Happy Chinese New Year!
What Does the Year of the Fire Pig Mean For You?
         
Kung Hei Fat Choy! It’s that time again; the Chinese New Year officially begins on February 18, and will continue through February 6, 2008. According to the Ancient Chinese Farmers’ Almanac, this is the Year of the Fire Pig. So what does that mean for you and the year ahead?

While the Pig is usually playful, mild-mannered and laid-back, this year’s pig is tempered by the Chinese fire element, which makes it more like a wild boar. Fire pigs breathe new life into everything they do. They are emotional, focused and unafraid to take chances. This year’s fire is not as strong as the fire in 2006, but it is still strong enough to inspire action.

It is good to have an appropriate amount of fire in our lives because fire gives us the motivation to follow our dreams and goals, and it gives us passion toward our loved ones. However, excessive fire in our activities can turn aggressive, and excessive passion may be viewed as clinginess or fatal attraction.

As such, it is important to pace yourself in the Year of the Fire Pig to avoid burnout. Mental and physical activity leads to goal achievement, but they can also create stress and chaos. Take frequent breaks from activities, and work, exercise and play in moderation. Remember: a day in the sun can be fun and relaxing, but too much heat can lead to fire and drought. This can translate into physical symptoms like mental irritability and muscle stiffness. So try to live your life in moderation and avoid overextending yourself.

As we know, the water element can manage fire. This is a year in which “watering down” in certain aspects of our lives will be useful. Flowing exercises such as yoga, tai chi and chi gong are beneficial as they can promote relaxation before your nerves become too fiery and fried.

According to Chinese philosophy, the right balance of water and fire produces mineral-rich earth, which yields an abundance of food. The next two years will be earth years, so if you self-care this year by being mindful of what to eat and how to exercise, it will allow you to accomplish goals and yield rewards from the earth.

Acupuncture treatments and select herbal teas have calming effects that will be beneficial in the coming year. To learn more about how to increase productivity and energy in the Fire Boar Year, call my office to schedule an appointment or sign up for any or all of the Fire Boar lunchtime workshops on February 14, 21 and 28 from12:00pm to 12:45pm.

For more information, contact my office at 415-544-9104 or send an email to drwonson@drwonson.com. More informative health insights from a Traditional Chinese Medicine viewpoint can be found on my website, www.drwonson.com.