Today, February 19th, is the beginning of the Lunar Festival also known as Chinese New Year. In China, hundreds of millions of people are traveling home in what is considered the world's biggest annual human migration to be with their families to celebrate Spring Festival. Spring Festival has more than 4,000 years of history and is the grandest and most important festival for Chinese people. Originating during the Shang Dynasty, Chinese New Year celebrates family reunion with the hopes of spring and flowers will blossom with abundant luck to all. Celebrations will vary from regions and ethnicity, but celebrations will take place in 119 countries around the world from the United States to Australia!
The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, is based on a twelve-year cycle and each year is dedicated to an animal sign and an element. 2015 welcomes the Year of the Goat! While we bid farewell to the Year of The Horse, confusion is abound as to wether this coming year belongs to the goat, ram or sheep. Fear not, all three are used interchangeable as the astrology animal for the year. So, what does this all mean? History reveals there has been special relationships between humans and the twelve zodiac animals and it is believed that the years represented by these animals also affect the character of the people born during those years.
To make things even more complicated, Chinese zodiac has elements (Wu Xing) occurring in two year blocks and represents the five elements in daily life and regarded as the foundation of everything in the universe and natural phenomena - generating or destroying one another. These elements are also used as the basis for Feng Shui in balancing the harmony in your life through the placements, additions or subtractions of the zodiac elements : metal, wood, water, fire and earth.
I'm actually pretty well-read when it comes to Chinese Astrology, my funny little quirk. I do not read my western horoscope in the back of magazines or search out cosmic advice on how to live my life, but I am intrigued by the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, as I predict you will become too.
Every year, there is a resurgence of zodiac jewelry based on the lunar calendar. Zodiac jewelry is a mainstay in the industry and I love to see how they are reinterpreted over the years, some better than others. This is an all time favorite of mine, I love the repousse style of this ram.
The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, is based on a twelve-year cycle and each year is dedicated to an animal sign and an element. 2015 welcomes the Year of the Goat! While we bid farewell to the Year of The Horse, confusion is abound as to wether this coming year belongs to the goat, ram or sheep. Fear not, all three are used interchangeable as the astrology animal for the year. So, what does this all mean? History reveals there has been special relationships between humans and the twelve zodiac animals and it is believed that the years represented by these animals also affect the character of the people born during those years.
To make things even more complicated, Chinese zodiac has elements (Wu Xing) occurring in two year blocks and represents the five elements in daily life and regarded as the foundation of everything in the universe and natural phenomena - generating or destroying one another. These elements are also used as the basis for Feng Shui in balancing the harmony in your life through the placements, additions or subtractions of the zodiac elements : metal, wood, water, fire and earth.
I'm actually pretty well-read when it comes to Chinese Astrology, my funny little quirk. I do not read my western horoscope in the back of magazines or search out cosmic advice on how to live my life, but I am intrigued by the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, as I predict you will become too.
Every year, there is a resurgence of zodiac jewelry based on the lunar calendar. Zodiac jewelry is a mainstay in the industry and I love to see how they are reinterpreted over the years, some better than others. This is an all time favorite of mine, I love the repousse style of this ram.
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| Van Cleef Gold Ram Zodiac Charm |
In conclusion, if your a wood goat/sheep/ram then this is your year, and if you are not, well you might just need to do a little research and see how the year of the wood goat fairs for you. Quick study : water element nourishes wood, wood needs fire, metal chops wood and wood breaks up earth. Confused yet? Dig a little deeper and discover your elemental harmony within.
I am not a goat, nor is anyone in my family, but I do love to see how the change in element and animal could (possibly) affect my year. If you believe in that sort of thing...
Which animal represents you? Any guesses as to which animal I am?
