A QUESTION OF TIME....

After researching on calendars I almost got a headache! One can write a book on the subject and still have no answer such as the ponderings of a Philosopher. What's right? I came to surmise its what you find comfortable with. I suppose the confusion and variations come from man's desire to have an accurate measure of something i.e. to control it, to arrest it, reverse it or propel it. If you take a look at the cultures of the world you will find almost every culture has their own separate calendar to inaugurate moments i.e. holidays and festivals in order to signify life as life.

From an indigenous perspective, I have to say that Native American's strictly followed the moon. I don't find any documentation of indigenous peoples trying to make the cycles fit into a table of reference. The different moons were significant signs of seasonal change but they weren't numbered or chronicled. I suppose Plato would have acknowledge the Native Americans if he ever knew about them, for he ridiculed the Egyptians for their immense interest in writing and cataloging in the Pheadrus, in particular the Egyptian God Thoth. Plato felt that the Egyptians were too interested in the material value of things and not the essence of the experience. The ancient Egyptians tried at first to catalog time by the moon cycles but found it wasn't accurate enough for them and scholarly speculation suggests they switched to a calendar based on the Nile inundation which followed three seasons. Today the Egyptians follow a Coptic calendar.

The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600BCE, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the zodiac and perfected it by 500 BCE. . Like the Western calendar, the Chinese Lunar Calendar is a yearly one, with the start of the lunar year being based on the cycles of the moon. Therefore, because of this cyclical dating, the beginning of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. This year it falls on January 26. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each.

Because each month follows one cycle of the moon, it is also used to determine the phases of the moon. The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: "This is the animal that hides in your heart."

On another account, the Rat being the first of the lot was actually a cheater, and I would actually say that the Ox was really the honest-to -goodness first of the group. Legend says that the Rat rode on the back of the elephant and when he saw the Buddha in sight jumped off the elephant and ran across all the preceding animals in front eventually landing first on Buddha's lap. Unfortunately leaving the elephant out of the group.

What is right, valid or true can be a question or concern by referencing the animal's journey to Buddha. Obviously there is significance in any formula used. So it is for the Chinese Zodiac and totem system.

We will explore the significance of this year's honorable Chinese Zodiac animal the Ox, but first I'd like to make an observation.

Time is a continuum,just as the earth and all the material world of form, always in a state of flux. We can't stop life or the cycle of its changes no matter what calendar system we use. I personally feel the most comfortable following seasons instead of dates. When you follow the cyclical changes of the earth and the elementals you know within you what is happening. From the Bible, Ecclesiastes states there is a time to die and time to be born, a time to love etc.

Another ancient civilization Persia, which we know of as Iran today had and still has a very accurate calendar. I would say the most accurate to date called the Solar Hejri. It is an astronomical solar calendar and one of the longest chronological records in history and is currently used in Iran and Afghanistan as the main official calendar. The first of the year is determined on the Vernal Equinox and as precisely determined by astronomical observations from Iran's capital, Tehran (or the 52.5°E meridian, this makes it more accurate than the popular but newest calendar the Gregorian Calendar in being synchronized with the solar year, but harder to work out when a particular date would occur before the New Year preceding that date.

Ironically the Gregorian Calendar came about to synchronize the celebration of Easter in the Roman Catholic church nearest to the Vernal Equinox. Today Easter is decided as the Sunday after the first full moon after Vernal Equinox.

I personally like to start my new year on Vernal Equinox because it makes sense. I was fortunate to be involved with the Iranian culture and observed this celebration Norooz, the first day of spring. Celebrations last approximately 2 weeks and the joy of welcoming the newness of life was quite lovely. My tribal clan celebrates the new year on the arrival of the wild strawberry crops in Northern California, another spring time celebration.

I feel if we can choose a time of our lives where we are to reawaken our lives once again then that's our new year. As an astrologer I always celebrate my personal new year on my birthday. During that time there is a great initiatory process as well as celebration observed. I find Birthdays very important.

Yep, the Chinese have it right, bring on the dragon, fireworks and dancing. Let's wake up the spirits to new life and renewal after the long night of death and slumber...what ever time it may be.

SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN BISON

The first thing that I thought of when I envisioned the Chinese Zodiac year of the Ox was the Bison. I firmly believe how ever we choose to celebrate this new year it is not to solely benefit us as humans. The spirit of this creature in the United States must be reflected upon for us all to find some kind of connection to its legacy.

I remember when I was a child living in Montana, my folks took us on a vacation to Glacier National Park and we also went into the southern tip of Canada above Montana State. We were driving through the site where the Canadian World's fair expo was to be in '67. It was on that excursion that I saw my first Bison. My mother spotted them first and told my father to pull off the road so we could see the herd. The road was quiet and we all got out of the car to the fence that separated the herd of Bison and Musk ox from us on the road. There is such a profound experience when we confront a presence of supreme heritage. I think about it now as tears fill my eyes as my memory and knowledge remind me of the millions of Bison slaughtered in North America and Canada. I as a descendent of a people who revered the Bison, standing face to face with an honored descendent was a timeless moment that will be forever etched in my mind. We, us kids, (I, my brother and sister) didn't want to leave and my mother had to coax us and eventually arouse her oxen temper to get us back into the car.

I've only seen Bison in captivity. It is a powerful experience when we can see a creature free and wild. That is something I hope to experience very soon as I venture into the Dakotas this spring.

The colonizing French, were the first to name the Bison, buffalo which refers to the word Ox. The word Bison is a Greek term meaning Ox-like.

Unlike the Asian water buffalo, bison have never been domesticated although the American bison is kept on some farms. I would think this is a clue as to the truth and essence of such a creature who must always be free and unfettered as well. As a symbolic reality to all of us that live upon the land of the Americans. Today it seems to me that freedom, equality and the acknowledgement of the sacred is a forgotten reality. Perhaps this year we make an effort to resurrect these valued ideals.

I've always heard that an animal i.e. the elephant that lives a long period of time has a rather sophisticated level of intelligence. The Bison live approximately 20 years. The gestation period is the same length as the human, 9 months, and the female bison will nurse her young for a years time. There is definitely a strong bond built with such a time frame. They grow to maturity at two to three years, although males continue to grow until about their seventh year.

Male bison can grow to be 11.5 feet (3.5m) long, and 6.5 feet (2m) tall at the shoulder and can weigh up to 2200lbs (998 kg).

The Bison did not originate on the North American Continent but migrated from the Bering Straits about 10,000 years ago. Since then it has evolved to a dwarfed version of the original animal.

As history has illustrated with colonization and the ignorance of the sacred, the American Bison was exterminated in 1889. Today there is a come back with the herds, yet there has been many descendents inbred with cows and the direct line is not the original creature. Yet I am listing this information so that more of us can make an effort during this year to take action to support the memory of this magnificent being. Please visit this web site Saving the Bison, and learn about what we can do to defend and support our brother. Thank you.

From the Golden Lotus LifeForce Mandala Handbook

Bison - 24
You can see with the Eyes of Sacredness

YEAR OF THE EARTH OX 2009

2009 Chinese New Year Stamp

The Ox is a very celebrated Zodiac creature for the Chinese for just like the Native American in regards to the Bison, the Ox represents prosperity and solid gains through pragmatic diligent efforts.

An interesting note is that in ancient Egypt there was a honoring of the Apis Bull from the very early beginnings of the Egyptian Empire. The Apis bull was highly sacred and it was considered to be a manifestation of the pharaoh. As bulls were symbols of strength and fertility, qualities which are closely linked with kingship ("strong bull of his mother Hathor" a highly revered primal Egyptian Goddess, was a common title for gods and pharaohs). Apis was originally the Herald of Ptah, the chief god in the area Memphis. As a manifestation of Ptah, considered the central creator god, Apis embodied the qualities of kingship i.e. Life, Power and Stability.

2009 year is the year of the earth Ox and the 26 year in a sixty-year cycle. As the Chinese astrology tells us, the Ox sign is the sign of prosperity found through fortitude and hard work. Such a year as 2009 year of the earth Ox has a straight and unprejudiced nature. It should turn out to be the prosperous year for those hard workers and active planners who believe in and relay on teamwork, running and owning a business or working independently. The Earth Ox benefits all that pertain to the earth and to work i.e. responsibility and determination as elements to success. We are gifted in American this year to have a new President inaugerated on the crest of the Ox and born under the Zodiac sign of the Ox.

I personally don't give much credit to ideas that say what is going to be good for some and not good for others. I look at the traits of the symbol i.e. the Ox and relate its qualities to the potential for everyone. For everyone rewards will be given onto you if you honor the qualities of the Ox this year.

In Chinese astrology there is an element and an animal totem that registers to the day, month, hour and year of birth. I am a wood sheep through and through except for my day sign, which the Chinese Astrologers signify as what you really are and for me is a Fire Ox. Folks would always tell me I was the most grounded person they know. I felt otherwise. But now I know what they were seeing, the Ox in me.

Taken from the site tuvy.com ...It is said that Oxen are bright, peace-loving, often easy-going and trusting. But, on the other hand, they can also be stubborn, methodical, and fiercely competitive, with fierce tempers to boot. Oxen are natural born mentors and life is filled with examples of people who have gone on to great success because of them. Mentally and physically alert to the point of genius. They can create the most imposing structures, magnificent sculpture, and homes. They respond like poets to the beauties of nature and of solitude. Oxen are unique, they are The Flower that bursts through the crack of cement. Known for their utter sincerity, honesty, and kindness, Earth Oxen will never lead you astray. Friendship is true; communication is open; and they can always be depended on for utmost fairness in their dealings with everyone. These brave souls go resolutely through life making order out of chaos, fighting windmills and coming through as winners at every turn. Years of hard work have led them to have very successful careers with hardly any problems at all in the financial arena. Romance with Earth Oxen flourishes! Love is a living thing with them that is nourished with reciprocal kindness, sympathy, and understanding. They dance the dance of love with grace, elegance, and style.

So we have people like Princess Diana, Obama and Napoleon as examples of the Ox. Not too bad on some respects to emulate. The good thing about an earth Ox year is that honoring the things of the earth wouldn't be a bad start. Another good thing is not to expect to skip any processing's or procedures during an Ox influence. Every little step has to be accountable. No glazing over anything this year and forget the fantasy escapist mentality. It's down to earth, roll up your sleeves and take action. It really is the time when talk is cheap, its 'show me the money honey'.

I think we can all appreciate a pragmatic change after all the fluff and cotton candy, 'make believe' propaganda we've been fed through politics and the media (and each other). Yet, I have to add a word of warning... even if we don't appreciate it, its here so we just as well deal with it and learn the ways of the Ox. The edginess of the Aries moon straddling the 2009 beginning may give those with strong fire influence a bit of anxiety, but then perhaps its time to grow up and deal with learning a bit of patience, dedication and commitment to something.

Happy New Year!