I love, love, love the start of spring. For those new to my newsletter, I’ll explain: The start of spring, from a Chinese Medical perspective is the midpoint between the Winter Solstice (seen as the peak of winter and the water element) and Spring Equinox (seen as the peak of spring and the wood element), on or around February 4th.
(This energy change is slightly different than the new year animal energy shift that happens on January 29 this year. I share more on that in the P.S. below.)
In the coming weeks many of us will experience a growth of energy available to support us in our life vision as the wood element begins to unfold like seedling germinating from under the soil. This energy will build and continue to support us into the year.
That is, if your life has been supporting you to be in harmony with wood.
If you’re depleted from months (or years!) of overwork and super-parenting you might be wondering where all this fresh energy is… Here is YOUR PSA: Be gentle with yourself. If your winter was not as still and restful as it could have been, you might not feel the extra energy as readily. And if there are more severe health issues like chronic insomnia, chronic fatigue, or adrenal burnout, your most important new year project is probably replenishing your well. (FYI, I just finished a continuing education class about how Chinese Medicine supports mitochondrial function, the power houses of our cells. We can work on this at your next or first appointment with me. You can schedule that opens in a new window::HERE::).
Here’s another PSA: Pace yourself, stay hydrated, meditate and get good sleep (or schedule your acupuncture) as a way of keeping your engine cool and counterbalancing the potential for wood going into overdrive. If you don’t, the concern is an increase in frustration, irritability or muscle tension as you try to get liftoff on your goals.
What are YOU working on this year? I’d love to hear how it’s going.
Many of you hear me talk about 9 Star Ki Astrology which observes that each day, month and year holds an elemental signature that influences and imprints us with their energy on the day we are born, thereby influencing our psyche and life curriculum. It also influences the flavor of each year and how we meet it. When we know this information we can work with our natural strengths more effectively, have greater self compassion for where we get stuck, and be more patient with ourselves while we navigate the elemental fluctuations of life and the years.
Would you like to more deeply explore your elemental design and the year ahead? You can schedule that consultation opens in a new window::HERE:: . In honor of the new year, if you book a Five Element Design or a Feng Shui session in February for anytime between now and the end of March, the session is 50% off.
Many of you have been asking about the year of the snake which arrives on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 this year. While Ba Zi (Literally translated as “Eight Characters”, and also known as Four Pillars of Destiny) is not my area of expertise, I do take the time each year to better understand it and geek out on the upcoming animal energy shift.
One thing to keep in mind, is that while the animal of your year has influence. There are animals (and elements) associated with the Month, Day and Hour of your birth and these may have GREATER influence. According to a recent opens in a new windowYear Of The Snake Talk I listened to by CT Holman:
- The Year is most relevant when you’re a child until adulthood, around 18 years old
- The Day is most important in adulthood, from 18 to 59
- The Hour is most important once you turn 60
- The Month maintains some influence throughout life
You can look up your Hour/Day/Month and Year animals opens in a new window::HERE::
For years I understood myself to be a rabbit or a tiger (it depends on the teacher and system). But based on my DAY of birth, I’m a goat!!! Whattt!?! Now I get to experience life and assess whether the goat qualities resonate with me. Fun.
Do YOU resonate with your year animal? Are you surprised by the animal most closely associated with your age?
