Silvermare

Happy New Year!

2014 is the Year of the Green Wooden Horse. The Chinese calendar rotates through a pair of cycles. One cycle consists of twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The other cycle consists of five pairs of elements: Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire, Yang Earth, Yin Earth, Yang Metal, Yin Metal, Yang Water, and Yin Water. Since one cycle consists of twelve parts and the other of only ten, the animal is coupled with a different element each time it comes up in the rotation. 2013 was the Year of the Water Snake. Now, water is giving way to wood and horse is the next animal. Wood in the yang phase is green. Put it all together, and it is the Year of the Green Wooden Horse.  Horse's domains are traveling, competition, and victory. In contemporary terms, it represents speedy success. Horse's element is fire. A wooden horse has plenty of fuel, so it will burn hotter and longer than previous horse years. According to astrologers, that means that 2014 will be a wild ride. For those who harness the fiery energy of Horse by seizing the best opportunities as soon as they are presented, it will be a very prosperous year. For those who are slow to react, it may be a disastrous year because they will be trampled by their competitors. Those who make unwise choices or who don't understand the consequences of their goals may also have a rough year because they will ride wild horses in the wrong direction faster than they can be reined in and turned about. It is said that there is no halfway or middle ground for Horse. Success and ruin are its destinations. So pay attention, act fast, catch the correct horse, hold on tight, and ride it for all its worth.

That is, if you believe in supernatural elements and agents. I am fascinated by the cultural aspect of the Chinese Zodiac, but I am skeptical of its influence over real life events. I respect that some people consult horoscopes before making important decisions or to understand the pattern of events in their lives. I will not attempt to dissuade them. However, I would like to see concrete evidence that it is more than just cultural tradition before I apply such practices to my own life. That said, I do intend to seize each and every day, just in case.

The best thing about the Year of the Horse for everyone who is horse crazy is that it's the perfect opportunity to celebrate the magnificent animal. Since my passion is most often expressed through creativity, I will showcase exemplary equine art throughout the year. I will also put my strongest effort toward finally developing my own talents. Not every art feature will be dedicated to horses, but it will be a recurrent theme throughout 2014. I'll kick it off with a random exhibition of some favorites. If your favorite work of equine art is not displayed in this journal, please leave a comment with a link or a thumbnail. deviantART hosts hundreds of equine artists. A simple search will present thousands of horse themed deviations. I have not seen them all. Please, show me what I have missed. If you see something below that makes your heart skip a beat, just like Velvet Brown in National Velvet, then please click on it and let the artist know that you appreciate their work. A simple fave would be great. A fave and a comment would be even better. Some of the deviations are offered as prints. If Horse is giving you a prosperous year, then spread the wealth while honoring its spirit by purchasing equine art for your home and office.

I wish a prosperous and happy year to all.