New Holiday Moon and Chinese New Year of the Horse

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 Fire Horse. Horses represent strength, freedom, and spirited perseverance, and the element of fire magnifies these qualities with its intensity, urgency, and passion. This will be a fast-moving, high-energy year, with a stronger drive -- ideal for pursuing new opportunities, and making it especially important to stay attuned to the body’s limits and energy reserves.

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. Eat jai for breakfast
5. Give gifts

6. Make and give hóngbāo (money packets)

Maslenitsa and Chinese New Year

Maslenitsa (масленица) is the oldest of all Russian holidays. It began as a spring equinox festival called Jarilo, named for the Slavic god of the vegetation and spring. Later it became a Christian holiday, starting on the Monday one week before the Eastern Orthodox Lent.

Maslenitsa is the Russian version of Carnival, with eating, drinking, sledding, games, and costume parades. Like many spring festivals it's a melding of Christianity and Earth Religion, and all of its events still focus on driving away the winter and re-awakening nature.

In Russia, Maslenitsa lasts the entire week, and ends with Forgiveness Sunday, the day before the start of Orthodox Lent, on Clean Monday (February 27th this year).

And tonight is Chinese New Year's Eve. In China, New Year's evening is called Ch’u-yeh, the "evening of discarding", because we can finally be done with the old year, and with winter. This last day of the year is busy for Chinese families, because it’s the last chance to complete preparations and be ready to start the year fresh. When the running around is done, the family spends the rest of the day at home together -- family connections are the big theme for this holiday.

Agenda:

1. Make an effigy doll

2. Make blini pancakes

3. Thanksgiving ceremony

4. Welcoming ceremony

5. Have a family open house

Nirvana Day

Today is Nirvana Day, the celebration of Buddha's death at the age of 80, at around 487 BCE. It's celebrated in East Asia on February 15th, or on February 8th by some.

Buddhists celebrate the date of the death of the Buddha, because death is when the soul is released from the body to experience Nirvana. The word Nirvana means "to extinguish", but it's really more of a transformation to a new kind of existence. Nirvana is usually described as a state of bliss or peace, and a release from all physical suffering. The Buddha taught that Nirvana was beyond human imagination, and so speculation about what Nirvana is like is considered by some to be foolish.

Agenda for today:

1. Read the Buddha's teachings

2. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

3. Ancestor practice

4. Ongo Journal

5. Set intentions for Lent

Seed starting

I'm experimenting with new seed starting practices this year, to get away from using plastic and other ways we harm the earth; and also just because my seed starting hasn't been very successful lately.

Agenda:

1. Potting soil

2. Pots and trays

3. Lights and sun

4. Brainstorm for Oneness with the Earth

Priorities

This week I've been brainstorming priorities for the next month, which is a process of decision-making: What is the next most important thing? What will give meaning to my life and help the world?

When I feel scattered it might mean I am avoiding something I need to decide, what to do and what NOT to do. Once I decide, I can set everything else on the back burner. I can explain the priorities to my team, build alignment, and eliminate chaos and that feeling of overwhelm. I can be intentional.

Agenda:
1. Love cycle
2. Read "Perspective"

3. New narrative

4. Days of passion flow plan

Brainstorm for teaching

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

2. Beginner's mind meditation for craftivism

3. Brainstorm teaching and Pre-K school

4. Projects for the week