Chinese New Year of the Snake

Today is the Chinese New Year, which starts when the new moon appears in China. This is the month of the Holiday Moon, and the year of the wood snake: The snake is an auspicious sign for inner work, for shedding toxicity in personality, letting go of the past, letting go of anger, releasing unrealistic expectations of loved ones, and getting rid of bad habits. The wood element holds profound meaning in Daoism, a sign of returning to one’s natural state or true nature.

Tonight is also the new moon. This first new moon of the Chinese year is called the Holiday Moon, because it's the start of a month-long holiday season in China. The new moon is a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, set intentions, and initiate something new.

The first day of the Chinese New Year is called Yüan-tan, the "Day of Origin". This one day determines the luck for the entire year, so Chinese people are careful to use their best manners and to remain honest and peaceful.

Agenda for today: 

1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a month theme

3. Set intentions

4. New moon altar and meditation

5. Eat jai for breakfast
6. Give gifts

7. Make and give hóngbāo (money packets)

1. Retreat Day:

If at all possible, I schedule a day of retreat on the new moon, or near to it: I do less talking, less business, and more personal thought and action. My retreat starts today and continues through tomorrow, with more time for writing and reading, and some artwork.

2. Choose a month theme:

At the new moon I choose a new theme to begin to give attention to. My theme this next 30 days is Receptivity and Love: I will explore what it's like to be the earth, accepting the seed and willing to nurture it. 

Receptivity requires that we be open and available, gentle, loving, and sweet; but it isn't a passive condition -  we must do the work to care for what we receive, and have the strength to love without conditions.

Receptivity goals might have to do with improving my loving relationship with my family, or with enriching self-love, or being more openhearted, trusting, and generous. Also, I can use the image of being a fertile earth mother when I am nurturing something new in my life.

My love practices this month:

• Daily Love Cycle reading and work.
• Love Journal, to record moments of receptivity as well as impatience and defensiveness.
• Grandmother work- practicing self-regulation and flexibility.
• Make valentines for friends and for the Earth.

3. Set intentions:

Last week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for the next 30-days, and today it's time to narrow it down a little, to the priority items that I could possibly focus on this next month. This isn't a list of the practical things I need to do this month; rather it's my top actions, studies, and growth goals that fit with the "taste" of this month of my life.

After I list my top goals for the next 30 days, I'm ready to set some intentions for action. I've written just three intentions, the ones I might act on this week, and will write more later.

I intend to be a compassionate presence for my family, friends and community, in a way that feeds and enlivens me, and allows me to share myself without feeling depleted or resentful, because this is a key component of a deeper spiritual life. 

I intend to pay attention to self-regulation at transition times, and practice a reassuring February PickUp Routine, remembering that uncertainty and change can cause stress hormones to be released which interfere with impulse control; we will experiment with fun transition activities (getting dressed outdoors and a visual menu of outdoor activities) that include play and laughter, boosting happy hormones, allowing for more flexible thinking in all of us.

I intend to be more present at events and meetings, in order to be proactive with Hearthkeeping and committee tasks and see that things are running smoothly, and also to make new friends, because I’ve been in hibernation mode for long enough, and integrity requires me to be generous with my time, and step firmly back in to my leadership role.

4. New moon altar and meditation:

It's time to clear my altar, and discern what to put on it for the next 30 days. (For my thoughts on altars see About Altars). I generally keep it simple and choose only things that speak to me and feed me, and reveal what I believe in. I ask, what quality of Spirit do I want to invoke.

Things I'm keeping-

• my straw doll - for luck and protection
• a  quartz crystal - for the purity of winter

Things I'm adding-

• a pink candle - for openness and generosity
• a heart - for receptivity and love
• a beaded snake - for healing and regeneration

5. Eat Jai for breakfast:

In Buddhist tradition, no meat is eaten on this first day of the year. It’s traditional to eat a breakfast of jai, a hot vegetarian dish that is part of a Buddhist rite to give thanks for the fruits of the earth. There are many recipes for jai; you can adapt mine to suit your taste.

Ingredients:

• 1/4-c. black fungus (fat choy)
• 1 tsp. + 3 Tbsp. oil

  

  The black fungus is in the center, soaking.

• 2 eggs
• salt
• 4 large Chinese cabbage leaves
• 3 slices fresh ginger
• 1/2 onion
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 lb. firm tofu
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 2-oz. of cellophane noodles (mung bean threads) 

Yield: Serves 4-

1. Soak the black fungus in cold water plus 1 tsp. oil for 15 minutes or until soft.

2. Beat 2 eggs in a bowl. Season with salt, and fry in a pre-heated oiled pan. 

Cool, then cut the egg into strips. Set aside.

3. Rinse 4 large leaves of Chinese cabbage, dry, and slice into 1/4-inch shreds. Also mince the fresh ginger, chop all the other vegetables, and cube the tofu. Drain the black fungus and cut into strips with scissors.

4. Combine vegetable broth and soy sauce.

5. Preheat a wok and add 2 Tbsp. of oil. Stir-fry the ginger and cabbage for a few minutes. Remove and set aside with the egg.

6. Add 1 more Tbsp. of oil to the wok, and stir-fry the remaining vegetables, black fungus, and tofu. Add the broth mixture, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 20 minutes, adding water as needed.

7. Meanwhile, cover the noodles with warm water and soak for about 15 minutes. When they are soft, drain them and cut into 2-inch pieces with scissors.

8. Add the noodles, cabbage, ginger, and egg strips to the wok. Bring back to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and cook until the noodles are translucent- about 5 minutes. Serve with tea.

6. Give gifts:

One year, my daughter brought apricots and truffles, and my son brought rum!

Chinese people spend the first days of the new year making visits to friends and relatives: Parents and grandparents receive the first visits, and so on, until by the fourth day very casual friends may drop in. The fifth day is reserved for visits to people who live further away.

Visitors greet each other with kind words to help encourage a year of prosperity. The most common greeting is:

Gung hay fat choy 

(Pronounced "Goong Heyy Faat Choy")

Congratulations, may you be prosperous!

Visitors at the New Year always bring a gift. Chinese New Year presents are similar in spirit to Christmas presents, but tend more often to be food items. Visitors bring gifts such as-

• candied fruits or cakes
• Chinese tea
• flowers
• a bag of oranges or tangerines
• hóngbāo money (see below)

7. Make and give hóngbāo (money packets):

Hóngbāo envelopes made by my art class students.

One tradition we try to maintain is gifts of hóngbāo for our kids. Most Asian stores carry these small red envelopes in an assortment of designs, or you can always make your own with red origami paper.

Remember to fill the envelopes with paper money only, and in even numbered amounts. The color red is good-luck, so money wrapped in red will surely multiply.

Supplies: Red origami paper or other thin red paper, pencil, scissors, glue stick, black pen, gold and silver metallic pens.

1. Click on the pattern to the right, and download it. Print on card stock and cut it out.

2. Trace onto red paper and cut it out again.

3. Fold on the dotted lines, and glue the flaps closed (except the top flap).

I teach my students the traditional Chinese way to show respect to their elders, with a bow, which should lead in return to receiving hóngbāo. 

If it doesn’t, they can say, “Hong Bao Na Lai," which is "May I have the red envelope, please!"