Happy Chinese New Year!
This Friday, January 31st, marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year. This is a highly celebrated holiday in China and other countries in the SouthEast. The celebration starts Friday on the first New Moon of the Gregarian Calendar and lasts for two weeks until the Full Moon on February 15th. During this time there are many festivities; including family gatherings, parades and traditional meals.
The story of the Chinese New Year is based on a frightening monster named Nian who came into the villages, destroying everything in his path (sounds terrifying, I know). Turns out, the Chinese people found a way to keep Nian at bay by simply making a lot of noise with a HUGE celebration. The firecrackers, loud music and people out in the streets were enough to keep Nian from coming back. Guo Nian “Survive the Nian” the people say as a way to celebrate the New Year to this day.
Photo by Fabian Burghardt on Unsplash
The Wood Horse
Each Chinese New Year is characterized by its own element and animal. This year, it is the Wooden Horse. With each year, qualities from the two together can give us an idea of what to expect. The year of the horse has its very own personality. This year…
The spirit of the horse is recognized to be the Chinese people’s ethos [characteristic spirit] – making unremitting efforts to improve themselves. It is energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able. Ancient people liked to designate an able person as ‘Qianli Ma’, a horse that covers a thousand li a day (one li equals 500 meters).
Those who are born during the year of the Horse will also exhibit the same sort of personalities…
People born in the year of the horse have ingenious communicating techniques and in their community they always want to be in the limelight. They are clever, kind to others, and like to join in a venture career. Although they sometimes talk too much, they are cheerful, perceptive, talented, earthy but stubborn. They like entertainment and large crowds. They are popular among friends, active at work and refuse to be reconciled to failure, although their endeavor cannot last indefinitely.
Some of their weaknesses…
They cannot bear too much constraint. However their interest may be only superficial and lacking real substance. They are usually impatient and hot blooded about everything other than their daily work. They are independent and rarely listen to advice. Failure may result in pessimism. They usually have strong endurance but with bad temper. Flamboyant by nature, they are wasteful since they are not good with matters of finance due to a lack of budgetary efficiency. Some of those who are born in the horse like to move in glamorous circles while pursuing high profile careers. They tend to interfere in many things and frequently fail to finish projects of their own.
What’s your Chinese Zodiac Animal?
Check out this website to find your Animal and see if it rings true to you…
TravelChinaGuideWhat’s In Store For Us?
It sounds like it’s going to be a wild and crazy ride. Negotiations will be tough, people will be strong-willed and sure to stand by their beliefs. While it will be a good year for people to fight for their ideals, compromise will not come easily. As for business, if you are in the Wood or Fire business (think lumber, agriculture or media companies) you will have a great year. Finance institutions as well as property companies on the other hand are going to be unstable at best. In other news, since the Fire energies are so high this year (the horse is a natural Fire element), natural disasters involving volcanoes and fire will be present, especially in the southern hemisphere.
If you’re wondering what your individual predictions will be in the coming months, check out this link:
HuffPostSo, until next time ~ Guo Nian!
Erin Resko L.Ac
Sources:
EarthSky. (2014, January 29). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://earthsky.org/human-world/chinese-new-year-2014-rings-in-year-of-the-horse
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/horse.htm
Morse, F. (2014, January 30). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/chinese-new-year-2014-what-the-year-of-the-horse-means-for-you-9096775.html
(2014, January 09). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/09/chinese-new-year-2014-horse_n_4568979.html
About eresko
I am a licensed Acupuncturist and NCCAOM Board certified Diplomat of Oriental Medicine. I live in Hailey, Idaho, where I have an Acupuncture practice, Erin Hill Acupuncture as well as a type of Integrative Wellness Care practice, Tune Up.
I am also a Level I & II certified Kettlebell Instructor and teach private classes in the Wood River Valley, Idaho.
I have been very active in sports and athletics since I can remember. I received my BS in Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado @ Boulder. In my practice I utilize all modalities to help get you where you want to be, whether with Acupuncture, Nutrition, or Kettlebell training.
I am well versed in treating Sports specific conditions; pain, injuries, strains & sprains and use my knowledge of the body both from a Chinese Medical standpoint and a traditional Western one; a concept that most of my patients are familiar with. In addition, I incorporate my knowledge of the physical body & how we move, where restrictions, pain, or tightness may reside and how that, in turn, affects the internal organs or vice versa. For each individual that walks through my door, I am able to assess what each person needs as far as therapy to achieve their goals. Each person is different, inside and out and treatments should reflect that.
Among my modalities, I use Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Tuina (a type of Chinese bodywork), Japanese style Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Nutrition, and Lifestyle coaching as well as my Kettlebell training for rehab and for improving one's fitness level.
