Enter the Wood Rooster

The moon will be new (in Seattle) today at 2:28 p.m. PST. That phase will occur on February 9 in East Asia, which explains previous indications that Wednesday is the beginning of the Wood Rooster Year.

Among the many insightful bits you'll find at Shelly Wu's Chinese astrology site, there's this gem: "The motto for 2005 may very well be 'Don't do the crime if you can't do the time...'"

Further along:

"During Rooster years, we will also see the improvising of difficult situations. Rooster years straighten up and put life back into order, including rebuilding, reconstructing and beginning from scratch. We must all take special care of our nervous systems and emotional well-being, as Rooster years tend to bring out extremes in emotions (both fiery and frigid) and everything in between. Do not allow disputes to linger -- find a harmonious compromise. A year when it is especially important to exercise tolerance, channel inner energies into creativity and release our souls of any resentments or bitterness.

"Effort, hard work and application are rewarded; on the other hand, sloth can easily result in unemployment. Seek emotional solace by surrounding yourself with nature and the natural beauty of the Earth. In appearance-conscious Rooster years, we all will seek to be admired, but we must remember that "Pretty is as pretty does."

The Esoteric in 2005

"The 16th hexagram of the I-Ching, YU (Enthusiasm), represents preparation and contains the wisdom for the first four months of 2005 (February, March, April, May). It is the picture of a farmer sowing seeds and planting saplings into moist soil. Planning for the future, reviewing one's resources and taking decisive action bring best results now. Carefully scrutinize all options but DO make a plan. Take actual steps and watch your groundwork bloom.

"The ninth hexagram, SHIAO CH'U (The humble power of the smallest), represents gradual accumulation and is the astral signature of the second four months of 2005 (June, July, August, September). It is an image of a small trickle of water flowing from the rock as the container below slowly accumulates the flow. The harvest is not quite ripe, developing slowly but surely.

"Your own power is yet to be mastered. Spend time in meditation, self-evaluation and continue to accumulate resources. Resist burning your bridges behind you no matter how extreme are differences. Document everything this year! Keep all verifications, proofs and receipts.

"The 61st hexagram, CHUNG FU, represents inner truth and will set the stage for the last four months of 2005 (October, November, December, January 2006). It is the image of a familiar merchant greeting his eager buyers on the shipping dock of a bay. Trust and good reputation are achieved through sincerity, humility and the ability to compromise. Evidence is not proven by words, but proclaimed by actions. Don't shout at the darkness; put on the light."

Overviews for each animal of the zodiac are listed at the bottom of the page. Follow this if you don't know what animal you're associated with.

I also want you to note Wu's content about climate and the Earth. "According to statistics, Rooster years are marked by an unusual number of great earthquakes throughout the world. The geophysical phenomena of plate-shifting and the release of tension along the Ring of Fire/North American faults remains a concern." That concern is based in part on the activity of the preceding Monkey year. Wu had noted the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 as evidence of what kind of force can be unleashed during such a period... and look at what the the mountain started to do last year, in a subsequent Monkey year... not to mention the Indian Ocean tsunami.

This isn't the first portentuous advisory I've read in regard to geophysical disturbances yet to come this year.

But all that remains to be seen, and the most important thing for one to do is to act, adapt and acknowledge purpose in regard to change.