Water Rabbit Year 2023 Photos courtesy of Carra Rose

This Lunar new year of the Water Rabbit will begin on the 22 of January. Year of the Rabbit 2023 is a lucky year for most people. The Rabbit is the gentlest animal of the Chinese Zodiac. The rabbit symbolizes peace, prosperity, and vigor in the Chinese zodiac.

Rabbit characteristics embodied by this year and for children born in this year are: strong will, hard-working, optimistic, friendly, kind-hearted, “warm & fuzzy” type of sensitivity, creative, family-oriented, homebody, polite, gentle, patient, intelligent, charming, diplomatic, loving, knowledgeable, helpful and caring.

2023 is a YIN year

2023 will be calmer and more balanced. As the energy swings from the dynamic impulsive Yang energy of 2022 into the accepting, receptive, intuitive, sensitive, fluid calmness of Yin.

The Year is Water and the Animal is Rabbit which belongs to the Wood Element. The Year is a Yin Water year meaning smaller or calmer Water—Water being representative of wisdom, knowledge, reproduction, ancestry, family, creativity, insecurity, fear and confidence. The Rabbit is considered a Wood animal and since it is a Yin year it is Yin Wood, small Wood- like plants and not trees, Wood represents consistent activity, working hard to be the best, aggression, anger, frustration, competitiveness, and benevolence. Remember these elements are in their Yin phase which is makes for a gentler, smoother, more introspective bend to everything.

Per Jane Hawley Edward wear a Dog charm for good luck in 2023

Per Kelly Harrington blues and greens are the colors of the year and the gems of the year are pearl for Water and Emerald for Wood.

Crystals:

Tiger eye :to ground out the last of the tiger influence and to protect

Citrine: to keep all the little misfortunes at bay and to clear energy and cleanse space

Rose quartz : the stone of universal and unconditional love this year with an emphasis on family

Aventurine: for prosperity and dissolving stress and negativity

Energetic overview of the months:

January/February will have a flurry of the energies settling, these are the months to get things done. Aim to begin projects in early spring as things will take a while to blossom, use the push of spring energy as a catalyst- start getting things in place in February to ensure you are prepared for the natural unfurling of spring energy.

There will be a shift of energy March 2023 – things will be more steady, mostly manageable especially with good planning and intuitive awareness.

This will run until October except for a pop of action and activity in June/July.

August will begin leading into a sense of urgency to get things done or push things forward. September and October will be the most productive months of the second half of the year as the energy feels as if it is rushing to the finish line to make up for the general steadiness of the year.

Lifestyle

In 2023 there will be time for reflection rejuvenation and relaxation- Quiet, contemplation, with the slower pace compared to past years. Do not take this down time for granted as the Rabbit shows up between two powerful and active years of the Tiger and Dragon.

There will be short spurts of work, and short but many vacations. You may notice despite your plans for travel you could end up grounded. People will not travel as much as they think they will, they may be grounded by airlines, public health restrictions, changing rules from country to country or political unrest, weather, or environmental reasons. There will be more staying home than expected despite the popular idea of “revenge tourism”

There is an emphasis on the family and home life- cooking, cleaning, housework and maintenance of lawn, greenery and tending garden will continue to be popular pastimes. In terms of vegetable gardening, this will continue to be a strong trend, and some may find it a hobby that becomes a necessity in light of the deficiency of water and environmental unpredictability that will negatively impact crops and food transportation.

This a good year for small home improvements- not big renovations, because big renovations will go slower than planned. Tackle little improvements, watch out for water and structural problems especially if dealing with wooden structures. Be particularly vigilant of water damage to wooden materials, plumbing leaks and condensation damage.

Houseplants are still on trend, the smaller and cuter the better.

Mixology, fancy drinks and small distilleries and breweries are still in fashion but there is less emphasis on alcohol and more emphasis on the artistry of a beautifully designed and delicious cocktail or even festive substitutes for cocktails and alcoholic drinks as the Rabbit year tends to favor health.

People will shift into the next phase of grief over the pandemic- last few years have been ruled by denial and anger, now bargaining and depression will ease into the psyche to help fully process the trauma of the initial pandemic years.

People will still love working from home, being at home and balancing life in favor of family and quality of life.

Relationships

Be more social this year. You may find that you gain valuable and beneficial relationships, good solid networking contacts or romantic connections. There will be more opportunities for socializing this year in reunions, births, and weddings.

The Tiger year and Rat year gave severe lessons in what should be prioritized and those priorities continue to play out especially in regards to family. It is worth burying the hatchet if there are familial squabbles or putting to rest any predictable family problems to avoid the flare of those problems in the following year. Have talks with loved ones to acknowledge, and move on from misunderstandings. Additionally in order to avoid future family rifts or disagreements, this is a good year to write your will to clarify familial inheritances or your intentions after death or encourage others in the family to plan ahead this way to avoid future conflict. For those unable to resolve longstanding conflict or toxic relationships this may be the time to run instead of continue fighting. Find a “new” family of your own or a family made of persons of your choosing to create your “Friend Family.”

A note in relationships in general; work, familial or romantic you may notice more passive aggressiveness as Yin Wood tends to avoid conflict but allows the emotions to fester underneath.

This is a good year to teach children more about fears, confidence, anger management and patience as the Wood and Water bring these topics to surface this year. Additionally, use the Rabbit year to educate the youth in the family about pride in the family lineage, family stories, accomplishments or to learn beloved family recipes.

This is a good year to entertain at home, invite extended family over or to make special “date nights” with your own family to strengthen bonds and make memories, as well as an opportunity to impart wisdom to the young.

Romance:

Those who are single may notice an exacerbation of their sense of loneliness. Their lack of company may lead to serial dating or codependence on less-than-ideal partners. This situation may also affect those in dysfunctional relationships. Especially those who that feel alone even with their partner; resulting in affairs and flirtations to remedy the loneliness. Don’t forget to check in with your partner and their satisfaction with the relationship because in the Rabbit year much happens underneath the surface.

As a side note in the Rabbit Year be very careful about the risk of unplanned pregnancies as this is a very fertile year.

For those just beginning their dating years and not looking to settle down dating will be more popular. Going on more dates, group dates or double dates-and even non-traditional relationships such “thruples” and polyamory -the more the merrier.

Health

Rabbit years are lucky for fertility, pregnancy and multiple births, and starting a family.

Softer addictions may manifest such as addictions to food and spending.

Digestion may be impacted by stressors or too rich food, or constipation from too little water; aim for more plants and fiber to help keep things moving.

There will be more deaths due to environmental causes this year than in past years.

Stress related conditions will be more prevalent like PMS, headaches, hormone disorders and digestive problems. The Water Element has to do with hair, hormones, bones, teeth, nails, kidney, adrenals, the low back, knees and edema so keep a lookout for those issues or problems with those parts of the body. The Wood element relates to the liver, eyes, toxicity, and eyebrows. A light detoxing in spring and fall would be beneficial. There may be a tendency to less serious or smaller injuries, broken fingers, ankles, chipped teeth, minor dental issues, arthritic conditions, tendonitis, fungus on nails or sprained ankles.

This year switching to lighter vegetable- based fare, fresher organic and grass fed or free – range opotions would be congruent to the healthy nature of the Rabbit Year. Although, take good care of your nervous systems, address stressors, meditate, take time to relax and rejuvenate because the fight and flight response is more sensitive this year.

Beneficial for your health maintenance are soups stews, detoxification, any foods from the ocean including seaweed, greens, teas, seeds and nuts, milk thistle, dandelion, salty fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi. Additionally, use aloe, rehydrated chia seeds or slippery elm tea for digestive problems related to dryness. For physical wellbeing emphasize the meditative arts, easy movement- tai chi and qigong are good examples as well as less-strenuous group sports like badminton, pickleball, golf, croquet.

Work

Have lots of backup plans in case plan A and B do not work, this will be a year where a lot seems to happen but nothing really gets done.

Rabbit Year is more about mental strategy, cleverness, secret alliances, and selective dodging and fleeing. Big conflict, fighting or brute strength will not accomplish as much. This year it’s more a game of cunning vs brawn. If you have ever tried to catch a rabbit with your bare hands you understand the quick moving adaptable and intuitive nature of the way a rabbit moves. Adaptability is key, be like water- which fits to suit its container, finds path of least resistance, be flexible, be open to other paths that you may not have expected or planned in order to get the same desired outcome.

Yin Wood creates motivation that is not as intense as last year- take lots of little projects instead of one large one, or break down huge projects into manageable parts.

Communication with others may be strained or unclear. Have everything organized in advance including multiple methods of communication to clarify ideas and concepts. Patience and gentle nudging instead of pushiness will get you further with bosses and co-workers. They may prefer to ghost or hide from you instead of being direct with you as this is not a good year for confrontation. Be clever, patient and non-threatening in your approach and you may find people seek you out instead. Lean heavily on instinct when angling for promotions or finding career opportunities; timing and who you know will matter. Keep your ears open for useful information that may be hidden in rumor and gossip. If you work with others be aware that there will be more underground or secret activities, such as side deals and strategic alliances. Additionally, workplace affairs may be more common.

Politics

In a year represented by a prey animal there will be a continuation of larger countries hunting the lesser, using them for materials, resources or territory while trying to disguise it as benevolence or for the wellbeing of the country/peoples being overtaken.

In war, burrowing into areas where they don’t belong will continue, this can happen with information and cyber warfare, geographically and culturally. Smaller battles, and rebellions will also continue. These upheavals will be based in fear, insecurity (Water) of intuitions that are over controlling or trying to control(Wood) the will of the people or freedoms of people.

A war or major battle in Asia involving the smaller Asian countries or cities will take place. It will occur between those who stubbornly desire to maintain status quo through traditional institutions that benefit the few versus cultural and systemic modernization desired by its younger population. One of the warring parties struggles to uphold some lineage as in race, religion or political association and the other party believes in the expansion of freedoms, knowledge, information, and education.

Morally misaligned leaders choosing to perpetuate or begin wars speed the failure of their own governments. There will be an exodus of their own people and the civil unrest caused by their actions will result in events that threaten these leader’s lives, their paranoia may be validated in the year of the Rabbit. The failure of these leaders and the weakening of their countries will have unforeseen ripple effects on the world in the areas of agriculture, fuel and food production, global pollution, and the availability of weapons of war.

Power will start to shift to the masses particularly the younger generation. They will question and remove the old to create something new that will be more lasting, sustainable, and beneficial for the many.

There will be more peace at end of the year than we began with—this shift will cause extreme discomfort in those who are resistant to change and tied into the current systems; resulting in them taking irrational actions to maintain status quo.

Space exploration and space adventures are more dangerous this year– it’s best to stay closer to the ground.

Yin also encompasses Women’s issues such as reproduction, healthcare, and women’s freedoms, children’s rights and welfare. Water and Wood issues that will play out are in the arena of work, education, and safety-once again they will tend to be related to women’s rights.

In the way that rabbits hide themselves to escape danger this lends to more legislation around privacy, it will be taken more seriously particularly when it involves larger corporations and governments. There will be greater respect and more laws that favor the individual’s privacy, all aspects of privacy such as information, location, work and personal activities.

Economy

More luck, fortune, and financial gain for Rabbit Years. Abundance may not necessarily show up as only money but other things like family, health, wisdom, opportunity and community.

Keep putting money away, no matter how small and save for leaner times. Save not just money but have a backstock of food, water and energy.

Nature and environmental-based business will do well; as will corporations that respect and give back to the environment. Research, environment, healthcare, food and construction, particularly of homes, are areas that will do well this year.

Natural world

Yin water is represented in small lakes, ponds, spring rain, humidity, fog and mists.

There will be less water available this year than last so the land will be drier, crops will be less watered, but the droughts are shorter and weeks long, instead of months. High water consuming crops like almonds and avocados will face a challenging year.

There will be more flash floods because when it does rain it will be more than a standard storm- be careful with your car and water or trees falling due to oversoaked earth- check questionable trees now.

Plant more flowers, small trees, get more house plants. Plant more flowers and perennials and more vegetables than trees this year. Hiding away some of your vegetable and fruit harvest would be a good way to prepare for the colder months when crops and food shipped from far-away places may have weather or transportation trouble.

Be more aware of trees, water pipes, trees invading water pipes, plants overtaking old structures or plants that are toxic- especially with a fluid irritant like poison ivy. Control its growth early as it will do well this year. Lakes, wells, ponds and small streams may shrink or become dry for a time.

Large scale food production will be threatened and more crop failures or inability to process food or transport it will necessitate and emphasize more local agriculture and home gardens

Environmental concerns will come to the forefront especially in places where the lack of water is causing drought and food problems. The world will be more apt to listen and propose solutions in a Rabbit year. More prosperous nations will also be more helpful and generous to smaller nations suffering the effects of environmental changes.

Personal Growth

It is a good time to evaluate work and life balance, see where fear propels your work vs passion for the work or working towards a specific goal or value.

This year there are not so many traumas as minor aggravations and annoyances. This year is the trough between the waves. Rabbit is between two powerful animals the Tiger and Dragon years so replenish your energy in the meantime.

Due to the Water and Yin this year intuition is strong and more accurate. One of the Rabbit’s outstanding characteristics are their ears. This suggests that listening will be important to adapt and achieve in 2023. Listen not only to others but especially listen to yourself and your gut instinct. Listen for messages you may get through music, lyrics, melodies, nature sounds, in fact all types of sound. Listen also to rumors or grumblings to get a pulse on how other’s anger and fears are manifesting even if unfounded it allows you to get a sense the character of those those surrounding you. Use this “listening” to avoid misfortune and danger. Your warnings to your family and friends will be better heeded in 2023 than in past years. Give advice, since in a Rabbit year people are more apt to listen. Look also to the natural methods of divination and intuition- dowsing (looking for water with wood), water scrying (stare into water for visions), meditative states and channeling( this is how information flows into you from the Universe), Ceromancy (wax casting into water), tea leaf reading (tea is wood& water).

Speaking of water, this year go with the flow more, stops and starts will be tempered by smooth transitions. Be patient or you will be given opportunities to practice patience especially in terms of things that frustrate, stress and anger you. Patience is a water trait.

Creativity is important this year to help rebuild lost life force and heal the body and mind. Some arts that corelate to wood and water are: painting, woodworking, watercolor, glasswork, weaving, knitting, sewing, embroidery and fabric dying.

Writing is a good creative activity particularly technical, philosophical, life lessons, life wisdom, and life stories about growth and success.

In general, people will be more helpful, generous and considerate than in recent years, anger will not be as dominant as is has been in recent years.

Benevolence and wisdom are traits of Wood and Water respectively. In the Year of the Rabbit young ones will be the wiser. Younger generations will provide hope and action to better the world and grant perspective on what is important. They will have the drive, knowledge and courage to curate laws and culture which reflect those values.

Fashion

Environmentally-conscious fashions that are made from sustainable materials or are locally made or recycled and thrifted continue to be popular. Clothing that benefits certain causes, charities or gives back to the environment or a community will be more appealing and easily gain support and a following.

Per the Rabbit in fashion, cute, sweet details are popular such as small flowers, embroidery, buttons and bows. Earflap hats have obvious significance as do earrings and things that are warm and fuzzy. Hooded styles are a method of hiding oneself therefore they fit in nicely with the Rabbit theme.

The Water element is represented in fashion by flowy styles, longer skirts, sheer fabrics, oversized or baggy clothing, and fringe. The Wood element’ s influence is seen in fabrics like cottons, denims, hemp, and bamboo. Blazers and cargo pockets (work-related or “uniform” styles) will be on trend. Also plaid which originally was representative of family lineage is returning.

Remee L. Gemo is a master face reader, intuitve, artist, and Chinese medicine practitioner. She has been creating yearly forecasts for her clients and patients for the past eight years. Check out her class Intutive Face Reading in fall 2023. A recording of this forecast can be purchased at this link. Follow Remee on Instagram @facereaderremee. Happy Chinese New Year!

Water Rabbit Year Forecast

FRIEA Newsletter January 2023