“Meet in a yellow dress… Don’t be lazy – and everything will be fine”… Even if we don’t really believe in horoscopes, we hear various recommendations that we involuntarily listen to. How will this ancient knowledge help and what to expect from 2019 — the year of the Golden Pig? Viktor Shigorin, researcher of Chinese tradition, shares his thoughts.
Psychologies: When did the Chinese horoscope actually appear?
Victor Shigorin: Its history goes back centuries. Now no honest researcher can say who and when created it. In ancient China there was no difference between a horoscope and a calendar. The first mention of the calendar is associated with the Xia Dynasty, about 4500 years ago. This era is the subject of controversy among historians, folklorists and traditional masters, it is shrouded in mystery. But the eastern horoscope, like the Book of Changes, is still in demand and in the hands of professionals they turn out to be very accurate tools.
What do you think about predictions?
They require a purely individual approach and a good specialist who has undergone serious training. The Eastern calendar is not necessarily about the future, it is also about understanding the present and the past. It helps to see what is happening in life, where and from where the movement is directed and where I am now. A person who has good contact with himself, who has inner honesty and the courage to see clearly, does not need a horoscope. But the question is whether he is endowed with these qualities in due measure.
The pig embodies the earth, Yin, the feminine. Does this mean that we should be slow and thoughtful this year, or, on the contrary, should we balance it with speed and determination?
There is such an oriental saying: «Fast is slow, but without interruptions.» If we have to hurry, it is better to do it without losing thoughtfulness, clarity and inner peace. The nature of the coming year will rather be conducive to turning attention inward, to slowing down, and this aspect has both a positive and a negative side. If you are already a slow person, immersed in the inner world, you may have to activate yourself more in order to keep up with everything and not get too stuck in inner experiences. However, we now live in a very dynamic time, and for many, a slowdown will only benefit. After all, to regain contact with yourself, you need to slow down. This year will promote understanding of the importance of solving internal problems — both at the level of the individual, and in business, and at the state level. Therefore, it is worth taking the maximum benefit out of this Yin time and trying to avoid excess. And so in everything.
Financial luck will be more on the side of women. But in general, the year promises well-being for all
What do you think laziness is?
It’s a lack of inspiration. Laziness arises when what I do does not correlate with what can be called My Business. When you do what is really yours, you become obsessed, you can hardly sleep or eat and be very energetic, as this charges you with amazing power. Of course, crises happen. But even so, there are things that nourish and force you not to sit still, because any real business is multifaceted.
Multifaceted in what way?
I’ll explain with my example. I practice Taijiquan, and at first glance it seems to be a rather narrow specialization. But in fact, this is not only the movement practice of tai chi itself, but also meditation, reading and writing texts, communication, travel, calligraphy and painting, tea culture and music. In any real business, if the crisis is in one thing, then in something else, development can go in parallel. And if you have a crisis in everything, then this is no longer just laziness. There may be a more serious reason, up to depression. Then you need the help of a specialist.
Is there any way to overcome «just» laziness?
I will share a little Chinese secret that the teacher told me. No need to think that you have to do some big thing. If you need to practice tai chi, but you are too lazy, you should not think about the whole big workout, you just need to stand in the center of the room, then remember any exercise or start moving, and then everything will happen by itself. If we are talking about laziness, then, as a rule, it is difficult to just start.
How to deal with conflicts and should they be avoided?
Conflict is one word that denotes a variety of situations with their beginning, content and development. Therefore, it is impossible to decide for yourself whether it is worth going to conflict once and for all. What is a cure in one situation may be a poison in another. I am sure that you should be able to both show your teeth and give in. External conflict occurs when something does not go the way I would like it to. And any external conflict is a reflection of an internal conflict, which means it is a reason for internal work. And any internal conflict is an unfinished experience, an unresolved situation, unlived feelings. In the East they say: «Everything that is lived to the end is love.» When you fully experience feelings about an unfinished situation, you come out with a completely different attitude towards it. There is such a Tibetan treatise «On the transformation of poisons into medicines.» The essence of conflict resolution is precisely this: how to make the enemy — especially the internal one — a friend.
Does your practice help with this?
Of course. Taijiquan is primarily a practice of resolving internal conflicts, like any real practice. First, we learn to resolve conflicts at the physical level, that is, to remove (or not immediately create) tension correctly. After all, any unnecessary tension is a consequence of the conflict, especially if we are talking about chronic tension. After that, we learn to resolve conflicts on an energetic level, then on an emotional and mental level. The very first condition for the successful resolution of any conflict is a good contact with yourself, with your energy, inner strength, your own light. This alone makes you more balanced and allows you to think more clearly — and this is already a lot!
It is believed that this year is favorable for raising the material level. How to proceed in this direction?
Considering the influences of the coming year, financial luck will be more on the side of women. Rather, “female” strategies will be more effective: softness, loyalty, optimization and putting things in order in internal processes, rather than “male”, straightforward, risky, aggressive and outward-oriented ones. But in general, the year promises to be successful for everyone.
Should we strive to earn more?
It is customary to think: the more earnings, the better. But not everything is so clear. There are many neuroses in relation to money. Any neurosis is a deviation from a healthy balance towards hypofunction or towards hyperfunction. The latter is manifested in the fact that a person sacrifices too much for the sake of material well-being and does not notice that he is losing friends, family, health, honor. With hypofunction, on the contrary, a person cannot achieve well-being, despite all efforts and constant employment.
Why is this happening?
In the East, it is believed that contact with parents plays a paramount role. It is important that they pass on the power of the family to their children. If everything is fine at this level, but material difficulties are still present, then the problem may be in the family itself. In this case, it is necessary to resolve generic problems so that they do not pass on to our children and grandchildren.
For the Taoists, well-being means optimal balance and harmony in all manifestations of life.
A healthy person who has a good connection with a strong family is able to change depending on life circumstances and in each situation choose the best course of action. If the situation requires, he will start earning more actively, for example, by opening a new, successful project. And if the situation is the opposite, then it is better to devote time not to work, but to something else. Maybe the family needs you especially now, or maybe you choose a creative profession that does not promise a lot of money, but you feel that this is how you breathe, you are alive and real — then a choice can be made towards lower income. at least for the transitional period.
Is there an optimal level of material well-being?
There is a natural optimal balance, including it manifests itself on the material plane. And in each period of life, this balance can be different. Just as the optimal muscle tone of the body differs depending on what you are doing at the moment: if you are sitting, the optimal tone is one, if you are standing — another, if you are running — the third, if you are swimming — the fourth.
What would you wish in the new year to the readers and to yourself?
Optimal balance. We talked about neurosis and health. But in the East they also consider another, third, position — the Taoists call it the Perfect Man or the Sage. They talk about a person who does nothing on purpose, does not try to earn money or relax, he lives naturally, doing those things that he likes. It is not always clear to those around him whether he is working or having fun, because he does not distinguish between work and entertainment for himself, and he has everything he needs and comes when needed, and as much as needed. For the Taoists, well-being means optimal balance and harmony in all manifestations of life, including the material level, health, creativity, relationships, and the spiritual sphere, which I wish for all of us.