Welcome to the Month of the Tiger!
Written by Paul Arellano
February 5th marks the beginning of a new solar year in the Chinese calendar (the more common celebration of Lunar New Year takes place at the new moon closest to this date). The start of the new year is also the beginning of Spring in the Chinese calendar, and the zodiac animal representing this transition is the Tiger.
The Tiger is a deeply symbolic animal, and two particular aspects come to mind when thinking of the Tiger as a symbol of the New Year and the start of Spring:
1 - The Tiger has Stripes.
Tigers are jungle cats who spend most of their life in the dense forests where they go unseen. While they may stay hidden and out of sight most of the time, Tigers make a big impression when they do come out. The Tiger’s alternating orange and black stripes keep them hidden in the dappled light and shade of the forest, and symbolize this duality of being unseen and yet very dramatic and visible. This is the time of the year when things begin to “thaw”, with the first buds and sprouts popping out, warmer days and sunshine - but only briefly, before we are back in grey, cold wintry weather. This is the nature of the Tiger – to alternate between opposites – and yet in doing so balance the tension of opposing forces. After all, freezing-and-thawing, warming-and-cooling, wet-and-dry alternation of early spring is what helps break up the soil for a new years’ growth: all of this is symbolized by the Tiger’s stripes.
2 - The Tiger is Dramatic
When an animal sees a Tiger, it is most likely the last thing they see. Tigers are the only animal of the Zodiac that is known to eat humans, so when Tigers come out from hiding and are visible, it is usually something that fills people with fear or apprehension. Connecting to this time of the year, the weather can be quiet, sunny and peaceful, but this is also the common time for big storms to blow in: blizzards, rainstorms, wind storms and deep freezes can all happen suddenly this time of the year. This is very much like the Tiger, who may remain hidden for long periods of time, then suddenly pounce.
These two qualities—duality and intensity—characterize the early spring season. This is true in terms of weather, as explained above, but also of our own personal lives. In our lives, this is a time to be mindful of our own energy: even if we feel very energized and driven one day, we might feel sluggish the next, and this is okay. Spring season is also often a time of frustration, as we are ready for the warmer weather yet keep getting kept inside by cold, rainy days (especially true here in Portland), but allowing ourselves to follow the natural rhythms of the season can help get around this. Then, when the time finally comes that we do feel energized, this is the time to make the most of it! Creative inspiration or impulses might come up in this season that we have to seize in the moment or else they will slip by entirely - just like the Tiger waiting to pounce: when the moment is right, we really have to go for it.
So the invitation in this season is to relax into the alternating nature of early spring, resting when we feel the need to and then—when the time comes to be extroverted and creative—we are ready to make the most of those opportunities with the drive of a pouncing Tiger. We are coming off a month of hard work and slow progress symbolized by the Ox, and not yet at the full flush of spring energy symbolized by the Dragon, this is a time of halting transition between the two, so be prepared to keep your head down and get through the days, but also find more time for joy, expression and community in the month of the Tiger!