Chinese New Year 2012

Chinese New Year happens the second new moon after the winter solstice. It's that new moon time again: the year of the Black Water Dragon (that's a water dragon that's black, instead of a dragon that lives in black water). I thank Veer for this illustration. Go here to see Neil Gaiman's rendition.

All new moons give us the opportunity to renew our commitments to ourselves. Certainly this inventive Aquarius new moon bodes well for exciting new beginnings and enlivening breakthroughs. Surprising events await us and unexpected epiphanies that will come to us as a result of keeping our eyes wide open. Make this a month—and a year—to remember!

Jan 2012

Season's Greetings!
This instead
Of  recently-made-old
Merry Christmas
    and
Happy Hanukkah
    and maybe even
Happy Kwanzaa.

But,
Tis the Season,
Eh?

We're ready to celebrate,
and to invite
Our friends to celebrate…
and we include
Their own celebrations
In our well-wishing.
Inclusive is us.

Season's Greetings.
Whatever.

What ever
Are we all celebrating?
Eight days of candles? 
    Light of liberation and dedication.
Birth of a saviour?
    Light of redemption and hope.
African roots, fruits, harvest?
    Light of identity and past-into-present..

Tis the Season
Of renewal of All Light.
Tis the Season
Of relinquishing Darkness
To lengthening Days...
Of the return of Light
Bit by bit.
The return of Light.
Light of renewal.

Ah!!!
Season's Greetings
    and
Happy New Light.

Have a shiny & sparkling year.
Renew yourself
    and
Your library books.

Bette Forester
Toronto
31 Dec 2011

Thank you Phoebe for this rainy Portland 5th Day of Christmas image...

and thank you Neil Gaiman for this benediction for a new year: