HAPPY NEW YEAR OF THE EARTHEN OX!

January 26th marks the first day of the first month of the chinese new year of the ox. Starting on the new moon, this month will extend until February 24th. In a way, the year of the ox is energetically represented as what I described in the last months energy as both have "ox" energy and are associated with Hexagram 19: the continuing endurance and approaching of something great. So the same can be said of the coming year of 2009. Having visited the dark cave that 2008 represented (子）, and fleshed out what direction we want to go in, 2009 is the year to begin executing those plans, and begin taking our internal ideas to the external world. Have something you were dreaming up last year but didn't quite getting around to making a move on? Well, this year is the one to start that big project. Also with the new year, and every year, comes a time to forgive those who owe us money that never showed up or apologies that never came and move on to a more compassionate, "we're all in this together" mentality.

Within this context of an oxen year, we begin in the first lunar month, represented by Hexagram 11 泰 often translated as peace, quiet, or balance.



Here is the text from the Yi Jing, as well as my translation.

小往大來，吉，亨
The small goes and the big arrives, auspicious, successful.

則是天地交而萬物通也，上下交而其志同也。
It is the joining of heaven and earth and the communion of the 10,000 things,
the joining of above and below and it is similar to will.

內陽而外陰，內健而外順，內君子而外小人，君子道長，小人道消也。
inside is yang and outside is yin, inside is strong and outside is following, inside is the character of a noble person and outside is the appearance of a lesser man, the noble person's path is long, the lesser person's path disappears.

This is a time of ultimate communion between heaven and earth. 3 yin lines are falling, and 3 yang lines are rising. Internal strength and external following is indicated here, to show that we follow the path of nature even though we may be pursuing our internal goals. Stephen Karcher writes:

This is a time of abundance. If you let yourself be lead you can realize your hidden potential. Later you can be quiet and settled. Reach out and penetrate things. Sense their interconnections. Radically change your sense of self and who you associate with. Put your possessions at the service of the spirit of the time. Support and encourage people. Use peace and abundance to set life in order.