Totems: Rat

The rat in western society has a bad reputation due to the plague that ravaged Europe, but this small creature as a totem has great lessons.

Adaptability is a major lesson of the rat seeing the importance of being able to adapt. It is the rat who has become a successful animal thanks to its adaptability, helping it survive well both in rural and urban environments. An ability to deal with change and adapt is what this lovely little creature is great at and for one’s own survival adaptability will prove highly useful.

Resourcefulness are also a lesson of the rat, as its needed to deal with various problems one may and will come across during their life. The rat uses it resourcefulness to its advantage as much as possible, and a part of the reason rats are still around is due to their great resourcefulness that they put into use.

Survival is what one may call an unusual lesson but it proves its worth. The rat is known to survive in all sorts of conditions and those with a rat as their totem are said to be survivors. When many rats are around in an area people do set traps and place poison for rats, the thing is that if one gets in a trap or eats poison the rat communicates to the other rats not to fall for the trap or to eat the poison. It is in this way it is not survival just for itself, but for others too.

Offerings to the rat can include many things. Fruits, grains, and vegetables to name a few. It all comes down to what is enjoyed.

Chinese Zodiac: Rat

The rat is the first animal to appear in the Chinese zodiac and the latest born rats were born between the 7th of February 2008 and 25th of January 2009. These young Rat’s were born as Earth Rat’s.


Associations to the rat is the hours of 11PM to 1AM, the direction of north, the gemstone garnet, the colours black, red and white and the foods peas, cabbage and pork.

Those born under the year of the Rat are said to have a charm and high aggressiveness along with being expressive and sometimes talkative. Rat’s can sometimes be narrow-minded but are honest and quick-witted. Their quick-wittiness makes them great problem solvers, being able to find solutions to the toughest of problems. Rats are also said to be able to make a great deal of money but are highly prone to spending it.

Rat’s are said to be one’s who will enjoy good health and will be active, thus helping them keep healthy. Their aggressiveness can cause stress which regular exercise should be a help for.
Rat’s are most compatible with Dragon’s and Monkey’s, who in the Chinese zodiac the Dragon and Monkey are the Rat’s allies with the Ox being the Rat’s ‘secret friend’.