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)

Chinese New Year's Eve

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. Read "Mindfulness-Based Emotional Balance Workbook"

2. Thanksgiving ceremony

3. Welcoming ceremony

4. Have a family open house

My Room

I'm lucky to have a room to call mine; this small room (which is just called My Room) is where I spend most of my alone time - where I write every morning, and return to throughout the day to recenter and catch my breath.

A room of my own has always been essential for me, because I am an introvert. I have always needed a room with a closed door, and plenty of quiet time to be alone in it - time to read, collect things, make up stories, become an expert at something, listen to rock & roll, or browse the internet. This is not passive or wasted time; I am intensely focused on filling myself up with creative energy and juicy ideas, and the harmony and balance I need to succeed.

My Room is pretty packed with stuff; it's where I store my computer, my clothes, most of my books, my sewing machine and ironing board, and my photo albums and memorabilia. It feels cramped and cluttered, even though it's pretty tidy. This final week of January I will devote to creating some order and peace in here.

Agenda today:

1. Read "One Year to an Organized Life"

2. Clean and clear My Room

3. Simple steps for health

Busy Sabbath

Today is a Sabbath so full I'm already feeling anxious. But now I take a breath - let it out - and let go of the need to do everything. I will choose my three top priorities, and let go of the rest.

Agenda:

1. Choose top priorities

2. Read "Everyday Simplicity"

Prepare for Imbalc

Imbalc is in a week and I have a few practical and contemplative preparations to make - mostly I need to slow down to watch as the wheel of the year shifts. 

We still have a month of winter left, but my thoughts are turning outward, to the garden, our neighborhood, and my community.

Agenda:

1. Practice a Reverent Way of Being

2. Read "The Creativity Book"

3. Make a Creativity Altar

4. Write about my seeds of inspiration

5. Simple projects list

6. Plan a party

7. Bless the bathroom

Little New Year and Third Quarter Moon

Kitchen God I drew a few years ago.

Today is called Little New Year - it falls one week before Chinese New Year. Little New Year is also known as the Kitchen God Festival because this is the day that the Kitchen God, Tsao-wang, and his wife, Wang Bo-jia, leave to report to heaven. A picture of these two gods, printed or drawn on rice paper, hangs in a niche just above the stove in a Chinese home.

This holiday always falls on the waning Third Quarter moon of January or February. Today's waning third quarter moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care.

Agenda today:

1. Renewal plan
2. Evaluation House

3. Monthly journal brainstorm

4. Kitchen God Good-bye Ceremony

5. Make Jiao-zi dumplings