Chinese New Year 2007 [part two]
The Year of the Red Pig

Malvin Artley, our regular esoteric commentator, is as accomplished in the mysteries of Chinese Astrology as he is in the esoteric secrets of the West. As the Chinese New Year approaches, Malvin looks at the meanings of the Chinese Year of the Pig in 2007. The Chinese New Lunar Year begins on February 18, 2007, in association with the New Moon in Aquarius, but the effects for all of us cover the whole of the twelve months ahead.

There is no turning back. The scent of smoke was beginning to lift as the midnight hour came and passed. The air cleared on the ascent up the mountain slope as the fires raged on in the now-distant valley behind the mountain. The climb had been difficult at first, but the Red Pig soon found herself upon more level terrain as a plateau was reached in her journey across the mountain. Driven from familiar feeding grounds in the forested valleys by the fire, she was in unfamiliar territory now. The ground was rocky and the vegetation was getting more and more sparse the further up the slope she had climbed. Pausing on the plateau and resting herself, she turned and looked back at the red haze that ominously embraced the horizon she had left behind hours ago. All that she had known was now engulfed in flames. The summer heat had done its work in the area and the lack of rain had combined with it to make the land ready for the purifying fires that inevitably came to kiss the land and make way for new life to take the place of what had been. It was just as well, the Red Pig thought to herself. The fire was just the push she needed to move her along from a life that had been growing ever more difficult.

The forest where the Red Pig had lived had not seen fire in a long time and it had become choked with undergrowth and litter on the forest floor. With the lack of rain the forest floor was hard and the Red Pig's poor snout had borne the brunt of it in the past months. What she wouldn't give now for a succulent, moist tuber or a grub from the base of a tree! Her stomach rumbled as the night wore on, but from the plateau she could see the forested areas beyond-and a small lake in the distance! Yes, water! She could be very happy there, she thought. Surely the fire wouldn't get that far. There was certainly nothing now in the valley she had left behind, and it would be another year before she could return, if she even wanted to at that point. Life had driven her forth, and new adventures awaited her. Who knows what she might find in the valley beyond? Time would tell, but her course was now set. There were still obstacles to overcome on the way, but determination would bring the desired result. Yes, she would reach her distant valley and start a new life. Anything securing that future was justified, she thought, so she got up and pressed on. And, as the Red Pig left the plateau and started her next climb up the mountain slope, a water-bomber plane roared its way overhead to the fires beyond. She could smell the water as it flew past, and it had come from her distant lake. What she wouldn't also give for a cool drink now! That lake beyond was looking better and better to the Red Pig. The dawn would find her in a much better place.

In the Year of the Red Dog we were admonished to “take rest when it is needed”, and that “sleep can be a blessed thing”. In other words, last year we see that we should have taken a lot of time out to sit and reflect upon things and lay the cares of the world aside when possible, otherwise we would be prone to burn ourselves out. This year, we see that “there is no turning back” from the decisions made last year. Really, once Fire has done its work, it is pointless to look back over old ground and fruitless as well. We see also that “there are still obstacles to overcome, but that determination will bring the desired result.” We have to stick to our guns, in other words, move forward and not look backward. We see, too, that for this year as with the last year “anything securing the future we need to have is justified.” If we could see issues from a higher perspective I think we would become aware that a big piece of subjective clearing work was done last year at the individual level. Now it is time to set ourselves about the business of learning from what we have experienced, sharing it amongst ourselves and setting ourselves up for the coming new cycle to commence in the Year of the Yellow Rat in 2008. With that, we will have the following Element counts for Australia in the Year of the Red Pig:

		Wood		Fire		Earth		Metal		Water
Feb		3		1		3		1		4
Mar		2		3		1		1		5
Apr		2		3		4		2		1
May		3		3		1		3		2
Jun		1		4		2		2		3
Jul		1		3		4		1		3
Aug		2		1		7		1		1
Sep		0		1		5		2		4
Oct		1		2		6		2		1
Nov		0		2		5		3		2
Dec		3		1		4		0		4
Jan		1		2		4		2		1

Pig Years Are Always Yin

Pig years are always Yin. Yin Fire is a gentle, warming Fire. It is not burning and bombastic like the Yang Fire of last year. This will be a gentler, more inward year. Yang changes the structure of things. Yin changes the substance of things. This year will be about substance or essence, getting back in touch with our center and rebuilding upon new foundations, since many of the old ones were altered or crumbled last year. Pigs are known for their love of family life and communal living. They are workers toward the future and are highly security-driven.

A point about this year has to be made now. I was recently asked to comment on what I knew about this being a Golden Pig year. Apparently there is a big 'to do' in Korea about this and it is claimed – without it ever being satisfactorily verified – that an old Korean text states that this is to be a Golden Pig year. I will have throw in my bit here and say that is not the case. This is not a Golden Pig year. That year will come in another 24 years in the Year of the Farmer (White) Pig. The Element that is associated with gold is, of course, Metal. That year will have two of the boxes in the Year Pillar containing Metal, with Metal as the Year Master. Golden Pig years are supposed to be blessed years for children and children born in those years are said to be gifted, bringing honor to their families and wealth to the land. It is a big deal in the East. So, for those who thought this was to be a particularly auspicious year, I do not mean to throw a wet blanket on it, but all the evidence points to the fact that the Year of the Golden Pig will take place in 2031. That being said let us have a look at the Elements throughout the year and see what we have in store for us.

We start the year on a particularly cheerful and uplifting note, compared to last year this time. We see that Water has the highest count, completely swamping Fire, which helps Metal and feeds Wood. Wood and Water rule the first month of this year, which will segue nicely into March. What this means is that we have Jupiter and Mercury in the ascendancy for the first two months of the Pig year. We will know what we have to do, because Mercury (Water) rules the intuition, and Jupiter (Wood) will help us to expand into that. If you want to move on your plans, from mid-February to mid-April would be the time to do so, but especially this lunar month (Tiger month). We start to get a bit bogged down again after that because Fire and Earth enter into a dynamic similar to what we had last year, although on a gentler note. The Pig is a Water Animal in Chinese astrology, even though the Year Master is Fire, but in this combination we have the possibility for very strong sacrifices made for the sake of love. The most testing time of the year will be from mid-August to the start of November. In Western terms, Venus will be retrograde for much of that period and hovering around Saturn and there is a Moon wobble at the last of August, too. It does not sound like a particularly cheerful time by any standards. That will be the time of year to go inward and retreat. It is the tail end of the coldest part of the year for Australia anyway, so it is better to curl up in front of the fire with a loved one than to be too concerned with life outside of home. Sounds good to me.

Creative Interlude

December will be a very creative interlude – still a very inward time, but great for all sorts of meditative, contemplative or artistic work. Fire (Mars) is actually under a fair amount of stress throughout the year, figuratively speaking. Either it receives no support from (is not fed by) Wood, it is largely suppressed by Water, or it is drained by excess Earth. So, we will be more gently warmed in 2007 than 'out of the frying pan into the fire'. A quick look at the Element count will show us the dynamic. Fire's best period for the year is in April and May. That will be a time wherein some wonderful healing and inwardly transformative work can take place. In April and May we will see the most natural expression for the Year of the Red Pig. The first four months of the year will be dedicated toward putting the past behind. After that we should be building solidly for the future. The difficult period toward the last of the year can be largely offset if we get the first part of the year correct. As we saw, there will be obstacles to overcome, but if we can see that last period of the year through we will come out ahead and achieve what we want. On the whole the second half of the year will play out one of two ways – either it will be a period of frustration or it will be a time wherein some very solid work for the future can take place – that is, if we are on the right track. The second half of the year will be frustrating if we get the first half wrong. As we saw, though, the intuition will be much stronger in the first half of the year, so we should be able to see our paths clearly.

As for what all the preceding means for the world, since the Year Master is under stress for most of the year, national governments will have to answer more to the people than they have in the past. There is a lame duck president in the White House now, seen to by the Year of the Red Dog and various countries such as Australia and the UK are having elections this year. The potential is there for some very sweeping changes in governments. There is widespread and growing opposition to the war in Iraq and people are not happy with many of the reforms put in place by governments over the past ten years. The average 'battler' (citizen) is doing it tougher than ever and the gap between rich and poor has reached the point to where it is obscene. Public discontent is on the rise, and 2007 will strengthen the voice of the populace. If we look at the Four Pillars chart for the year we see that it is set for Beijing (because it is Chinese New Year). Two of the four Master Elements are Water. In Australia that count is three out of four in Water. (The Hour Pillar changes every second time zone, so the 'count' will vary according to the location in which one lives. What I have given in the table above will generally apply all over with modifications, of course.) It is interesting that in Australia there is a new opposition leader who displays great potential and his popularity is increasing. The man is also very good with the media (ruled by Water), so the Howard government may well be in for a big battle this time around come time for elections. Of interest, too, is the fact that Yang Water and Yin Fire form a special pairing – the 'greatest sacrifice for love', with Fire having to make the sacrifices. Governments in the world are going to have to make some big concessions this year if they want to keep the populace happy. It is on the cards. Watch for it. This will be the year of the people and service organizations (Month Pillar).

A Wetter Year

It will be a wetter year. Australia is in the grips of one of the worst droughts on record, but the Year of the Red Pig will bring precipitation with it. Unfortunately, it will likely dry up again after this year, so enjoy the water while you can. Strangely, with all the extremes in the land with the Red Dog, the summer here has been fairly mild. The 'heat' has been more internal (subjective). With the Red Pig we will find that weather patterns will be more moderate. It is of interest to note that weather reflects the subconscious outflow of humanity. Is it any wonder we had weather extremes last year? Individuals and small groups will be much more able to control their immediate environment with the Red Pig and to establish much better relations between individuals and the collective. Last year was like a huge mirroring effect in that life constantly seemed to hold us to account for ourselves and our respective pasts, not that we necessarily saw it that way. Many people felt victimized to a greater or lesser extent. This year will see a reversal of that, even though there will still be issues around the past to tidy up. It will be the same for small to mid-sized organizations.

The media will play a larger role in 2007 than has been the case in the past with all the Water present in the chart. It should be a big year for movies, theater, literature and the like. In all, however, this year is best spent with family and close friends, repairing fences and tending to affairs of the home and hearth. With regard to family life, the tone for the year is set by the Month Pillar-the Tiger Crossing the Forest. The main indicators are to beware of hidden perils if one is to leave a pre-existing situation, but that we have the ability, with loved ones, to see the future clearly and to 'divine the future and distant worlds'. If the vision is clear, then we will have safe passage. Water, which is the Month Master, is all about trusting the intuition – especially Yang Water. As always, trust in the inner Voice marks our course for us, and danger is thus avoided. We should proceed cautiously, however.

A Prelude to Something Wonderful

Finally, I would say to view the year that was as a prelude to something really wonderful. As old doors close, new ones open, without being too New-Age about it. Do not look on what has happened, if it has been difficult, as loss. Look at what has been cleared away. What we have lost is only that which holds us back from a brighter future. And, if the Red Dog was good to you, all I can say is to let the good times roll! You will have more of the same with the Red Pig. New love is coming for us all, and it will be more in line with our higher Purpose. We are finishing things this year – being done with the past. Be happy, step into the future and know that this will be a better year for us all. A new cycle awaits, and it will be one in which we fulfill a greater destiny. We are being moved toward that. Do you feel it? The people with whom we find ourselves this year, as the year progresses, will be the ones with whom we shape that destiny. Let us commune together and find our place in the Sun. We all deserve it! A little travel wouldn't go astray, either – perhaps to the mountains? Blessings and prosperity to you all in the Year of the Red Pig!

Xin Nain Kuai Le! (Happy New Year)
and
Kung Hey Fat Choi (May prosperity be with you)
Malvin.
14 Feb 2007
(Happy Valentine's Day, too!)

Here endeth the lesson.

Return to the start of The Chinese New Year, 2007, the Year of the Red Pig