UPCOMING EVENTS
No Classes – Monday February 15, 2021 - Presidents Day
Year of the Metal Ox – begins February 12
HAPPY YEAR OF THE METAL OX
2021 is a year of the Ox, starting from February 12th, 2021 (Chinese lunar New Year Day) and lasting until January 30th, 2022. Here are some aspects noted from Chinese horoscope sources.
Having an honest nature, Ox’s are known for diligence, dependability, strength and determination. These reflect traditional conservative characteristics.
Women Oxes are traditional, faithful wives, who attach great importance to their children's education.
For male Ox’s, they are strongly patriotic, have ideals and ambitions for life, and attach importance to family and work.
Having great patience and a desire to make progress, Ox’s can achieve their goals by consistent effort. They are not much influenced by others or the environment, but persist in doing things according to their ideals and capabilities. Before taking any action, Ox’s will have a definite plan with detailed steps, to which they apply their strong faith and physical strength. As a result, people of the Ox zodiac sign often enjoy great success.
Ox’s are weakest in their communication skills. They are not good at communicating with others, and even think it is not worthwhile to exchange ideas with others. They are stubborn and stick to their own ways.
Last year, in the Year of the Rat, the force was the fast, hard, active yang while the element was water, which Hong Kong astrologer, Jupiter Lai says is known for “changing all the time.” The ox’s earthly branch, meanwhile, is associated with yin, which is slow, soft and passive. Its element is Metal (or eather), representing “stability and nourishment. It is believed these additional associations and the characteristics of the ox have great synergy and are mostly favorable. Every Chinese zodiac year is defined by one of the five elements. The upcoming 2021 will be the year of the Metal Ox, and its message couldn’t be clearer: Success will come to those who work hard. Really hard. “It’s hard work, duty, discipline,” says Susan Levitt, a professional astrologer and author of five books, including Taoist Astrology.
TAI CHI and QIGONG CLASSES CONTINUE
Group classes via Zoom continue to take place on Mondays and Wednesday evenings beginning at 6 PM (Tai Chi form and basics), while the sitting Qigong and Theory class continues on Fridays at 12 noon. Other students have opted to receive half hour private Zoom instruction each week (or a one hour Zoom lesson every other week), at a mutually available time slot for any and all who have the desire to continue their work from home. There are also a few in-person (Outdoor) class times available to those wishing to meet in person in Gaithersburg near the Clear Circle school location.
Some students who are looking for instruction via online sources, also have options to study Xing-I Chuan, Bagua Zhang, or other martial arts / Fitness regemins in this manner. Please note that Online training is best utilized for empty or weapons Form, Theory, Internal Principles and/ or Meditation instruction.
Quotes of the Month
Divorced from ethics leadership is reduced to mangement and politics to mere technnique.
-James MacGregor Burns
Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold, well.
-Josh Billings
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possiible.
-Dalai Lama