ON THE HORIZON: Chinese New Year, February 3, 2011 ... welcome the Year of the Rabbit

The Lunar New Year has long been simply "Chinese New Year" to me.  Long before I knew that the moon affected the start of a new year, I remember Chinese New Year as a girl in Kuliou'ou Valley on the island of O'ahu.  I think I write about those times somewhere every year around this time. 

Who do I see and what is happening?  I am a shy and observant big-eyed girl, barely five years old and I have already begun to love letters and stories.  Mrs. Quon is my teacher.  She lives right next to the school.  Paint easels and tables with primers with big black letters and pictures of children and their dog (that would be the famous Dick, Jane and Spot).

Amazingly, the memory of climbing into the jungle-gym with long threads of white coconut candy covered with hard sugar stays with me all these nearly 60 years.  It was only one Chinese New Year in my life, that year as a kindergarten girl in the valley school.  Joy is like that though.  It lasts.

"According to Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. It is a time for negotiation. Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.

Not many people know that the Rabbit is the symbol of the Moon, while the Peacock is the symbol of the Sun, and that together, these two animal signs signify the start of day and night, represent the Yin and Yang of life. It is said that anyone making supplications for wishes to be fulfilled are certain to get what they want... and in the Year of the Rabbit, the wish-granting aspect of the Sun and the Moon combined is multiplied."

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This is a time to consider the lunar (moon cycle) year ahead, especially viewed from this perspective.  "Not many people know that the Rabbit is the symbol of the Moon, while the Peacock is the symbol of the Sun, and that together, these two animal signs signify the start of day and night, represent the Yin and Yang of life." 

My Chinese ancestors, linked through my mother, her father, her father's father, and his father before are family members I never met.  Their legacy sustains though, and I reflect on the symbolism of Rabbit as the new year approaches.

2011

• A year to catch my breath
• A time to negotiate
• Try not to force issues
• Focus on home, family, security and my relationships with women and children
• Make it a safe, peaceful lifestyle,

The solar new year has begun with the calendar reading January 24, 2011 the first four weeks of this Universal Year of "4" is considered the month of preparation.  Numerologically, "4" Years are years of hard work.  For some of us, catching our breaths, and not forcing issues will be hard work.

Last year Pete and I were living in a mill town, sandwiched between our old friends' home and another large old house in a city.  On Chinese New Year we celebrated with rice noodles with bites of tasty chicken, and did a noisey dragon dance in and out of the big house and at the porch of our VardoForTwo, chasing the old year out the door making room for the new year of the Tiger.

I'm dreaming of Moon Cakes and noodles, and we have pots and pans for another noisey dragon dance here in the woods.  New Moon, New Year.  We wish you a wonder filled and peaceful Year of the Bunny!

Any thoughts for the Lunar New Year?

Gung Hee Fat Choy,
Mokihana and Pete