Out with the Old Goat and In with the Red Fire Monkey. What Does 2016 Hold for You?

“I learned the way a monkey learns – by watching its parents.” ~Prince Charles

AFFIRMATION ♥~The more loving I am, the more reasons I find to be loved.

According to Chinese Horoscope 2016 is the year of The Red Fire Monkey. Did someone pull this strange monkey business out of a hat or is there more behind this sign than pure luck? Does it mean this going to be a year of “monkey see-monkey do” or banding together for a common cause? The answers to these and other questions may be hidden in this article because like monkeys, we also love to hunt for treats and treasures. Any information you find is yours to keep or share.

Although today’s internationally accepted civil Western Christian Gregorian calendar, named after Pope Gregory XIII and first introduced in 1582, posts New Year’s Day as consistently on January 1, the Chinese New Year Day fluctuates.

The reason for the changing date is the Chinese calendar’s lunisolar which means its year, month and day number are based on the exact astronomical date from observations of the sun’s longitude and the moon’s phases which are ever changing. Due to the luni-solar nature of the traditional Chinese calendar system, the “zodiacal” year does not align with the Western calendar. New years are determined by a system which results in each new year beginning on a new moon sometime between late January to mid-to-late February. Unlike the Western calendar which is accepted and used world-wide, the Chinese calendar is used more for traditional activities in China and the overseas Chinese communities. However, Chinese New Year in America is great fun filled with cross-cultural celebration.

In 2016 the Chinese New Year begins February 8th, and will continue until January 27th, 2017.

Different from most Western New Year celebrations, Chinese New Year’s Eve, the evening proceeding New Year’s Day, is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner.

This traditional dinner is more like the Western Christmas Eve meal. It is large and includes dumplings, chicken, pork and fish that is intentionally not finished. The left-overs are stored overnight for consumption the next day, symbolically extending the prosperity into the new year.The reason for this tradition stems from a pun or phrase, “every year there is leftover.” This means “be blessed with abundance every year” or “have profit that carries over every year.” And each year is a new animal.

Out with the Old Goat! In with New Monkey Business.

Read more about the 2015 Chinese Goat here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/aboveandbeyondthe5senses/2014/12/2015-astrology-predictions-counting-green-sheep-in-your-dreams-of-love/

The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. According to Chinese astrology, each year (starting from Chinese New Year) is associated with an animal sign, occurring in a 12-year cycle. For example 2015 was all about the eighth sign of the 12-year cycle of animals referred to as the Goat, Ram or Sheep; symbolized by a tree branch. The Year of the Goat began February 19, 2015 and will last until 2016’s Year of the Monkey, February 8th. The 2015 Sheep/Goat year was serious and focused on team work and working hard for those you love.

What does 2016’s Monkey, the ninth of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, mean for you?

You or your loved ones are a monkey if you were born in the years 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016. This year may old the following treasures for you.

Love: relatively vibrant relationships in this Monkey Year, but these may cause disruptions, so handle them with caution to avoid any unnecessary problems.

Numbers: 4 and 9 are lucky.

Days: the 14th and 28th of any lunar calendar month are good days for making important decisions.

Colors: white, blue and gold are your power colors.

Directions: north, northwest and west hold positive events for you.

Months: Chinese lunar months 8 and 12 will hold special opportunities for you.

What does Chinese 2016 hold for the world? We will be seeing RED in the messages?

This year belongs to the element Fire. The Chinese lucky color for 2016 is symbolized by the color red which represents love and pleasure in vibrant radiance. Red is intense and passionate. Of all the colors, red is the one that is the most warm. It symbolizes cleansing and baptism by fire, life-blood, and associated with actions and desires that are primal.

The color red is connected to the planet Mars. Aries is its zodiac sign. Its number is one.

Red is used to increase energy. It is good for feeling protected and encouraging physical desire. Wear red to stand in your power.

The Monkey is the ninth sign in Chinese astrology.

Monkeys love fun and games. In keeping with this monkey business, the number “9” is associated with ambition, activity, smartness, mischief and adventure. Like other primates, monkeys are very similar to humans in their social organization and approach to life. They are the animal that most closely matches our intelligence and thus serves as a constant reminder to continue to build and use our own knowledge through imagination and play.

However, unlike other primates, monkey spiritual totems typically symbolize humor, child’s play, and animated and comedic situations. While other primates like gorillas and orangutans can be considered the serious guardians or wise elders of the community, monkeys are viewed with lighthearted playfulness wrapped in deep devotion and love. Monkeys are dedicated to their tribe and live in extended yet tight family units. These characteristics will rule 2016.

In many cultures across time the monkey symbol is accepted as the mischievous, clever creature often described as a smart tiny person.

This Feb 7th on Chinese New Year’s Eve start a new tradition in your Western family; feed your inner-monkey and loved ones some fun. Teach your children like a monkey by showing and sharing experiences. I invite you to begin with the traditional Chinese family dinner during the year of blood-relatives. Save left-overs in honor of future prosperity and toast the Chinese New Year with the Western saying of, “Blood is thicker than wine,” because it makes perfect sense during the year of the Red Fire Monkey.

(all pictures and posters are owned by the author)

About the author-Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos is a TV Producer/Host of Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod and Author/Lecturer of the award winning, International bestseller, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing which promotes patient advocacy and connecting with inner guidance for success in health, wealth, and relationships.