“Whether this is the first day of the Apocalypse or the first day of the Golden Age, the work remains the same… love each other and ease as much suffering as possible“.  Ram Dass

Again, this week we face an assortment of disheartening and difficult events.  As a result, I look to all the writings and teachers and wisdom to find the way back to the heart instead of allowing the heart to fill with the difficult emotions.

In my endless stream of thoughts, I was thinking about the wisdom of Chinese Medicine and an acupuncture point on the pericardium meridian. The pericardium is a meridian/organ that works to open the heart to allow people to come into your authentic, truthful, and loving self.  In our acupuncture school we called it the heart protector which would take the blows that would allow one to have the vulnerability and love for intimacy, friendship and fellowship.  Through this meridian one can gain the capacity to love others.  I use the metaphor that the pericardium was like holding a pillow over the heart chakra.  It softens the blows to the heart.

 As to the acupuncture point, there a point in the center of the palm called palace of weariness.    If you hold your hands together in pray pose your finger touch and the center of the palms do not touch. Here at the center of the palm is where palace of weariness lives.   I used it when people were experiencing a sense of heartbreak after being in a long relationship that came to an end.  The ending was just more than some people could bear.   The person was weary from the pain.

Now, I think of it all the time.  I read the news and think about how weary I am.  If I massage it can I leap to a faraway land where we all look out for one another?  I don’t think so, but I do believe that there is a different kind of heartbreak that we are going through together.   It really redefines weariness for me.  Weariness can be a worn-out description or when you lose something that has been the juice for keeping things going.  I would argue that in this case I am weary because I have lost something that is truly of my values.  When something going on is in direct opposition to your values there is a deflation, fatigue, depression or despair.

Right now, I want to recommend that you rub this point in a clockwise rotation 2 to 3 times a day to keep your heart able to hear its own melody.  We don’t require distractions, but we do need to be able to hear the melody that our hearts can sing to keep us moving forward in the present.  We need to feel into our hearts.  We must be able to love one another and relieve suffering where possible.

We are celebrating the ending of 2025 and welcoming 2026.  It was a tumultuous year in many ways.  Tumultuous years can help to discern those things that are of significance and importance in our beliefs and values. This is in keeping with what the year has been according to Chinese Astrology.   In Chinese astrology the signs are the animals, and they change every year with a total number of 12 animals.  The element changes every two years that characterize the power and focus of the year.

This past year was the year of the wood Snake has been working its magic for us. The Snake is associated with the Spleen no matter the element.  Snakes by their nature can perceive rejection or approval from others. They tend to be self-critical or tending toward perfectionism. This past year has been the wood element, and the first order of business has been making wise choices. The wood in Chinese medicine is related to the liver and gallbladder which have to do with decision making. The element has to do with spring and hope and making future plans and structures.  Future is the key word.   That is why it is so important to shed the skin of the snake to help to create the choices that bring you to the present.  Being able to live within one’s imperfections is a part of the superpower of the snake.  You can’t speak your truth until you discern it. We have waded through the muck to be able to let go all this year.

On February 17^th, the second new moon since the winter solstice, we move from the work of the wood snake, to the fire horse.  The organ associated with the Horse is the heart and the fire is also associated with the heart.  This is a year all about the transformation of the heart.  The love for self and others are a given task and now that the letting go is done- we are ready.   We can choose love over hate and caring over indifference. The horse no matter the element is about momentum, movement and speed. She/he wants to gallop in a full-fledged way.  Horses are passionate and by their very nature want to run with it. Relationships will be in the forefront this year in a way where we bring our full heart forward. While the wood snake needs time to figure out what to hold onto and how to proceed; when we move to fire you speed up everything.  The horse is about freedom and autonomy and love. Think about how you would like to be in all your relationships this year and commit to it.

On this same day as the beginning of the Chinese New Year,  is the new moon in Aquarius and a solar eclipse.  I will be doing my usual new moon meditation and if you can come, please do.  It will be a powerful day.