Showing posts with label Lunar New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lunar New Year. Show all posts

Monday, December 31, 2018

A Porky New Year


Greetings, Gifted Reader.

Happy New Year!

Besides this being our last post for 2018, we’re also uncertain whether we’ll be returning next year. Our schedules have been getting more hectic all the time, and we’re no longer able to provide a quality post every quarter.

Meanwhile, we’ll be celebrating the Lunar New Year with the Earth Pig on February 5. Do you know what that will mean for you? 

There are lots of websites where you can find detailed information about what to expect for your animal sign during this upcoming year. Here, Gypsy Stars gives you a short overview of Pigs:

Considered to be sociable, Pigs like being around others especially if the crowd is a glamorous one. And, just like real pigs, they’re also gentle and affectionate. While they can be hard workers, Pigs also like to spend a lot of leisure time hanging out with family—especially babies and kids. Pigs can be very nurturing. 

On the other hand, Pigs have a tendency to overindulge in pleasurable pursuits like eating and drinking, which can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle.

For the most part, it seems we’re headed into a year that’s less dramatic, unless some folks in key positions decide to be “pig headed” about things.

Stay tuned! At this time, we still have our Urban Goddess Facebook page and our T-zing tee shirts on Cafe Press.

Good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars



Sunday, December 31, 2017

Sleeping Dogs Lie

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

It’s the last day of 2017 and very likely our last blog post—maybe.

Princess as painted by Yuriko
If we’re not here on March 31 with a fresh post, it means we’ve moved on. We have so many projects loaded on our spinning plates right now that’s it’s become impossible to keep them balanced, let alone continue updating this blog.

Plus, when Facebook took away our business entity name (Gypsy Stars) and forced us into an individual page, we’ve never quite recovered.

On a brighter note, one of the things to look forward to is February 16, 2018 when the Earth Dog arrives at the Lunar New Year.

While we’re still in the Year of the Fire Rooster, we’re continuing to experience some residue from all of the upheavals that have occurred.

Roosters like to boast and you remember the bragging matches between North Korea and the U.S. that put the world on edge.

Even more daunting have been the ferocious fires in California and the horrible hurricanes across the Caribbean and Gulf states.

Here’s a link to some info on the upcoming Dog Year:


As for Gypsy Stars, she believes we should take a good look at the animal representing each year to get a feel for what’s to come.

Dogs are loyal—but to their masters. To their masters’ foes, they are vicious and ready to attack when commanded. Dogs are also protective, but again only of their masters. Most breeds do tend to be friendly towards humans, and enjoy interacting with them more so than other kinds of pets. So maybe this year will bring plenty of true friends for you. Overall, you can expect a year that’s less tumultuous due to the Earth element and a little laidback because dogs like lying around the house a lot.

Meanwhile, we still have our Facebook page The Urban Goddess that promotes metaphysicians everywhere. And, our T_zing t-shirt store is still on Cafe Press. You can even get this golden dog there--without the watermark, of course.

If you don’t hear from us again next year, please drop us a line. We may be persuaded to resume this blog with lots of your barks and your whines, but no bites please.

Good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars






Saturday, January 16, 2016

2016: No Time To Monkey Around

In 2016, Gypsy Stars will be publishing quarterly. After this posting, we’ll be back on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

With that in mind, we’re sending you our best wishes for a happy Lunar New Year, which this year occurs on February 8--a most auspicious number to Chinese as the character sounds like the word for generating wealth.


However the actual first day of the Year of the Red Fire Monkey is February 4. The fire element shows how fast changes can occur, so watch out. Fire may be necessary for cooking and heating, but when it’s out of control fire can spread quickly while wreaking havoc along its path.

As for the Year of the Red Fire Monkey, our advice is to be playful but smart. This is a year that will bring forward lots of bold and innovative ideas. But will they last? The Monkey is clever and inventive, but lacks patience. Don’t have a Monkey mind! Stop your incessant chattering and stay focused on accomplishing your goals.

And, remember that no matter what year it is, if it’s the same as your own animal sign, that animal will be resentful for having to share it with you. If you’re a Monkey, tread lightly this year.

According to Master Tsai, this is the year that invites you to outsmart the Monkey and avoid getting snagged by his/her cunning mind.


Don’t forget to ‘like’ our Facebook page at The UrbanGoddess, where we promote all metaphysicians.

And, you can get your Year of the Monkey t-shirt at our CaféPress T_zing Café store.

Until we meet in March…

Good luck, light and love,

Gypsy Stars

Saturday, May 17, 2014

T. Renee Richardson, DD: The Am-Badass-ador of Light


Greetings, Gifted Reader.

Dr. Renee with Joe Anthony, her battery crystal
The islands of Hawai’i are some of the most sacred spots on earth. It’s little wonder then, that spiritual practitioners choose this location to heal others and, likewise, to be healed. Below, Gypsy Stars interviews T. Renee Richardson, DD, a well-respected professional healer and clairvoyant with over 30 years of experience. Living on Kaua’i, Dr. Renee is known for helping thousands of clients worldwide. With her dedication to her path, her accuracy, compassionate detachment, authenticity, positive attitude and sense of humor, Dr. Renee is a sought-after healer with global recognition.

Q: Dr. Renee, how did you first discover your spiritual gifts, and how old were you then?

A: I’ve perceived energy patterns and spirits since I was born. My earliest memory of any outward expression is when I was three-years old. I’d tell my mother’s friends things about themselves and their lives when they came over to visit with her.

Q: Besides being clairvoyant, you also read Tarot cards and perform hands-on healing. Did one component lead to another, and how?

A: I’d never even heard of divination cards until I was 30-years old. I saw a beautiful Mah Jongg deck in a Jewish deli in Florida. The delicate watercolor images captivated me, and the philosophy coincided with my background in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Most people today know Mah Jongg as a gambling game. However, prior to that in the East, everyone went to the “fortune teller” during Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year). Those cards have developed into the gambling game of today.

When I use cards during a session, I most often use the vibrant Osho Zen Tarot card deck; however, not in the traditional manner. I use the cards as a platform for my clairvoyant visions. They always coincide with the question being addressed by my client. But the card provides an image that I can point to, that they can also see!

Although I now combine clairvoyant consultation and energy healing in sessions, those two skills were developed as separate aspects.

Dr. Renee with Reiki Riki, her distant proxy and working bear
Q: You also use humor for healing. Why is laughter so important?

A: One of my favorite clients says, “Laughter is the cheapest medicine!” The answer is multi-faceted. Laughter lightens the spirit, shifting emotions into a more positive frame of mind. Secondly, laughter literally creates movement in the power center--the abdomen--releasing stuck energy as well as providing healthful movement for the internal organs. Last but not least, ultimately all healing is self-healing. Healers facilitate that healing, but without realization on the part of the client, no lasting healing can occur. Humor and laughter make the healing process more enjoyable, feel safer and less judgmental. It’s easier to accept even the harshest of truths and ugliest of self-realizations when it can be viewed from a humorous point of view.
black bamboo healing wands

Q: You also create handcrafted items like healing wands. How do those implements help your clients?

A: The handcrafted energy healing wands I create increase the potency of the healing sessions as well as extend my stamina. So the clients’ work goes deeper, faster, and their goals are reached more efficiently. With additional stamina, I can see more clients per week and attend to my self-care at the same time. Clients who choose to purchase wands I have available, or have a wand custom made, benefit from having a tool to extend their healing work on their own in a more potent manner. These implements are tools--they are not required, but I’ve found them very useful. I compare using tools or not to choosing to eat a bowl of broth with one’s fingers when there is a spoon available.

Q: For 30 or more years, you've helped heal others. Is there anything you wished you had done differently--started earlier, started later, opted for another career, etc.? 

Golden Lotus Healing Studio
A: At this point, I wouldn’t change a thing. A few years ago, I thought I regretted having combined my metaphysical work with various types of social work, due to the harsh stress that the latter type of work entails. It took a toll on me. It’s been several years now since I retired from social work and released it, focusing solely on my metaphysical work. I must say I’m very grateful for all of that experience, education, and even stress, as those years provided a level of compassion and expertise that most people in this field do not develop. There’s no seminar that could provide that type of training. Those tools added to my skills provide me with the confidence to proudly assert my title, “The AmBadassador of Light!”

Q: How has living in Hawai'i benefited you with your spiritual work?

A: The raw, potent spiritual power of Kaua’i holds, nurtures, challenges, cleanses, motivates and inspires me. I feel at one with the spirit of the island. Especially as I live right by a stream, between the bubbling sound and the continuous energetic movement, I feel wrapped in a fluid burrito of unflappable Divinity!

Q: Any future plans--books, lectures, readings, etc.?

A: Yes! Thanks for asking!
1. I will soon release my publication, “Try this at Home! A 4-Step Practical Guide to Intuitive Development”, as a free download via my upcoming new online presence. Stay tuned! Current url: www.psychic-services.com
2. I will address newly requested subject matter demystifying metaphysical concerns and where people tend to get stuck. http://reneespeaks.wordpress.com
3. I am currently developing a workshop series offering practical application of metaphysical subjects, to help action-oriented people move forward more efficiently and with more enjoyment. Starting locally and expanding to online.
4. I will make my handcrafted energy healing wands available from my new online presence.

Contact me for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation appointment to discover if my services are a good match to address your needs during your transition--embrace a life of new vibrancy! Email: info@psychic-services.com. For more information about my service packages, visit: www.psychic-services.com. To join my Facebook business page and receive exclusive offers, inspirational information, and event updates, go to: https://www.facebook.com/psychic-services.

Mahalo nui loa, Dr. Renee.

Readers, don’t forget our T_zing t-shirts at CafĂ© Press. And, for those in Honolulu, you can read our quarterly Animal Astrology horoscopes in "Cherry Pop Revue" magazine.

See you back here on July 19. A hui hou.

Good luck, light and love,
Gypsy Stars



Saturday, January 28, 2012

Enter The Dragon Year


Greetings, Gifted Reader!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Here we are, about to Enter the Dragon…Year, that is. In Chinese Astrology, or as I like to call it--Asian Astrology, dragons are the only mythical animal among the twelve. And, that’s what makes them so special.

Chinatown, Vancouver, B.C.
Let’s start with why I call it Asian Astrology. Chinese Astrology incorporates twelve animals that each rule one year; the aforementioned dragon along with the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Legend says that Buddha asked all animals to visit his deathbed, and these twelve are the only ones that showed up. So, Buddha honored each with their own year—one right after the other in order of their arrival.

Since Buddha was born in India, and later appeared as a deity in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, etc., he seems to be more international than just Chinese to me. Thus, I like to call it Asian Astrology although Japanese use a cat instead of a rabbit and Vietnamese use the water buffalo in lieu of the ox.

Read more here:



Japanese New Year postcard
So, what happens in a dragon year? Well, dragons are fearless while they tend to instill fear in others. Overall, people will display more boldness and bravery in their actions.

Dragons are also lucky. Taking a chance on something untried will produce beneficial results. If you’re a gambler, try a new casino or bingo parlor.

Being mythical gives dragons magical powers and they have the ability to rise from their ashes, sort of like the Scorpion’s phoenix. If there’s a project you’ve tossed out, you might consider retrieving it now. Same goes for any relationships. Try to salvage something you thought was finished. You could be surprised.

Dragons are also charismatic, creative and dynamic. This is a great time for a makeover. Tired of your old hairstyle? Want to lose weight? Start wearing more red? You can do it all, baby! The dragon says so.

According to the website below, Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year, began on January 23, but the dragon year begins February 4. If you haven’t cleaned your house or decorated it with red yet, you still have time.

Each Asian Astrology year also has an element and color, and this year it’s water and black. The usually fiery dragon will be much calmer with water soothing its quick temper.

This website also explains the five elements in depth:



Chinatown/International District,
Seattle WA
Another characteristic of the dragon is its independence. If you really want to experience good fortune, allow your dragon freedom to roam. Let it go, and the dragon shall return--bringing you prosperity.

Remember, you can friend’ Gypsy Stars on Facebook, like’ The Urban Goddess fan page that supports metaphysicians everywhere, and purchase a T_zing t-shirt.

Finally, and this is going to make you crazy, but Gypsy Stars is going back to her original schedule of publishing the third Saturday of every month. (See rising phoenix reference above.) In December, we changed our publishing date to the last Saturday of the month before noting that there were actually five Saturdays that month. Consequently, we ended up publishing on the fourth Saturday.

We’re not sure why this is happening except that Mars is now retrograde so we’ve re-thought our action and don’t care for it anymore. And, of course, our Water Dragon is allowing us to re-do what we did wrong.

Until we meet again,

Good luck, light and love,

Gypsy Stars

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Bunny Hop!

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

It’s almost Lunar New Year, so get ready for the Rabbit's arrival on February 3.

If you think that was a wild ride you took on the back of the Tiger last year, you’re right. Tigers are highly energetic. They’re also predators. If you encountered more than one individual in the past twelve months that seemed to zap your strength, well, that’s pretty indicative of a Tiger. Grrr!


Last year also represented the Metal element, so if you tackled intellectual pursuits you should see good results this year. Have you published your book or sold your screenplay yet?

But, back to the Rabbit. Although, you may feel calmer with the gentle Rabbit ruling the world, you could also find yourself intimidated by overwhelming circumstances. And, this year is a Metal Rabbit--so, once again, wear your thinking cap often.


Be forewarned the Rabbit is a prey animal. Unlike the ferocious Tiger, the Rabbit tends to be nervous as it checks out its environment for natural enemies. A good habit to develop this year is mediation to keep those stresses at bay. Rabbits need a lot of quiet time to reflect and regroup. Oh, and eating lots of carrots couldn't hurt.

In Japan and Vietnam, it’s the Year of the Cat. Although felines aren’t exactly as passive as rabbits, they can be a little tentative, too.

Below are a couple of links that go into more details about the Rabbit. For now, my advice is to take time to think before you hop back into your Rabbit hole.




That's me, above, wearing leopard print to represent the Cat. And, below that, some good old times at Kakaoka Park in Honolulu where feral cats lived in bunches.

Leaving you with good luck, light and love,

Gypsy Stars



Saturday, December 25, 2010

Winter Solstice: A Fresh New Year in the Deadest of Seasons


Greetings, Gifted Reader!

A lot of you are probably celebrating Christmas today, but for those like me it’s just a part of the Winter Solstice season. This is a time when the earth tilts in rotation so that we are farthest from the Sun. Therefore, pretty things like flowers cease to grow and trees lose their beautiful leaves. This is a time of death.



It’s been said that in the old days, humans grew fearful during Winter Solstice as each day became shorter and darkness enveloped them for longer periods of time. Plunged into colder, sunless days, they were terrified the world was coming to an end. Huddled together in hibernation, they would emerge once they realized the days were growing longer and the sun shone brightly again. That’s when they celebrated with feasts and festivities.


Besides observing religious beliefs at this time of year, many cultures around the world also acknowledge the Winter Solstice with social events. And, the tales of the Sun’s return are many. For one, the Japanese tell a story about Amaterasu, the sun goddess, who hid in a cave until she was tricked into emerging and bringing the warm light back with her.


Another interesting phenomenon this time of the year is the celebration of New Year’s during the bleakest, darkest period on earth. Because of powerful men in high places, we live by a calendar that doesn’t always sync with Nature. Obviously, the beginning of life starts in spring, and in Astrology the New Year begins with the sign Aries.

The Sun in Capricorn (December 21-January 20) is a weird time to be celebrating a New Year since its Saturn ruler is harsh and restrictive. Do you recall that Saturn ate his own children? Not exactly a bright and sunny disposition--that one. Again, death.

Among Chinese and other Asian ethnicities, the New Year is calculated by the position of the Moon. The upcoming Lunar New Year of the Rabbit (or Cat in Japan) will be celebrated on February 3. 

Gypsy Stars is at work now creating a new line of t-shirts for you.


 Regardless of your personal beliefs, it’s safe to say that Nature always gets her way. Please be respectful and don’t eat Her animals.

Due to an unbelievably hectic schedule, Gypsy Stars is now moving to a once mid-month posting. Look for our return on January 15.

Until next year, leaving you with good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars