Wishing you prosperity and luck for the Year of the Rooster!

Rooster reminds us to seize each new day and the possibilities it brings. Follow your intuition, and keep moving forward.

Chinese New Year

For more than 3,000 years, China has celebrated the coming of spring on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice (what Western astrologers call the Aquarius New Moon.)

Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the most important social and economic holiday in China. That makes it one of the largest holiday celebrations in the world.

(Consider that: One of the world’s largest celebrations is based on astrology!)

It’s a time to gather with family and friends, say goodbye to the old and make room for the new.  What you do during this New Moon sticks with you all year round — so choose your actions wisely!

Chinese New Year’s are rooted in a 60-year repeating cycle. 2017 begins the Year of the Yin Fire Rooster.

Rooster, Dawn’s Herald

In Chinese astrology, each year is governed by one of the 12 signs of the Chinese “zodiac.” Unlike Western astrology the Chinese zodiac is based on the 12-year cycle of Jupiter; Jupiter spends approximately one year in each of the 12 Chinese animal signs.

The animals of the Chinese Zodiac are (in order): Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Like its animal totem, Roosters are early risers, eager to get started on the next endeavor. Those who emulate the Rooster prosper this year.

First to greet the new dawn, Roosters have a sixth sense for how the wind will blow. They love to plan ahead, anticipating what’s next.

Roosters have a quick wit and think fast. So fast they can get tongue tied. To change this, they need to slow down. Patience isn’t Rooster’s strong suit, but it can be their saving grace.

At its best, Rooster energy is punctual, diligent, honest, efficient, warm, generous and courageous. At worst, arrogant, vain, self-promoting, and susceptible to flattery or superficial appearances.

Yin Fire: Receptive Creativity

Each year Chinese animal signs are also assigned a polarity (Yin=Moon or Yang=Sun) and a Chinese element (Fire=Mars, Earth=Saturn, Metal=Venus, Water=Mercury or Wood=Jupiter), creating the 60-year cycle of  Polarity+Element+Sign.

Yin energy is internal, reflective, cold, yielding and feminine.

Fire is energetic, creative, passionate and quixotic. It’s social and dramatic (even melodramatic). But it’s also easily distracted or angered. And prone to burn out, if not tempered with some common sense.

Fortunately, this year’s fire energy is tempered by the yin energy. Unlike last year’s explosive yang fire energy, yin fire is far more adept a balancing energies as needed. It’s also a good year for developing stress management tools, meditation, yoga, alternative healing or just plain common sense.

The color associated with fire is red, making red the color for the year. But as yin fire, the year’s most auspicious color are more muted reds, browns and yellows.

Auspicious Pursuits During New Year Celebrations

What happens on the New Year portends events for the entire coming year. Here are a few traditional activities to cultivate good fortunate and make it last throughout the year.

• Clean and clear your home and office space several days BEFORE the New Moon. The Chinese New Year brings in a fresh wave of fortunate energy, and you don’t want clutter getting in the way.
• Share a meal with your family and friends. Mandarin oranges symbolize good fortune. Red pouches or envelopes filled with money or coins also herald a prosperous New Year.
• Wear red or red accessories to attract wealth and good fortune.
• Pay off your bills and debts from the past year. If you can’t pay them completely, pay an installment as a sign of your commitment to positive action.

Since what you do on the New Year is representative of what you want for the entire year, here’s a few things on the DO NOT DO list:

• Don’t clean your house, wash your clothes or your hair. These things symbolically wash away your good fortune.
• Don’t borrow or lend money, unless you want to make it a habit.
• Don’t cry. Unless you want grief and sadness to follow you all year.
• Don’t wear white or black clothes.