Happy Chinese New Year!
Another year has passed, and along with it the usual warped perception of time, so much has transpired, yet it feels as though we were only just welcoming in the Year of the Yin Metal Ox that was 2021!
Now it's time to usher in the Year of the Water Tiger.
The Chinese Zodiac is made up of 12 animal signs whilst also moving through the Five Elements in 12-year cycles. The 5 Elements in Chinese Astrology are represented as Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal, just as they are in Chinese Medicine and Daoist Theory.
Applying these collective energies and themes to yourself and your year ahead is where the real magic lies. It’s in breaking down each component (as one would in Western or Ayurvedic Astrology) that you are able to utilise the wisdom and guidance that is provided to you, through a gentle embodiment which ripples out into the collective. This year embodies duality - the Tiger is associated with Yang, whilst water is associated with Yin.
Yang as we know, has momentum and drive, however as we tap into the Yin Element of Water we see the synergy of these forces begin to play as the fluidity dances with movement. Looking through the lense of Daoism and how we can apply this understanding to our own lives is in having a deeper understanding of the Water Element and how it relates to our own earthly experience. The Water Element is associated with the Kidneys, and from there we open up our understanding of Jing Essence and the conscious cultivation and preservation of this powerful foundational energy.
Whether or not you subscribe to these ideas, hopefully you find some wisdom in this email to enhance your understanding of yourself, your health or simply provide some inspiration for the year ahead.