LUNAR NEW YEAR
Engage Your Creative Spark in the Year of the Dragon
Join us in our new writing challenge celebrating the Lunar New Year
I’ve always been drawn to the stars. While I may not be an astrology zealot, I enjoy studying and exploring the symbolic amplifications we can draw from the alignment of the cosmos.
When I launched my first webzine, we had a motto:
Per aspera ad astra
This Latin phrase has always resonated with me: “Through hardships to the stars.” And beyond, if I may add.
Throughout history, humanity has always looked to the stars to make sense of the succession of days, the phases of the moon, and the endless cycle of seasons.
The lunar year
Astronomy considers several types of "years,” even if the most common is the sidereal year.
The sidereal year corresponds to a complete revolution of the Earth around the Sun, i.e., 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 9.8 seconds.
Here in Portugal, we’ve long been used to the Gregorian calendar divided into 12 months and 365 days (plus a leap year every four years, as in 2024)..
However, other traditions use different calendars. Chinese culture is well ahead of us as this new lunar year will be 4720.
I was born in the Year of the Horse, and maybe due to my natural curiosity, I have long had this yearning to learn more about the Chinese Lunar Year.
The Year of the Dragon
In five days, we’ll be celebrating the beginning of a new lunar year.
The Chinese New Year begins with the rising of the second new moon after the winter solstice (December 21), which can take place on any date between January 21 and February 20.
The New Chinese Year festivities fall on February 10th. So get ready to celebrate the Year of the Dragon on Engage with a new writing challenge.
According to the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the luckiest of all creators, and it represents prosperity and good fortune.
The year of the Wood Dragon is the perfect time for new beginnings and bold resolutions.
Those born in the Year of the Dragon may expect great things to come their way.
If you were born within the dates below, then you’re a child of the dragon (I’ll use the Gregorian calendar as a reference).
16/02/1904–03/02/1905
03/02/1916–22/01/1917
23/01/1928–09/02/1929
08/02/1940–26/01/1941
27/01/1952–13/02/1953
13/02/1964–01/02/1965
31/01/1976–17/02/1977
17/02/1988–05/02/1989
05/02/2000–24/01/2001
23/01/2012–09/02/2013
10/02/2024–28/01/2025
February’s writing prompt
This brings us to our motto for our monthly challenge on Engage.
The Chinese New Year
This is a broad prompt, so you’re free to engage your creativity in any way that entices you.
The only challenge requirement is a reference to the Chinese Lunar Year. Use the tags: “Engage,” “Engage Challenge,” and “Chinese New Year.”
If you celebrate the Chinese New Year, we’d love to know more about it.
If you don't, I am sure you can find a creative way to write a personal essay on the topic.
Take my case, for instance; I am a child of the horse.
The horse has a Yang polarity, and its element is fire, ruled by the planet Mars.
Interestingly enough, the traits of my Chinese zodiac go in the opposite direction of what Western astrology says about me.
However, one thing they seem to agree on is how the children of the horse have a natural ability to communicate, adapt, and be versatile.
That’s me, alright.
This prompt also allows us to pick from our January challenge.
I had several authors in our community reach out, saying that they would love to join the challenge and share a story, but they didn’t have the time to submit a story.
Good news: under the new prompt, you can still “Gaze into the horizon of past and New Year resolutions.”
Story Link: Engage Challenge
Below, we’d like to highlight all the great challenge stories we’ve had the pleasure of publishing last month.
January challenge stories
New Year’s Resolution Is Stress For Me
New Year’s Resolutions is stress I can do without, and so can you!
By Annelise Lords
Light, Love, Energy and Resolution
Have you ever stepped out of the…
By Jl Millis
Turning Over a New Leaf on New Year’s Resolutions
New Year, new me? Or just plain nonsense
By Runa Heilung
Breaking Free from Financial Chains in 2024
Rewiring from poverty to FIRE to abundance
By Tabitha Warren
A Resolution to Breathe Freely
2012 became a monumental year for me
By Edith Gallagher Boyd
Positive Thinking And Holistic Happiness Changed My Life
The two pillars for a happy life in 2024
By Sandra Afonso
Time Travel, Weight Loss and Snorkeling
If you’ve heard this one already, let me know, I’ll turn the…
By Wm Raff
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