Happy Chinese New Year!
The New Moon in Aquarius each year marks Chinese New Year. So, this year, it occurs February 1st, to begin the Year of the Water Tiger. The Aquarius New Moon occurred at 12:46 am EST.
Interestingly, the Tiger shares close association with Aquarius. Naturally, therefore, the Tiger is a rebel rouser, an instigator of change, sometimes for its own sake but, in its higher aspiration, is oriented to freedom and to the disruption of tyranny.
The Tiger Year can indeed prove very provocative and disruptive, true to the nature of the Tiger, as is generally regarded. However, as ever, every case must be assessed on its own ground. There can be more evolved and wiser Tigers… and less evolved and rash Tiger-born people, as well.
Chinese Astrology basically combines the 5-Element model with the 12 year-signs. While a deeper understanding of Chinese Astrology includes the month, day, hour and other ‘stems’ the foundational perspective is based on 12 ‘Chinese Zodiac’ Signs each corresponding to 1-year periods, approximately. In other words, there is a variable subject to when the Moon is New in Aquarius, from the perspective of Western Astrology. In this regard, it is a noteworthy fact that the New Moon in Aquarius can occur as early as January 19 and as late as February 18th!
It should also be mentioned that the Chinese Zodiac also does NOT defer to the usual 12 Signs of Western Astrology based on the ‘seasonal round’ or to the 12 constellations referred to in Sidereal and Vedic Astrology. Rather, it is based on a combination of the Big Dipper and the cycle of Jupiter which is an 11.86 year cycle, so very close to 12-years. Thus, this variable of the 11.86 Jupiter cycle and the 12 signs corresponding to 12 years is absorbed by the date range when the Chinese New Year begins, some years as early as January 19 and some years as late as February 18.
Despite the interruption of the non-fixed date and time as with the exact 12 midnight on January 1st of the calendar New Year that has emerged as the standard for the world, this variable positively weaves in a flex pattern, which adapts to natural cycles and can therefore be understood to be in alignment with nature and less imposing. Yet, it should be noted that the middle ground between the two start dates is to recognize that nature’s New Year begins on Winter Solstice.
So what are the themes and tempo for this Chinese New Year? What we can generally expect from the Water Tiger is that it will be dramatic and revolutionary, true to its own nature, and as also indicated by current planetary alignments.
As mentioned, the ‘Aquarian factor’ linked to any Chinese New Year and more particularly associated with the Year of the Tiger will invariably manifest as the rebel, antagonist, and instigator of change that it is.
In its higher expression, it will manifest as revolutionary actions reaching for higher principles and fighting for true freedom.
In a world full of fear and ego-based conformity and so many people lacking any real semblance of vision, (who are more prone to self-preservation disguised as virtue signaling than of higher principles of democracy and truth), the Tiger can prove to be quite ‘troublesome’. Awakening from complacency and assumption can prove quite unsettling, as people are challenged to question everything they have come to believe. This type of disruption can be understood as the very nature and purpose of the Tiger in the Chinese Zodiac pantheon, just as is true of Aquarius in Western Astrology.
So, we can interpret the year ahead by blending the Chinese Astrology perspective with that of Western Astrology, by looking at the Aquarius New Moon chart. At worst, Jupiter ‘unaspected’ could manifest as an ‘every person for themselves’ situation. At best, it could produce the rise of personalities who serve their purpose in the short term, and then dissolve back into relative obscurity; majestic and influential shooting stars, so to speak.
As well, Neptune in Pisces in aspect to Mercury still retrograde in Capricorn will present ‘opportunities’. Yet, it will carry the weight of insecurity, true to the general interpretation of that placement for Mercury.
Thus, the Chinese Astrology perspective, combined with that of Western Astrology, offers an overview of the year ahead that can be understood as revealing the same themes in a different language, yet due to the combination offers more than either system alone.
As it is, especially in these complex times leading to the official ‘sunrise moment’ of the Age of Aquarius (2030), we are wise to be as aware, informed and flexible in our perceptions, interpretations and opinions, as we can be. This presents an invitation to enter into discussion and debate and to rise above black and white, right and wrong, us and them… perspectives. In doing so, we can genuinely say that we ‘earned our stripes’ of courage, integrity and wisdom.