This
month, over 1.3 billion Chinese (and millions more of us fascinated
by animal symbolism) will celebrate the Year of The White
Tiger. If you are wondering what 2010 has in store for
you, imagine riding on the back of the largest feline on the
planet, stalking your fastest and most elusive prey with fearlessness
and wisdom, and achieving valor and respect as King or Queen
of the forest.
Tiger, like other large cats, symbolizes
luck, leadership, courage, and strength. Tigers are unique
in that they hunt alone. Their independence and self-sufficiency
give them an aura of rebelliousness and mystery, and they
show us that uniqueness, acceptance of self and inner resourcefulness
can lead to great power. Yet, tigers are often willing to
share their food with others, including strangers: a reminder
that social responsibility and friendship is as important
as our own survival. This year, while all seven billion of
us will be striving for individual excellence, we will also
be using our strength and experience to sustain others.
Tigers are great swimmers and typically live
in forests with thick vegetation, close to streams or rivers.
The elements water and Earth rules their nature: while they
are associated with material success and comfort, they are
also emotional and highly unpredictable. In Chinese astrology,
there are five tiger types, each associated with a different
element, and this year it is metal. Metal is hard, sharp and
unbending, unless heated by fire, the transformative element:
then it may be bent into a tool, a weapon or a necessary instrument.
Those who are more dogmatic in nature may find themselves
trapped between a rock and a hard place, unless they are willing
to leap into the proverbial fire like the tiger and take courageous
risks.
The Metal Tiger is a mature creature who
has achieved wisdom through experience. This year, celebrate
all your past achievements and pounce on that which you desire
most. Take comfort in the fact that Tiger is at the top of
the food chain. Others will be awed by you because of your
beauty, your striking gifts, or because they fear you. Take
heart in the fact that you have earned your stripes in life;
that loyalty and compassion will create a protective preserve
around you, and that as King or Queen of the Forest, it is
healthy for you to roar once in awhile and let others know
you rule your own kingdom!
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