Relative Joy

The Chinese calendar revolves around five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

The year of the Tiger exits early this year as we welcome the Year of the Water Rabbit.

Among the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, the rabbit is the most tender and gentle. It is also the luckiest of the 12 animals and symbolizes energy, elegance and beauty.

Chinese philosophy dictates that everything exists as inseparable and contradictory opposites. Female-male. Dark-light. Old-young. Strong-weak. Passive-aggressive. Bad-good. The pairs of equal opposites attract and complement each other. In the Yin Yang model, each side has at its core an element of the other (represented by small dots). There is a balance in each pole in order to achieve harmony.

The year 2022, while the year of the water Tiger was a yang. The year of the water rabbit is a yin. Meaning passivity of the universe. A year of relaxation, fluidity, quietness and contemplation.

The rabbit is an agile animal. Moves quickly and is the most clever. While the rabbit exudes overall energy in what it does, it is gentle, calm and moves with confidence and ease.

The year of the water Rabbit should soothe the ups and downs and swings of the year of the Tiger.

Because of the steady movement of the rabbit, there should be amore steady goal regardless of negativity or problems in the coming lunar year.

As the rabbit is associated with peace, prosperity and longevity. optimism is the key as the year of the water Rabbit is a year of hope.

There is no better time to see the pandemic come to closure than the year of the water Rabbit.

恭喜发财 (congratulations and be prosperous) and 新年快乐 (happy new year)!