Gong Ho Fat Choy! Chinese New Year begins February 3rd

Gong Ho Fat Choy!

Chinese New Year Newsletter 2011

The year of the Metal (or Golden) Rabbit is almost here. February 3rd will be the new moon and the beginning of a new year in the Chinese calendar. Now is the time to get your home feng shui ready for the subtle changing energies we welcome this time of the year. You can take away any temporary adjustments that you had made for the Tiger year and replace them with the temporary cures for the Rabbit year. If you are a client and want to know what they are, please contact me and I will send them to you in an email attachment.

With the title of Out of Harm’s Way like the Witty Hare the Yun Lin Temple’s calendar shows hope that we will all be able to escape unscathed from the economic disasters and financial crises, along with the multitude of perils that are currently plaguing the world. Chinese folklore see the rabbit (hare) as the master escape artist. Quick and nimble, the hare is known for its ability to slip away from harm.

How your Chinese Animal fares in the year of the Rabbit

Many of you want to know how your animal will do in the upcoming year. Here is a brief synopsis taken from several of my own masters. You can read various reports on the internet but keep in mind that if you are born in mid January to mid February, you may not be the animal you think you are. (You may think you are a rat but you really are a pig, for example.) Consult a Chinese horoscope for the dates. Also keep in mind that we all have free will to use this information to make us aware of challenges, change them and/or use them to our benefit.

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Rabbits, this is your year. This means that it will be an important, possibly life changing year. Rabbits are known for being classy, sophisticated, well mannered, compassionate, sociable, creative, partner and peace seekers, conservative risk avoiders and perhaps the luckiest animal in the Chinese Zodiac.

This Rabbit year is going to be a better year than last year for everybody in general and the Rabbits (1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999) in particular. The metal rabbits of 1951 turn 60 throughout the year and have good money luck on their side. This makes everyone very happy because of all the twelve Chinese animal signs, we all know many rabbits. Rabbits are very prolific and they are everywhere. (1951 Rabbits make up a great percentage of my feng shui clients.) There are so many of you and you are used to being successful and lucky; this year won’t disappoint. Don’t completely ignore the old saying;

“Sitting in the year god’s seat, harm or disaster you will meet.”

Stay alert to danger but plan for a wonderful life changing year for you. All rabbits have many opportunities, just be careful to take care of yourselves health wise and tend to your close relationships.

Rabbit characteristics: Talented & articulate, affectionate, yet shy, seeks peace.

Some famous Rabbits: Tiger Woods, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Whitney Houston, John Hurt, Michael Keaton, John Keats, Julian Lennon, Arthur Miller, Roger Moore, George Orwell, Neil Simon, Dusty Springfield, Sting, Orson Welles, Angelina Jolie, Anjelica Huston, Drew Barrymore, Edith Piaf, Fanny Brice, Helen Hunt, Jane Seymour, Joan Crawford, Kate Winslet, Natasha Richardson, and Tina Turner.

Dragons (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000) have even more than their usual leadership potential and charm. As always, they should try to curb their confidence and pride. Watch out for stress, be health conscious and especially aware of food and drink consumption. Romance is promising.

Dragon characteristics: Eccentric, your life is complex, you have a passionate nature and abundant health.

Some famous Dragons: Helen Keller, Pearl Buck, Salvador Dali, Francios Mitterrand, Hosni Mubarek, Jeffrey Archer, Count Basie, Julie Christie, James Coburn, Bing Crosby, Neil Diamond, Matt Dillon, Placido Domingo, Kirk Douglas, Marlene Dietrich, Tom Jones, John Lennon, Nick Nolte, Al Pacino, Elaine Paige, Gregory Peck, Cliff Richard, Martin Sheen, Ringo Starr.

The Snake (1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001) has a mixed money bag year. Many changes require that you be able to adapt to any situation. This transforming to fit the circumstance is usually easy for the charming snake to do. A new social life looks promising.

Snake characteristics: Wise & intense, tends to be beautiful, vain & high tempered.

Some famous snakes: Kim Basinger, Randy Crawford, Bob Dylan, Greta Garbo, Art Garfunkel, Audrey Hepburn, Paul Hogan, Liz Hurley, Carole King, Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum, Mike Oldfield, Ryan O’Neal, Brad Pitt, Brooke Shields, Paul Simon, Dionne Warwick, Oprah Winfrey, Virginia Woolf, Susannah York. MaoTse-tong., Gandhi, Ferdinand Marcos, Abe Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Edgar A Poe, Tony Blair.

The Horse (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002) has the potential for luck in career and the money that comes with it. Work hard to achieve the maximum results but don’t burn out. Romance is a highlight if the horses concentrate on the future, not the past.

Horse characteristics: Popular & attractive to opposite sex. Often ostentatious & impatient. You need people.

Some famous Horses: Billy Graham, Barbara Streisand, Joseph Haydn Nelson Mandela, Igor Stranvinsky, Rowan Atkinson, Ingmar Bergman, Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, Cindy Crawford, James Dean, Clint Eastwood, Britt Ekland, Linda Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Harrison Ford, Bob Geldof, Gene Hackman, Rita Hayworth, Jimi Hendrix, Janet Jackson, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Raquel Welch, John Travolta, Michael York.

The Sheep (1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003) has a moderate year to start, but it improves steadily. By July they are ready for a new venture. Health is generally good. Those born in 1955 and 1979 could suffer consequences if they drink too much alcohol. Married couples need to keep the lines of communication open and free from another involvement.

Ram (sheep) characteristics: Elegant & creative, timid, prefer anonymity.

Some famous Sheep: Boris Yelsin, Gorbachev, Toni Morrison, Kate Hepburn, Lawrence Olivier, Pamela Anderson, Jane Austen, Anne Bancroft, George Burns, Leslie Caron, Catherine Deneuve, Robert De Niro, John Denver, Mel Gibson, George Harrison, Julio Englesias, Buster Keaton, Mick Jagger, Sir Laurence Olivier, Vangelis, John Wayne, Bruce Willis, Debra Winger.

The Monkey (1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004) will have a better year than last year but it will take until almost July to be back on an even keel. Don’t lend money and keep on guard for backstabbers in career and business. Stay positive, don’t drink and watch what they eat to keep digestion sound. Romance is uneventful. Couples should avoid getting picky over insignificant matters.

Monkey characteristics: Very intelligent & able to influence people. Enthusiastic achiever, easily discouraged & confused.

Some famous Monkeys: Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Taylor, Eleanor Roosevelt, Leonardo Da Vinci, Lyndon Johnson, David Bellamy, Jacqueline Bisset, Victor Borge, Yul Brynner, Johnny Cash, David Copperfield, Joan Crawford, Timothy Dalton, Ian Fleming, Jerry Hall, Tom Hanks, Harry Houdini, Walter Matthau, Peter O’Toole, Anthony Perkins, Debbie Reynolds, Diana Ross, Tom Selleck, Omar Sharif, Martin Shaw, Rod Stewart.

The Rooster (1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005) will have to be on guard this year. The Rabbit year is the opposition year (Po Sui) for the Rooster. It happens every twelve years for every animal sign. Fortunately for the Rooster, it has some lucky stars to protect it. The year begins a bit shaky and is up and down until the fall season when opportunities in finance and business present themselves. Those born in 1969 will have stress at work. Be careful with money and how it is spent. Make wellness a priority and they will be fine. If open to it, there is the chance of an sensational love affair.

Rooster characteristics: A pioneer in spirit, devoted to work & quest after knowledge, often selfish & eccentric.

Some famous Roosters: D. H. Lawrence, John Glen, Yoko Ono, Emperor Akihito, Deborah Kerr Dirk Bogarde, Michael Caine, Eric Clapton, Joan Collins, Errol Flynn, Melanie Griffith, Richard Harris, Goldie Hawn, Katherine Hepburn, Diane Keaton, Jayne Mansfield, Steve Martin, James Mason, Somerset Maugham, Bette Midler, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Kim Novak, Dolly Parton, Michelle Pfeiffer, George Segal, Peter Ustinov.

The Dog (1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006) has no obstacles in its way this year. Career and money can be even better with hard work. Dogs could change jobs or travel overseas, excel in academics or succeed in anything they do – if they do their homework and remain self disciplined. Make health a top priority to feel up to enjoying the relationship they have been seeking. They could find a life partner.

Dog characteristics: Loyal & honest, works well with others. Generous, yet stubborn, often selfish.

Some famous Dogs: Ben Franklin, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson,
Mother Theresa, Yitzhak Rabin, King Gustaf, Zhou En-Lai, Brigitte Bardot, Candice Bergen, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Naomi Campbell, Cher, Petula Clark, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sally Field, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ava Gardner, Michael Jackson, Sophie Loren, Shirley MacLaine, Madonna, Liza Minnelli, David Niven, Sydney Pollack, Elvis Presley, Prince, Sade, Claudia Schiffer, Slyvester Stallone, Sharon Stone.

The Pig (1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007) will have some challenges and some opportunities in the Rabbit year. Career changes may seem dubious at first but will turn out better than expected if patient. By September money will more abundant. Health is okay as long as they get plenty of rest and sleep. Romance takes a backseat this year. If considering marriage, wait until next year.

Pig characteristics: Noble & chivalrous. Your friends will be life long, yet you are prone to impulsiveness.

Some famous Pigs (boars): Chiang Kai-Shek, Tennessee Williams, Albert Schweitzer, Georges Pompidou, Henry Kissinger Bryan Adams, Woody Allen, Julie Andrews, Fred Astaire, Richard Attenborough, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Glenn Close, Richard Dreyfuss, Farrah Fawcett, Ernest Hemingway, Barry Gibb, Alfred Hitchcock, Elton John, Kevin Kline, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dudley Moore, Marie Osmond, Michael Parkinson, Lee Remick, Ginger Rogers, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Spielberg, Emma Thompson.

The Rat (1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008) has good career and financial opportunities this year. You may need to take a different direction than the one you have been working toward for the last two years, but if open minded and willing to diversify, Rats will make great gains. Lucrative prospects abound. Beware of over extending in work to avoid burn out. Sleep and exercise are very important. Romance is in the foreground and Rats could get married.

Rat characteristics: Born leaders, ambitious, honest, free spending, has many friends.

Some famous Rats: Shakespeare, Princes Charles & Andrew , Richard Nixon, Louis Armstrong, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Louis Armstrong, Shirley Bassey, Marlon Brando, Doris Day, Clark Gable, Hugh Grant, Charlton Heston, Gene Kelly, Glenda Jackson, Kris Kristofferson, Gary Lineker, Sean Penn, Burt Reynolds, Olivia Newton-John, Tommy Steele, Donna Summer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Kim Wilde.

The Ox ( 1949, 1961, 1973,1985, 1997, 2009) should keep their shoulder to the plow and work for steady, but slow monetary progress. Don’t make waves or do anything risky to jeopardize your finances. Save money. Let romance take a pass until the mood improves. Be mellow and avoid quarrels with a partner.

Ox characteristics: Bright, patient & inspiring to others, you can be happy by yourself.

Some famous Oxen: Napoleon, Charlie Chaplin, Nehru, Margaret Mead, Princess Diana, Warren Beatty, Jon Bon Jovi, Jeff Bridges, Richard Burton, Bill Cosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Walt Disney, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Hopkins, Don Johnson, Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Heather Locklear, Eddie Murphy, Jessica Lange, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Rod Steiger, Peter Sellers, Sissy Spacek, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep, Twiggy.

The Tiger’s year (1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010) is over and they should take a break and lay low. Hidden dangers lurk in every area – money, love, legal issues. Just bide your time. Think twice, act carefully and all will be fine.

Tiger characteristics: Aggressive, courageous, candid & sensitive

Some famous Tigers: Charles DeGaulle, Beethoven, Sun Yat-Sen, Ho Chih Minh, Sir David Attenborough, Tom Berenger, Agatha Christie, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Dickinson, Isadora Duncan, Roberta Flack, Frederick Forsyth, Jodie Foster, Sir Alec Guiness, Hugh Hefner, William Hurt, Marilyn Monroe, Demi Moore, Beatrix Potter, Diana Rigg, Lionel Ritchie, Kenny Rogers, Dylan Thomas, H.G. Wells, Stevie Wonder.

Chinese New Year Traditions

Time to clean house. Asian tradition says that the new year should be welcomed in a clean house. Call the cleaning lady, start dusting, sweeping and painting the doors and window sills (if they need it) before the 3rd of February. Have a new year’s eve dinner including some fish and dumplings. Stay up late playing mahjong and at midnight light up some fireworks. Leave all the lights on all night. In the morning gifts and red envelopes with money in them are exchanged. For the next fifteen days celebrating, visiting friends and relatives take place until the Lantern Festival ends and everyone goes back to work.

LUNAR CALENDAR

February 3rd – New Moon
18th Full Moon
March – 4th New Moon
13th Daylight savings time begins
19th Full Moon
30th Mercury goes retrograde