Happy Chinese New Year! What to Expect in the Year of the Horse…

Happy Chinese New Year – the Year of the Horse!

Today is Chinese New Year’s Day, ushering in the year of the horse, and it’s going to be a powerful shift! We are coming out of two consecutive “water” years in the Chinese calendar, which means years associated with the yin, with quiet, introspection, contemplation and sometimes confusion. But get ready because the starting gates have opened and the yang horse has taken off! The wood element is one of growth, strength, energy and activity. Having been fed by the water, now the wood emerges and springs forth. The year of the wood horse is associated with action, travel, movement, competition and prosperity. Hard work and decisiveness will lead to success this year. But it’s a past faced energy so only act if you’re sure of your decision, otherwise you may find yourself galloping down a road you don’t want to be on.  All this energy is a good thing, though, as the horse is a symbol of success and is even considered sacred in China. So hold onto the reins and enjoy the wild ride ahead in 2014!

 

The Year of the Snake is Ending. Time to Shed Your Skin…

     The Year of the Snake is ending. Soon we will enter the exciting year of the Yang/Wood Horse which I will write about at Chinese New Year at the end of the month. Was your year of the snake a complicated one? Snake years are an interesting combination of things. Snakes are seen as symbols of wealth in China as snakes seem always able to find a meal. Images of snakes wrapped around a rabbit are often hung on doors and windows during spring festival to indicate prosperity. But the snake is also considered jealous and suspicious, even malevolent. So if you have had a year that was confusing or particularly full of ups and downs, you may be glad to see the snake slither away at the end of the month.

But as with all years, we have gathered information and experiences, good and bad, that help us grow. And as we grow it’s important to shed our old skins. Let go of things that held you back, inhibited your growth or got in your way. The things you no longer need will only weigh you down as we gallop into the year of the horse so take a moment to let those things fall off you like the snake does and be ready to begin a new year newly emerged, fresh and just a little bit older and wiser.

More on the year of the horse coming soon…!

Chinese New Year Predictions – 2013 Year of the Snake

 

Right now I am watching a blizzard out my window. I live outside NYC and it’s quite a show so far. I have my fire roaring, fridge full and kids up the street sledding with all the neighbors. It’s so peaceful, I love the snow for that. Such a great time to reflect and let all the rough edges of life be covered over for a while by simple white snow. No rough edges. No ugliness. So, with a few quiet moments for the first time in a couple of weeks what will I do…? Blog of course!

Aside from this storm of the century (which seem to occur about 3x a year now so they really need a new name), this weekend is also big for another reason. It is Chinese New Year, the most important holiday in China. Sunday February 10 is New Year’s Day in China and this is the year of the snake. The black snake to be exact. Man I hope this year is less intense than that year of the dragon we just finished, that nearly killed me! Anyway, I have been reading a lot and listening to a few Chinese fortune tellers and it seems like a mixed year. The snake is often seen as a sign of wealth – if there is a snake in your home it is good luck as no one will go hungry. This partly means that the snake is good at business, is cunning and clever at communications and adept at business  dealings, but also that the snake is very sacrificing so it’s family never goes hungry. At the same time the snake lives in the dirt and mud and can be poisonous so it also has negative connotations. Overall, the snake is quiet, a good communicator but not a big talker, is refined and well mannered and keeps to itself, but if disturbed it can be dangerous so it is advised to be a bit cautious this year, not to rock the boat too much. So a year is predicted of ups and downs, but nothing terrible, nothing fantastic either, but a sort of balanced year overall. I can live with that. Less drama than last year hopefully.

Some Chinese traditions that I think are fun to follow on New Years are to thoroughly clean the house (ok that’s not fun but it feels good) to clear out bad energy and make room for new good energy. Decorate the house, especially doors and windows with red paper cut outs, or anything red for good fortune, and tonight, have a big feast with chicken or duck or pork and lots of sweets to bring sweetness to life in the new year. In the morning Chinese parents greet their children with gifts of money in red envelopes to bring prosperity for the coming year. So eat a good dinner, clean your house and if you want to be really authentic, set off some fireworks, and welcome the year of the snake!