The Chinese New Year begins tomorrow, so, tonight I will throw away all the bad from the previous year. Pictured is the concoction that stays on my kitchen counter and it is meant to absorb any negative or bad things that are in my house. We set it up in July and I am grateful that there is so little build up of negativity. I have seen some of the "catchers" spill over onto the counters. Making the catcher is interesting. You mix up a concoction of salt, copper, silver and water. Once you make a catcher you don't disturb it until the end of the Chinese year. Then you throw away the bad. Can't wait to start a new catcher and get rid of the old.
My friend Heidi sent this to me after reading my posting. I am posting it for others to read.
ReplyDeleteFebruary 8, 2008
Promise Of Prosperity
Chinese Year Of The Rat
Chinese New Year this time around is the Year of the Rat, which brings
with it the promise of prosperity. The Chinese admire the rat for its
quick mind and ability to gather valuables and save them for the
future. Since 2008 is the Year of the Rat, the year ahead should offer
many opportunities to acquire wealth, as well as the ability to make
choices that enable us to provide comfort for a long time to come.
Since the rat sign is the first in the Chinese zodiac calendar, we may
feel the energy of a cycle beginning. We may also feel a pioneering
spirit that helps us to forge ahead with a completely new endeavor.
Looking beyond Western culture's distaste for rats, we may be able to
appreciate their ability to thrive in less than ideal conditions. This
quality might offer us hope that whatever challenges we may face will
only serve to make us stronger and more able. The rat's ability to
solve problems is well-known, so we can choose to enjoy any challenge
that helps us keep our minds sharp while also making life more of a
game. A competitive nature may develop within us, leading us to use
the rat's ability to focus on priorities. The rat can also remind us
to be less worried about pleasing everyone we meet and more focused on
our goals.
We should be aware of the rat's habit for collecting and not allow
ourselves to become so focused that we neglect those around us. Being
constantly on the alert for opportunity can be stressful, so we can
make the decision to balance our pursuit of prosperity with the
enjoyment of good food and atmosphere and the people we trust to offer
us both support and space. With the energy of challenge and
possibility, the year is likely to be exciting without being
explosive. The Year of the Rat is sure to offer the type of enjoyable
challenges that will enable us to become all we can possibly be.