Chinese Astrology

 

Legend has it that one Chinese New Year many centuries ago, Buddha invited all the animals in creation to come to him. Of all the animals, most ignored his call except for the twelve animals that did go to him. They were, in order of their arrival, the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig (some traditions replace the Rabbit with the Cat and the Pig with the Wild Boar). To thank them, Buddha offered each a year which would be dedicated to that animal alone through the ages. Each year would carry the animal’s name and express the animal’s symbolic character and specific psychological traits, marking the personality and behaviour of people born during that year. It's fun to take a look at the qualities of each sign, perhaps not to be taken too seriously!

Personality qualities of each sign:

The Rat:

·         Postives: Charm, intelligent, imagination

·         Negatives: Aggressive and individualistic. Insists on living only at their own rhythm

The Ox

·         Positives: Hard worker, well balanced, patient

·         Negatives: Stubborn, a bad loser. Not particularly lucid about what concerns them personally

The Tiger

·         Positives: Loyalty, courage, enthusiasm, generosity

·         Negatives: Imprudence, toughness, selfishness, impulsiveness

The Rabbit

·         Positives: Discreet, prudent, profoundly honest

·         Negatives: Easily offended, egotistic, sometimes pedantic

The Dragon

·         Positives: Active, dynamic, scrupulous and lucky

·         Negatives: Demanding, impatient, intolerant

The Snake

·         Positives: Reflective, organised, alert and wise

·         Negatives: Jealous and obstinate. Does not listen to a word one says to them

The Horse

·         Positives: Loyal, enthusiastic, enterprising

·         Negatives: Unstable, flares up easily, impatient and talkative

The Goat

·         Positives: Peaceful and adaptable and has a gentle and easy character

·         Negatives: Irresponsible, irrational, inconstant, unsatisfied, undisciplined

The Monkey

·         Positives: Intelligence, clear-sightedness, keenness of mind

·         Negatives: A slight superiority complex and often indulges in low opinion of others

The Rooster

·         Positives: Honest, frank, obliging, courageous

·         Negatives: Vain, thoughtless, preoccupied with appearance

The Dog

·         Positives: Loyal, faithful, unselfish

·         Negatives: Anxious, pessimistic, doubting everything

The Pig

·         Positives: Honest, rigorous, tolerant

·         Negatives: Profoundly egotistical despite their generosity, their own well-being always comes first

Reference: "Chinese Zodiac Signs" 1982

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Tips for everyday living

Communicate with your body and listen to your body's signals.  Summer is hot and you may hear signals from your body saying: dry throat, short of urine, or urine is hot or yellowish.

Do you know that fresh corn can help you? Many people remove the hair (or silk as it is otherwise known), of sweet corn when they are cooking and it is really a waste. Whenever I buy fresh corn I boil it with the hair and drink the water like tea. Both the hair and corn can be eaten - it is all very yummy!  Actually the hair is considered important in Chinese medicine.

In Chinese medicine it is used to treat the kidney and liver system. It is has the health benefit of treating the urinary system as it reduces heat from the body.  It has been used to treat urinary and kidney infections, it reduces swelling, lowers blood pressure and prevents gall stones. It has been reported by research that it has the function to lower blood sugar and cholesterol.

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Free Tai Chi class for women recovering from breast cancer

TCFA in conjunction with Sharewest are offering free classes for women recovering from breast cancer

When: Mondays at 2.00pm during school terms
Where: Breast Cancer Institute Uniting Church, 115 Station St, Wentworthville.

It has been reported that women with breast cancer who practiced Tai Chi showed significant improvements in self-esteem and quality of life. International research has demonstrated that Tai Chi creates a physical sense of balance and completeness, so you will feel better. Your metabolism will improve, your heart and lungs will function better, your digestion and circulation will improve and your bones, muscles and joints will strengthen. Tai Chi is a fantastic form of gentle exercise that works your entire body. You will increase your flexibility and gain strength whilst losing weight. 

Breastcancer.org suggests it important to consider the following precautions before trying Tai Chi: 

• Tell your doctor. Before starting tai chi, tell your doctor. It's particularly important to talk to your doctor if you've recently had surgery, if you haven't exercised in a while, or if you have osteoporosis or joint problems.

• Start slow. Gradually build up your tai chi experience. Learn how to position your body properly, and take your time. Overdoing it during practice can result in muscle strains or sprains.

• Know when not to practice. Don't practice tai chi immediately after a meal, if you have any type of infection, or if you're tired.

• Know your limits. If you're unable to stand for long periods of time, modified versions of tai chi can be done in a chair or bed. Talk to your instructor about other ways you can do tai chi.

Full article here: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/comp_med/types/tai_chi

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