WELCOME THE YEAR OF THE OX

The Chinese Year of the Ox begins on January 26, 2009. The Ox is an animal who is hardworking, dependable,precise, patient and trustworthy. We can expect to see these aspects in the year itself as well as the other stubborn and narrow minded aspects. This particular year is an Earth Ox year. The qualities of the Earth element has many similarities to the Ox, peacemaking, stable and cooperative activities. Issues of financial security will be of importance to all as they work to remake their footing. This particular year, financial security is attained through hard work and perserverance. The "animals" who are affected negatively by the year are the Ox who is sitting at the top of the God of the Year, the Goat or Sheep who sits directly opposite the God of the Year, the Horse who is the most incompatible with the Ox and the Dragon and Dog who are also negatively aspected for the year. On the other side, the Snake and Rooster are in what is called the Three Harmony Position which brings them good luck in the Ox year. Also the Rat who is the best friend of the Ox has very good luck in this year. For all other signs, the year will be neutral. His Holiness Lin Yun, Grandmaster of the Black Sect Tantric Buddhism advises us all animals affected by the year to carry the image of the Rat with them to help navigate all of the potential problems the year may bring. Yun Lin Temple has these charms for sale. For information, please contact the Temple at 510 841 2347. Harmony Gardens also has Jade Rat Charms available through our website, www.harmonygardens.net

Like many other civilizations, the Chinese have developed many traditions for the New Years time which is considered to be one of the most important holidays. This holiday is celebrated for a two week period beginning on Chinese New Years Eve, the first new moon of the year and ending with the full moon on the 15th of the lunar month which is celebrated as the Lantern Festival. It is customary and desirable to be very careful in the first three days of the New Year to avoid using bad language or saying negative things to others. Chinese New Year is a time to wish your friends good luck and pay respects to your parents and grandparents. The empahsis is a celebration of the family. This is a time to repay your debts and image in what you want to accomplish in this zodiac animal year. You want to make any special wishes of the year during this time. You may also want to clean your home paying special attention to Meditation Rooms, Religious Statuary and Altars.

If you plan to celebrate the Chinese New Year in more depth, you would want to have oranges and tangerines in the house for good luck and prosperity. Also, it is said that if you have Paper Narcissus blooming in the house at New Year, you will have luck through the entire year. A Chinese New Year feast meal would include certain foods which are considered to have meaning. Be sure to include noodles for long life, sugar melon for good health, lotus seeds for lost of children, apples for safety. The last course in a New Year's meal should be fish because it sounds like the word for great plenty.

Another custom is the giving of Red Envelopes or red packets which are passed out during Chinese New Year's celebrations. This is commonly done between parents to children. Inside the red envelopes is money. The money in the red envelopes has the meaning it is used to suppress or put down the evil spirit of the year.