Water, associated with the Kidneys, embodies the essence of fluidity, adaptability, and resilience. Balancing water is a key to unlocking vitality and maintaining overall health.

We determine a person's Chinese Astrological Animal by birth year based on the Chinese New Year's Day. You cannot determine your Chinese Astrological Animal by birth year only. The common astrology birth chart doesn't use the Chinese New Year's day to calculate the birth chart.

Kidneys are the source of all energy (Chi) within the body, and they store the reserves of Chi we need to handle stress and change, heal, prevent illness and age in health. Much like the parasympathetic system of the body, Kidneys provide the energy to spring forward into health.In winter, make sure to nurture and nourish Kidney Chi, as it is easy to feel zapped and easily depleted of energy.

In celebrations of food around the New Year, many dishes and ingredients sound like Good Luck words and phrases, and foods become symbolic in eating and offering. Food offerings are a prayer to ancestors or the Jade Emperor and The Kitchen God.

Chinese Medicine sees Natures patterns, forms and seasons in our bodies and emotions. Each season is associated with an element, emotion, organ, and taste. Winter is the Element Water and associated with the Kidneys.

Autumn is ruled by Metal, and  time to gather and organise for winter, return inside and reflect on life. We use metal to help us collect and harvest in the form of tools and vessels. This is a time to seek to restore balance in the world and in ourselves.

There are some reasonable comparisons of Indian and Chinese traditional medicine. The Chinese system describes excess and deficiency conditions, and the Ayurvedic system depicts excitation or disturbance (Vitiation), and sluggishness of the doshas. These imbalances correspond with Chinese excess and deficiency theory.