5 Reasons to Set Intentions
& Appreciate Lunar New Year
By Lia Menna Gross
Lunar New Year presents an opportunity to appreciate the cultural traditions of those who celebrate it.
It’s observed by several countries including China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore, to name a few. The second new moon after the winter solstice signifies the commencement of Lunar New Year. This coincides with Spring Festival - a 15-day celebration that ends on the full moon.
Losar is the name given to the Tibetan New Year which does not consistently fall on the same day as Lunar New Year. To learn more, read this article from Buddha Weekly.
A Lunar New Year Breakdown
February 10, 2024 marks the start of the Year of the Yang Wood Dragon.
How is this determined?
Each Lunar New Year is characterized by an animal of the Chinese zodiac, one of the five elements (the same ones used in Feng Shui) and the distinction of yin or yang.
The animal signs will vary depending on which country’s astrological system you’re exploring. For example, Tibetan astrology consists of a mouse and bird sign while Chinese astrology utilizes a rat and dragon.
You’ve probably heard of the Chinese zodiac names: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The five elements are water, wood, fire, earth and metal.
The animal and element change each year as well as the yin or yang aspect. However, on a larger scale, the elements are being cycled through on a 12-year basis in conjunction with the zodiac animals. This combination creates a 60-year time period for each cycle of an animal and element to run its course.
The combination of the animal and the element make up the qualities of the overarching energy for that particular new year.
Yang energy is seen as active, hot ‘n heavy (so to speak) as it’s connected to the sun, action-oriented and expansive. This contrasts the yin, or soft, still and reflective energy of last year. Wood is symbolic for growth and new beginnings. While the Dragon is akin to leadership and strength. This energy can be balanced out by the “rising phoenix” or Vermillion Bird. We’ll be moving into a new 20-year cycle within the 60-year cycle known as Period 9 this Lunar New Year.
To learn more about the daily customs of Lunar New Year, check out this article from the New York Public Library.
5 Reasons to Set Intentions
I share this information with appreciation for the deeply rooted cultural and spiritual traditions of those who celebrate Lunar New Year.
For me, I use this time to set intentions. Here are my 5 reasons:
1 - Personal Growth
Intention setting is a key step towards an action-based approach to self-cultivation and growth. It allows us to identify areas of our lives that may need improvement and gives us a starting point for bringing those positive changes into our lives.
2 - Reflection
In order to set intentions, we’ve got to get reflective. It’s through knowing our individual selves - our aspirations and priorities - that we’re able to discover our intentions in the first place. This fosters a deeper understanding of ourselves. My Reflection & Intention New Year Digital Workbook is a great starting point.
3 - Symbolic Meaning
The Lunar New Year can symbolize a new start as with our Western concept of New Years. The new moon represents this fresh start as well, one where we can symbolically let go of the past and envision a future filled with positive ch’i (energy). Decluttering your home of belongings you no longer need or do not represent who you are in the present is another Lunar New Year and Feng Shui practice. Consider joining my free One Week Decluttering Challenge to begin this process for yourself.
4 - Manifestation
It’s believed that setting intentions during the Lunar New Year can help manifest positive ch’i. By writing our intentions during this time, it’s a way of setting the “ball in motion” and attracting to oneself the people and opportunities necessary to achieve success in the coming year.
5 - Motivation
Clear intentions provide us with a renewed sense of purpose. Our intentions can motivate us to stay the course when faced with ups and downs.
Setting intentions is a meaningful practice for your own well-being.
Continuing this throughout the year can be a personalized ritual for greater self-awareness while keeping your intentions as the forefront of your mind. Setting intentions together with decluttering, the Feng Shui way, is an ongoing form of self-care and personal cultivation that keeps me aligned with my aspirations and feeling my best when the busyness of life creeps in. But more than that, it’s your own yellow brick road to getting unstuck and back on track to making your dreams a reality.