The blog author, Celine, with a Chinchilla kitten, in the 1980s
This blog “Fascinating Amazing Animals” was “born” in 2012. Since then I have a wide presence on the world-wide-web. My focus has recently shifted toward new needs, and thus some of my blogs may be closed.
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If you have an un-published work of non-fictionup to 30,000 words, I offer a paid editing service which includes Developmental editing and Copy Editing.
Asian writers will benefit from my excellent English writing skills. I can craft their work, before they publish it, to ensure that it has good English expression.
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The Scarborough gas project is the first stage of Woodside’s Burrup Hub – the most climate-polluting project ever proposed in Australia.
It will impact marine parks and protected areas, which are home to already vulnerable species
The toxic gas that Woodside wants to drill is a dangerous fossil fuel driving climate change. Renewable energy is already powering the country, taking the lead over dirty coal and gas. There’s just no need for gas.
Please head over to the following page of Greenpeace Pacific to watch their excellent video and to get the news.
Don’t forget to SHARE this post with MANY on social media and by other means!
350 Borloo Perth is heading a campaign to prevent new gas (as directed by the International Energy Agency), which can lead to increased fires as well as to destroying native rock art and the habitat of our magnificent cetaceans.
If you are in Western Australia or know someone who is, please ask them to read the important information at the page below, and SIGN up to help the campaign!
Palomino Mare and Foal 2007 Wikipedia Creative Commons
Since 2005, Save a Forgotten Equine (SAFE) in Washington, U.S.A. has been rescuing and rehabilitating horses that have been starved, neglected, abused or are unwanted. S.A.FE. has formal agreements in place with Animal Control agencies in King, Pierce and Skagit counties to support their fight to protect horses in this region. Please visit their wonderful website and do what you can to help horses.
Many people agree that Chinese New Year in 2023 starts on 22 January.
It will usher in the Year of the Water Rabbit lasting until February 9th, 2024.
60 years have passed since the last Year of the Water Rabbit.
RABBITS typically like their creature comforts and are peaceful, quiet, and humble.
I have lived through 5 cycles of 12 years of the animals, in Chinese Astrology terms!
Born in 1963 this year is my sixtieth on Earth. Chinese Astrology doesn’t only have 12 Animal Signs every twelve years, but within a 12 year term, one of five “elements” are assigned to each Animal Sign.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water are the elements, each adding a layer of “meaning” or significance to the qualities or attributes of the animal as a dominant force for that year.
A unique combination of Animal Sign and Element occurs only once every 60 years!
WATER RABBITS, such as myself can be emotional. The nature of water is that it flows to the lowest point. People in Animal Signs with the Water element associated have feelings that ebb and flow, and their feelings can easily spill over into e-motions.
Emotions are strong physical reactions catalysed by feelings. Whereas feelings are “states of being” or a combination of thoughts and subjective energy. Subjective means influenced by personal perspectives. It’s best to maintain a peaceful or calm and positive feeling to navigate through life. Being a neutral observer, acting upon the next right step right in front of you, with faith that all is okay, means your conserve your energy that otherwise may be invested in strong and unhelpful emotions.
The webpage below has a Table showing 60 years from the Year of the Wood Rat in 1924 to the Year of the Wood Rat in 1984. You can see from the Table that each Element is assigned twice and this is because there are 12 Animal Years with 5 different Elements. Therefore each lot of 12 years is associated with two of each of the 5 Elements (making up 10 assigned Elements) and then the Elements are assigned again.
This shows that the “natural element” of the Rabbit is wood. As 2023 is associated with water, this combination results in fruitful endeavours, because water nourishes trees or plants.
The elements are also associated with the colours white (metal), black (water), green (wood), red, (fire) and brown (earth).
Thus you can refer to 2023 as the Chinese Year of the Black Water Rabbit.
Furthermore, your Chinese Animal Sign characteristics can be combined with your Western Astrology zodiac sign for more information about you.
For example, I am a Virgo Rabbit and this combination accentuates my ability for empathy and tolerance. Virgos are held to be humanitarian or supportive of others, organised, and disciplined, and they like information.
Mix in the Virgo traits with the sociable, friendly down-to-earth Chinese Rabbit – and you may get someone like me!
Here I am sharing my blogs on the internet, all for free, since the year 2012 when I started “Fascinating Amazing Animals.”
I also write personal development articles on the Medium platform. If you are looking for spiritual support, you are invited to head over there to read articles such as the one below.
2023 is the Year of the Water Rabbit and I was born in 1963, another Year of the Water Rabbit.
I embrace this year, in which the energies of the Water Rabbit will be available. This doesn’t mean that everyone will embody the Rabbit’s traits this year. The Chinese theme of the “Rabbit” for the year may mean that overall people are increasingly interested in “home comforts” and community this year and in helping each other. Water Rabbits tend to be gentle and amiable or friendly.
2022 was the Chinese Year of the Tiger in which a lot of people made breaks from traditional ways of being ruled. People “woke up” to how they are subjected to over-riding systems that influence them. More people sought freedom or independence last year, aided by the determination and courage of the Tiger.
Please regard the forecasts of people under various Signs and combinations with caution.
That is, don’t hold the information to be definitive, of course. They are more for entertainment value and are too broad to apply to everyone. Depending upon who is saying what, some “forecasts” are more based upon more likely possibilities.
Yearly forecasts under Chinese Astrology OR Western Astrology for a person need to be “taken with a grain of salt” or not believed as absolute truth. For this reason I don’t read YEARLY FORECASTS.
Tune into your intuition and use multiple systems or research information to refine and consolidate YOUR “typing” or categorizing of people, rather than trying to forecast your year based upon the Year of the Rabbit or any other Chinese Year.
Because it’s the Year of the Rabbit from 22 January 2023 it can be easier for many to choose to focus on the intelligence, compassion, understanding, friendliness and resource gathering traits of ourselves and others. Children born in the 2023 – 2024 Year of the Rabbit will tend to have these traits. So if we highlight or strengthen these in ways to improve Life for everyone, we will be creating a supportive and peaceful year for all.
Remember that Astrological systems are NOT about boxing people up or labeling them but are derived from observations of recurring characteristics and happenings over aeons of time.
When we say that 22 January 2023 to 9 February 2024 is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, it literally means anyone born during this time period is a “Rabbit”.
The Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture. And so the 2023 Year of the Rabbit invites you to tune into these qualities and sustain them by all peaceful means possible for yourself as an individual and a part of the collective.
2023 is a lucky year for Rabbits if they use their traits wisely to look after their own affairs, while supporting others as best they may. Rabbits should stay humble and not take big risks in 2023.
2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. Let’s all contribute to make this so.
For famous people born under the 12 Signs head to the link below.
For information about celebrating the Lunar New Year ( Chinese New Year ) and for a deeper look at Chinese Astrology (e.g. the Stem – Branch 60 year cycle ) click on the links below.
If you care about wildlife / animals it is probably distressing to you when you find out about the impact of conflicts and climate change, due to human activities, on animals around the world. From entire ecosystems of the Antartic, with changing temperatures, sea ice levels, food availability, and pollution; to bushfires in Australia and elsewhere, and floods in eastern Australia, un-natural climate changes are bad for all living beings.
Gong Xi Fa Chai” means “wishing you enlarge your wealth.” “Gong Xi” means wishing/blessing . “Fa” means to enlarge, and”Chai” ( or Choi ) means wealth.
Gong Xi Fa Chai is also used as a greeting for:
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR
Ang Pow red envelopes are traditionally given by adults to children at Chinese New Year, which is also a time for happy family re-unions and much feasting and merriment.
Ang Pow, also known as “red packets”,” “laisee”, “lai see”, “hung bao” or “hong-bao” are considered extremely auspicious to receive as a gift and even more auspicious if they contain money.
The Chinese New Year begins each year on the second new moon after the winter solstice ( which is on 22 December in the Northern Hemisphere). The Chinese use a lunar calendar as opposed to our own Gregorian calendar. The Chinese New Year is also called the Lunar New Year.
In 2022 Chinese New Year begins today, 1st February. The new moon in Aquarius is also happening today, on 1st February. This New Moon is giving us the chance for a fresh start, both personally and in the collective sense.
Furthermore today Imbolc starts. Imbolc or Imbolg, also called Saint Brigid’s Day, is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring in the Northern hemisphere. For Christians it is the feast day of Saint Brigid. It is held on 1 February, which is about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Imbolc is a time of magical energy related to the feminine aspect of the goddess and to new beginnings.
The “Chinese New Year” website states a Tiger Year is about freedom and independence. Jim Carrey and Leonardo di Caprio were both born in a Year of the Tiger!
People born in years of the Tiger are vigorous and ambitious, daring and courageous, enthusiastic and generous, self-confident with a sense of justice and a commitment to help others for the greater good.
Let’s hope that 2022 ushers in a collective perspective of seeing everything as related. That is, human beings are part of the Earth, not separate, but dependent upon Earth’s resources. We have to all truly care about each other and look after nature, to provide for ourselves.
2022 is a year of the Water Tiger. It starts from February 1st, 2022, and ends on January 21st, 2023. A Water Tiger year occurs every 60 years. The “China Highlights” website states that this Year of the Water Tiger indicates a prosperous year due to the Tiger’s auspicious signs (bravery, resourcefulness and strength).
February 1st, 2022 is a day to look for and embrace potential for a liveable world where all beings are happy and healthy. You may like to say the mantra “Happy, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise” before you go to sleep and/or when you wake up. Today is the day to think good thoughts and to see the positive and possibilities. And then, every other day, look toward your “neighbour.” Ask what she/he needs and help them. We’re all in this together. Tigers look after their own, and everything that is on Earth is our own.
Happy Year of the Tiger.
My special edition Cadbury favourites tin. Photo provided by Celine Lai
In the animated “Basil the Mouse Detective” Rattigan the Rat got a bad rap, yet “Ratatouille” saw a rat called Rennie as the unlikely hero. While Rats have mostly got out of favor with people, the “Rat” is a symbol of intelligence, hard work and having quick-wit.
The Chinese Horoscope site says that 2020 will be the Year of New Beginnings!
The Year of the Metal Rat 2020 starts on January 25th 2020.
You need to follow your goals with confidence and determination. Relationships and health will be favorable. Seize good luck and opportunities as soon as they come knocking at your door. Believe in yourself.
In conclusion, the Year of the Rat 2020 will bring beneficial situations, opportunities, meetings with special people, luck, and also balance situations, dilemmas, and changes that can push us out of our comfort zone.
In Chinese culture, rats were seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. If you were born in a Year of the Rat you can look up your year in 2020 at the page below.
And last but not least, if you’re really interested in Chinese Astrology you may be interested in my research and findings, by starting at the post below!
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Celine Lai
Fascinating Animals 
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