Chinese New Year 2015 – Year of the Wooden Sheep

Chinese Year of the Wooden Sheep
Gong hei fa choi! Happy Chinese New Year! The Year of the Wooden Sheep begins February 4, 2015, two weeks before the Lunar New Year on February 19th. Celebrations begin on the 19th with the new moon.  Now is a great time to learn more about Chinese astrology. With a working knowledge of this ancient system, you can learn more about your own strengths and weaknesses, calculate the best times to pursue business or romance, and even improve your health.

The Chinese Zodiac
If you’ve eaten at a Chinese restaurant, you’ve probably seen the Chinese zodiac printed on the place mat. Each year in a twelve-year cycle is presided over by an animal with unique characteristics. The Chinese calendar is based on the intersection of the moon’s phases with the sun’s. The first month of the year closely coincides with the first day of Chinese spring. This can be any time between January 20th and February 20th. Because the New Year is celebrated beginning at the first new moon of the first month, the zodiacal year can precede the New Year by several weeks, as happens this year.

Thousands of years ago, scholars created almanacs illustrating perceived connections between aspects of Taoist and Confucian culture, folklore and philosophy. These guides were also used to track the way different time cycles intersected. Another important cycle concerns the five elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Like the familiar animals, these agents affect many aspects of everyday life and reality. Each element has its own color, number, hour, direction and even taste. The full astrological cycle is sixty years, ruled by an element as well as an animal. Birth days, months and hours are also associated with elements and animals. Your personal influences can help you see your advantages and plan toward a future filled with good fortune.

Who Is a Wooden Sheep?
Sheep are also known as Rams or Goats. Similar to Pisces in Western astrology, they are emotional and artistic. They are fond of spiritual things and may have psychic ability. They love beautiful clothes and peaceful environments. Sheep tend to be disorganized, insecure and anxious, and may have difficulty with business and bureaucracy. However, they often make good team players with a strong sense of fairness. They want to bring people together, resolve conflicts and create harmony. Actualizing their dreams into reality is their special delight. Their best talents can serve in any creative or child-centered profession.

The Wood element is protective and nurturing, with an instinct for growth. Wood’s influence on the Sheep character enhances tendencies toward generosity and altruism. A Wooden Sheep may put others first to her own detriment. Sheep like to acquire lovely things and amass wealth, both for their own comfort and that of loved ones, but the Wooden Sheep is more likely to devote financial gain to help the less fortunate.

Chinese astrology websites often differ as to the best numbers, colors, flowers, directions and dates for each sign. If you are truly interested in finding your lucky information, consult an expert who can take your birth date, place and hour into account. Because the Sheep is the eighth sign of the zodiac, it is inherently fortunate, as eight is the luckiest number.

A Wooden Sheep Year
This is a Green Wooden Sheep year. Green will be a fortunate color for all, and Wood’s embracing qualities will spread feelings of peaceful caring. Although the Sheep influence will affect people of all signs in different ways, in general there is likely to be an atmosphere of calm and a feeling that negotiations are possible. It’s a good year for family reunions and reconciling with estranged loved ones. A Sheep year encourages unity, cooperation and brotherhood. Many people will find their best luck in groups.

Take advantage of the Sheep consciousness to beautify your life. Plant flowers, redecorate your home, learn a new skill. Raise money for your favorite charity. Volunteer in a soup kitchen or nursing home. Focus on natural, vegetarian food. Look for parks and public gardens where you can relax and walk in fresh air.

If you are a Sheep, this should be a fortunate year for you. However, the negative traits of this sign will also be more prominent. Take care not to let them become overly influential.

Chinese New Year Traditions
Beginning a few days or a week before the New Year, de-clutter and clean your house. Give away unnecessary items. Wash the floors, beat the rugs, do all the laundry and dishes, have everything fresh and smelling sweet. Once the house is clean, decorate it with bright garlands and lanterns. Red and gold are the predominant colors for this season.

The New Year’s meal is often a family reunion dinner. The most important foods are fish and dumplings. Oranges, rice balls and spring rolls should also be featured. Since this is a sheep year, a goat or mutton stir fry is especially lucky. Learn more about Chinese New Year Lucky Foods.

Everyone in the family should stay up all night, or at least until midnight, to welcome in the New Year. If fireworks are permitted in the area where you live, be sure to light a string or two as the New Year arrives. This drives evil spirits away and attracts forces of life and energy, besides being fun!

We invite you to read more about Chinese New Year Traditions and Superstitions as well as Chinese New Years Lucky Foods.

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