Happy Lunar New Year of the Water Rabbit 2023!

"A burnt cynicism is a moral improvement over a blind naivety."

- Jordan Peterson

Happy Lunar New Year, Everyone!

This time around we welcome the Year of the Water Rabbit. The Rabbit is the LUCKIEST of all 12 animal signs, according to Lunar Zodiac Astrology. It's also a symbol of inordinate prosperity, great opportunities, high intelligence, immense creativity and everlasting empathy. These characteristics are said to resonate throughout this time; especially for those who have been sowing, and taking right action during the Year of the Water Tiger in 2022.

[A random disclaimer before I go any further. I'm no expert nor claim to have extensive knowledge of astrology; though I do understand, there are those who truly do their due diligence in providing us their empirical study. This is where I gather my information from on a very basic level. For those who want to learn more about Lunar Zodiac Astrology, I recommend checking out Joey Yap's Youtube channel. He's been pretty spot on in the years that I've watched his content, as he offers realistic expectations.]

Towards the end of the Tiger year there were quite a bit of sudden deaths, including one of my favorite guitarists of all time: Jeff Beck. I had the privilege of seeing him in concert headlining with Stevie Ray Vaughan opening. It was during the release of his then new album, "Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop" (circa 1989 A.D.). What was strange was that days before these people perished, they seemed fine and healthy. While I don't have a solid answer for why things happened the way they did, it could be that Mercury was in Retrograde during the deaths. Luckily, the New Moon has arrived in Aquarius; also a Water sign. Like the Rabbit, Aquarians are known for their highly creative mind. This alignment in energies could prove in our favor. So now, in a sense, there is some calm after the storm. We can focus more on our tasks at hand. I wish everyone success and good luck this year!

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.

P.S. It was hard to find 魚生 (Yúshēng) where I currently am.  So, I got a sashimi salad with ginger dressing at a local sushi restaurant to ring in the New Year!  To learn more about this, here's the secure Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusheng

Happy New Year 2023: Pass the Black-Eyed Peas, Please

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” 

Matthew 7:6

Happy New Year, Everyone.

Today, I fired up the grill, and cooked up some lamb chops (medium-rare, of course), that had been marinating in red wine and seasonings overnight.  Also with that, I made black-eyed peas simmered in bacon, along with sweet potatoes and veggie kabobs.  There was also a nice thick fresh cod fillet, that I buttered with garlic and parsley, foiled en papillote, and added to the grill.  

It was a nice quiet day.  

I managed to keep my commitment to silence today.  It was challenging, but I did it.  I think doing this every now and then really does wonders for the turbulent mind.  At first, I really felt the strong urge to speak.  As time went on, the urge, while still there, became less and less prominent.  Right now, there's a sense of stillness.  I don't count writing for now; just the use of my voice to speak, even if it's talking to myself.  

The word for this year for me is RESOLVE.  This means promising oneself that they will never give up on themselves and what they are aiming to achieve.  May we all have resolve this year; one that enriches and does not impede on others.  We can all afford to be kinder to one another, and more importantly, be kinder to ourselves.  It is a new era, where the division that has run amuck may get worse before it gets better.  However, this is necessary for the calm after the storm.  We must trust the process to protect our own sanity, if we are to survive and thrive.  

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.