Photo M. Blane. Montreal Bot. Gardens 8/13
Celebrating the Chinese New Year begins with the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice. Celebrations for this Year of the Wood Horse begin on January 31. This year offers a potent opportunity to welcome and celebrate change.
The Horse is an auspicious symbol in Chinese culture and mythology. The Horse is considered a heroic leader with great strength, speed, stamina and nobility. Horses evoke feelings of independence and freedom. We can easily visualize them roaming the vast wild places of earth.After two years of introspection, letting go and other inward yin forces, we are now free to emerge at a galloping pace into the Year of the Horse. At last we can easily harness (accidental pun) yang energy as we embrace our inner work with new outer expression. This is a time to claim optimism and clarity, and to act on those creative inspirations that have been waiting in the wings. A passion for projects, causes, travel, etc., may awaken more than they have in years.
The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.
– Arabian Proverb
As qigong practitioners we can tap into the symbolism of the Horse and nurture within us those beneficial attributes. By becoming more aware of the energies that arise during this Year of the Horse we may feel strongly supported in our pursuits. Using our qigong practice time as an opportunity to tune our mind, body and other senses into receivers of wisdom from the earth and the cosmos, we can more fully integrate all that can be perceived inside and out during this period.
Qigong meditation and movement activate our minds and hearts to act as a pure antenna that senses ever-transforming changes of energy around and inside us. We can create conditions that allow us to openly embrace our intuition and pursue our dreams. However, this time is not carte blanche, or should I say “free rein”, to be careless. While unfolding our dreams at a rapid rate we must at the same time stay true to our deeper wisdom, to our true energetic center. Patience may be required to keep us from ending up on a skinny ledge overlooking a steep cliff.
I wholeheartedly welcome this Year of the Horse and the energy it brings. Several of my long-percolating projects are now coming to the surface and are ready to be unbridled, many of which are qigong-related. This year I am eager to harness the Horse energy to unfold our dreams together.
With eager optimism, Martha
