Happy Year of the Dragon!

Year of the Dragon

On February 10, 2024 Chinese people all over the world celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon. The Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

 

The symbol of the dragon in Chinese culture is very ancient and dates back to the fifth millennium B.C.

In Chinese mythology and folklore, the dragon is an auspicious symbol of power, strength,  wisdom, good luck, and prosperity. In imperial China the dragon symbolized the imperial power of the Emperor. The throne on which the Emperor sat was called the Dragon Throne.

Dragon is usually portrayed by a long, lizard-like, scaled four legged creature that controls the realm of weather and water and is responsible for rain, floods, and hurricanes. Unlike European dragons, Chinese dragons are not evil predators, but they may be tempestuous and very unpredictable.

Dragon is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. He is the fifth animal that arrived at the feast given by the Buddha. He is the only creature that is imaginary.  

Year 2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon. Wood is one of the Five Elements in Chinese philosophy. In the Five Elements system it is represented by the color green. The wood element brings qualities like growth, renewal, creativity and flexibility to the normally tempestuous nature of the dragon.

The Chinese geomancers associate Year of the Dragon with a new beginning and good fortune. This is a good year to start a business, expand your vision and explore new opportunities. Any new venture, including marriage, is bound to succeed. 

 

People born under this sign of the Wood Dragon are not only very gifted and lucky, they are also very ambitious, adventurous and rather optimistic when facing their challenges. They are considered to be loyal, compassionate and generous friends, and charismatic, visionary leaders. 

Those less fortunate who suffered losses and misfortune in the past may expect some positive change in the new year since the Wood Dragon combines the prowess of the dragon with the creativity of the wood element. 2024 is expected to be a year of growth and innovation. It is the year to freely express your ideas, pursue your dreams, fulfill your vision, and advance your career. In order to succeed, you need to be creative and flexible.

No matter what the predictions for the Year of the Dragon may be, remember that you are the ultimate master of your fate.  

Wishing everyone Happy and Auspicious Lunar New Year - Dominique

 

   新 年 快 樂 !

 

By Dominique Allmon

 

Dominique Allmon©2024

Year of the Tiger

On February 1, 2022, millions of people all over the world celebrate the Lunar New Year. The year 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger. The water element adds fluidity and flexibility to the tiger's energy and prowess.

Tiger is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. Chinese Buddhists tell the story of a feast given by the Buddha. They believe that tiger was the third animal to arrive at the feast.

Tiger represent the strength, ferocity, tenacity, and courage. People born under the sign of tiger are self-assured, love adventures and competition, and have great sense of justice. They are well respected by people around them. 

Geomancers and astrologers in Asia and in Chinese communities elsewhere are busy to compile horoscopes and predict the future. They expect a very dynamic year full of opportunities, innovation and progress. It will be a great year for learning, new projects, and accomplishments, but also a year of possible chaos and unpredictability, political conflicts, social unrest, and natural disasters.

Everything happens quickly and dramatically in a Year of the Tiger, so be ready or you will miss your opportunity. Be courageous enough to grab your chances to improve and advance professionally, but exercise a little caution to avoid mishaps and financial mishaps.

Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese people and it gives families the opportunity to gather around sumptuous banquets and to exchange gifts. An obligatory visit to the local Taoist or Buddhist temple is made to place offerings to the gods or to the Buddha. Fruit and incense are offered and countless prayers said.

For those who forgot to make their New Year's resolutions in January, here is another chance.

Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous Year of the Water Tiger - Dominique

新 年 快 樂 !

Dominique Allmon©2022  

Happy New Year 2020

"I hope you live a life you're proud of." - F. Scott Fitzgerald 

Wishing everyone a great start into the New Year and the new decade! - Dominique

Image source: Creative Commons

Happy Year of the Earth Pig

Millions of Chinese all over the world are getting ready to celebrate the Chinese  New Year. In Chinese calendar 2019 is the Year of the Earth Pig. It begins at midnight on February 5, and ends on January 24, 2020. The Chinese New Year is also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival and is celebrated in Korea and Vietnam.

Pig, or wild boar, is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac. A Buddhist story tells us that the pig was the last to arrive at a feast given by the Buddha. 

The Chinese astrologers assign zodiac signs to the Five Elements: metal, water, wood, fire and earth.  The zodiac sign returns every twelve years, but a particular combination of the zodiac sign and the element occurs only every sixty years. This means that the next Earth Pig will be celebrated in 2079! 

 Year of the Pig Mug

People born in a year of the Pig are considered to be diligent, compassionate, and generous. Once they set a goal, they will devote all their energy to achieving it. Pigs rarely seek help from others, but they will not refuse to give others a hand. They have a great sense of responsibility and usually finish projects they started. Pigs are easily fooled because in their honesty and innocence they never suspect trickery.

According to Chinese astrologers and Feng Shui masters, 2019 will be a very joyful and prosperous year. It will be a good year for friendship and romance, and a great year to invest and make money because Pigs attract success, good fortune, and prosperity.

Interestingly, Pig years are believed to be rather unlucky for those born in a year of the Pig since they stand in conflict with Tai Sui or god of age in Chinese mythology. This means that Pigs have to be a little more vigilant and work a little harder if they want to excel. This is a god time to learn new skills. For everybody else, astrological predictions for the New Year depend on their year of birth and how their zodiac animal relates to the Pig. 

2019 is the last year in the twelve year cycle. Since all the animals are now at the Buddha's feast we can all relax and enjoy life a bit more. Take the necessary brake that you postponed for too long. Go on vacation, pamper yourself, but never lose your focus. You are, after all, the master of your own fortune.

Wishing everyone Happy Chinese New Year 

and a very prosperous Year of the Earth Pig! - Dominique


恭喜發財

Dominique Allmon©2019 

Image: "Journey to the West" and 2019 Year of the Pig Jimmo Designs Greeting Card. Dominique Allmon©2019

 

Year of The Earth Dog

The Year of the Earth Dog officially began on February 16, 2018. It will end on February 4, 2019. 

In Chinese astrology zodiac signs are combined with the Five Elements. Each animal sign appears every twelve years, but only every sixty years in each of its elements. The Five Elements: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth determine a special quality of each zodiac sign for a particular year. The current year is dominated by the earth element, hence the Earth Dog. The Dog will return again in twelve years, but we will have to wait another sixty years for the next Earth Dog. It will return in 2078! Chinese horoscopes are very complex. To simplify matters we can say that the Chinese believe that both, the zodiac sign and the element, affect destiny and personality of a person born under them. The predictions for the year to come also depend on this unique combination. 

In Chinese culture Dog is considered to be a luck bringing animal. Dogs are honest, loyal, caring, protective, and faithful, and will never abandon their masters. This quality of the zodiac animal carries a promise for a good and prosperous year. Earth elements is associated with mountains, real estate, agriculture, minerals, and earthquakes. Earth element adds some stability, may also represent barrier or obstacle blocking our view.

If you had difficult time holding on to your fortune during the Fire Cycle, your luck may change a bit for the better in the year of the Earth Dog, but be careful, dogs are very playful! Don't gamble your fortune away and remember that nothing comes without work. The earth element might add some difficulties which means that you will have to put a little more effort to get to your destination, or work a little harder and smarter to conquer possible obstacles. If you lack diligence and determination, you might miss many opportunities. Year of the Earth Dog is good for completing unfinished projects, especially if they apply to the source of your income. Fortunes can be augmented, but the Earth Dog suggests that saving money is a good idea.

In Chinese culture, people born under the sign of the Dog are considered to be honest, loyal, amiable, kind, industrious but also cautious and prudent. They are ambitious and outgoing, are great friends and faithful spouses. They are resourceful and make good doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, politicians, and civil servants.

Unfortunately, the Year of the Dog is usually very bad for people born in the Dog year. The destiny of everybody else depends on their own birth year and how their personal zodiac animal interacts with the dog. Very complex birth charts are used by an Chinese astrologers or geomancers to determine individual horoscopes and predict a fortune.

No matter what your birth sign, we hope that you will have a very good year. Remember, that no matter what the predictions are, you and only you are the true master of your fortune. And if you like dogs, 2018 is a good year to get or adopt a dog.  

Wishing everyone Happy Chinese New Year 
 and a very prosperous Year of the Earth Dog! -  Dominique

 

 恭喜發財 

Dominique Allmon©2018 

Image: Year of the Dog Greeting Cards designed by James W. Allmon

Happy Year of the Fire Rooster!

In Chinese lunar calendar year 2017 is a year of the Fire Rooster. It begins on January 28, 2017 and ends on February 15, 2018. 

Rooster is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. Chinese Buddhists tell the story of a feast given by the Buddha. They believe that rooster was the tenth animal to arrive at the feast.

A probably much older story talks about the legendary Jade Emperor who wished to select twelve animals as his guards. He sent an Immortal down to Earth with a message that whichever animal came first through the Heavenly Gate his rank will be the highest. And so, twelve animals rushed to serve the Jade Emperor and the rooster arrived right after the monkey as the tenth in a raw. 

In Chinese astrology zodiac signs are combined with the Taoist theory of Five Elements. Each animal sign appears every twelve years, but only every sixty years in each of its aspects. Metal, water, wood, fire, and earth determine a special quality of each animal. The current cycle is dominated by the fire element, thus the Fire Rooster. Celebrate as much as you can! The Rooster will be back in twelve years, but the next Fire Rooster will appear in 2077!

The Chinese believe that both, the zodiac signs and the elements affect destiny and personality of a person born under them. The quality of the year to come also depends on this combination. 

Roosters are believed to be hardworking, courageous, and very resourceful. They thrive in the company of others and enjoy to be in the center of attention. People born in the year of the Fire Rooster are considered to have a strong sense of duty and responsibility, and are trustworthy. They make good public servants. 

Interestingly, the rooster years are considered unlucky for the people born in the year of a rooster. Destiny of everybody else in the rooster year depends on their own birth year and how their personal zodiac animal interacts with the rooster. These predictions are often very complex and involve an astrologer or geomancer who would make proper calculations and create individual horoscopes. 

In Chinese astrology rooster is a very lucky sign that is associated with punctuality, competitiveness, bravery, and prosperity. 

In an ancient commentary to the Book of Songs dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) rooster had five virtues: literature, military prowess, courage, benevolence, and trustworthiness. These virtues will determine the quality of the year to come. The fire element adds a little urgency to the mix. Fire destroys the old, creates the new. It brings warmth and illumination (light), energy and clarity.

2017 will be a year of creativity and prosperity. With the inauguration of a new president, America will restore its military prowess and trustworthiness. People that have been forgotten or neglected by the previous administrations (ex. the Veterans) will experience a new wave of benevolence. 

If you want to succeed in 2017, you have to be diligent, courageous, and inventive. Like a rooster, you will have to wake up early and do your chores. Your prosperity will not come overnight, but your work will bring fruit that you will eventually be able to enjoy.

Wishing everyone Happy Chinese New Year

and a very prosperous Year of the Fire Rooster! - Dominique


恭喜發財

By Dominique Allmon

 

Dominique Allmon©2017

Happy Year of the Monkey!

In Chinese calendar, year 2016 is a Year of the Fire Monkey. It begins on February 8 and ends on January 27, 2017.  

Monkey in one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. According to a story told by the Chinese Buddhists, monkey was the ninth animal that arrived to a feast given by the Buddha.

The Chinese astrologers assign zodiac signs to the Five Elements: metal, water, wood, fire and earth.  The zodiac sign returns every twelve years, but a particular combination of the zodiac sign and the element occurs only every sixty years. This means that the next Fire Monkey will be celebrated in 2076! 

People born in a year of the Fire Monkey are considered ambitious and adventurous, but quick tempered and impatient. Because of their perfectionism, people born in the monkey years may be a little insecure and destructive.  

Interestingly, monkey years are believed to be very unlucky for the people born in a year of the monkey. For everybody else, astrological predictions depend on their year of birth and how their zodiac animal relates to monkey.

Monkeys are considered to be smart and vigilant, but also very playful and even mischievous, so prepare yourself for a very interesting and somewhat unpredictable year. Fortunes could be made easily, but they could disappear as quickly as they were made. Think twice before you make a financial or a business decision and plan carefully.

Monkey can help you revive friendships and add some spark to your love relationship, but it can also bring quarrels and disputes. Fire monkey may add fuel to old feuds, but since the fire element stands for passion, this may be a year of love and emotional fulfillment.

Take good care of your health, but have as much fun as possible. Travel, read, create, but most of all, be curious and inventive.  

Wishing everyone Happy Chinese New Year 

and a very prosperous Year of the Fire Monkey! 

Dominique 

 

新 年 快 樂 ! 

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2016

Year of the Monkey mug designed by James W. Allmon
 

Happy New Year 2016

I hope that in this year you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, this year, next year and forever.

By Neil Gaiman

Image source here

Happy Year of the Sheep!

February 19, 2015 - February 7, 2016

On February 19, 2015 Chinese people all over the world celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Sheep. In this cycle the sheep is associated with the wood element.

Sheep (Yáng) is the eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese ideogram for sheep also stands for goat and ram. This is why the the Year of the Sheep is also called the Year of the Goat or the Year of the Ram.

Chinese astrologers predict a rather quiet and prosperous year since sheep is generally associated with feminine energy, harmony, tranquility, and balance. The number eight is in itself symbol of luck and prosperity. 

Year of the Sheep is a perfect time for love and passion, art and beauty, creativity, abundance and prosperity. This is also the time for introspection and the time to break free from negativity. If you feel stuck, you will be able to finally resolve your problems. You may need the support of others, but be aware of unhealthy dependency. Explore your connections (guanxi), but use your judgment. Get rid of everything that prevents you from growth, happiness and fulfillment. 

 

Since this year is also associated with the wood element, astrologers predict a year of growth and renewal. This is a good news for all people trying to make it in business. Growth and stability are badly needed after a capricious and unpredictable Year of the Horse. Focus on your goal and your hard work will be rewarded.  

 

The Year of the Sheep is a good year for gardening, for travel and exploration, for creativity and restoration. Use your time wisely. 

 

新 年 快 樂 !

 

Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous Year of the Sheep! - Dominique 

 

By Dominique Allmon

 

Dominique Allmon©2015

The New You... And Then What?

New Year's Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change. - Sarah Ban Breathnach

For many people New Year brings hope of change and improvement. New Year's resolutions are being made. We seem to be at a verge of something big and "know" that this year will be different, better than the last. Intuitively we know that this will only be possible if we change our ways.

I read an interesting blog post the other day. The author touches a strange aspect of the personal transformation process: the resistance to your change as experienced by others.

Some of you may have experienced similar situation: something was not working in your life and you decided to change. You worked hard and experienced all the pain of letting go of the old habits and convictions. And you have been promised love and support. But when the new you began to emerge, you have met some form of resistance if not a rejection. And this did not come from within! The very people who offered you their support suddenly seemed to reject the new you. 

So, what happened? Why on earth our friends or our loved ones would want to keep us down? Why would anyone want to prevent us from growing? 

The answer may be simpler than anyone would want to admit. They are afraid that we may become obsolete and want to preserve their status quo. 

When you change you are no longer the predictable loser, procrastinator or the cry-baby they got used to; they are no longer masters of your destiny; you are out of control! Worse. You not only become "unpredictable," you finally can see their own weakness and inadequacy. 

Change may, indeed, be very painful. We have to let go of so many things that were dear to us, including "us." At some point this process may become so painful that we may consider, for an instant, to throw the towel. This is the moment when we are vulnerable and need most love and support to go on. Instead, we get tempted, out of "pure love," to giving up and return to our safety zone. 

Our friends and loved ones wish to spare us the pain, but they also wish to preserve the old status quo where they felt comfortable around us. 

The truth is that in reality we might have been miserable in our safety zone, but we felt safe. We were loved and taken care of. Shouldn't we comply and go back? Tempting, tempting... 

What will happen if you do? What will happen if you don't? 

Those who really love you will give you all their support and allow you to grow. And they will try to evolve with you and learn to accept the change. 

Those who reject your desire for transformation should probably be let go off because with time the relationship may not only become unsatisfying, it may turn toxic and abusive. Do not get involve in their game. They will probably blame you for being heartless and egoistic. You know better. 

If your relationships no longer serve you, you should consider a serious change. The decision is all yours. Brave it!

Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2015

Happy New Year!

A year's end is neither an end

 nor a beginning but a going on, 

with all the wisdom 

that experience can instill in us. 

Hal Borland

 

While I agree with Hal, as a writer and publisher I must say that the end of a year feels like an end of a chapter and I am happily looking forward to the next one.

 

This blog is enjoying a growing popularity and I am grateful for all the support I receive from my readers.  For many of you this might have been a difficult year. Some of you may have noticed that this year I did not engage in controversial topics. 

 

There was so much sadness and negativity in the media in regard to the events that occurred in 2014 in many parts of the world, that I decided not to write about them. 

 

My decision was prompted not by indifference or a lack of engagement in current affairs, but by a heartfelt consideration for my readers who came to my blog for consolation and inspiration rather than a confirmation that something is horribly wrong in our societies. 

 

Like most of you I sincerely hope that the New Year brings a major change for many people. I hope that conflicts will be resolved without bloodshed, that all senseless abuse and suffering is gone, that love prevails over hatred, that no one will have to flee his home or go hungry... 

 

I wish you all the very Best in the coming New Year, but I would also like to remind you that success and happiness lie within you. Be the light you want to see in the world. Be the change you long for! 

 

Happy New Year To All! ~ Dominique

Happy Year of the Horse!

Year 2014 is a Year of the Wooden Horse. In the Chinese zodiac horse is a powerful animal. 

In the past horse was a status symbol in the Middle Kingdom. No other animal affected its history as much as the horse. China's military prowess was measured by the number of war chariots. As the Chinese Empire expanded, horses became essential in the defense, administration and control of its vast territory.

Horses were first domesticated in the north-eastern part of China some 5,000 years ago and were used in warfare and to provide swift and comfortable transportation for the imperial court and the nobles. With the growing military significance of the horse in the Han (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.) and Tang Dynasties (618- 907) horse was also used in many recreational activities that included hunting, dancing dressage and polo.

Since domestic breading was rather difficult, for centuries horses were regarded more as a luxury and were never used as farm animals. Less affluent people traveled on oxes or in ox-drawn carts and used oxes as work animals.

In the Chinese culture horse not only symbolizes travel and mobility, but is also regarded as a sign of quick success or "arrival." Yet, if not handled properly, horse may become wild and frivolous. This means that the Year of the Horse may bring you a lot of success, but you have to hold the reins and steer it into a right direction. The wood element makes the horse a bit more stable and manageable: wooden horse becomes a more steady force that will definitively get you to your destination. It will not get distracted and carried away as easily, but it will be flexible enough if you need to change directions quickly. 

新 年 快 樂 !

Wishing everyone a very happy and successful Year of the Horse ~ Dominique 

 

 

By Dominique Allmon

 

Dominique Allmon©2014

Image source here

No Resolutions

I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me. - Anaïs Nin

If you are like many others or, at least, like many people I know, last year at this time you have made a list of New Year's resolutions. You promised yourself to eat less, exercise more, watch less television, read more books, spend less money, spend more time with your family, polish the family silver, plant a potager garden in your backyard, learn Italian... 

It is very possible that you have succeeded and did all these things and I congratulate you for your determination and resolve. But if this is not the case and you have abandoned your resolutions in the first two or three weeks of January, I suggest you stop making lists, stop making promises you cannot keep and start doing one thing at a time.

Wishing everyone a happy and very successful year
- Dominique, who will definitely read more and write less in 2104.

Dominique Allmon©2014

Image source here

Happy New Year!

In this new year, 

may you have a deep understanding of your true value and worth, 

an absolute faith in your unlimited potential, 

peace of mind in the midst of uncertainty, 

the confidence to let go when you need to, 

acceptance to replace your resistance, 

gratitude to open your heart, the strength to meet your challenges, 

great love to replace your fear, 

forgiveness and compassion for those who offend you, 

clear sight to see your best and true path, 

hope to dispel obscurity, 

the conviction to make your dreams come true, 

meaningful and rewarding synchronicities, 

dear friends who truly know and love you, 

a childlike trust in the benevolence of the universe, 

the humility to remain teachable, 

the wisdom to fully embrace your life exactly as it is, 

the understanding that every soul has its own course to follow, 

the discernment to recognize your own unique inner voice of truth, 

and the courage to learn to be still. 

Janet Rebhan

~ May you find the courage, the strength and the wisdom to lead an extraordinary life. 

Wishing you a Happy New Year 2014 ~ Dominique ~

The Procrastination Cure

Procrastination is a learned behavior and is best addressed one day at a time like any addiction. You must change the way you feel about yourself and how you view the events and tasks you avoid. Breathe, release and let go of your anxieties today that keep you disappointed. -  Jeffery Combs

People smile when I tell them "Do today what you can do tomorrow," but this is how I motivate myself to do things ahead if I have a little extra time on my hands. Let's say I have scheduled a particular task - laundry or ironing, for Wednesday, but realized that I have time to do it on Tuesday, what is stopping me from doing it earlier than previously planned? Nothing. And believe it or not, I really do it right away, before my mind even gets to invent ten reasons why I shouldn't do it a day ahead. Nothing "bad" would happen if I kept my schedule, but I know that I would not have to "postpone" anything if something unexpected came up on Wednesday. 

Everybody procrastinates, but not all of us are notorious procrastinators. However, some people procrastinate out of habit. They have mastered the delaying tactics. They would invent countless "important" reasons to delay, postpone or even not to do what they, sometimes urgently, must do at particular time, and they would persuade themselves that these "inventions" are not only true, but also pivotal.  

Procrastination is a self-defeating behavior. When we procrastinate we do not "cheat" others of their success, we sabotage our own. 

So what if not even a terrifying vision of failure would stop us from procrastination? What if we have faced embarrassment before and the world did not end? Maybe a vision of failure is not enough to prevent us from postponing important tasks. Maybe we have to fail completely to change our ways. 

Some people believe that they function better under stress and this my be true for them, but most of us fail to produce high quality results when we do things in the last minute before the deadline.  

Unfortunately there is not pill or potion that can be taken to cure procrastination. But since procrastination is a learned behavior it can be unlearned, although it may take a little more than introspection to find out why you procrastinate. Notorious procrastinators may need professional help of a success coach, but most of us can easily master the habit of now.

First steps: 

• Make a to do list and set realistic deadlines 
• Update your list daily Set up priorities - do the most urgent things first 
• Do not multitask - finish one thing before you start another 
• Block all distraction and concentrate on your task 
• Stop in your tracks when you hear yourself saying "I will do it later" 
• Stay motivated 
• Question your reasons to postpone or delay as soon as they appear 
• Do it now, do it now, do it now 
• Reward yourself when you reach you goals 
• Enjoy your success 
• Motivate others to do the same 

It is said that it takes twenty eight days to develop a habit - good or bad. To unlearn a bad habit one simply must consciously and rigorously reinforce the new behavior. This should not be too difficult when you consider that doing things on time will make your life less stressful.

With all the fear of failure gone, your life will be much more enjoyable and you will have more time and energy to do so many other things.

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2013

Happy New Year!

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. - Hamilton Wright Mabie

As another year comes to its end I want to thank all of you for your patronage of my blog and wish you a spectacular New Year 2013. May all your dreams come true! 

With much Love, Light and Laughter  - Dominique

New Year in Japan

New Year's ceremony at the Sensoji temple, 

Asakusa district of Tokyo, Japan

Like every year, on January 2, 2021 Japanese Emperor Akihito delivered a New Year's address to his nation. In his speech Emperor Akihito has expressed his hope for Japan’s recovery from disasters that devastated the island nation last year.

The emperor appeared on a bullet-proof balcony of the Imperial Palace with his family. He told throngs of well-wishers he shares in the nation’s pain over the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and hoped for the country’s recovery.

“I pray for the recovery of the disaster areas to continue and I hope that this year will be a better year for each and every citizen.”

Japan’s northeast coast was struck by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the strongest quake on record in Japan, and a massive tsunami that triggered the world’s worst nuclear crisis since a reactor meltdown in Chernobyl, Ukraine, twenty five years earlier.

Procession of Shinto priesthood

Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami left nearly 20,000 people dead or missing. In his New Year’s speech, Emperor Akihito said he felt sorrow for those who died in last year’s disaster, as well as those who were forced from their homes because of the nuclear crisis that followed.

“There are great concerns for the people who are still going through hardships from the disaster. As the rebuilding of the affected areas continue, it is my wish that this year will be a better year for each and every person of this nation.”

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant went into meltdown after the tsunami destroyed back-up generators. Government officials have announced that the plant is now in a stable state known as “cold shutdown.” But experts say it could take decades to fully clean up and decommission the plant.

Southern Japan was hit by a magnitude 7.0 quake Sunday that caused buildings in Tokyo to sway, but there were no reports of injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued as the events occurred unexpectedly. 

Article source here

 * * *

The year 2011 was marked by series of natural disasters, weak if not disastrous economy, and by a wave of social and political unrest that spread throughout the world. We were literally bombarded every day by bad news. 

With the beginning of the new year many people around the world hope for some positive change. Big hopes are harbored in spite of the predictions made by economists worldwide.  

 

Kagami mochi

 

As most people struggle with their own fate, the victims of the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami begin to fade out from our collective memory. But they are not yet quite forgotten. It will take many years to restore normality in the affected area. And it will take even longer to heal all the emotional wounds caused by this disaster. We can only wish them strength for the years to come. 

Dominique Allmon

To Your Health!

Many people promise themselves to lose weight when the New Year comes, especially after they managed to gain some during the Holiday Season. 

The beginning of a New Year seems to be a perfect time to make some important changes in one's life and weight loss is an issue that is becoming acute for more and more people.

As we age, our metabolism slows dawn considerably and it becomes more difficult to lose weight now than it was when we were younger. In order to lose weight we must understand these physiological changes and adjust our nutrition accordingly. We may have to supplement with digestive enzymes to help our system digest the foods we eat. We may have to add herbs and spices that will enhance our digestion and increase metabolism. And we definitely need to exercise more and eat less than we used to if we want to keep the weight off and stay fit.

There are many reasons why people are overweight:

• unhealthy diet that consists of white flour, too much fat, sugar, artificial coloring and preservatives
• overeating 
• emotional overeating
• extreme stress
• lack of physical activity
• genetic predisposition to obesity
• pre-diabetic state or the diabetic disease itself
• underactive thyroid gland
• intestinal parasites and candida
• food intolerance

Going on a strict diet may be necessary in some cases. Diet pills and drinks are perfect to jump start an effective loss of excess weight, but I do not advocate any long term food deprivation or meal replacements. Initially, you may be able to loose some weight with diet pills and drinks, but more often than not, you will gain it back as soon as you revert to your regular diet.

In order to achieve any durable improvement you need to change your lifestyle and the way you perceive yourself. Any drastic change is ineffective because sooner or later you will sabotage it. The changes you implement must be gradual and should not add stress to your life. 

Remember that you eat to nourish yourself and choose your food accordingly. Your food must deliver energy, proteins, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes, and other vital nutrients that will help your body function properly and stay healthy. Add fruit and vegetable to your diet and eat them raw as often as you can. Eat smaller portions and choose fish and poultry over red meat, olive oil over butter, stevia over sugar, and so on.

Additionally you will need to supplement with high quality vitamin and mineral supplement, L-Glutamine and Omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Healthy, balanced nutrition and sufficient physical activity are essential if you want to reduce your weight and improve the overall health. But if you feel that, despite all these  lifestyle changes, you are not loosing any weight, you may suffer from an underactive thyroid or from intestinal parasites, including candida. You may also have undetected intolerance to some foods. Very often hidden allergies are responsible for the unexplained weight gain. Weight loss is almost impossible unless the allergens are removed from the daily diet.

It is important to find out the reason for weight gain and a difficulty in losing it. Unless you do, you will struggle from one diet to another without much success but rather a serious damage to your health.

You may have to consult your health care provider before you set out on an exercise or a diet plan.

Two very important aspects of a successful weight loss program are your determination and motivation to lose weight. If you failed before, you may want to find a health coach and a support group. You could join an exercise group or a healthy-cooking class to get all the support you need. Sharing your success and experience with like-minded people will help you stay on track well beyond January 8th.

Whatever you decide, make the 2012 the healthiest year in your life!

In radiant health - Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2012

*Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.