owl & crow

stephanie anderson ladd

Kuan-Yin & the Year of the Dragon

Twitt

Happy New Moon and Chinese New Year! It is my birthday today, on the cusp of the New Moon in Aquarius on January 22 and the Chinese New Year on January 23, when the Year of the Dragon commences.

I have this very picture of Kuan-Yin, goddess of compassion, mercy, magic, and fertility on my wall. Her name means “one who perceives sounds,” which means she can hear the cries and prayers of the people, particularly the children of the world.

She is often depicted riding a dragon over the sea. The dragon is an ancient symbol of power, wisdom and transformation. As we enter the year of the dragon, which occurs every 12 years, we can be sure that this will be a year of getting things done on both the spiritual and physical plane.

Whatever you set your mind to this year, you have the strength and power of the dragon to propel you forward. In Chinese astrology, each animal of the year is paired with one of the five elements, and this is the year of the water dragon, also bringing Kwan Yin to mind.

So this is the time to find compassion for ourselves and others, a year to transform on a feeling (water) level, and to complete whatever needs to be healed or transmuted. Water calms the fiery dragon, so there may not be as much upheaval and anger both on an inner and outer level with this tranquil influence.

How auspicious as we enter this new moon in Aquarius, the water bearer, we also welcome the water dragon. We can call in the great bodhisattva (near-Buddha), Kuan-Yin, who vowed never to forsake us as long as there was one human being who had not yet seen the light of truth. She is with us, another form of the Great Mother protector, whenever we need her. We’re in good hands.

If I were adrift upon the ocean

with demons and dragons all around.

I would think of sweet Kuan-Yin

and the hungry waters would subside.

If I were trapped within a furnace

as hot as hell’s own blazes,

I would think of Kuan-Yin’s power,

and the flames would turn to water.

If enemies pursued me, if I were thrown

from a high mountain peak, if knives

were raised against me, if I were imprisoned

or beset by beasts, I would call on her.

Her pity shields me from the lightning.

Her compassion is like a cloud around me,

which rains down sweetness and

puts out the fires of my sorrow.

- Chinese prayer to Kuan-Yin

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This entry was posted by on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at 9:19 pm and is filed under goddess, Myth, wheel of the year. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

About The Author

I am in a stage of new beginnings, of starting over on the other side of the continent from California, where I spent 38 years of my life. Moving to North Carolina was a bit of a shock to my system. Not so much culture shock but the shock of transplanting myself and starting over as a therapist, artist, and wild woman. I had to figure out how I was going to do it differently than I had been doing it. Because I knew I needed to change the way I worked outwardly to match the way I was feeling and moving inwardly and make it more playful, and at the same time, deep and meaningful. I knew I wanted to work with women primarily, to help them find their way on the heroine's journey to wholeness. I knew I wanted to bring more creative expression to my work because that was what was working for me--a way to bypass all the analytical thinking, perfectionism, and psychological paradigms largely created by men, and find more more intuitive ways of Being, Creating and Flowing with Life, in keeping with the Divine Feminine. I like working with the triple goddess: maiden, mother and crone, which describes the three stages of life as well as inner states of being--the innocent/adventurer; the nurturer and active doer; and the wise being who has the advantage of overview and doesn't care as much what others think of her as long as she is being true to herself. The triple goddess is found in most all cultures and traditions and helps us move out of dualistic thinking patterns and find our way to a more integrated and balanced way of life. As I forge a new path, I want to connect with women all over the world, to help women own their power, and to both explore and offer tools for self-discovery and self-care. Creating my interactive e-book, "In the Lap of the Goddess: Connecting With the Divine Feminine," and my Goddess Temple e-courses based on the workbook are my offerings, a way to share with women the knowledge and wisdom we all hold within us, reflected in the goddess throughout history, across time, and in every corner of the world.

Comments

4 Responses to “Kuan-Yin & the Year of the Dragon”

  1. Beth says:
    January 22, 2012 at 10:16 am

    Thank you Stephanie! The image of Kuan Yin riding on the dragon is beautiful. My daughter is on the cusp between Rabbit and Dragon. I was born in the year of the Tiger. My husband born in the year of the Dog. Wow. I appreciate your connecting the wisdom of the east to this coming 2012 year. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. hugs,

  2. Kim says:
    January 22, 2012 at 10:44 am

    Happy Birthday, Stephanie! What a wonderful post! My Soul Sista from the Lodge recently sent me some medicine which included a little amulet of Kuan Yin. I didn’t know much about her but it is particularly special now as my son struggles with unjust prejudices at school – enough that we are considering switching to another school now at mid-year. I feel strengthened by this, especially as the year of the dragon it at the door.

  3. Stephanie says:
    January 22, 2012 at 10:56 am

    Yes, Kuan-Yin makes it her business to protect the children, so being born in the year of the dragon, as your daughter is, Beth, brings in extra safeguards. And calling her and her dragon power in during this time to fight the good fight for your son, Kim, will give you the strength you need to see it through. May we all enjoy both her strength and compassion in the year ahead.

  4. Susan Wells says:
    January 22, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    Thanks for yet another informative post Stephanie! I adore Kuan-Yin. She has so many blessings to offer.

    And… Happy Birthday! It is a delight to get to know you.
    Love,
    Susan

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