In the lunar calendar, May is positioned right between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is the time of soft yin warmth as the Fire Element begins to exert its energy on our lives. May is further represented by the Chinese character Sze 巳 which translates to “preparation for ripeness,” an indication that all sorts of interesting, emerging possibilities are coming our way.
May 1 is May Day, a spring festival in some countries and International Worker’s Day in others. Cinco de Mayo marks the date of Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla and is celebrated with food, dance and Mexican culture. Mother’s Day is observed in nearly every country in the world and in our case, will be celebrated on Sunday, the 12th.
Some Chinese families commemorate Meng Mu on Mother’s Day. She was the mother of Meng Zi, the most important Confucian scholar after Confucius himself. Meng Fu placed a strong emphasis on her son’s education, and the importance of education and the filial devotion continues in China today.
The 27th is Memorial Day in recognition of the 1.8 million American men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The flag is flown at half-staff until noon in their honor and then is raised to the top of the flagpole pole to remind us of the importance of continuing to fight for justice to all.
The arrival of the three-day Memorial Day weekend is also an indication to children that school is about to end and summer vacation is right around the corner. The I Ching also has reminders for what we can expect in a phase of rising Fire, so here are some tasty tidbits for you to enjoy.
Physical Health
Many Metal people have problems with allergies but beautiful springtime weather makes us want to be out-of-doors. Your best bet is to head outside when pollen counts are lowest, usually in the late afternoon or early evening. These are also the best times to be in the sun because you are less likely to get burned, but of course you always wear sunscreen … don’t you?
Emotional Health
In his book Live Your Ultimate Life, Dr. Mao wrote, “Your purpose is the compass that sets the direction of your life’s journey. Carefully consider where you want to go… if you should find yourself on the wrong path, don’t be afraid to change it.” Metal people can get a bit “stuck” when they are seeking their true path, but sometimes the only way to unstick yourself is to make a change.
Relationship Health
Not everyone wins the parent lottery, but most of us have mothers who range from “good enough” to “great.” There is a powerful bond between you and your mother, even if the relationship is strained. It will be useful for you to find peace with one another so focus on today’s issues, and don’t bring up old gripes from the past. Stick to “I feel …” and avoid “You always …”
Financial Health
You may not be able to afford a vacay this summer, but you can always start looking around for fun local adventures. Check newspapers and city websites for free or low-cost activities that rising Fire energy will send your way. Look for track meets, talks at public libraries, fun runs, art shows, matinees, farmers’ markets … the more snooping you do, the more you will discover.
Career Health
Although it’s probably never a good idea to ditch a career, now is as good a time as any to rethink your life’s work. Even though you may not be happy with your job, most of us have not taken the time to figure out a better choice. The first and most difficult step will be figuring out exactly what you want to do but you are productive and methodical, so if anybody can do it … it’s you!
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