Boar in a Snowy Wood should help you tap in to a well-deserved rest after two trying years of Rooster and Dog. The boar is the “laughing Buddha” of the Chinese Zodiac.
Well, friends, the last two years of Rooster and Dog have been very trying ones, which is why the Chinese are downright giddy at the coming of the gentle and benevolent Earth Pig. The fat and happy Pig (or Boar) is the laughing Buddha of the Chinese Zodiac, pleased as punch in just about any situation. The story goes that when the Emperor was creating the Zodiac calendar, he hosted a race for all the animals of the realm, promising to award the first 12 with a place in the calendar. Pig came in last because he was just so comfortable where he was.
From February 5, 2019 to January 24, 2020, Pig (or Boar) is expected to reign with a joyous hand, bringing long-needed relief to many, and closing out the full rotation cycle of the 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Finishing the calendar cycle is akin to a full exhale; there is a sense of cleansing and completion, as well as a feeling of pregnant pause at the base of the breath – for review, for appreciation, for planning - before the cycle swings back into motion.
Pig is ethical and idealistic and represents both wealth and generosity (giving and receiving) in Chinese culture. Prepare yourselves for a more festive and relaxed atmosphere in 2019, surrounded by creature comforts and friends of the heart. You may find yourself attracting abundance of all kinds, but may also be more prone to spending it too. And why not? It’s been a tough two years. Take a load off. Take time to appreciate where you are and see how far you’ve come. If you think you are not deserving of the little things, then how can you ever receive the bigger ones?
That’s what Year of the Pig is all about – a well-deserved rest for body, mind and spirit. Analysis of the previous years will help you to project yourself more serenely into the next cycle. Although not a great time for wild risk-taking, Pig’s strategic vision and business skills do ensure that passion projects can become a reality through thoughtful and inspired action.
My first painting to kick off Year of the Pig is called Boar in a Snowy Wood, and it has calligraphy that reads "love, peace, and happiness," which is the essence of what this year is to be about.