Today, February 19, 2015,
is Chinese New Year (it’s also my birthday, so if you have some
red envelopes lying around, their reception is much appreciated).
FlyingTypers has previously written
about the mass exodus of Chinese workers going back home to celebrate
the New Year (a journey referred to as chun yun), but it can be difficult
to imagine the enormity of scale involved. Chinese search engine Baidu
has turned that abstract idea into a concrete image, detailing the number
of people traveling and the direction in which they’re moving in
wispy blue lines that form a structure not unlike a heavily caffeinated
spider’s web. If your browser offers the option to translate from
Chinese to English, do take the opportunity and hover over the lines to
see the origins and destinations of individual trips, and if you’re
interested in seeing who is traveling by plane or train, simply click
the icons at the right. It’s a fascinating way to depict and visualize
human travel as it is happening.
Chinese New Year 2015 is the Year
of the Goat, or as I like to think of it, the year of the sheep (I am
a knitter, after all). In preparation for Chinese New Year, people tend
to clean out their homes, as it is considered bad luck to “sweep
away good luck” in the first few days of the year—so hope
you got your house in order before Thursday, or you’ll either be
living in a mess or fostering bad luck, whichever you prefer.
The Goat is peaceful, a homebody,
artistic. 2015 is specifically the Year of the Green Wooden Goat. It’s
a sign representative of harmony—a feminine sign, it attunes to
the moon but is a daytime creature that utilizes the power of the masculine
sun. A Green Wooden Goat Year embodies balance, growth, and renewal.
Because the sheep is an earthy
homebody, this is the perfect time to reconnect with family over dinners.
An artsy fellow, it’s also a good time to take in festivals, visit
museums, or engage in those creative endeavors that bring personal satisfaction,
whether that translates to photography, painting, gardening, or, of course,
knitting.
2015 is apparently a good year
for love, but not for marriage—this is called a Widow Year, and
the superstitious would do well to avoid it. Next year is also an unlucky
wedding year, so new engagements should just aim for 2017, or claim ignorance.
You can counteract harmful energies by placing something red in the center
of your home.
And since we’re all in the
business of business, it is good to know that 2015 is a good year for
business success and money—especially for “wood” industries
like food, fashion, architecture, and publications (we’re hoping
the latter does exceptionally well in this Green Wood Goat Year!).
According to Fortune.com, “2015
will be a year dominated by the economy.” Feng shui expert Doris
Ingber says “The energy of wood, which represents economy, is beginning
to flower. Unemployment is down, wages are moving up, and costs have stabilized
or lowered.”
The bad news, if you choose to
believe this stuff, is that “water” industries are not going
to have the best year—and that includes transportation and tourism.
According to Ms. Ingber, the best bet for water industries is to have
long-term gains in mind; trying to accomplish something immediate in the
year 2015 might not turn out well.
 Here
are Ms. Ingber’s tips for a prosperous 2015, according to Fortune.com:
•
Avoid direct confrontations, opting instead for compromise
and negotiation
•
Make creature comforts a priority—tend to your home,
your meals, and surround yourself with beautiful, quality things
•
Foster strong connections
•
Become the shepherd of your own life, and be responsible and
well-thought in your decision making
•
Master the soft sell technique
•
Engage in charitable and humanitarian acts
As for us, we will be
eating dim sum and celebrating a birthday with family and friends. I’m
sure there will be great food, fantastic company, and a clean, warm house
in which to enjoy the New Year, which sounds very in line with being a
good Green Wood Goat.
Kung
Hei Fat Choy!
Flossie Arend |
