"It is not part of a true culture to tame tigers, any more than it is to make sheep ferocious."
— Henry David Thoreau.
First of all, in the big astronomical/astrological picture, today marks the New Moon in Aquarius. Always a good time for new intentions, even more so than usual today. Mercury stations direct on the 3rd. A good time to start picking up the pieces and your pace from everything you may have recently been reviewing, reconsidering.
Down here on Earth, we are half way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In my ancestral tradition, today is the festival of Imbolc, in some circles known as Saint Brigid's Day, which (among other things) many consider the precursor to Groundhog Day. Starting next year, a combo of the two will be an annual public holiday in Ireland.
Spring is getting closer every day.
But wait, there's more.
Today is the Lunar New Year on which Losar is celebrated, the Tibetan New Year (which goes way, way back to a winter incense burning custom of the Bon tradition). And, it's the Chinese New Year, one of the most important celebrations in China. Here's a good BBC article about the Chinese New Year: What is it and how is it celebrated?
And... we're back to astrology!
In the Chinese tradition, we now enter the Year of the (Water) Tiger. I was born in the year of the (Wood) Horse so, as the Horse and Tiger are 100% compatible, it could be a good year ahead for me! (Last year, I was only 20% compatible with the Ox.)
How about you? Do you know your Chinese Horoscope animal? If not, you can look that up on a fun calculator here.
In honor of this Chinese New Year, I've pulled out an old drawing of Zolushka (Cinderella), an Amur (Siberian) Tiger who was released into the wild after rehabilitation. Watch Zolushka being released and a glimpse of her first two cubs (now, she has four!).
If there were ever a good day to begin or to begin again, this is it.
Take advantage of this new moon to consider what you'd really like to unfold this year, set your intentions, and celebrate this fresh start.
龙腾虎跃 — May you soar like a dragon and leap like a tiger!
Bonus! I just remembered this from one of my most favorite albums, Paul Anka's Rock Swings.
Listen: The Eye of the Tiger.