Door in Beijing decorated with couplets honoring the year of the tiger – Image credit: N509FZ – CC BY-SA 4.0
TWH – Tomorrow at 12:46 am EST the new moon in the air sign of Aquarius will mark the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year of 2022 and the year of the Water Tiger.
According to astrologer Susan Levitt, “The first month of the lunar year is always a Tiger month. 2022 begins with a Water Tiger month in a Water Tiger year. Double Water Tiger! Time to follow your emotions and instincts.”
The start of the lunar new year is determined by the second new moon after the winter solstice and falls either towards the end of January or the beginning of February. While often referred to as the “Chinese” new year, the lunar new year is celebrated by other Asian cultures and countries including Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea.
Many Asians who have immigrated to other countries around the world carry their cultural celebrations with them and as a result, lunar celebrations with many of the traditional offerings can be found in a variety of places.
Typical celebrations are often focused on reunions with family that include a variety of food that symbolize good fortune and prosperity. Many of the countries that recognize the lunar new year and celebrate the event often offer anywhere from three to seven days of public holidays, though traditional celebrations span fifteen days. The celebration culminates with the Lantern Festival.
Throughout the fifteen days of celebration, social activities with family and friends are encouraged. The lone exception to this is the third day (February 3 this year) which is considered to be a day that is prone to arguments and is designated as the best day to meditate, visit a temple, and generally avoid interacting with others.
Levitt characterized this year’s influence in her lunar newsletter as, “Water Tiger brings power, passion, and daring. Now is the time to pounce, take a risk, and start new endeavors. Brave and bold actions are rewarded.”
She continued, “The year of the Tiger is explosive, wildly creative, big, and bold. It’s a time of extremes when all of life’s activities will be experienced on a grand scale. Tempers flare, drama and excitement reign, and crazy dreams can become reality. Expect massive social change, political rebellions, and military coups.”
How this translates on an individual level can depend on a number of factors including when a person was born and what influences are currently impacting their charts. Tiger years often support new ventures like starting a business, projects that involve creative elements, and following through on long-held dreams or ideas.
Hong Kong geomancy consultant, Thierry Chow emphasized the potential for water-related events, “So we can expect big movements for anything water-related, which unfortunately could mean more water-related disasters, or big ocean movements,” she told CNN in an interview.
However, Chow also pointed out, “On a more positive note, the Water Tiger year also represents strength in the arts, technology and design sector, which means these areas will be thriving.”
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VERKHNOYOTORETSKY, Ukraine – A bound copy of the Eddas is being credited with stopping a bullet. According to the Icelandic translator of the book, Vitaliy Krivonis, “Elder Edda stopped the sniper bullet. No one was hurt.”
Krivonis made the post, along with a picture of the book on his Facebook page after one of his followers sent it to him. Media outlets confused the issue by reporting that the book had saved the life of a Ukrainian soldier with little or no evidence of what had actually occurred.
After being badgered by people who questioned Krivonis post and whether the pictures were real, he responded with the following post:
On the situation with the photo of Edda shot
1) If I knew that such a hype would appear, I would never publish anything in my life.2) Photo and permission to publish I received from the subscribers of my TG channel Ravensfjord. Also the minimum details I put in the post.3) The post does not appear that the book directly saved someone, as journalists already thought. I probably don’t know these details. The fact that the book stopped the bullet is a photo fact.4) The very photo I do not consider fake on the basis that I have seen already and not only in the photo that happens to books under different circumstances. It’s another thing that the bullet in the photo looks more like a regular 7.62 than a sniper, but I’m in the bullets like a pig in classic German philosophy.5) No, there will be no other details or comments. No contacts and no locations. They asked not to yell unnecessarily.6) The photo was put out for the reasons of aesthetic rather than ethical. Understand now that is completely useless. Well, there will be science for the future.7) I apologize to all participants of the process for the inconvenience.
Another Facebook page, @BehindtheUkraineNews explained that other media outlets had taken liberties with the article that were not confirmed by Krivonis.
Their post meant to clarify the situation said:
UPD: As we were informed by the press officer of the separate battalion of the marine battalion Alexey Godzenko, this photo was taken in the area of Verkhnyotoretsky.“Holded this book in my hands. In the house where the fighters live there were bullets flying during one of the boêzítknenʹ. For real this bullet stopped in this book. Of course, at this moment no one read her, and the book, as the warriors, were in the house.”
It would seem to indicate that while the book and Ukrainian soldiers were in the same house that was being fired upon, it does not claim that the book was in hands of anyone at the time it acquired its bullet damage.
Announcements:
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In other news:
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- Ireland has announced that February 1 will officially be a bank holiday known as St. Brigid’s Day beginning in 2023. The day had been under consideration for a holiday as TWH reported two weeks ago is finally a reality. A number of advocates for honoring Brigid with her own day, like Herstory, posted their delight at the news of the new holiday being announced just days before Imbolc, the Celtic holiday that has Brigid at its heart. The new holiday will be celebrated on the first Monday on or after February 1.
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- In related news, a new art exhibit titled, “Brigid of Kildare” is set to open on February 1 at the Solas Bhríde Centre and Hermitage in County Kildare, Ireland. The art displayed is a collection of new and original work that is centered on the life of Brigid and coincides with the annual celebration of Féile Bhríde 2022 Brigid: Flame of Justice and Peace. Due to pandemic restrictions, the 2021 celebration was unable to be held as it normally was and restricted to online events. The creators of the exhibition formed their collective, Sult Artists in response to the pandemic in March of 2020 and is comprised of professional, multidisciplinary artists.
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- As blood shortages remain an issue across much of the U.S., the American Red Cross continues to urge those who are able to donate blood. The Red Cross supplies roughly 40% of the blood used by hospitals and has to restrict the amount of blood it can offer by as much as 25%. The shortage of blood has been listed as the worst blood crisis in over a decade and has those in health care concerned about having enough blood to respond to natural disasters, accidents, or any mass casualty event where large amounts of blood would be required. Many others who rely on blood transfusions to treat medical conditions like cancer, hemophilia, and sickle-cell anemia have the potential to be negatively impacted by blood shortages. The shortage is a culmination of winter weather, flu and cold season, and the ongoing pandemic all driving down the number of people donating blood and the number of blood drives being held. The additional controversy that has not helped with the shortage is the practice of restricting anyone who is LGBTQ from donating unless they have not engaged in same-sex sexual relations for 90 days. The policy of restricting same-sex partners from donating was lowered from 180 days to 90 days mid-pandemic due to blood shortages. Advocates for the LGBTQ community state that the policy is discriminatory and should end.
Native Hawai’ian farmers continue to fight against corporations to regain the water rights that rightly belong to them under the state’s laws. Much of the waters that fed the Native crops of kalo had been diverted by sugar plantations. Kalo is a root vegetable and the Hawai’ian name for a variety of taro (Colocasia esculenta) that is indigenous to the islands, considered sacred by Hawai’ians, and part of their creation stories.
Despite the state constitution declaring Native rights for water a priority over any other water usage, the companies who owned the now-defunct sugar cane factories continue to divert water away from Native farmers for their own uses. While the laws governing water rights are clear and have been upheld regarding access for Native farmers, state authorities often claim they lack the necessary labor and infrastructure to restore water access diverted by large corporations.
For decades Native Hawai’ians have also sought to reclaim what is known as Kuleana rights which date back to the 1800s and grant land parcel title to the descendants of the Kanaka Maoli by the Hawai’ian Kingdom government. Many descendants were unaware of their rights to farm the parcels of land that were rightfully theirs to use and manage, as the land is inherited even if it has been unoccupied for decades.
While some Native Hawai’ian kalo farmers have seen water flow restored to their lands, many have not. The legal battles over water access continue, and even those who have seen water restored to their lands must fight to maintain access and prevent large corporations from diverting millions of gallons of water away from them.
What is ongoing in Hawai’i is reflective of the justice being sought for recognition of Indigenous rights to land and water across the U.S.
Tarot of the week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: Joie de Vivre Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.Card: Five (5) of Wands
This week is liable to hold elements of conflict that may depend on tenacity and moral fortitude to persevere. Challenges and conflict can be productive and allow opportunities for growth, change, and education
Conversely, be mindful that situations that are rooted in dishonesty and may resort to trickery have the potential to become unnecessarily offensive and distasteful.
Decks generously provided by Asheville Pagan Supply.
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