Happy New Year

We put a new header up on the Rootdown.us site today for Chinese New Year 農曆新年 (or Lunar New Year). It's nice to be able to celebrate here on the site, since its our first year in operation. This new year cycle will be "Year of the Rat." Since much of our medicine's origin is based on Chinese antiquities, tradition and custom, many acupuncturists and herbalists really embrace the lunar calendar. It makes sense, since Traditional Chinese Medicine (or all Traditional Oriental medicine) is rooted in this cycle and plays a big role in the medicine's development, as well as feng shui, etc. So, we like to honor that traditional, even if it is just briefly with our new graphic on the site.

Depending on whom you ask, the year beginning in 2008 is actually going to be year 4706, 4705, or 4645. According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of the Rat is the Earth element this time, (begins on February 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009).

The Rat is the first in the cycle of 12 Animal signs, so it is a time of renewal, or a fresh start. A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. To the Chinese, the Rat is respected and considered a courageous, family-minded, enterprising person. It's supposed to be a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start.

Here's to a good year of fresh starts, new services and productive connections, here at Rootdown.us! Cheers!