2020: Year of the Metal Rat
In the Chinese sexagenary calendar, 2020 is 庚子 — Yang Metal over the Rat branch.
The Heavenly Stem: 庚 (Metal)
Yang Metal is the raw ore or the blade — decisive, disciplined, and drawn to fairness even when it's inconvenient.
The Earthly Branch: 子 — Year of the Rat
The Rat is quick-witted and resourceful — good at spotting an opening and moving on it before anyone else notices it's there.
What 2020 holds in the sky
Computed from the same ephemeris as the charts: every date below is a position, not a prediction, and can be checked against any astronomical almanac.
Eclipses
- June 21Solar eclipse
- December 14Solar eclipse
Retrogrades
- February 17 – March 10Mercury retrograde
- May 13 – June 25Venus retrograde
- June 18 – July 12Mercury retrograde
- September 9 – November 14Mars retrograde
- October 14 – November 3Mercury retrograde
Slow planets changing sign
- March 22Saturn enters Aquarius
- July 1Saturn enters Capricorn
- December 17Saturn enters Aquarius
- December 19Jupiter enters Aquarius
This is the story every Rat year shares
The stem and branch of 2020 describe the year itself, so they read the same for everyone born into it and everyone living through it. That is the group-level half. Your own chart also weighs your exact birth date, time, and location, which is what turns this into something specific to you.
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