CNY 2010: A challenging time

Our fate , our country's fate and the political turmoil we see today happening in our country , in other countries are all the result of this forth coming " change " . We can bark , shout , curse , to all our adversaries , politicians , is of no use as they are also subjected to this change . So be prepared !

Stanley Koh Saturday, 13 February 2010 08:56 IS there any thing of special significance that's worthy to celebrate for Chinese Malaysians during this Chinese New Year festival which begins on Sunday?

Chinese Malaysians together with millions of overseas Chinese across the globe will be ushering the Lunar New Year, the new moon of the first lunar month.

These are times to be prudent and the mood is expected to be more sombre and quiet. The majority of Chinese Malaysians are expected to celebrate this lunar year with more simplicity as costs of traditional food and fruits have soared, and traditional practices scaled down to suit family budgets and breadwinner’s pockets.

Perhaps, most are also aware that the “white tiger” lunar year is an inauspicious year with astrologers opining that it is going to be a period of probable turmoil, unpredictability associating with death and violence.

As 2010 this year being the year of the 'metal' and 'wood' tiger, Chinese astrology spells this lunar year to be a period of conflict with clashes of “wood-metal”.

Interpretatively and symbolically, the “white tiger” lunar year could bring forth possibility of wars, violence and social unrests.

For optimistic Chinese Malaysians, many have greater expectations of a better year with a positive mindset of improvement, progress, peace and more productivity in personal pursuits.

Another dark cloud?

Will this Chinese lunar year, 4707 (although some maintained that it is the 4708 year) be another dark cloud like the tough and unproductive year of 2009?

Shall we look forward to this coming year with renewed hopes, aspirations or will it end with just wishful thinking as in the past years?

Will it be another year of despair for the nation and pundits predicting doom and gloom coming true?

Can our nation finally move forward? Will the problematic practices of corruption, mismanagement, poor governance and token transformation be changed? Will a principled leadership emerge in dire need that reflects integrity, courage and transparency?

Or will 2010 be a repetitive year of political chaos; a political stage-play of vindictive landscape and the corruptible power play?

There are no ready answers to all these which may or may not happen in the coming year.

In fact, many may not even be aware that the “White Tiger” had actually stalked into 2010 on February 4 last week when the sun entered ecliptic 315 degree position between 9.00 and 11.00am in the celestial heaven.

Clue to optimism

It is of special significance, too, that while the Year of the Tiger comes every 12 years, the year of the “White Tiger” occurs every 60 years since 1950.

And, according to Chinese astrology and history, the “white tiger” year is a symbol of “jinx”. It will be a challenging year.

Marriage rates among the Chinese community will be lower and affect the already overall falling birth rates among Chinese Malaysians.

The other significance is that the Chinese New Year comes late this year because there are 13 lunar months last year in 2009.

It is said that the extra lunar month of the 5th Leap month in 2009 has pushed down the Chinese New Year to the middle of February.

Being one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations, the “white tiger” is sometimes regarded as a mythological creature, and legend has it that when a tiger reaches 50 years old, its tail will turn white. The white tiger will only appear when the Emperor ruled with absolute virtue.

Yet, there is a clue to optimism, we will most probably not see a white tiger in the country.

Chinese constellations

In the Chinese constellations, the “white tiger” is referred to the “Pleiades” or “M45”, known among astrologers as the “Seven Sisters” (of clustered stars in the celestial heaven) within the constellation of Taurus.

These “stars” are best known and most striking to the naked eye. They were formed during the last 100 million years.

The “Pleiades” (clustered stars) are among the nearest to Planet Earth of all other clustered stars.

Of special significance, this “tiger year” is the way in which Planet Earth will pass near the Pleiades star cluster.

The “Pleiadean” star grouping has special significance to ancient civilisation and, according to astrologers, it is customarily associated with prophecy. But more importantly, it represents the symbolic truth relating to “death”, “ending” or “new birth” and a “new beginning”.

So what does all this mean to the Chinese Malaysians for the coming year?

To know the answer, you have to wait for my next article .

Perhaps, Confucius is correct and wise when he said: “To put the world in order, one must put the nation in order and to do that one must put one’s family in order. To put the family in order, one must first cultivate one’s personal life and for that, one must set one’s heart in the right direction.”

I take this opportunity in wishing all Malaysian Mirror readers a very happy Chinese new year that will bring you and your family more wisdom, happiness and peace of mind.