Chinese New Year & Chinese Astrology

Chinese astrology is based on several factors: a 12-year cycle with each year represented by different animals; 28 constellations (as opposed to the 88 used in Western Astrology); the major planets; the concept of yin/yang; and five elements of water, earth, fire, wood, and metal. Each of the 12 animals are paired together with each of the five elements, creating a total 60-year cycle with each animal being paired with each element once during the 60 years.

Like our Western astrology which gives certain characteristics to the signs of the zodiac, so does Chinese astrology give certain characteristics to people born during a specific animal/element year.

For specific information on the pairings of animals/elements see this excellent website: http://www.tuvy.com/entertainment/chinese_horoscope.htm

The Chinese zodiac also has guidelines for compatibility. For example, a Tiger's compatibility with other animals would look like this:
Rat 7 - In order to succeed, both must endure
Ox 6 - Difficult but possible
Tiger 5 - Two Tigers - not recommended.
Rabbit 6 - Only if they share the same interest
Dragon 7 - Despite minor difficulties, it's good for marriage
Snake 4 - Difficult to know what they see in each other
Horse 8 - Why not, they have lots in common
Sheep 2 - One of the worst combinations.
Monkey 3 - Better stay away from each other
Rooster 6 - Not a balanced relationship
Dog 8 - Good, a balanced and harmonic relationship
Pig 7 - They are very different, but this will work

For other excellent compatibility information for each animal sign, visit this website: http://www.12zodiac.com/

Another excellent webpage will show you the Chinese equivalent for the Western constellations which are the same: http://www.chinapage.com/astronomy/constellation28.html

As is true with Western Astrology, Chinese Astrology cannot be taken at face value. Astrologers spend many years studying and analyzing charts and people to become adept at reading. While it may be fun to read about your personality on the back of the paper menu at the Chinese restaurant, for a real analysis of your Chinese birth sign, it would be worth finding a qualified astrologer to give you a full reading before making up your mind on the validity of this system.

With roots that can be traced back over 2000 years BC, Chinese astrology has stood the test of time, and has many lessons for us to learn even in these modern times in the West.

ADQ

Listening and Working with Gourds

First of all, I would like to acknowledge this article as a lesson from my mother. This an art that she passed down to me, along with her personal beliefs on what the gourd represents. The gourd represents that shell that holds and supports us. We are taught to treat others with respect, but often overlook treating ourselves with gentleness. It is important to care for what has been given to us by the Earth.
The life and purpose of the gourd can be compared to that of humans. The seeds are put into fertile ground where different forces join together to nurture it. Just like our own children, the seeds unfold and learn to adapt to whatever environment has been created. We grow on the vine that connects us to those that thrive alongside. We bask in the sun’s warmth and drink in the flow of clean water.
Then the winds change and we stop physically growing. We are released from the comfort of the vine and left unprotected. The environment warms and cools us to the extreme. As time passes, we become scarred and layered with thick molds. Our true blemishes are revealed, and our strengths reflected in the brightness and clarity of light. It is then that we become what is needed.
Some whither and give back their shells to the Earth, nourishing the seeds they carry and creating new life. Others become vessels, tools, and art. Some dry strong and hold seeds for the next generation, so they can gently shake them and hear the shared song.
It is important to care for them in each form, care for the seeds, and feel free to shake loose what is needed. It is the movement that scatters and nourishes each of us. The gifts have been given, and we need to search through the layers and see what is revealed. Some see only a simple ugly gourd, but all things have a story to share and a lesson to teach.

Making a Gourd Bowl:
*Cut top from gourd and clear out seeds.
*Scrape out inside. This must be done carefully as they will break or crack.
*Sand inside and outside with fine sandpaper.
*Wipe with damp cloth to clear away all dust and residue.
*Decorate as desired. I use different methods for decorating gourds. I almost always use sinew for the tops, which I sometimes embellish with beads and stones. I have decorated the body of the gourds using paint, stain, and ink. I recently started using pyrography, which is using a heated tool to burn patterns onto the surface. -By Holly S.

The 17 most important food to buy organically grown

1. Baby Food.
The very young are extraordinarily susceptible to pesticides. Here are some organic baby food brands, Earth's Best, Tender Harvest, and Healthy Times, which are available for your baby's safety and health. Or better yet, make your own baby food by cooking and pureeing organic produce.

2. Strawberries.
Enjoy them while they are in season from local organic farms or buy frozen organic strawberries from your local whole market.

3. Rice.
Domestic rice is splattered with mega-doses of pesticides, and now, the chemicals companies are producing "pharm" rice used to produce and store pharmaceuticals. Buy organic rice where you can find it and store it in an airtight container. It stores very well.

4. Green and Red Bell Peppers.
Super sources of Vitamin C, but wrought with pesticides. Buy organic, or, better yet, grow your own. Seeds of Change has a plethora of organic seeds, and pepper plants prove to be a hardy bunch!

5. Got Milk?
We hope not, at least, not from conventionally raised cows. Today's commercial brands are loaded with antibiotics and growth hormones. Make sure your milk and other dairy is from organically-fed cows without the extra rBST, rBGH and antibiotics.
If you are feeding your child goat milk, and/or goat products, be aware that our science community has now genetically mutated a goat to spin silk in her milk.

6. Corn.
Corn is typically not a scale tipper when it comes to pesticide residues. But, take into account that 75- 90% of all domestic corn has been genetically-modified, that the average American eats 11 pounds of it, that most cooking oils include corn oil, and that most everything is sweetened with corn syrup, and suddenly, buying organic corn and corn products, makes more than a little sense. Eat local organic corn in season and freeze some for later, or, leave some kernels to dry, and plant them in the spring.

8. Green Beans.
Over 60 different pesticides are used on green beans. Even beans used in baby food have been found to be contaminated.

9. Peaches.
Nothing beats a peach. Until you realize that they often have the highest rates of illegally-applied pesticides. Isn't that just peachy . . .

10. Apples.
A decade after the dangers of Alar were exposed, apples are still soaked in pesticides. Put only organic apples in your pie.

11. Cherries.
Cherries, so expensive, so rich, so fabulous, . . . so heavily doused in poison. Make sure that the cherries in your Cherries Jubilee or Bing Cherry Ice Creams are as clean and wonderful as they were meant to be.

12. Celery.
Why would anyone think of spraying the heck out of that innocuous little stem vegetable?! But they do. Stay organic, the taste of organic celery will amaze you and make you a celery-nibbler once again.

13. Apricots and Grapes.
Apricots, Peaches and Grapes, what would summer be without them? Less toxic! Keep conventionally grown fruits and veggies, and their pesticide residuals, out of your system or minimize them with a vegetable rinse, such as the one by Healthy Harvest.

14. Soybeans.
If you are not yet a label-reader, it is time to start.
Everything you buy, from bread to cookies to crackers to margerine to dry mixes, has some sort of soy product in it. Most soybean in the USA is genetically-modified.
So, why the fuss over modified soy?
Monsanto, in an effort to increase the use (and profit potential) of Round-Up Ready, spliced the herbicide into soybean plant DNA. Two problems with this action.

1) No matter what you or I do, we can never wash RoundUp Ready herbicide off the soybean--ever. It is "permanently imbedded".
2) It appears that soy increases production of estrogen. High estrogen levels facilitate the potential for contracting various cancers and for hastening puberty in young children.

Although the jury is still out on whether soy consumption, in general, is beneficial, or whether only fermented soy should be consumed, never, we mean NEVER, consume foods laced with poisons.

15. Potatoes.
Mashed potatoes are delicious and worth the calories, unless they're laden with pesticides or have been genetically-modified.
When genetically modified, potatoes impair the immune system and shrink the brain, liver and heart.
So, mash a clean, real, organic potato and forgo the new-fangled monstrosity.
Got soft, green-sprouting organic potatoes? Don't toss them,bury them!

16. Raisins.
Concentrated little grapes, concentrated levels of pesticides.

17. Cucumbers.
Ever wonder why this delicious crisp vegetable was loosing its appeal on your palate? Yep! The answer is, once again, pesticides. The answer to pesticides, is, once again, go organic, or grow your own. -Kim L.

Self Esteem: The Inner You

Where does Self Esteem Come From?

There are a number of factors that determine how you feel about yourself, shaping your self esteem.  Many experiences throughout your life play an important part in the forming of your basic self esteem: your successes, failures, comments and relationships with your peers and adults, and immediate family.

Childhood Factors in Forming Self Esteem

The main components of self esteem are established during your childhood. 
Childhood experiences that lead to healthy self-esteem include-

• being praised
• being listened to
• being spoken to respectfully
• getting attention and hugs
• experiencing success in sports or school
• having trustworthy friends

Childhood experiences that lead to low self-esteem include-

• being harshly criticized
• being yelled at, or beaten
• being ignored, ridiculed or teased
• being expected to be "perfect" all the time
• experiencing failures in sports or school

People with low self-esteem were often given messages that failed experiences (losing a game, getting a poor grade, etc.) were failures of their whole self.

3 Easy Steps to Improving Your Self Esteem
Before you can work on changing your self esteem, you have realize that you can change it.  It is possible to change the way you feel about yourself.
Step 1:  Rebut the Inner Critic:

People with low self esteem are often their own worst critics.  They will look at most things with pessimistic views.  The following statements show the inner critic’s views along with easy rebuttals.

Step 2: Practice Self Nurturing
The second step to a healthy self esteem is to treat yourself as a “worthwhile” person.  Care for yourself in ways that show that you are valuable, competent, deserving and lovable.
Practice Basic Self-Care
Get enough sleep, eat in a healthy fashion, get regular exercise, practice good hygiene, and so forth.
Plan Fun & Relaxing Things For Yourself
You could go to a movie, take a nap, get a massage, plant a garden, buy a pet, learn to meditate-whatever you enjoy.
Reward Yourself For Your Accomplishments
You could take the night off to celebrate good grades, spend time with a friend, or compliment yourself for making that hard phone call.
Remind Yourself of Your Strengths & Achievements
One way is to make a list of things you like about yourself. Or keep a 'success' file of awards, certificates and positive letters or citations. Keep momentos of accomplishments you are proud of where you can see them.
Forgive Yourself When You Don't Do All You'd Hoped
Self-nurturing can be surprisingly hard if you are not used to doing it. Don't be critical of yourself-remember that inner voice!-when you don't do it just right.
Self-Nurture Even When You Don't Feel You Deserve It
"Fake it" until you can "make it." When you treat yourself like you deserve to feel good and be nurtured, slowly you'll come to believe it.

Step 3: Get Help From Others
Getting help from others is often the most important step a person can take to improve his or her self-esteem, but it can also be the most difficult. People with low self-esteem often don't ask for help because they feel they don't deserve it. But since low self-esteem is often caused by how other people treated you in the past, you may need the help of other people in the present to challenge the critical messages that come from negative past experiences.
Ask for Support from Friends

• Ask friends to tell you what they like about you or think you do well.
• Ask someone who cares about you to just listen to you "vent" for a little while without trying to "fix" things.
• Ask for a hug.
• Ask someone who loves you to remind you that they do.

Get Help from Teachers & Other Helpers

• Go to professors or advisors or tutors to ask for help in classes if this is a problem for you. Remember: They are there to help you learn!
• If you lack self-confidence in certain areas, take classes or try out new activities to increase your sense of competence (for example, take a math class, join a dance club, take swimming lessons, etc.)

Talk to a Therapist or Counselor
Sometimes low self-esteem can feel so painful or difficult to overcome that the professional help of a therapist or counselor is needed.
Talking to a counselor is a good way to learn more about your self-esteem issues and begin to improve your self-esteem.

All in all, a healthy self esteem can change the way you live your life. Having a good self esteem will help you face challenges that you never thought you’d be able to overcome.

Archived Issues

Jan 2007