Chinese Astrology Origin

There are many stories as to the origin of Chinese astrology. The story that stands out and the most whimsical is the “big race”.

All the creatures that resided on earth at that time took part in a race. Those who crossed the finish line first received one of the zodiac signs, and their names were determined according to where they were placed in the race.

The “big race” had its fair share of foul play. The winner of the race, the rat, won because he jumped on the ox and won by a nose. The dragon tipped as the clear winner came fifth because he stopped to help villagers caught in a flooding river.

Chinese astrology is more profound than what you see on the surface; the stories link to the astrological signs personality traits, whether honourable like the dragon or sneaky like the rat.

The Chinese astrological signs and winners in order of the race are as follows. Ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, chicken, dog and pig.

Unleash the Strength of the Water-Tiger

The astrological sign for the Chinese New Year 2022 is the Water-Tiger. The tiger is powerful and capable of great things, a freedom seeker and trailblazer.

The year of the tiger is your opportunity to think outside the box and leave outdated ways of doing things at the door. A time to be courageous and believe that anything is possible.

If you’re considering redecorating, go big and bold, try styles that are out of your comfort zone. Or use your energy to clear away the cobwebs and declutter your outdated belongings.

Nurture your Emotions

In Chinese astrology, each astrological sign is associated with one of the five elements – earth, fire, water, wood, and metal.

Each of these elements carries additional meanings. The water element connects to our emotional field; therefore, protecting our emotions is fundamental this year.

To keep those pesky emotions in check, go with the flow of life like the gentle ripples of a free-flowing river. When agitation or even aggression erupts, bring your energy back to the calm river or the soft crashing of the ocean waves.

The Brave New You

The western astrological equivalent of the tiger is Aquarius, a fixed air sign ruled by the planet Uranus.

You will find your local Aquarius fighting for humanitarian causes using their keen intellect, of course. The sign of Aquarius is not a sheep that follows the crowd, instead opting for new and radical ways of doing things.

A Forward-thinking character that has no appreciation for outdated modes of working. Aquarius is a fixed sign, so they can be stubborn and, although sociable, needs time alone to restore balance.

Health & Wellbeing 

Health and well-being are important factors to leading a happy life. Therefore, we must live in comfortable, clean, and clutter-free homes.

Over the last two years, people have become more connected to their homes and better understand that the home needs just as much attention as diet and fitness regimes.

By working in harmony with astrology, we are going with the flow of the energy rather than working against it, like a river flowing effortlessly downstream. Utilise the tiger’s power this year to make your home a beautiful oasis; we have put together a couple of tips to get you started.

1. Use Exciting Colours and Patterns in your Interiors

The must-have colours to use in your home in 2022 are green, blue, pink and violet. Use calming tones of pink to bring love into your home, creating emotional support. Or go big and bold with vibrant blue or green pops to add excitement and vibrancy.

Many people run a mile by the mere thought of using big, bold colours in their homes for the pure fear of getting it wrong. This is where an interior designer can help you out. You don’t need to have a complete interior design scheme because many interior designers can simply advise on colour.

In addition, the web offers a plethora of inspiration to help you visualise colour combinations and get an idea of what works and what doesn’t work.

Be Bold

Invest in a bold wallpaper; there are literally millions of wallpaper styles. For example, Quirky and out there wallpaper by Mind the Gap and Matthew Williamson and Sophisticated modern by Cole & Son.

Go crazy with flooring – flooring doesn’t have to be dull. Instead of bold colours or wallpaper on the walls, opt for a colourful tile combination or design your own patterned linoleum floor.

2. Be Courageous – Clear The Clutter

If you want to be on top of your game this Chinese tiger New Year, get your home into tip-top shape. Clutter is the number one cause of negative energy, which builds up within our home and affects our well-being.

Finding time to deal with the clutter is almost impossible for most people because we lead such busy lives. We should treat our homes the same way we do our bodies.

For instance, when we decide to get fit and healthy, we aim to feel better in our clothes and have more energy to achieve our goals.

Let’s say we use the same philosophy for our homes. We can set the intention for better health and well-being by decluttering our homes.

Harness your inner tiger set your plan of action, and follow-through, make 2022 the year that you made it happen.

3. Save Water, Save Money and Save the Environment

We consume vast amounts of water in our homes daily; using less water will limit environmental impact and save money.

If you live in the Essex or Suffolk area, you can apply for a water-saving kit.

The kit includes a shower flow regulator, shower timer, water-saving tap insets, toilet cistern displacement device and toilet leak detection capsules.

Water-Saving Tips

• Turning the tap off while you brush your teeth saves up to six litres of water.
• Use a toilet cistern displacement device. This bag of crystals goes in the cistern; the crystals expand and displace the equivalent of 1ltre of water per flush.
• When boiling the kettle, only fill with as much as you need.

Keep Hydrated with the Good Stuff

Water keeps every system in the body functioning correctly. Water helps carry nutrients and oxygen to our cells and normalises blood pressure. When we don’t drink enough water, we can become dehydrated – signs of dehydration include dizziness and low blood pressure.

In addition, drinking filtered water is even better for our health because the filter reduces metals like lead and copper in old pipes and can remove chlorine and toxins. Treat yourself to a good water filter this year, and remember to drink plenty each day.

4. Balance and Restore with Essential Oils 

The water element in Chinese astrology is associated with our emotions. Therefore, because this is the year of the water tiger, it is essential to pay close attention to how you’re feeling. Use this year for pampering your inner child, hot bubble baths, essential oils, candles and massage.

Use essential oils to help balance your emotions. Lavender, bergamot and ylang-ylang have relaxing qualities and help relieve stress and anxiety. Orange and lemon essential oils have uplifting attributes that help improve mood.

Many different essential oil blends have been professionally mixed that help with things like sleep, concentration, or boosting energy. Neil’s Yard ranges of sleep blends work exceptionally well, especially the roll-on and sleep spray.

5. A breath of fresh air

Indoor houseplants have seen a surge in popularity over the last couple of years, and for a good reason. House plants such as areca palm and the lady palm purify the air we breathe by removing airborne toxins and neutralising dust, mould spores, and allergens.

As well as cleaning the air we breathe, houseplants keep the air fresh by emitting moisture, which counteracts the dryness from heating. The cleaner, toxin-free air means we feel healthier, leading to better vitality and happiness.

Buying a houseplant won’t break the bank either; a good starter plant is the snake plant, otherwise called “mother-in-law’s tongue”. It is easy to grow and survive in light conditions ranging from semi-sun to shade and is rarely affected by insects.