Missing Rooster is not really called for, relaxing a bit in the accidental truce would probably be a Very Good Idea.  It’s going to take more than a few words and a simple gesture to talk them down from their anxious defensiveness, but leaning a bit on your friendship and understanding, and just a little bit more on your artfulness and invention when dealing with these delicate sorts of social snags, I’m sure you’ll acquit yourself with your usual triumph.  Isn’t it grand being in the Year of the Hare?  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll be holding the flags for their Festive Foot-Race.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: The hunkering down of the Fowl on the watch will only make the Twin Hares stiffen in their defensive preparations for the attack he’s not about to launch;  this is fairly reasonable if you grant that the certainties they presume in his character and motives (which give rise to their paranoid responses) are well-seated and time-tested, even if in this particular case they’re mistaken.  In your case, the Bunny Boys have no certainties on which to base their action or inaction, and you’ll find yourself in the very rare state of being able to stride about pretty much wherever you want to (even right up to and into their bristling fortifications) without passport or preparations.  If you were to take the opportunity to get everyone to lower their weapons, and to relax instead of reload, you’ll be doing us all a great favor;  on top of that, I’m pretty sure the Twins have some tea-and-cakes to share, even if they are in camouflage and carrying field rations.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and give you the confidence to follow your own course.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: While your Clan-Mate on the watch is only confronting the Twin Hares for the day, you’ve been having to do so—in one condition or another—for the entire Hare Moon.  If you’re more than a bit confused, and somewhat leaning towards exhaustion, I hope that you can take it as a sign that you’re actually doing the Proper Thing, and that your misalignment with the forces around you comes not from your Assessments or Actions, but from your Nature.  When you’re in a foreign country in the tropics, after all, you should expect to be slightly ill-informed and sweating, at one and the same time.  In any case, it will come as some relief, I think, to witness the model your Clan-Mate is offering for your more comfortable behavior, and I urge you to copy it to all exactitude.  There’s very little you could do today by making yourself clearly visible—aside from bring problems down on you, that is—and with the Hare Moon so close to its departure, it’s a small price to pay for your increased composure.  Decline the Big Task;  take up the Small Solution.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll want to do Your Own Thing, if only to stay well out of their way.

Born in the Year of the Dog: Perhaps it’s because of the nearing departure of the Hare Moon, or perhaps it’s only because with the Fowl on the watch taking a low profile, you feel he’s finally stopped getting in the way of your view of the Fabulous Bunny Boys;  but the blank left by his failure to appear will be filled with vaulting enthusiasm on your part, and a gathering of your forces, as if to assault the bristling bunker in which the Ravishing Rabbits have sequestered themselves for the day.  None of this is a mistake;  if you’ve been paying attention, you already realize that tomorrow’s going to be a Go For It day, and that the spring-loading you feel mounting up today will help you go off like a shot from the very starting-gun that signals the beginning of the festivities.  If you spent the day creeping closer to the Hares’ position, no-one would blame you;  I should inform you, however, that creeping isn’t strictly necessary, since they’re paying no attention to you today, at all.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll start forward in (I’ve got my fingers crossed) good order.

Born in the Year of the Pig: From your point-of-view, the semi-startled stillness observed by the Twin Hares yesterday upon catching sight of the Enigmatic Monkey, will blend seamlessly into the semi-paranoid defensiveness they take up, due to the completely unexpected non-appearance of the Fowl on the watch.  Your proper response to both states of immobility should be roughly the same (though, of course, for two different reasons):  cheerful nonchalance.  Today, it’s true, you’ll have to remember to call out the password as you approach the Bunny Boys in their bristling encampment, but I’d be willing to bet my best suit that they’ll welcome your appearance with gleeful smiles (once they’re done with the pro-forma frowning, anyway) and happily serve you tea-and-cakes for your troubles.  The Fowl, of course, will be very grateful to see you running Diversionary Tactics on his behalf.  Tomorrow’s Dog will charge the Twin Hares with alertness and enthusiasm, and you’ll get to make friends with The Big Problem.

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“Offering thrice shows proper hospitality;  declining twice shows proper deference.”

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Today’s LUNAR LODGE is  THE BASKET;  the SOLAR INDEX is  MAINTAIN.

Master Mouse Says:

The WOOD MONKEY on duty today has a timid and indecisive nature, but also harbors a well-spring of curiosity for seeking out new problems and new solutions.  The Twin Hares will not know what to make of his inquisitive inactivity, and the Monkey, for his part, will take very little sense from the half-startled gaze of the Twins, as if perhaps his doubled-vision means there’s something wrong with the way he’s looking at the world.  All this has high value for anyone who treasures the moment of meditation, and should be left as undisturbed as possible—in just the way that, seeing a little bird alight on a bough very close to your deck-chair, you remain still and relaxed, the better to observe him.  If you must take action, there’s no harm in that;  if someone arrives to disturb you, there’s no damage in it.  The bird’s going to fly off eventually, anyway.  Stay in your own skin, within the flow of what’s around you:  it’s astonishingly easy on a day like this.

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Talk to the Animals

Born in the Year of the Rat: The Monkey on the watch has two choices:  putting his fingers into every crevice he can find, or sitting mindlessly wherever he happens to be located, half-considering what to do next.  If he takes the first option, you’re going to find yourself Highly Preoccupied with keeping things from getting knocked over or shoved accidentally out of alignment;  if he takes the second, you’ll be free to follow your own agenda of business, with—of course—the risk of giving him ideas about copying your model, leading to the whole Fingers And Crevices Thing.  This is a dilemma, isn’t it!  Better then to copy his model, and try not to go beyond “half-considering.”  If you do take actions, aim for those that remove or forestall further actions.  Your power to say No is all charged up and ready to go;  just don’t over-use it.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and you’ll have to feature your knack for Friendly Formality.

Born in the Year of the Ox: The Monkey on the watch has led you into a proverbial china-shop of delicately loaded and potentially explosive complexities, and the more simple you make your actions and attitude in response, the better for all concerned.  In spite of the other indicators for the day, this is not the time for you to inaugurate anything, or even to suggest that you might be interested something besides Things As They Are.  It won’t be difficult for you to carry off the charade of bland enjoyment;  in fact, doing so might provide you reason to feel a true friendliness springing from your mere pretense of it.  Declining to engage with others will produce nothing but disturbance, so you should regard that direction as closed to you;  still, Luck will be with you if you consider yourself as Just Browsing, and coast on through the “shop” with others following along in your wake.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and you’ll have a chance to create diversion in order to lighten the mood.

Born in the Year of the Tiger: The Monkey on the watch will almost certainly take a meddlesome attitude where you’re concerned, and even if he’s in an extremely weak position (which he is) and you’re in an extremely strong one (which you are) it’s always surprising just how deftly he can select the moment to throw a twig at your rump, just when it will cause you the most disturbance.  It will do you no good at all to snarl at him up in the tree-tops, and your best tack is to saunter off with as much dignity and nonchalance as you can muster, and aim to slip back into hiding by blending-in in that artful way of yours.  This Monkey has a short attention span, and if you refuse to fall into High Drama with him, he’s very likely to find some other target for his twigs.  This is not a good day for exercise, but you shouldn’t just be lying around, either.  Saunter, saunter, saunter.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, but if you dip into your ample store of self-certainty and magnanimity, you’ll find plenty to spread around.

Born in the Year of the Hare: The Monkey on the watch will have little choice but to meddle with your affairs in a rather vexing way, or else to leave them so entirely undisturbed that you may think that it’s your social position that he’s challenging, cutting you out of your own circle of friends, and making you think that all your work so far has suddenly become ignorable.  Both of these results are, of course, entirely illusory, and are produced only by his manipulation of your expectations and your willingness to be responsive in order to succeed.  Don’t fall for it;  take a soldierly attitude, keep your eyes straight forward, and don’t give any of the little brats tugging on your uniform reward for trying to disturb your Standing At Attention.  You can broadcast your anger, alright;  but if you take any action to demonstrate it, you’re the one who’s going to suffer for it.  The Monkey’s got a short attention-span;  surely you can wait him out.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and you’ll have to dip into your self-assurance and goodwill, and be the one to take the first action.

Born in the Year of the Dragon: Your view towards the Twin Hares is, of course, critical;  but it’s not dismissive.  Your view towards the Monkey on the watch is favorable and basically tolerant;  but it’s not so liberal as to have no limit.  This puts you in the strange condition of taking the Rabbit side of the argument—for once!—and you’re going to have to maintain strict observation of the little brat with the Long Tail, to make sure that he’s not getting himself tangled up in his own investigations, or reaching up to pull down a carefully stacked display of glassware upon himself.  You may have to surrender any progress on what you’d rather be doing instead, but rest assured that your diligence in dealing with this Other Matter will be well-observed, and highly appreciated by those around you.  You haven’t had as good an opportunity as this to demonstrate why everyone should be glad you’re on their team, since the Rabbit Regime began.  Keep calm;  you look fabulous when you’re calm.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and you’ll know exactly what to do about it.

Born in the Year of the Snake: Your competence to deal a problem soars when it’s being supported (or induced) by Monkeys on one side and Rabbits on the other;  but you’ll have to show up with your chest bulged out, your arms akimbo, and your cape rippling in the wind on this occasion.  The Monkey on the watch is in a rather undemonstrative condition, and—while he’s the clueless one where the Twin Hares are concerned—the Bunny Boys are going to be in an awful state of worry and fretfulness, trying to figure out what his inaction might portend in their near future, and worrying about Gathering Storms and Devils They Don’t Know.  Sweep in with an air of grandeur, and promise all that you’ve “got it handled.”  You’ll have a catalytic effect on the whole scene, and the sighs of relief will be audible.  As to what you’ll have to actually do to fulfill your promise:  I think it’s pretty much going to amount to “showing up with your chest bulged out, your arms akimbo, and your cape rippling in the wind”…!  Oh, and grinning.  Turns out, the grinning is very important to the over-all effect.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, but your ample confidence will fill-in any gaps without difficulty.

Born in the Year of the Horse: The Monkey on the watch is truly clueless where the Twin Hares are concerned, and under most circumstance the fact that he’s likely to Just Sit There could be taken as a Good Thing.  Unfortunately the Bunny Boys are going to take it as a signal of Impending Disaster, and if something doesn’t give, they’re likely to start up some Monkey Madness on their own.  While it’s not strictly as if you would be “coming to the rescue,” it is true that your natural confidence in movement, and the fascinating sight you make when you cross the Monkey’s line of sight, can offer everyone a way out their stiffening cautions, and back into flow again.  All you have to do is follow your own tastes and inclinations, and make sure that everyone can get their view of you doing so.  Whether you pick something flashy, or it strikes you that the most common thing in the world suits your mood, will be entirely unimportant.  Just make sure that it is what you want to do, and not what you think someone else wants you to do.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and everyone will be looking to you for leadership, rather than simple diversion.

Born in the Year of the Sheep: The Monkey on the watch will be mystifying the Twin Hares, and while the stillness they fall into will look like a No Problem Situation, it’s still fraught with the likelihood that something explosive might come out of it.  If you want to keep your affairs on an even keel, you’ll have to dip into your broad competence where the Clan of the Long Tail is concerned, and make sure that you keep a close watch on the potential for Monkey Meddling to break out.  On the other side of the equation, the Bunny Boys may transmute their rising worry into a willingness to Knock Heads, and so you’ll be busy on that front as well, using whatever rhetorical skills you can muster to talk them down.  None of this will be particularly difficult for you, but you should count on it keeping you quite busy through the day.  If that means you have to leave your own agenda unattended to, please believe me when I say that you wouldn’t have made much satisfactory progress on those items, even if you did have enough time and attention to pay to them.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and your artful knack at problem-solving will shine forth.

Born in the Year of the Monkey: Your Clan-Mate on the watch is doing you an Extraordinary Service by showing you what it looks like when you “look, but don’t touch.”  You should mark the demonstration well, and forestall any counter-demonstrations with a quick reminder to yourself that when confronted with a Well-Matched Pair of Rabbits, you don’t really know what you’re looking at.  Consider what a hugely explosive condition you might be risking if you let your natural curiosity get the better of your cautious optimism;  your natural timidity will then kick in like the Early Warning System it is, keeping you from doing things like putting forks in electrical sockets just because it looks to you like they might fit.  If you can follow this simple shift of attention—from “What is that over there?” to “Hmmm…..>yawn<….”—then you’ll discover a Largely Unknown Secret about your nature and your life:  if you get yourself to where you already are, you’re very often Perfectly Happy there.  If you discover that, start telling all the other Monkeys, will you?  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and your power in doing something gracious will be at its height.

Born in the Year of the Fowl: There’s going to be a rather tense stand-off between the Monkey on the watch and the Twin Hares, today.  Well, “tense” is a misleading term, I suppose;  it’s going to look tense, alright;  but the problem is, it’s actually a slack stand-off.  Neither the Monkey nor the Bunny Boys are going to have a clue what it is that’s staring back at them (without any inherent threat, mind you), and if they don’t come up with some kind of explanation to satisfy themselves (even a purely fictional one would do), each side is likely to Do Something just to relieve their prickling uncertainty, and that could lead to confusion, disorder, and mayhem.  Strangely, your presence is going to provide the resolution of this incipient conflict, and whether it’s because the Rabbits do know how they feel about you, or because with you on the scene the Monkey suddenly does make some sense, you should be quite open—and even flamboyant—in your demeanor, speech, and action.  You shouldn’t regard yourself as in a powerful position because of your heightened notoriety (you’re not), but if you imagine keeping disasters from breaking out as a “power,” I’d be the first to nominate you for Super-Hero Status today.  Just make sure that you appear, make your effect, and vanish with a >whoosh< up into the sky;  if you hang around too long, the press will start asking awkward questions.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and you’ll have to keep your burdens from ruining your composure.

Born in the Year of the Dog: Things are going to go deathly still on the Rabbit Scene today, and while that may very well heighten the speed at which your inner energies are revving, you will have no chance to pop the clutch, drop into gear, and race after anything with Long Ears, as they simply will not be running ahead of you.  The issue is that the Monkey on the watch will have captured their disturbed fascination, and will be doing so little with it, that the Bunny Boys will take his disinvolvement as signal either that he’s planning something quite dire which he doesn’t want to reveal, or that he’s taunting them with inaction while staring them down, just to thumb his nose at them.  Neither of these assumptions will be true, of course, but there will be no talking them down from their rising ambition to get over there and rip it up with the Cheeky Monkey.  There really is no contribution you can make to disarm this explosion-in-the-making, and if your energies rise to the point where they’re about to damage your inner mechanisms, you’ll have to find something Perfectly Pointless to expend them on.  Pick something you don’t really care about, but that will benefit somebody you do care about, and the day won’t be a total waste.  Do not simply plow into your exercise regime;  doing too much there today could set you back, rather than move you forward.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and your confidence will rise as a result.

Born in the Year of the Pig: There will be a stillness settling over the day, like the stillness on a battle-field before the battle commences;  and if you want to ensure that “battle-field” remains only a simile—instead of breaking out into actuality—you’ll have to recognize your ambitions to impress the Twin Hares with how many skills you have, and how much you wish to make them available, and decline to pursue them, simply standing off on the sidelines somewhere, observing how much is not happening.  The issue, of course, is that the Monkey on the watch is going to be caught in a sort of Accidental Staring-Match with the Bunny Boys;  each side is going to be quite unsure how they got into it, and quite innocent of actual threat or animosity, and yet the longer it goes on, the more the uncertainty will seem distasteful, and the more “threat and animosity” will slip from imagined possibility to Concrete Certainty.  Well, here’s a skill you can demonstrate to all concerned:  wave at each side, and act like everything’s Perfectly Normal.  The more you display your cheerful nonchalance, the more your every action will de-fuse the explosive potential around you.  Not a bad job, actually, and well within what you regard as the enjoyable part of your skill-set.  Still, take a dutiful (rather than indulgent) attitude about it:  you’ll have the same job tomorrow, and since it will be a bit more difficult to pull off, you’ll benefit from the practice you get today.  Tomorrow’s Fowl will enter with an awkward lack of confidence, and you’ll have to be careful not to over-do what works today.

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“Dawn arises, it doesn’t need to be invented;  sleep comes, it can’t be manufactured.”

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