Yang Fire Monkey Moon
Monkeys are full of trouble, not so much out of mischief, but more so out of boredom - especially those frisky, Fire types. These fiesty primates only like to learn the rules enough to break them. They're the best at instigating a good time. The only thing is, we should all be winding down - not riling up.
As for the poetry of the moment, contain yourself. It's officially Fall, but it might feel like Summer still. If you're out and scurrying about being curious and clever, don't be surprised if you catch yourself trapped, tied, or tangled in a mess. The challenge of the Monkey Moon is to remain tame as the rest of the world loses their brains and goes insane.
To make this make sense, prevention is your best medicine. Be okay with being bored and under stimulated. Let yourself bask in silent stillness. Once the street lights ignite, get inside, hide, and sleep tight so you can wake up early, alert, and ready to work the next day. Let your friends ride the bends from burning their candle at both ends. This isn't medicinal, it's logical. The idea is that when we live wrong, no medicine will work... but if we live right, then no medicine will be necessary!
✧ The First Moon of Fall ✧
Focus on Finishing: Don't take on anything new
Ride the Momentum: There's no need to accelerate
Mind the Details: So you don't need to do things twice
Get Home Early: Bust out your fuzzy house shoes
Keep it Light: Try not to eat too much at night
An Ounce of Prevention > A Pound of Cure
Contents
⭐︎ Shifu Says: A brief word from our head teacher, Shifu David Wei.
⭐︎ Astrology and Tea: Shifu and Seanan get to yak about the Almanac!
⭐︎ The Daoist Calendar: Special holidays and how to observe them.
✭ Tai Chi True or False: You've got a 50/50 chance. Is it Yin or Yang?
✭ Along the Way: Tale of two Daoist brothers and their angry master.
✭ Madame Xu's News: Zodiac forecasts from our Hong Kong Oracle.
✭ Final Fortune Cookie: Big wit and wisdom from a tiny little idiom.
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✧ Shifu Says ✧
Earlier in the month, I was invited to an intimate celebration of life service on behalf of my Kung Fu brother's wife who recently died of cancer. I was accompanied by my Jiu Jitsu Sensei, Professor Adisa Banjoko, who is also quite close to my brother as well. I'm so happy to have had the company of my teacher - it would have been a long and somber trip solo.
My Kung Fu brother really held it down that day. He stood with poise, he spoke with power, and he hosted with warmth and compassion. Somehow he managed to hold space for everyone else, when he himself was the one that needed time and space to mourne and grieve. Now, with three children left to raise alone, he's got a massive load to carry solo.
When he spoke, there were a number of notable points he made, but the one that struck me the most was when he shared his wife's dying request of him - "Believe the children when they say it hurts." That simple request shot me back in time to my childhood, reflecting on all the pains I had that no one cared to comfort. Then, I considered the struggles of my single mother and her childhood as a Chinese refugee, homeless in Taiwan, eating scraps out of garbage cans. How many pains did she have to suffer solo?
After taking a deeper look, I realized how good I got at pain. "Eating bitter" is a cornerstone concept in classical Chinese culture. Not only did I learn to endure pain, I learned to lean into it, and use it to push harder towards my goals. That mindset worked perfectly for me when I wandered the world as a Kung Fu vagabond - but now that I'm a husband and a father with a family to feed... I'm apart of a team. There's no such thing as solo.
Going forward, I know I can eat pain, but now I'd like to do a better job of noticing when my family feels pain - so that I can do a better job of easing it and supporting them through it whenever it comes around. All too often, I find myself justified in turning a blind eye to my family's cries, expecting them to suck it up just like I do. In that, it has become all too apparent how this pattern of suffering solo has managed to run in my family for so long. Now, I get to be the caring parent that I never had - and maybe even the caring parent my parents didn't have either. If it's up to me, no one in my family will have to suffer solo anymore... at least for now.
* * *
Solo-sob-story aside, my Kung Fu brother is still dealing with a world of hurt, and his three little children are probably hurting even worse. If you'd like to show your support, you can send me a brief email and I'll be sure to pass your condolences along.
Peace Upon the Family
Astrology & Tea
Shifu and Seanan are back for the 4th Season of their popular Tea Drunk production, continuing their candid conversations on astrology, tea, and the rhythms of the natural world. This round, we get a Fire Monkey Moon within our Fire Horse Year, a volatile combination of heat and rapid transformation. If you've been following along, you know this is where our story gets deep.
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Together, they explore what this fiery stretch of the year has in store, how to work with its energy instead of against it, and what practical insights you can carry into your everyday life. Whether you come for the astrology, the qigong, the I-Ching, the tea tips, the laughs, the tangents, or the thoughtful conversation, there's always something for you to steep on.
Enjoy the first few segments of the production absolutely free of charge, or subscribe to unlock the full show in both audio and video formats. You can also enjoy the trickle down editions that were released late. Either way, go ahead and pour a cup and join us for another season of Tea Drunk!
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The Dao that can be Spoken...
Daoist Holidays
Seventh/Orchid Moon: Yang Fire Monkey
Qi Node: Autumn Begins
Holiday: Seven Sisters (Jade Emperor's Daughters) Festival
Same as Valentine's Day, Pursue a Love Interest, Be Romantic
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Tai Chi True or False
True or False:
Tai Chi utilizes the entire body, not individual parts.
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