Chinese New Year 2015 — Year of the Goat/Ram/Sheep

Based on the lunar calendar, The Chinese New Year falls about six weeks following the Winter Solstice and marks the beginning of spring. In Chinese astrology each year is defined by of one of 12 animals, one of five elements ( wood, fire, earth, metal, water) which in turn, is associated with a color (green, red, yellow, white, black). Each year has a distinctive Yin or Yang energy.

This year 2015, is the Year of the Green Goat.

• Energy: The energy of this year is Yin, which is lunar, feminine, intuitive, right-brained, compassionate and submissive.
• Green (wood): Is the color representing new growth, flexibility, and resilience. The wood element in TCM correlates with the organs of the liver and the gallbladder.
• Animal symbol: Goat/Ram/Sheep (the Chinese calendar uses these animals interchangeably). The goat is an easy-going creature who symbolizes resiliency, calmness, stability, and creativity!

Spring is a natural time for increased activity and new growth. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is associated with creativity and the liver the associated organ. In the year of the Green Goat, spring is an especially challenging time and calls for us to take extra care of our liver on all levels!

• On the physical level, we need to remove tension from the muscles especially the neck (it is a sign of “unhappy liver”) moving smoothly and with ease (happy liver).
• On the emotional level, replacing anger and irritation with feelings of openness and adventure.
• At the mental level moving from stagnation to creativity. We can spend equal amounts of energy being angry about something, or, looking at a situation creatively to find new possibilities.

I am going to use the symbol of the Green Goat to remind myself that at any age there is a chance for growth, that it is great to be flexible in how I approach problems.

My New Year’s wish is for you to embrace the energy of the wood element and fully use your creativity to make this a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As Henri Matisse once described: