Understanding 2022 (Year of the Water Tiger) - How Acupuncture Can Help You This Lunar New Year!
February 1st marks the beginning of one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures - the 2022 Lunar New Year! This holiday begins with the first new moon and ends when the full moon arrives. This means it falls on a different date each year. This year we are celebrating the Water element and the zodiac sign of the Tiger. This makes 2022 the Year of the Water Tiger! Philosophy is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, and the zodiac, combined with the principles of yin and yang and the five elements, asserts a remarkable influence over people’s decisions and beliefs. The zodiac, once used mainly to determine one’s birth year, now represents a window into personality, career, health, love prospects, and future good (or bad) fortune. Keep reading to find out why this is the Year of the Water Tiger and how you can make the most of it!
The 5 Elements!
The Five Element theory arose from the ancient Chinese observation of nature around them. This complex philosophical system divides everything in the world into five categories, (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) each possessing different characteristics. This includes you AND your internal organs! Every organ is assigned an element and every element either controls or helps create the next. Think about how wood can build and generate a fire, while water can control and put out a fire. The relationship that each organ has with one another can be explained using the 5 elements. Conversely, the imbalances in the body can be explained and corrected the same way. If you’d like to know more about how the elements are balanced in your body, talk with one of our doctors!
Meanwhile, each Lunar New Year also has an element assigned on a rotating basis. This year’s element is Water. Anyone born in 2022 or born in Water years in the past, will possess characteristics of the Water element. These include being:
Sensitive and introverted, needing time for self-reflection
Filled with creativity and inspiration, enjoy coordinating activities that make everyone happy
Sympathetic and empathetic, easily lost in other’s stories or isolating to protect themselves
Perfectionists who enjoy rainy days inside, reading, and journaling
Generally fearless with strong willpower
Not born in a Water year? Here are traits of the other elements as well.
Metal: (Birth years ending in 0 or 1) Determined, Persistent, Workaholic, Manager
Water: (Birth years ending in 2 or 3) Sympathetic, Perfectionist, Coordinator
Wood: (Birth years ending in 4 or 5) Exceptionally gifted, Idealists, Planner
Fire: (Birth years ending in 6 or 7) Courageous, Passionate, Good at research, King
Earth: (Birth years ending in 8 or 9) Kindness, Tolerant, Honest, Leader
When assigned to a year, the Water element attracts wealth and money. When the Water element is combined with the strength and braveness that defines the Zodiac sign of the Tiger, this could be a very prosperous year indeed!
Zodiac Animals
The Lunar New Year is annually linked to one of 12 zodiac animals – each possessing its own character traits. The animals consist of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The animals are assigned based on a 12-year cycle, this year being the Tiger.
The Tiger is considered the king of all animals in Chinese mythology and culture. It symbolizes power, courage, confidence, leadership and strength. It's also known to be an animal that expels all evil. Because of this, there is often a sense of fear around the tiger and it can be associated with destruction. However, it's also associated with good luck, bravery, and good health and well-being. The year you were born determines your Zodiac animal sign. If you are a Tiger in the year of the Tiger, this will be a very favorable year for you. Click here to find your Zodiac animal and see what your personal prediction is for the year.
In terms of the Tiger Year, it's associated with vitality and strength. It's believed to be a year that will bring about new changes, and encourage people to overcome all challenges and difficulties. People believe that in the Year of the Tiger you have the opportunity to spring into swift action and renew everything, particularly your energy and your strength.
So, all in all, this will be a year of great changes. It is time to use the bravery of the tiger and pounce on opportunity while using the fluidity of water to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. It is a time to face fears and take risks while allowing things to naturally unfold. If you held off on starting a new big project after reading our last blog post about New Year’s resolutions, it is time to explore setting goals for this year that peak in the summer when Qi (energy) is abundant. And if you need help navigating changes of this year and tapping into your water element to go with the flow, book an appointment for acupuncture to balance your energy and melt your troubles away.
Did you know?
San Francisco, California, claims its Chinese New Year parade is the biggest celebration of its kind outside of Asia. The city has hosted a Chinese New Year celebration since the Gold Rush era of the 1860s, a period of large-scale Chinese immigration to the region. Join the parade and don’t forget to honor your ancestors, eat well, and be merry!
