by James Tuggle
On February 2, 2011, we officially enter the year of Rabbit. The intense Tiger year is over, and the Chinese almanac, which is based on the ten Heavenly Stems and the twelve Earthly Branches, tells us that change is afoot. You might wonder what this “Rabbit” energy is. Well, according to our friend and mentor Ni, Hua Ching, the Rabbit symbolizes yin or receptive “wood” energy. Hua-Ching Ni tells us that this beautiful Rabbit gives us the image of “luxuriant vegetation dancing in the sunshine.”
Whereas the Tiger took us on a wild intense ride, forcing us to make necessary changes to our lives, the Rabbit takes a more gentle happy approach to the changes inherent in the coming year. When you see a rabbit in the wild, what comes to mind? Their fertility. Their alertness. Their nose, ears and tail in constant motion. These are all images we know and love. But how does this apply to our life situation?
Rabbit energy is certainly the energy of fertility and opportunity – opportunity that could yield results in the very same year or in the upcoming year of the Dragon. You can take this figuratively or metaphorically. Whereas the Tiger forced us to let go and end our attachments, Rabbit energy allows us to conceive new projects, ideas and relationships. Personal relationships should prosper and love of yourself and your partner should grow with the seasons.
This is also a good year to develop our alertness or awareness on a deeper level as we gaze around us and see our relationship with our environment. Keeping active and alert will serve you well.
Get in touch with your spiritual nature, nurture your liver and feel the subtle influence of your life force creating your dreams, your aspirations and your intentions. And use the rabbit as your guide to diet -- eat lots of green leafy vegetables, especially spinach, get your exercise on a daily basis, and drink lots of clean pure water to strengthen your kidneys. Doing all or some of this is bound to create a happy and prosperous year of the Rabbit.
