Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is just around the corner (February 3) and it brings with it some useful advice for everyone, even those who are not Chinese or a rabbit.

Chinese tradition dictates that each person should ensure they have, before the Chinese New Year begins, completed all of their tasks which are due, forgiven all of the people they need to forgive and settled all of their personal debts (both monetary and otherwise). While western New Year resolutions have merit, this system of settling the previous years accounts has a lot to be said for it. It ensures that a person goes into the New Year with clean consciences and clean bank statements.

This upcoming Chinese New Year heralds the year of the Rabbit.  This is pegged to be a calm year and so a good year in which to settle in and get things done. Success in this will be assured in the year of the Rabbit for those who heed the advice of the I Ching that says; in “the year of the Rabbit without concentration you will fail.”  On that note students are advised to work on concentration in the coming year in order to remain focused on what matters.

So what exactly is the I Ching. Well, it is of course the 5000 year old doctrine for making important decisions. Otherwise known as the Book of Changes, it is considered a philosophical book as well as a book of divination.  As it is such an ancient and revered book it may be wise to follow it’s advice and buckle down to all those term papers and essays you may have been avoiding.

For those readers born in the year of the rabbit, this year should be a breeze. Because you are naturally a methodical and meticulous worker you will find success in this year of sticking to task and getting things done. For the rest of us, this may be a challenge but one that will only make us stronger!