Chinese New Year: Year of the Fire Monkey

Last week marked the beginning of a new Lunar calendar year – the year of the Fire Monkey. While many have heard about the Lunar New Year (also Chinese New Year), not many of us know what it means, and what shifts we may feel for the next 366 days (leap year!).

As we are reflections of the outer world, attributes of the Fire Monkey exist within ourselves. Without getting too astrology-heavy, here are my thoughts about the year of the Monkey, what it means that it’s aligned with the element of Fire, and what to watch out for this year.

Remember Ross’s monkey, Marcel, in Friends? He was adorable, fluffy, smart… and mischievous and a troublemaker and constantly was on the move. A monkey is known for being very intelligent and clever. A monkey has quick wit, curiosity and resourcefulness. So, for many, it can be a year of reinvention, or a very energetic year. This year is specifically of the Fire Monkey, which not only sounds cool, but could also be advantageous. Every year is associated with one of the five main elements: metal, water, fire, wood, and earth. This adds another layer to the quality of the year. In this case, expect an element of vitality, a little bit more power and energy to it. This is what the Fire element brings to the table. The Fire Monkey makes for a powerful combination.

Monkey personalities can have short attention spans, and they have a tendency to do things and quickly forget about them. Watch out for feeling wayward or scattered. Fire promotes more focus and attention, which can be a nice balance to the energetic, jumpy monkey. The increased focus and drive can be really powerful, and can help one see a task through to the end efficiently and effectively.

While this animal and element combination is pretty complementary, it’s not without risk. Be careful of overextending yourself (ahem, yes, you). Try to not take too many projects on. Since monkeys can be so easily distracted, it’s also in your best interest to keep track of your progress, and be mindful of how you reach your goals. If you have any wins this year, try to stay thoughtful and thankful for what you achieve.

With all this in mind, the Year of the Fire Monkey is a great year for fresh starts! If you’ve been on the sidelines, waiting to start a new business or jump into a new hobby or go back to school, it might be a very supportive year to do those kinds of things. Go for it!

Welcome to the new year — embrace it, and see what new paths it leads you to!