purplerose

This thread isn't for me, cause I'm a woman , but I've seen male taoist practitioners that I admire and respect and need to tell you about them. They are wonderful people and they have changed a lot in better not only because of their practices but also cause they love a woman, made a life with her, got wonderful kids and continued their practice all along. Those guys have their high goals (spiritual or not) in life that they pursue and fulfill, and they still enjoy every moment they have with their family and kids. I've also seen practitioners still wondering about and not wanting to settle down. Looking more closely, they need some balance in their life. There are even some who have a life partner, but don't have kids, cause they think they need more time... but kids would make them more mature (both emotionally and spiritually) and would help them progress in their practice and understanding. Am I right or am I right? PS: Practitioner parents can always learn from a great teacher like their kid is.

Every day at 5 p.m. would be just fine, if I had a fixed and boring life... purplerose

The 'solilunar' calendar you're talking about, the 'Xia calendar' or the '10.000 year calendar' shows both the solar calendar and the lunar calendar. But each calendar should be used according to its purpose. My fault, I didn't mean a special calendar 'for laymen' but that most of the Chinese people use the lunar one. Regarding the beginning of the year, the best argument we can find in this quote from Ting-Foon Chik, Chinese Astrologer and Feng Shui Master: The Lunar New Year is starts with the second new moon after the Winter Solstice which is the nearest new moon to the beginning of spring on the 4th February. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, and it is the turnaround point, for after the winter solstice, known as 'Dong Zhi', the daylight hours increase and the hours of darkness diminish. Some Chinese Astrologers advocate the winter solstice marks the beginning of the Chinese Year, since it is the most yin moment and hence the start of the yang moment. However, this argument is flawed because in the southern hemisphere, this is not true! A year is defined as the time for the earth to complete a revolution around the sun, therefore we can define the beginning of the year as the moment the Sun is first found in the East where it rises everyday. This is at the start of Tiger month, known as 'Li Chun', the beginning of Spring, which is usually on the 4th February each year. This start of the year is consistent for the northern and southern hemispheres. purplerose

Eh... No offense... but the January 26th is the Chinese New Year on the lunar calendar, which is used only by "laymen". In Chinese Astrology (Four Pillars of Destiny, for instance) we use the solar calendar. So the REAL Chinese New Year is on February 4th this year (Ji Chou / 己丑 - the Earth Ox). purplerose

Hi! I've been watching some of your discussions for a while, and sometimes I need to write something too, so I guess it's hightime I joined you, too. I've been studying taoism and taoist practices for 7 years now (I live in Europe). I also study Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology (Four Pillars of Destiny). Taoist practices have been proved very useful in pregnancy. They helped my body, tempered my character and gave my son whatever he needed to be prepared for the life he has just begun. So, taoist guys, your wives are lucky to have you around... purplerose