1st February 2022 New Year’s Day
2022 is the year of the Tiger. The colour for this year is orange.
Chinese Astrology
China was one of the earliest civilisations with many quality items, such as silks and fine pottery, traded via the 4,000 miles of the ‘silk route’. Chinese astrology was first recorded in writing about 2,500 years ago and would have been taught in the caravans and camel trains across Asia to Eastern Europe. Like many astrology signs, there are 12 annual Chinese constellations. They are all animals. There is a traditional story that the Jade Emperor called for all the animals of the country and told them they must race each other to the Heavenly Gate in the sky. Rat awoke very early and on his way, he encountered a swift flowing river. Then he noticed Ox about to cross and so he jumped into Ox's back. The lumbering Ox crossed the river easily and so Rat jumped off and won the race because he was cunning. Ox was second because of his diligence. Tiger came third, then Rabbit. Both are fast and competitive, but Tiger was a better swimmer. Rabbit got across by hopping on stepping stones and a floating log. The stunning Dragon was fifth and was immediately noticed by the Jade Emperor, who wanted Dragon's son to be sixth. But Dragon's son wasn't there that day and Snake heard this and said Dragon was his adoptive father; so Snake ranked sixth. Horse and Goat then arrived because they were kind and each let the other go first. The Jade Emperor saw how polite Horse and Goat were and ranked them seventh and eighth. Monkey had fallen behind but he jumped between trees and stones, and came in ninth. Last were Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Finally, all twelve arrived to become esteemed guards of the Heavenly Gate. Each year is devoted to the twelve in this order. Added to these annual animal constellations are the yin and yang polarities and five elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth.
Metal: years ending in 0 or 1
Water: years ending in 2 or 3
Wood: years ending in 4 or 5
Fire: years ending in 6 or 7
Earth: years ending in 8 or 9
The Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival and lasts for fifteen days until the last day which is called the Lantern Festival. Each year, this celebration falls on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice. It begins when the new moon is seen in the sky and fire crackers are released and the lion and dragon dancers emerge to perform. This is a time of remembering ancestors, bringing friends and family together, cleaning and clearing, and giving gifts. The number 8 is the luckiest, and red is worn as a sign of strength.
The current animal on duty in the heavens is the tiger. This means that for this year you will need vigour, daring, courage, steadfast confidence, ambition, enthusiasm and leadership. You need to take leaps of faith, be a tireless pioneer and a freedom and justice fighter, enjoy adventure, and keep your ego in check. You might need to curb your wildness. Don’t be too brash! This is the year of interpersonal relationships so don't disregard the feelings of others!
Yin/Yang
Though representing dualities, yin and yang are a united symbol that comprises the opposing energies of the Universe, such as dark light, passive active, black white, negative positive, cold hot, female male, etcetera, and contained within one of the dualities, is the other, and when brought together, the interplay of these two extremes, create a pivotal place of balance and harmony. This principle of uniting extremes influences Chinese astrology, divination, medicine, art and philosophy.
I Ching
The I Ching (pronounced Ee Ching) is a divinatory system that is influenced by Chinese astrology and its philosophy. It has 64 basic interpretations. It is a system that was devised approx 2,500 years ago and is one of the earliest written oracles. It is enigmatic and symbolic and based on balancing the Yin Yang energies in your life - which is highly desirable as it bestows modesty, peace, restraint, independence, humility, acceptance, innocence, detachment, perseverence, and sincerity. It is designed to challenge our usual patterns and to shine a light on our blind spots. This oracle is ideal for answering questions by throwing three coins. If using coins, for instance, heads denote the number 3, and tails denote 2. Throw the three coins, add their numbers to create a line. An even numbered line is a broken line and represents yin, and an odd numbered line is an unbroken line and represents yang. Casting them six times, a 'hexagram' is created. Starting from the bottom, the first three lines are lower trigrams, the second three are upper trigrams. Then you look up this hexagram design in the book of 64 to see which is yours and what advice this oracle has in answer to your question.
How to celebrate
Find an attractive porcelain tea pot and cups. Try Green tea, Jasmine tea, Ginger tea, or Lapsang Souchong. Almond cookies or biscuits are a traditional accompaniment. Ask Alexa to play some a Chinese flute music or find Chinese music and dance on YouTube.
Invite friends for dip sum lunch: Traditional foods: Steamed dumplings, rice, noodles, tofu bean curd, egg plant, white radishes, with green leaf vegetables and root vegetables, all cooked in a wok.
Spices: Chilies, coriander, spring rolls, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, onions, garlic.
How to bake Fortune Cookies from BBC Good Food Guide (optional)
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/fortune-cookies
Gift suggestions, to be wrapped in red crepe paper. Brand new coins and paper money An oracle card deck such as I Ching by Lunaea Wetherstone. A piece of green jade which bestows a long and healthy life.
Chinese people have always been very superstitious, and especially at the start of the new year when their superstitions guide them to have best and most auspicious year ahead. Many superstitions are very ancient. Colours are especially important, such as yellow which is considered the most beautiful a colour as it is close to gold. Red is the royal colour and denotes power and prestige. Numbers are also important for activating good energies, especially 8 for general luck, 3 for prosperity, 5 for health, 7 for balance, 10 for completion. Very often you see 3 lucky Chinese coins tied with a red ribbon through a central square of the coins. When they are placed in the southeast of a room, they send out protection and can be carried in a pocket or purse. A 3 legged toad with a coin in its mouth is also a good luck symbol. There is a wealth pot, coloured in red, where coins and paper money is placed and this creates money to come to you. A mystic knot, in red ribbon has spells woven into it and this releases health and well-being when hung in your home. Bamboo plants are often displayed to remove stagnant energy. There is a symbol for good luck called ‘pinyin’. This is placed on the front door for the 15 days of new year celebrations to welcome all who enter. This symbol is also seen on jewellery and charm bracelets. Look out for the seated golden cat statue that sits in windows waiving at passsers by with its raised paw. This cat’s constant motion transforms negativity into positive energy. One side of the statue is a smiling cat, the other side, often unseen, is a cat with not such a smiling face that hold a broom that is sweeping troubles away.
Article by Wendy Stokes for Psychic News Magazine February 2022 issue Visit: https://wendystokes.co.uk
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