WELCOME THE YEAR OF THE TIGER

The Chinese Year of the Metal Tiger begins on February 14, 2010. The Tiger is an animal who is brave, bold, competative, unpredicable, noble and self reliant. The metal element adds clear thinking, accuracy and sincerity to your profile in the year.

We can expect to see these aspects in the year itself. Because the Tiger is lively and bold, this will be an active year, sometimes to the frantic level. Change is in the air and a restless feeling could underly all that you do. That is why it will be important to remember to rest and think before you act. If you have a lazy side this year won't favor you.

How will the animals fare?

The "animals" who are affected negatively by the year are the Tiger who is sitting at the top of the God of the Year(the Tiger), the Monkey who sits directly opposite the God of the Year and the Snake who is the most incompatible with the Tiger.

On the other side, the Horse and Dog are in what is called the Three Harmony Position which brings them good luck in the Tiger year. Also the Pig who is the best friend of the Tiger has very good luck in this year. For all other signs, the year will be good.

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 Pig with them to help navigate all of the potential problems the year may bring. Harmony Gardens also has Jade Pig Charms (see Tiger Year Charms) available through our website, www.harmonygardens.net in the Feng Shui merchandise section. If you want more in depth information about your Chinese animal and the luck for the year, contact Yun Lin Temple and ask for the yearly calendar that His Holiness Lin Yun Rinpoche and Her Holiness Crystal Chu Rinpoche produce. You can either email or call www.yunlintemple.org or (510) 841 2347.

Some dos and don'ts for the New Year time

Like many other civilizations, the Chinese have developed many traditions for the New Years time. 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 imagine what you want to accomplish in this zodiac animal year. You want to make special wishes for the year during this time.

Before the New Year begins, you may also want to clean your home paying special attention to Meditation Rooms, Religious Statuary and Altars. Be careful not to clean after the New Year begins as that could "sweep out all the good luck".

Good luck for the New Year

If you plan to celebrate the Chinese New Year in more depth, you could have oranges and tangerines in the house for good luck and prosperity. 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. .

When I look over this list even I can feel overwhelmed but remember that you take one step at a time so why not resolve to begin so that the next year and decade don't pass you by without the you in your life.

Another custom is the giving of Red Envelopes or red packets 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 is used to suppress or put down the evil spirit of the year.

Special Tip for the New Year

Pledge to do good deeds this year. New Years time is especially powerful to begin this shift. Think of ways that you can benefit others and the environment. Picking up litter, holding the door for someone, allowing someone in a hurry to go ahead of you, listening with your heart to another's troubles all fit into this category.

NEWS

Just launched- my garden questionnaire-

Garden Secrets - Your Garden Personality Guide.

It is designed to give you some advice on ways you can adjust your garden to balance and express your personality. Check it out on my website and tell your friends about it.

ATTENTION LOS ANGELES RESIDENTS

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a public address entitled Cultivating Compassion and the Needs of Vulnerable Children at Gibson Amphitheater at Universal Citywalk, February 21, 1:30 PM. The event is organized by Whole Child International. Contact: http://www.wholechild.org or get your tickets through ticketmaster.