Before I officially write about Chinese and western astrology, I would like to let people know that the free conflict resolution workshop scheduled for Feb. 7 was changed due to popular demand and the love of football. The workshop will now be Feb. 28 at the Sun Village Club House from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call Annaleah Atkinson at 652-7743.
This coming Monday, Feb. 8 is the start of the Chinese New Year, the year of the Monkey. In the past I’ve often had students ask about the validity of astrology, so I will attempt to just touch the barest outline of it. I’m not an astrologer. You can Google information if you so choose, but there are some sticky sites out there.
Astrology may be helpful to some in looking at patterns in one’s life and enhancing them if they are helpful and composting them if they aren’t.
There are two popular astrological systems: Chinese astrology and western astrology. They have some things in common. Both are based on astrological patterns of the planets’ movements in the sky. They both have 12 signs, and both attempt to help people develop better characters and health by taking advantage of cosmic energies when they are positive, and to be aware of the negative possibilities that can occur when they are not as good.
There is a 60-year chart at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_astrology which you can use to look up your sign, and the associated element of yin or yang and earth, metal, water, wood, and fire. Each have different properties which affect the basic characteristics of the astrological animal.
Yin is the passive female principle of the universe, characterized as female and sustaining and associated with earth, dark, and cold. Yang is the active male principle of the universe, characterized as male and creative and associated with heaven, heat, and light.
Male and female don’t relate to gender, but to the qualities of receptivity as female and expressive/active as male.
The 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake horse goat, monkey rooster, dog, pig. I am a yang earth rat. This is a yang fire monkey year.
From http://astrologyclub.org/chinese-horoscope/2016-year-monkey/ I’ve learned that the year takes on the characteristics of the associated animals somewhat. Regarding this year, “In the traditional Chinese mind, which is echoed in the annually-reprinted ancient almanac, the Monkey is very intelligent, hyperactive and strong-minded. He represents the unfettered mind freed from inhibitions and guilt. Relieving himself from the heavy burdens of a touchy conscience, the Monkey type will not hesitate to test his theories, experiment and think the unthinkable. In his domain, everything is possible. What is difficult, he could do right away; what is impossible may take a little longer.”
I’ve also heard it explained as a good year to take a risk on a project you believe in, and that if you don’t succeed the first time, try again. The downside is that one can get consumed by the project, and become a little grouchy if it isn’t working well. So be aware of that, and if you do believe in this, maybe take that dream of yours seriously, and also take time to take care of yourself.
Western astrology is what is listed in newspaper “Horoscopes,” but it is only a fraction of what astrology is. Western astrology is the picture of the sky looking straight up from the place that you were born at the time that you were born.
There are 12 main constellations in the zodiac that appear to circle the earth as we rotate on our axis. Your sun sign means that when you were born the sun was shining through that sign, even if it was on the other side of the world.
Each constellation or sign has an energy and polarity (receptive (yin), assertive (yang) associated with it. It is associated with one of the elements of earth, air, fire or water, and its energies flow as cardinal, fixed or mutable. Each has positive and negative energies associated with it. Cardinal signs operate in sudden bursts of energy. They’re the visionaries, but their ideas can be disruptive to status quo. Fixed signs are thorough and unstoppable. They take projects to completion, tend to block change, and will keep things beyond their use. Mutable signs are versatile, flexible and changeable. They can be the mediators between the two other signs, but if not grounded can be scattered and fickle.
In western astrology the planets, moon, asteroids, and the horizon are considered to have an influence on a person’s life as they also shine through the different constellation signs. The following information is from a Llewellyn Astrological Calendar for 2016.
When people say, I’m a Virgo, they mean that the sun was shining through the constellation of Virgo when they were born. The sun is like our executive director, our core, our true self. Everyone’s sun as the same inner goal: to shine. The sign that your sun is in shows what you really want to do well and want to be appreciated and loved. In the physical body the sun rules the heart.
Here’s a basic sun in sign chart: with M for masculine, F for feminine
– Aries: M, cardinal, fire. Impulsive and ready to go. Good at starting projects.
– Taurus: F, fixed, earth. Endless patience, can be stubborn, reliable, honest
– Gemini: M, mutable, air. Famous for changing its mind. Bright, witty, good communicators
– Cancer: F, cardinal water. Private person. Sensitive to others’ and their feelings, good at starting things, need to feel safe.
– Leo: M, fixed, fire. Loves to be noticed, natural performer, generous, likes drama
– Virgo: F, mutable, earth. Natural helpers who can adapt to any task. Trouble shooters Keenest eye for detail, which can make them seem picky and critical.
– Libra: M, cardinal, air. Charming, social, intellectual, peace keepers, can see both sides of a situation, honest
– Scorpio: F, fixed, water. Natural detectives, and can sense what is really needed, and help fix it. But may become crisis oriented. Longs for intimacy. Feelings run deep.
– Sagittarius: M, mutable, fire. Enthusiastic, freedom-oriented, generous and optimistic. May over indulge. Love to travel, philosophical, sometimes prophetic, and humorous
– Capricorn: F, cardinal, earth. Natural builders whether structures or organizations, cautious, disciplined, like rules, respects traditions and elders,
– Aquarius: M, fixed, air. Need personal freedom, create their own rules, unpredictable, humanitarian, love change, committed to their intellectual ideals
– Pisces: F, mutable , water. Natural empathy. Feels everything. Compassionate, sees the best in others, then devastated when taken advantage of. Romantics.
Now each planet and the moon also have an energy that is expressed through the sign that it appeared to be shining through when you were born. It’s for this reason that just looking at how one’s “sun sign” will be aspected for the day is pretty incomplete.
Something you may want to consider is that all of us have the same planets and the same signs somewhere. We can master all of the attributes of all of them by remembering to bring holy presence into our lives daily. God trumps anything in the 3D world, but in the meantime, there may be some benefits from astrology if you use it as a potential springboard for your special talents or to learn about different ways to express your life.
Gong Hey Fat Choy! Happy New Year. Some traditions are cleaning house, having reunion dinners, giving red envelopes with lucky money to kids, fireworks, offering sacrifices to ancestors, lighting and watching lanterns, eating sweet dumplings.
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Hale Opio Kauai convened a support group of adults in our Kauai community to “step into the corner” for our teens, to answer questions and give support to youth and their families on a wide variety of issues. Email your questions facing our youth and families today to Annaleah Atkinson at aatkinson@haleopio.org For more information about Hale Opio Kauai, go to www.haleopio.org
