February 10th, 2013 ushered in The Year of the Snake.
I don't think I really realized that fact when it occurred last winter; I was going through a lot of personal stuff and I think I missed the Chinese New Year altogether. I only realized it was The Year of the Snake a couple of weeks ago and had to laugh out loud: of course it was!
Over the course of the last year, I feel like I have shed multiple skins.
The me what has emerged as the year ends is very different than the me that started the journey and yet is more truly me than I have been for many years.
When we shed skins, we let go of old ways of doing things, old ways of looking at the world. What emerges is a shinier, healthier version of ourselves. That doesn't always involve career changes. It can be as simple as getting a better handle of your finances, cleaning out your closets, learning something new that always interested you.
Change can be interesting, but change can also be hard. Sometimes we search it out, and sometimes we hide under the bed from it until it drags us kicking and screaming out into the sunlight.
The biggest skin I shed this year was not deciding to leave my old career.
It was deciding that I didn't always have to be right and in control. I could trust that it was okay just to BE. And to be ME.
That is a good skin to shed.
January 31st we begin the Year of the Green Wooden Horse. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
The Year of the Wood Horse is a very lucky in Chinese Astrology. Because the Horse is lucky, expect a lot of lucky breaks, or at the very least, luck could soften the blows.
Now, I am not a big astrology person, but I do love the Chinese zodiac - it is so interesting! So I am looking for lucky breaks in 2014!
I was born at the tail end of the Year of the Tiger. Barry is a Year of the Tiger baby as well, which explains a lot of head butting around here at times.
When I read the following description about Tigers I had to laugh out loud:
People born in the Year of the Tiger always take pride in being different from others, and normally demonstrate their originality best in their homes. Their homes are typically filled with exotic possessions. It is no surprise that one of the Tiger’s favorite gemstones is the cat’s eye, but tigers also love the sparkle of rubies and diamonds. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be very impulsive spenders because they know they can at all times make moreGuilty!
So how about you? Have you shed any skins this year? Are you looking forward to the Year of the Horse? I'd love to hear! And if you know much more about the Chinese Zodiac than I do (and how could you not - I know so little!) I'd love to hear that, too!
Have a great day and stay safe out there!
Like Jackie, Audrey, and Grace, I am a Snake. I slipped in just a couple of days before the beginning of the year of the Fiery Horse. The Fire Horse is evidently a very bad omen in Japan, especially for girls, to the point where the Japanese birth rate reportedly dipped in 1966. The Snake was not a particularly good year for me, so I'm looking forward to a new influencet, astrological or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteoh hexicon, what great snake mates you have! I could see that snake would be an interesting year! well from what I read, the horse takes the world for a ride!
DeleteBeing Chinese American, I grew up knowing all about this kind of stuff, so I always know about when Chinese New Year is coming since mom won't let me forget. I'm the year of the Tiger too and they say that Tigers in any household is super lucky. They drive away the bad luck that might cross your threshold. One feels safe when a tiger is around since they are the protectors of their territory. My younger son is a Tiger and he is a fiesty one; like me. Tigers are notorious for their tempers, so beware!
ReplyDeleteWishing one fellow tiger an auspicious Year of the Horse! We have to wait another 9 years for the Year of the Tiger.
hmm wendys as tigers - could be dangerous! my daughter is a monkey and son a pig. does it matter what point in the year you are born? ie I would be almost the tip of the tiger's tail!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe Green Wooden Horse - I've never even heard of him before, I'll have to go read some more about him. Dragon here, though I don't know anything about it really, other than it's been a rubbish 3/4 years, hubs is a Rat, ok I'm to google it all now!
ReplyDeletewell the horse may prove auspicious then Tabs!
DeleteNoooo, I looked it up, a horrendous year for both of us, ugh!
DeleteYou are a tiger?? I normally love to guess which zodiac sign but didn't get that at all! My brother and mother are tigers so I know them well. But I am a lowly farm animal - the ox or the cow as my family like to tease. Snake has been a weird year for - and you are right - huge changes. But it's more that a cog has turned inside than anything external. But Horse is supposed to be change but in a more forceful way than snake so I guess we better get our breeches on and giddy up!
ReplyDeleteI am interested too, as I get the Capricorn side of me no problem. however, when I read the description, I could see a lot of myself in the tiger, especially the protector part. I tend to assume more responsibility than I need to. I like that image of a cog as that is what I feel happened - it feels almost like something clicked and that this year what started last will start to really move!
Delete"The biggest skin I shed this year was ... deciding that I didn't always have to be right and in control. I could trust that it was okay just to BE. And to be ME."
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope to get there one day. One of the reasons, I so, so appreciate your blog posts.
Oh M - I am SUCH a control freak! You should see me planning this Disney trip! There are good sides to it and bad. On the positive, I could be a professional organizer of family trips to Disney!
Deletehi, mdd, have been missing your blog, are you ok?
DeleteWell damn, Hunter and I are fire horses. Somethings are fairly accurate (I do love some adventure in travel), others not so much (I am a homebody who loves a slow pace). Now Virgo fits me to a tee and Taurus nails Mr. H. Last year was a toughly and I feel I am still trying to get through the shedding of my children. This year...yeah, big adventure in business. Fingers crossed it is successful not reckless.
ReplyDeleteBB - I hear you! Many would say my decision to do all I can do to be a children's writer is reckless, but we gotta have faith right?
DeleteAm a dragon and we have three in the family, my dad, me and my son. Two people close to me and I love dearly are Tigers: my hubby and my sister. Like you, they are very generous and protective. Yay for tigers! I worry a lot and need to shed my useless anxieties.
ReplyDeleteI am a worrier too, but I am getting better!! It is hard to let go of all of the "what ifs", isn't it?
DeleteWhat a so interesting post Wendy! I never really looked at Chinese Zodiac. It is so interesting what you just wrote about the Snake year. I need to reflect a bit more on this. Yes, I do think I have changed a bit... May be a better, shinier me, not sure... The coming year will be extremely interesting for me on different perspectives, so yes I am looking forward to it, and this is the first time I have so much excitement at looking what lays in front of me... I am a Tiger, Wood Tiger. I will need to dig more into that. I just found out that I am Yang Wood, while both my husband and son are Yin Water! Really, interesting, thanks for sharing this Wendy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steph! Looking forward to hearing how your year unfolds!
DeleteInteresting! I am a year of the Dog, Metal Dog specifically. MrBP is also a year of the Dog, Earth Dog. Our descriptions fit us very well I have to say. This year we are supposed to focus on being calm, and are cautioned not to work too hard as career can take over... ugh I thought that was last year for MrBP and funny I was just noticing this morning how busy he is getting again, I have to make sure he doesn't burn out. Good thing I have that long vacation planned!
ReplyDeleteIt's -25 here this morning! I was to walk to the dentist, 45 minutes away but I just can't do it, I thought my face was going to freeze off. This winter is kicking my butt.
I hear you - it's my -20 again! Time for the woollies once more! I will have to read more about my Chinese horoscope for the coming year!
DeleteI'm a Water Dog! Not the President's, though.
DeleteThose temps are so cold. Stay warm! When I moved away from Canada and would tell people what our winter temps were like, they'd express such disbelief that more than once, I went home and googled historical data to make sure I was not exaggerating!
Oh Dani, your winters sound horrendous, ours has really been so mild this year, I haven't even needed my big alpaca coat yet.
ReplyDeleteMetal Dog - you've got your punk band name!
That is a good punk band name! We are water tigers!
DeleteI checked mine after Dani's post - it says:
How sweet it is -- the Year of the Horse, that is. After two years filled with obstacles, your time to shine has come! You get 11 favorable months and one neutral month this year. Nothing can hold you back while the Horse has the reins. That big dream you've had forever? Carpe diem. This is the perfect time to implement changes for the better. This year is all about adventure and evolution. Do some hard thinking, then get out there and lead the parade. You're going to have some luck in all areas of your life. Keep your eyes wide open so you don't miss those good opportunities.
Oy, mine and hubs is the opposite, challenging, no money, no work!
DeleteI'm so glad I saw this post! Of course I immediately looked up myself, husband and daughter. Pig, sheep & rabbit. The one I was most curious about was my brother as he is really lucky. Sure enough, he is the year of the horse.
ReplyDeleteGigi! That is so interesting! Your brother does have a lot of luck and some of that is having such a good sister!
DeleteI'm not an astrology person of any kind but I shed lots of negative things last year. Wooden horses sound much more benign than snakes so bring on the new year!
ReplyDeleteha! Well this is a good thing - we are all shedding things!
DeleteHi, Wendy, have just checked and learned that I am a Water Horse. The characteristics of the Horse, as described, seem inconsistent with the characteristics of the Water Element, as described. Sounds like a recipe for migraines and irritability. Oops, maybe that could be Moi after all.
ReplyDeleteheehee - fred - send me a note and I will give you the password mor monty's blog sydforry@hotmail.com
DeleteI have always celebrated Chinese New Year. It's a really fun event, and for some reason, a lot less pressure than Christmas. I will be cooking up a major feast for the occasion.
ReplyDeleteThe Year of the Snake was kind of a tough year for me. I think I let go of a lot of things from my past. There were lots of ups and downs, and still a lot of lingering stress. I looked at my horoscope for the upcoming Year of the Snake and sadly, it doesn't look very promising. I guess I will have to do what all Oxen do - put my head down, keep working, and hope for the best.
(ps. My son is a Tiger too! He is very feisty and extroverted!)
I would be interested as to why the year of the horse is good for some and bad for others...
DeleteFunny, i was just having this conversation about this a few days ago! This year was one of change and renewal for me, so I'd say the horoscope was right for me this time. The Year of the horse is supposed to be a lucky one for Tigers! Not so great for for my sign though, the dragon. The nice thing about Chinese horoscopes is that you can reverse your bad luck with the right kind of jade necklace. :)
ReplyDeleteI see a jade necklace in your future! Wonder if I bought one if that would double my luck????? ;-)
Delete