Happy New Lunar Year!
From February 1st, 2022 is the year of the Water Tiger, according to Chinese astrology. Myths say that Emperor Huangdi, the first Chinese emperor (who also features in Chinese medical texts still used today), invented the Chinese lunar calendar in 2637 BCE, which follows the cycles of the moon. The 12 animals combine with the 5 elements (water, wood, fire, earth and metal) to create 60 year cycles.
According to myth, the sequence of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac was determined by a race. Twelve (or maybe 13) animals competed – the horse, tiger, dragon, ox, monkey, snake, goat or sheep, rabbit, rooster, dog and pig. In order to win, the animals had to cross a fast moving river to reach the finish line on the other side.
Some stories say there was also a cat, who naturally had a serious and mutual aversion to the rat. These two were the worst swimmers, but they were both smart. They discovered that the fastest way across the river was to ride on the ox, who generously agreed to carry them. However, the rat was so eager to win that he pushed the cat into the water (maybe it was provoked), and then jumped in front of the ox as it reached the bank, so crossing the finishing line first. Tiger finished in third place, maybe avoiding all that splashing.
The tiger is considered the king of all animals in Chinese mythology and culture. It symbolises power, courage, confidence, leadership, strength, and ability to overcome challenges or negativity. Being a Water year, this power is tempered with emotion, sensitivity, flexibility and intuition. According to chinesefortunecalendar.com,
“Tiger is associated with the thunder or motion in the Chinese I-Ching. Water Tiger is equivalent to the Water-Thunder Hexagram, which means something moving inside the Water. That's a sign of a baby growing inside the womb.”
Sounds to me like a fine year for having babies.
Happy New Year to all, I hope it’s a great one.
Jenny xx
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