The patience and endurance of the ox have led us through this very difficult year.  Recession has led to high unemployment.  The health care reform process has gone nowhere.  Money is still being printed and borrowed to sustain the war.  Internationally, there was a devastating earthquake in Haiti, a worldwide economic recession, and a stalemate over climate issues.  Everyone has been facing challenges.

In entering the Year of the Tiger, we are looking for improvements.  Everyone, though, is anxious about what the year will actually bring us.  In Yin-Yang theory, when Yin reaches a maximum, it turns into Yang; when things reach their worst, they begin to improve.  The question is, of course, whether Yin has yet reached its maximum.

In the United States, the New Year freeze on the east coast does not seem like a good omen.  On the other hand, it may indicate that the rate of decline has slowed down.  There may be a bit farther to go, but it won’t be as sudden.

At least we are entering the Tiger year.  The tiger is a symbol of power and courage.  So we should at least have more energy and power to deal with the difficulties we have.

This is the first Tiger Year of the new century. This is a very young tiger — just a cub.  It might be daring and courageous, but it has not yet developed its strength.  It is said that when the tiger is absent, the monkey will take control.  Indeed, we see lots of monkeys have taken their place on the stage.  We have too many monkeys running around our houses — both “D” monkeys and “R” monkeys.  Monkeys can be manipulated or trained, but their nature cannot be changed.

Politically, it seems that the usual self-correcting mechanisms no longer work.  We need some fundamental change.  We need to take control of our houses away from the monkeys.

Internationally, we cannot expect to have much to celebrate.  Friction, disharmony, and stalemates will continue between countries.  We can only hope that there will be no extraordinary surprises.

On the individual level, we may not have the power to affect the international, or even the domestic situation.  But we do have the power to change ourselves — our reality, and our perceptions.  We are invested with the vigor and valor of the tiger, and we can bring that energy to our lives in this year.

Many people have found that they have survived the difficulties of the last year better than they expected.  People have adapted:  finding different ways to deal with situations, different ways to live their lives.

People have found they can still be happy with less, in ways that lead to subtle spiritual unfolding.  The ability to hang on in these difficult times leads to a transformation in values, and in outlook on life.

Fundamental change in government requires fundamental change in society.  Fundamental change in society requires fundamental changes on the part of individuals.

As for Blue Mountain, we are happy to report that many teachers have stepped forward in Europe and Russia to take responsibility for teaching Feng Shui workshops, spreading the core teaching of Blue Mountain Feng Shui—“In harmony with nature, in tune with the heart”.  With the help of Taras Latvin, of Kiev in Ukraine, by the end of spring the Russian-language Blue Mountain Feng Shui web site should be finished and posted.  Shan-Tung Hsu and Jenny Hones have been working on a new book, Feng Shui: Truth, Myths and Misconceptions.  We are keeping our fingers crossed — but it should be published before the beginning of summer.

Shan-Tung Hsu has also taken a side trip to work on another favorite subject, and is writing a book on The Essence of Chinese Tea.  We expect to have a big tea party this summer in Seattle to celebrate the publication of this book.

People born in the years of the Horse and Dog should take advantage of this year:  it is the best year for them to make progress.  This is a year of change for those born in Tiger years.  For Monkeys, move cautiously!  The rest are fairly neutral, though people born in the Pig year might do well in relationships.  People born in the Rooster year should be careful about investments.

We have to take life seriously, but remember that when you see monkeys playing around and we are powerless to do anything about it, take it lightly; feel free to laugh.

For everyone:  stay firm, breathe steadily, and keep focused.  Don’t look back.

Shan-tung Hsu Chinese zodiac, Feng Shui

In contrast to western astrologers’ fancy celestial zodiac model, the ancient Chinese used twelve simple animal signs to represent the zodiac. It may seem ordinary or mundane, but these simple signs contain rich and living wisdom.  The twelve signs comprise six pairs.  Each pair has one yin and one yang animal sign. It is the balance of this yin and yang that is the fundamental element of philosophy in Chinese culture.

First pair:  Rat (yang) and Ox (yin)

Rat represents intelligence; Ox represents diligence. There should be a balance between intelligence and diligence. Those who have intelligence but are not hard-working will not accomplish much in their lives. Those who are hard-working, but do not use their brain, are foolish.  One needs to work both hard and smart.  The ancient Chinese regarded intelligence and diligence to be the most important qualities for a successful life.

Second Pair: Tiger (yang) and Rabbit (yin)

Tiger represents power and daring; Rabbit represents caution and prudence. When a person is full of valor and vigor, but not cautious, he can became crude and brash. If he has too much caution without vigor, he becomes timid.  There needs to be a balance of daring and prudence to balance and complement each other; an individual needs to have both to draw on in order to meet what life presents to him at different times.

Third Pair: Dragon (yang) and Snake (yin)

Dragon represents strength and determination; Snake represents softness and flexibility. Too much hardness becomes brittle and easy to break. If one is too soft, he cannot hold onto his own ideas and thoughts.  Therefore, there should always be a balance between strength and flexibility.

Fourth Pair: Horse (yang) and Sheep (yin)

Horse represents marching forward courageously, advance bravely; Sheep represents gentleness and peacefulness.  If a person just plods straight forward without considering his surroundings, he may get some surprising bumps to the left or right, and not be able to reach his goal. If he is too gentle and yielding, he may lose his own direction and, thus, his goal. Therefore, be brave, moving forward courageously but with gentleness.

Fifth Pair: Monkey (yang) and Rooster

Monkey represents agility and quick-wittedness; Rooster represents dependability, as it can be depended on to wake people up on time.  Quick thinking without dependable behavior may not accomplish your intended goals.  However, overly stressing reliability could slow things down so much they cannot move forward.  Each person should have a harmonious combination of agility and dependability.

Sixth Pair: Dog (yang) and Pig (yin)

Dog represents loyalty; Pig represents sociability and amicability.  If a person is too loyal to an ideology or anything else, he can become very stubborn, excluding and rejecting of others. On the other hand, if he is too amiable and socially-dependent, he may lose the dedication to stand firm on his principles and beliefs.  One’s loyal, whether to country, to an organization, to oneself, or to an idea, needs to be tempered with amicability towards all. In that way, you have a smooth outside while remaining square inside; yin and yang is balanced.

Keeping the Balance

Whatever sign you were born under, always look for the opposite aspect in order to be a balanced person. If you were born under the sign of the horse, you are brave in charging forward, but pay attention to the qualities of gentleness and smoothness.  If you are of the sheep sign, gentleness and smoothness come naturally to you; you need to cultivate bravery and courage in order to charge forward with your life!

Intelligence and diligence, daring and caution, strength and flexibility, bravery and gentleness, agility and dependability, loyalty and sociability, these are all qualities one should have to create a happy and successful life.  Ancient China passes on to the generations this wisdom in its twelve zodiac signs.

Shan-tung Hsu Chinese zodiac

Rose-Li

Actually I have an interesting story to tell. For so many years in the past, from time to time I told this story and answered peoples question about the Chinese zodiac.  Although there are many versions of its origin, my favorite is a story from a long time ago.  It is about the one where the animals in China decide to go to India to celebrate Buddha’s birthday.

The rat, cat, dog tiger… all thirteen animals took the journey from China in a race to see who could be the first to arrive in India.  When they reach the Ganges river of India, they all slow down as many animals could not swim well. The water buffalo was the first one to happily jump into the river.  Upon seeing that, both the cat and rat jump on the back of water buffalo for a free ride.  In the middle of the river crossing, the rat manages to push the cat off from water buffalo’s back, which causes the cat to fall in the river and drown.  And since then, as revenge, the cat forever chases the rat.

I told this story for decades on different occasions to many different people and students. No questions were ever asked. Last year I told the same story to a charming little ten year old girl, Rose Li.  Since arriving in the United States twelve years ago, both her parents, who are professional dance teachers, have been good friends of mine.  After having heard the story, Rose Li asked, “If the cat already drowned in river, how could the rest of cats know the story and take revenge?” A good question! How come nobody has asked this question before?  I wonder.  Well, let me think… how do I answer this question…