UPCOMING EVENTS
No Classes – Monday January 18 – Martin Luther King Day
Year of the Metal Ox – begins February 12
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021
We at Wu Shen Tao are quite aware that 2020 has not been a good year for the majority of people in the US and around the world. COVID-19 has purportedly claimed over 325, 000 lives (as of this writing), in the US since this past March, with millions having become ill from this pandemic. Now that a couple of vaccines have become available there may be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Many people have been forced to struggle to survive and to remain afloat during massive closures from many business sectors and places of employment. Others have used the time to go inward and take a breather from life’s myriad of requirements and distractions. Others still have used the time to come up with new ideas and new methods of living to restore their health, creativity, and energy. We will always seek to make lemonade from the lemons given to us and we hope that many of you have done the same.
The pandemic is not over yet and we hope that those of you who have retreated into their homes and safe areas can now look forward to a new chapter in their lives and to take stock of where they are so that they may plan where they wish to proceed forward to.
A philosopher once said that life is not about what happens to you but it’s about how you take and respond to what happens to you. Every generation has had it’s turmoil and hard times and we as a people have endured. This too shall pass. Now is the time to prepare for the you that you wish to become while there is generally more personal time to put in the work. Remember that plans, ideas, thoughts, desires, and hopes are merely a starting point. From there we must all use action, effort, discernment, and perseverance to take those thoughts and to create a new reality for ourselves. There will be a new normal when this situation recedes into history. Face that new reality as a stronger, more aware and more harmonized individual. We’ll be there on the other side of this and we’ll be ready for whatever next adventure the world wants to send our way. Work now on all levels in the present to be fit to deal with the new rules and requirements of tomorrow. Do this and I’m confident that 2021 will be a much healthier and better year for most of us.
Here’s hoping that we all have a healthier and happier year in 2021 !!
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 or Bagua Zhang in this manner. Please note that Online training is best utilized for instruction pertaining to form and choreography training, theory and history lessons, or meditation, qigong, or stretching and conditioning classes.
Contact Paul at 301-651-3617 or via email at longmen987@gmail.com to get more information on these and other study options.
QUOTES of THE MONTH
We have to begin teaching ourselves to not (be unable to control) our fear.
-William Faulkner
We are not old until regrets take the place of dreams.
-John Barrymore
Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude toward us.
-Earl Nightingale
