The Chinese Lunar New Year of 2018 begins on Friday February 16, 2018 this year.

Welcome Year of the Dog!

Chinese New Year always begins on a New Moon.
Let’s hit the ground running with this loyal, steadfast and curious energy that Year of the Dog brings.

Year of the Dog

This year brings hard work, loyalty and curiosity together for success this year.  The dog is ever loyal building networks of adoration, of people they admire and the people who appreciate the steadfast and detailed work that anyone born in Year of the Dog brings.

Steady work, and play of course are the food and motivation of any Dog Year person, and it is their ability to make work fun which also makes the Year of the Dog both fun and successful.

Curiosity is a hall-mark of the Dog in the Chinese Lunar Calendar system, and with fun, hard work and an intellect which finds delight in people, ideas and things, this makes both the Year of the Dog and Dog-year born people bring delight to all social and work projects.

COLLABORATION IS KEY

Dogs know how to collaborate – and you will notice with this year’s energy, that there are more themes of differing groups recognizing their commonality and working together for a common good.  We will see this across all sectors of research & innovation within companies and among differing companies, with collaborative entrepreneurial networks, among not-for-profit or Charity organizations working together and anywhere strengths can be built by working together.
The dog understands we can all get along, especially when we realize we are part of the same species and really just an extended pack.
We all find joy in gathering over food, fun and celebrations. Plus, the hall-mark of the dog, curiosity is one of the ingredients for happiness and also drives creativity and problem solving that helps complete projects.

Notice how the movie “Black Panther” is incredibly successful right now for many reasons. In the movie, the empire of Wakanda functions healthfully because the tribes have come together. Collaboration brings strength.

Another form of collaboration is among the animal-types in the Chinese zodiac.

The TRIANGLE OF ANIMALS that works well together this year, and those who will feel the rise of their fame are those born in the Year of the Horse, Year of Tiger as well as anyone born in Year of the Dog. These three ‘animal which lives in the heart’ personality types work and play well together.  
Often the Tiger, Horse and Dragon people are also good at martial arts. There is even a reference to this in the world-famous movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.  

The Dog would of course be a great companion to the Tiger and Horse helping them fix things, implement projects, and to keep things interesting and innovative. 

To have a Year of the Dog person on any team brings versatility, fun and steadfast companionship and successful work for any team.

Celebrate for an entire month! It is not just one day

Lunar New Year is not just celebrated on one day. It is celebrated for an entire month. I explain more below. On Lunar New Year, you are already half way through the celebration!

Chinese New Year is considered the greatest human migration in China.

For instance, Beijing is a city of 21.7 million currently and when the migrant workers of Beijing return home to their families in the country – it leaves a dent on the streets, since they leave by the millions.

“Chinese take more than three billion trips during this period, more than 200 million by rail, so just getting a ticket is a bit like winning the lottery.”…

“There is a saying in China: “Rich or poor; get home for the holiday” ( 有钱没钱，回家过年). It has become a bit of a cliché. But for Chinese, and Chinese migrants in particular, going home for the Lunar New Year, or Spring, festival is near mandatory and often the only time of the year they can be with their families.” (from CNN 2014)

A majority of Chinese travel home to be with family in time to celebrate the Lunar New Year together. It is like Christmas is celebrated in Western cultures. Everything shuts down on New Year in order to be with family and start the New Moon Year with a fresh start.

Things to do during the Month long celebration of Lunar New Year

Debts are paid, grievances forgiven, celebrations and firecrackers abound. The noise at Chinese New Year is to scare away the negative influences – which are different according to which animal year is being celebrated.

The celebration typically begins two weeks before the New Moon of Chinese New Year, and is celebrated for another two weeks beyond February 16, 2018 this year. The celebrations actually finish with the Full Moon.

Celebration is based on the Moon Calendar – from Full to New Moon and again to Full Moon

The Full Moon on January 31st this year begins the celebration (and was the first eclipse of the year!). Cleaning and clearing up to the New Moon are an important part to be ready for the new energy on every Lunar New Year.

The celebration is a month long really – starting at the Full Moon in January, culminating in the celebration just before and on the New Moon with a fresh new start to the year with private parties at home with family and friends. Stepping out of your front door in a new pair of clothes and shoes is tradition and sets the clean, new successful path for the year. (Of course in ancient days, the ‘new outfit’ was hand sewn and embroidered by those in the family, taking many months to complete and would be an important addition to the wardrobe, as buying clothes in stores did not exist when these traditions began.)

The completion of the celebration within community and business relationships is on the Full Moon in March 2018. The Full Moon in the Chinese Lunar Calendar also highlights ‘outward’ and more social and commercial, aka money-making, relationships. Just as in the Conscious Calendars and the Vedic system the growing light of the Moon supports social gatherings and outward or worldly pursuits from romance, to commerce and all collaborative and work related actions.

Clear out the Old

Cleaning is typically a big part of preparation for Chinese New Year. Two weeks before the New moon, clearing is an important step, including detoxifying the body and mind, as well as the preparing the family home.

So, sweep out what is old and no longer working for you. Choose a new pair of shoes and clothes to wear as you step out into the world this Chinese New Year.

Forgive past grievances, and make good on your financial debts. This is all part of making the best of the New Year.

If we all did this every year, we all would be lighter in our hearts and minds.

So, what are you letting go of as the Moon wanes from Full to the quiet day just before the New Moon? What networks and projects are you building from Lunar New Year through the next full moon on March 1 or 2?

Some details about the solar-lunar calendar and Chinese New Year

Mega Red Day, solar eclipse in the Conscious Calendars system

Red Day is day before the New Moon – every month! 

The RED day on the Conscious Calendar fell the day before Chinese New Year, because the RED day lands the day before the New Moon 90% of the time.

The RED day for February is February 15, 2018 and is also the partial solar eclipse.  This is the second eclipse of 2018.  The solar eclipse is the pair to the Total Lunar Eclipse on Janaury 31, 2018 which was also a Super Moon and a Blue Moon.

The First Lunar Day marks the New Moon which defines the Chinese New Year!

Nurture your Dreams

And then, what are you calling into your life with the fresh new start this spring? Let the Earth support your new projects like seeds well planted, watered and loved.

Grow your Health

May your dreams blossom, and health be with you in every breath, is my wish for you this New Year.

The Chinese New Year of the Year 2018 will be Friday, February 16, 2018, Year of the Dog.

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