Out with the old, in with the new. While western astrology is good at digging into the dynamics and details of an individual, I am drawn to Chinese astrology because it provides insights into periods of time and group dynamics. In particular it is great at pointing out the global energies that will influence each year. For instance, it highlights the two year cycle of creativity/implementation. 2015, the year of the Goat, was an implementation of 2014’s Horse – emotional wild ride. Goat took on the challenges, scaled the heights, broke through false expectations and misunderstandings, putting us on better footing even if we didn’t like the direct path it took to get us there.
Now we enter into another phase of creativity. 2012 – Dragon was spiritually focused. 2014 was emotional. This year, 2016, is the year of the Red Fire Monkey – mentally focused. It will be a year for the Magician, the one who has all the raw materials and can make anything happen from them, but it also prone to sleight of hand. It will be a great time for taking risks, but also for paying attention to the tricksters out there. It will be a time full of all kinds of opportunities and the need to jump on them, but only if they are sound. If they aren’t the fall will be long and the results painful. Fire transmutes and lifts things, but needs to be contained and monitored in order to be safe. Left to it’s on devices it will consume everything and leave only ashes behind.
There is an aspect of “monkey on my back” which will be a component of this year. If you have one, this is the year to shake it off and start living without it. These changes will be most easily undertaken during a fire year. On the other hand, it will be a year where people might gain a monkey if they aren’t paying attention. It’s important not to get so focused on the possible that we aren’t watching the consequences in the now. It’s going to be an amazing year. Here’s to opportunity.
