Rituals

I attended a ceremony called “Golden Cicada” over the weekend to celebrate the Lunar New Year facilitated by a dear friend, Catherine Richardson, who practices Black Hat school of Feng Shui. This is a tradition some of us have been following for more than 10 years when our beloved friend, late Janet Mitsui Brown, used to host at her home in Mar Vista. While I cannot elaborate the history and meaning behind this school of Feng Shui nor about the ceremony as my knowledge is limited, I’ve cherished this tradition as it gives me a sense of closure for the past year and a blank slate for the new year.

What it entails is to identify what we can let go in our life — what’s not serving us — and set an intention for the new year and open ourselves to receiving new energy. Interestingly, it is similar to the ceremonies I attend for the equinox and solstice every year in the native American traditions. Both Feng Shui and native American traditions go back thousands of years. I’m sure there are other similar traditions in the world where people acknowledge the passage of time by letting go what’s passed and creating space for the new symbolically.

I do find these practices to be meaningful. The ancient people somehow knew how to honor the passage of time. When we live in a world driven by material and sensual pursuit, it’s comforting to know these rituals are still practiced everywhere. I’m inspired by how the celestial movements of time provided so much wisdom way before science came along. And it feels almost luxury or privilege to be able to integrate such fundamental ways of life into our modern living.

As for me, in Golden Cicada, I let go of my doubt and insecurity and asked for healing and confidence. Based on the Chinese Zodiac, I’m off to a good year of fulfillment. But oh, I know it’s all about my mindset!