January, 2020
PERKS FROM YOUR PETS: HUGE PERKS WITH MAKING THE YEAR OF THE RAT YOUR FRIEND!
Welcome to the new year of 2020! Want to MAKE your own “luck”? YOU CAN by making plans that have you letting go of “things” and “thinking” that no longer serve you and planning each step to a well-intended realistic goal. CHANGE is the BIG theme of this new year. My new year is the Lunar New Year the Chinese celebrate and is also called the Spring Festival. The New Year of the White Metal Rat begins on January 24 here in the “West” and January 25 in the “East” until February 8th full moon day! This article is to give you a bit of info on the Rat…some perks, meanings, personality, with NO forecasting.
Introductions to The New Year of the White Metal Rat
The Rat is the first animal in the 12 Zodiac System. It represents the beginning of a new cycle. Chinese New Year is a lunar new year celebration. Beginnings happen on the pairing of the first New Moon cycle of the year and concludes at the first full moon after.
…why “rat”?
As a Black Hat practitioner (check out my book “Fur Shui. An Introduction to Animal Feng Shui), and animal communicator…I know the Chinese animal zodiac. The Rat is the “first” animal in the Zodiac tradition and there are such grand qualities that the rat possesses’. So, in the year of the rat, the rat’s personality will be ruling the days…both strengths and challenges of the Rat will be seen.
Auspicious traits (We all have our “bests”!):
Outgoing / Cheerful / Very Social
Gets along well with almost anyone…lots of friends
Respond quickly to outside changes / thinks on their “feet” / adaptable
Intelligent / Witty
Ambitious / Alert
Challenging traits (sometimes “can be”):
Stubborn
Lack of persistence
Timid
Greedy
Picky / Critical / Complaining when things do not go well.
For this new year, adopt and act with the strengths above and things just may flow smoother!
There are some “lucky” things to do and have for this new year!
Where’s the “good luck”!?
Feng Shui uses symbols, colors, numbers to locate “good luck”…in general:
Symbols: The Ox is the lucky animal charm for the Year of the Rat…along with the Rat charm of course!
Numbers: 5, 7, 9
Colors: white, yellow, blue, green, gray, and black…in that order. To attract health and prosperity: Pink and Orange! Complimentary colors to White, Gold, Blue: Green, Yellow, Red.
Lucky Days: the 4th, the 8th, the 13th, the 22nd day of every month of the Chinese calendar
Timing for New Year of the Rat beginnings and notable days, things to “do”.
Before the new year comes in…clean up your home and office, car and environment. Wash away the old and welcome the new into an uncluttered home. (Let go of old patterns and thoughts that no longer serve you too!)
On the PM of Chinese New Year of January 24 (here in the States!) prepare a dinner of noodles, fish, and have a nice bowl of oranges (bring you luck!) to snack on as well as eat an apple (for good health!) during your meal. Noodles for longevity…so do not cut! Fish for financial prosperity…and some good chocolate for being “sweet”! Also, decorate with some beautiful fresh flowers…pink peonies or yellow mums are good luck!
The first day of the new year, say “goodbye” to the old year (the boar) and welcome the rat into your home, starting at the front door, invite the rat in and escort it around your home and ask it to bless you and your home / environment. Thank it for coming in and gracing your life and home.
There are many important days the Chinese celebrate by giving red envelopes with cash and gifts to each other, family, and business partners. My favorite thing to do is to “feed” the Chinese Lion or Dragon during the Dragon Dance…putting dollar bills in its mouth for good luck and fortune.
Here’s a good link for you to explore the many days and meanings: https://chinesenewyear.net/calendar/#spring-festival
My favorite day is the final day of the new year celebration which happens on the first full moon of the lunar new year. This is the day and night of love. Lantern festivals celebrate love and the full moon time…new hope, joy. This is essentially Chinese version of Valentine’s day!
For this new year…as the old exits and the new comes in the PM of January 24…keep your attitude upbeat, be vigilant and aware of change in the air, and perform good deeds as we enter the New Year of the Rat.
Gung Hey Fat Choy…a most happy new year filled with goodness in all ways!
Be well and aloha,
Paula
Paula Brown
The Heart of Conversation
Animal Communicator / Heartist / Author
“Fur Shui. An Introduction to Animal Feng Shui.”
www.animalhearttalk.com
paula@animalhearttalk.com
310.621.8512
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