Category Archives: Tibetan Astrology

Bring Meaning & Benefit to 2026 by Taking a Vow of Nonviolence for 1 Day, Multiple Days, or a Full Year

Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché

The auspicious day of March 3, 2026 is the first full moon of the Year of the Fire Horse and marks the traditional birth anniversary of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap as well as the birth anniversary of His Eminence Menri Pönlop Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche. This is an especially auspicious time to perform virtue and receive vows because the power of the activity is greatly multiplied. By taking a vow of nonviolence to abstain from eating meat from compassionate loving kindness during this time, unimaginable spiritual merit and benefit for both self and others is generated. One can accept this vow for a single day, multiple days, or for the entire Fire Horse year. The names of all those who take the vow and submit the form below will be offered to His Eminence Menri Pönlop Rinpoche on February 27th for the benefit of his long life and indestructible good health. Information on taking the vow and submitting the form are below.

Compassion, Virtue, and the Importance of Taking a Vow

In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, and many other wisdom traditions throughout the world, one of the foundational precepts is that of nonviolence towards other beings. Violence and harm towards others originates from the arising of one or more of the five poisons of ignorance, anger, attachment, greed, or jealousy as a thought that develops into harmful speech or harmful actions. As spiritual practitioners, our practice is to diminish the five poisons and to develop wisdom and realization. By being mindful of the actions of our body, speech, and mind, and training ourselves towards acts of virtue and compassion for others, not only does this reduce our own suffering and confusion, but it also brings greater meaning to our life and expands our view beyond that of temporary, worldly concerns and desires.

In our modern world, it is rare to need to kill animals and eat their flesh in order to survive. We now have many other choices available to us. Therefore, it is not necessary to eat food that has been the cause for animals to experience such great suffering and fear. Additionally, because of the desire to eat meat, others are engaged in the nonvirtue of breeding, keeping, and slaughtering animals which in turn creates a cause of suffering for them.

However, just being a vegetarian is not necessarily an act of virtue. When cows only eat grass it is not an act of virtue because they have not made a choice to eat as an act of compassion. It is just their nature. Similarly, many people abstain from eating meat for a variety of reasons that are not related to compassion for other beings. This is good, but it is not an act of virtue. By refraining from eating meat as a result of generating compassion and a wish that others not suffer, makes it an act of virtue. By first accepting this as a vow and then fulfilling that vow, not only is there benefit from the virtuous activity but there is also the benefit and merit of having fulfilled a sacred vow. Doing this on an auspicious day greatly multiplies the power of these virtuous acts. (For more about virtue and nonvirtue, see this previous article: https://ravencypresswood.com/2024/10/26/buddha-tonpa-shenraps-instructions-for-lay-practitioners-part-1-of-3-right-mind-right-conduct/) The benefits of saving animals from slaughter are so great that both Yungdrung Bön and Buddhism have specific rituals for this special act of compassion.

A goat that has been saved from ever being slaughtered wears the five-colored cloth of having been consecrated and empowered..

The 19th century Yungdrung Bön master Khyungtrul Jigmé Namkha Rinpoche gave the following advice to both the ordained and the laypeople of Khyunglung Gurgyam regarding eating meat:

“It is said that meat is the cause of suffering, wrongdoing, and negative rebirths. If it is possible to give it up, it is much better. Even if you have a very great desire to eat meat, do not accumulate this defilement every day. Those who eat meat are lacking in the exalted quality of compassion.” 

In the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, it is common to take a vow of abstaining from eating any kind of animal meat as a temporary vow. These vows are often observed by laypeople during the four auspicious days each month which are the full moon, new moon, and two quarter moon days. Anyone performing a healing ritual, especially any kind of longevity practice, abstains from eating meat. After the death of a loved one, it is an especially powerful act of virtue to accept a vow of abstaining from meat for a full year and dedicating the merit of that virtue for the deceased.

The Seven Causal Means of Cultivating Compassion and the Mind of Enlightenment for the Benefit of Others

The Yungdrung Bön religious tradition gives a specific, seven-point practice to train the mind to generate compassion for others. This practice can be applied to any situation, especially when feeling kindness and compassion seem difficult.

  1. མ་ཤེས།   Ma shé: knowing the mother. We remind ourselves that at some point throughout our limitless lifetimes, every sentient being as acted as as our kind mother by offering her body for our birth, and caring for us to keep us alive and safe, even in the face of danger and hardships.
  2. དྲིན་དྲན།   Din den: being grateful. We Feel grateful for their great kindness and sacrifice.
  3. དྲིན་དུ་བཟོས།   Din du zö: repaying the kindness.  Feeling grateful, we generate the desire to repay their kindness.
  4. བྱམས་པ།   Jam pa: loving kindness. We generate loving kindness towards them a wish that they experience happiness.
  5. སྙིང་རྗེ།   Nying jé: compassion. We generate a wish that this person not experience suffering.
  6. ལྷག་བསམ།   Lak sam: a special kind of motivation, “I will do it!” We firmly decide to act in order to bring them happiness and remove their suffering.
  7. བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས།   Jang chup sém: the mind of enlightenment. Having decided to act, we engage in acts and practices not only for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others and their release from suffering.
His Eminence Menri Pönlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche

Take the Vow, Fulfill the Commitment, Dedicate the Merit, and Make Aspirations for the Future

It is said that it is possible to go before any image of an enlightened one, a chorten [Sanskrit: stupa], or a sacred text, prostrate with devotion, and accept a vow. Although this is considered a real vow, it is also considered unstable because there is no living witness. Because of the absence of a witness or community that is aware of the vow that has been taken, it is easier for the vow to be broken. Therefore, everyone who submits the form below with the details of their sacred vow will have their name given to H.E. Menri Pönlop Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche who will act as the sacred witness of their vow. These names will be given to him together with a monetary offering and a prayer for his long and healthy life.

The Vow and How to Formerly Accept It

The actual vow is to accept the complete abandonment of eating any kind of animal flesh from a mind of compassionate loving kindness for the avowed time period. Additionally, one aspires to refrain from all harmful actions of body, speech, and mind.

The time period for the vow can be the single, auspicious day of March 3, 2026. The time period for the day is marked from dawn of March 3rd until dawn of March 4th. Or, one can choose to take the vow for every full moon day of the Year of the Fire Horse. [Days are marked as described above and the lunar dates for these specific days are listed at the bottom of this article.] Or, one can choose to take the vow for every full moon day AND every new moon day. Or, one can choose to take the vow for all four auspicious days each month which are the full moon, the new moon, the lunar 8th day, and the lunar 22nd day. Or, one can choose to take the vow for the entire Year of the Fire Horse from the first full moon day of March 3rd until the dawn of the next lunar year on February 7, 2027.

To accept the vow, fill out the form below and submit as soon as possible. Then, on February 27th (the day the commitments will be offered to H.E. Menri Pönlop Rinpoche*) in the morning go before a sacred image, chorten, or scripture of the Yungdrung Bön and perform three prostrations with devotion. If none of these sacred supports are available, it is possible to use the image of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap at the top of this article as a sacred image. If one knows the practices of guru yoga, refuge, and generating the mind enlightenment, perform these as the foundation. If not, imagine the sky is infinitely filled with enlightened ones who spontaneously radiate the pure light of their immeasurable compassion to you, penetrating your body, speech, and mind with their blessings. Generate a wish to develop within yourself this same kind of wisdom and immeasurable compassion. As part of that practice of compassion, accept the vow of nonviolence with these words:

“Because of wanting others to not suffer and instead to experience happiness, I vow to refrain from eating meat for [state time period you have decided to keep the vow]. During this time, may I not cause any harm to others through the actions of my body, speech, or mind, and may the seeds of this virtuous activity increase and ripen into a beneficial result for all sentient beings that is unimaginable!”

In The Wish-fulfilling Jewel of Daily Practice, Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche details thirteen daily yogas to be performed as a way to integrate the activities of daily life into spiritual practice. As a support for keeping sacred vows that have been taken, he gives the following advice:

“Each day at sunrise, remember the vows you have previously taken and generate the intention to guard them so that they do not degenerate.”

*If it is not possible to perform the acceptance of the vow on this day, then it is fine to do so between February 27th and March 2nd.

My Commitment to Nonviolence

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

The Time Commitment of My Vow of Nonviolence (Choose One):

Lunar Dates for Auspicious Days During the Year of the Fire Horse

  • March 3rd= FULL MOON
  • March 10th= 22nd Lunar Day
  • March 18th= NEW MOON
  • March 26th= 8th Lunar Day
  • April 1st= FULL MOON
  • April 9th= 22nd Lunar Day
  • April 17th= NEW MOON
  • April 24th= 8th Lunar Day
  • May 1st= FULL MOON
  • May 8th= 22nd Lunar Day
  • May 16th= NEW MOON
  • May 24th= 8th Lunar Day
  • May 31st= FULL MOON
  • June 7th= 22 Lunar Day
  • June 15th= NEW MOON
  • June 22nd= 8th Lunar Day
  • June 29th= FULL MOON
  • July 7th= 22nd Lunar Day
  • July 14= NEW MOON
  • July 22nd=8th Lunar Day
  • July 29th= FULL MOON
  • August 5th=22nd Lunar Day
  • August 12th= NEW MOON
  • August 20th= 8th Lunar Day
  • August 28th= FULL MOON
  • September 3rd=22 Lunar Day
  • September 11th=NEW MOON
  • September 19th=8th Lunar Day
  • September 26th= FULL MOON
  • October 3rd=22nd Lunar Day
  • October 10th = NEW MOON
  • October 18th= 8th Lunar Day
  • October 26th= FULL MOON
  • November 1st= 22 Lunar Day
  • November 9th = NEW MOON
  • November 17th= 8th Lunar Day
  • November 24th= FULL MOON
  • November30= 22nd Lunar Day
  • December 8th= NEW MOON
  • December 17= 8th Lunar Day
  • December= FULL MOON SKIPPED THIS MONTH
  • December 30th= 22nd Lunar Day
  • January 7th 2027= NEW MOON
  • January 15th= 8th Lunar Day
  • January 22= FULL MOON
  • January 28= 22nd Lunar Day
  • February 6th= NEW MOON
  • FEBRUARY 7th 2027 is LOSAR, TIBETAN NEW YEAR

Raven Cypress Wood ©All Rights Reserved. No content, in part or in whole, is allowed to be used without direct permission from the author.

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Happy New Year! Highlights of 2025 for Nine Ways and A Peek Into 2026

Happy New Year! I would like to take this opportunity to share a little bit about the work of Nine Ways in 2025 and what is on its way in 2026. First, I would like to thank all of you who donated towards the work of Nine Ways in the past year. It is these donations that make Nine Ways possible and support my ability to translate Yungdrung Bön texts and publish articles and books to support the worldwide sangha. I appreciate each and every donation and offer my heartfelt gratitude. In this time when it seems as though everything is becoming monetized, I remain committed to keeping Nine Ways free and accessible without a paywall in 2026. However, this is only possible through your support. Supporters giving once a year or monthly donations are the reason Nine Ways is still available. Thank you!

2025

In 2025, Nine Ways published 30 articles with over 55,000 views throughout 139 different countries. Many articles were subsequently translated into other languages and, with permission, published on other websites to extend the reach of Nine Ways even further.

The Nine Ways website expanded to include the Nine Ways Shop ( https://ravencypresswood.com/nine-ways-shop/ ) that offers practice support and ritual items for Yungdrung Bön practitioners in the continental U.S. Purchase of the current items supports the memorial chorten for Yangtön Lama Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche that will be built in his home village of Tsarka in Dolpo, Nepal. To date, Nine Ways has raised over $1,500 for the chorten. These funds have been sent to his nephew, Geshe Tenzin Yangtön, who is overseeing the planning of the chorten. With these additional funds, he is now happily planning a larger and nicer chorten than he originally thought was possible.

In September, A Blazing Mala of Wish-fulfilling Jewels: A Compilation of Daily Prayers from the Yungdrung Bön Religious Tradition was published. For more about this book, see the announcement article here: https://ravencypresswood.com/2025/09/28/now-available-a-blazing-mala-of-wish-fulfilling-jewels-a-compilation-of-daily-prayers-from-the-yungdrung-bon-religious-tradition/

Throughout the year, due to the visibility of Nine Ways, I am contacted by Yungdrung Bön practitioners around the world requesting help in arranging personal rituals or prayers, seeking clarification regarding Tibetan language or translation advice, and/or help in connecting with a community sangha or nearest Yungdrung Bön lama. Please continue to reach out. I am happy to help when I can or connect you with someone else who can help.

2026

In 2026, Nine Ways will continue to offer articles related to the Yungdrung Bön tradition free of charge. If there is a particular subject that you would like to know more about and think it might also be of interest to the wider community, feel free to email me at RCW108@Gmail.com and suggest topics for articles.

In 2026, I will be expanding my online and in-person mentorship of Yungdrung Bön practitioners seeking guidance or advice regarding their practice or in preparation for an intensive personal retreat. These can be one-time consultations or regular meetings based upon what is most needed at the time. I am also available on a more limited basis for those wanting to have in-person support or guidance for their practice or personal retreat for one or more days. Email me at RCW108@Gmail.com for more information or to set up an appointment.

In response to many requests over the past couple of years, online classes are coming! I am in the process of planning a series of one-day as well as multi-day classes and support groups. Stayed tuned for more updates.

Nine Ways will publish my book of prayers and practice guidance that are for the benefit of those recently deceased. This book is entitled Planting a Garden of Virtue for the Deceased. This book will contain prayers and rituals that are performed throughout the first three days after death and the subsequent 49 days of the intermediate state before rebirth. Among the prayers that have been translated to include in this book is The Sutra of Destroying the Doors to Negative Rebirths. This text is one commonly recited in the Yungdrung Bön Tibetan community especially if a death was the result of a sudden accident or any kind of violence. In February 2025, a dear friend of mine was shot and killed in a random act of violence. This is the prayer suggested to me by His Eminence Menri Pönlop Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche. Having recited this prayer for 49 days, I was inspired to translate and publish it for the benefit of others. This is an excerpt from The Prayers of Aspiration within The Sutra of Destroying the Doors to Negative Rebirths:

“Having stopped the continuation of the heat and cold of the hell beings, may hatred and anger transform into an expanse of loving kindness! Having stopped the continuation of the hunger and thirst of the hungry ghosts, may desire and attachment transform into an expanse of generosity! Having stopped the continuation of the stupidity and muteness of the animals, may dull-mindedness transform into an expanse of wisdom! Having stopped the continuation of the savagery of humans, may jealousy transform into an expanse of openness! Having stopped the continuation of the fighting and disputes of the demi-gods, may pride transform into an expanse of peacefulness! Having stopped the continuation of the loss and downfall of the gods, may laziness transform into an expanse of diligence! Having stopped the continuation of the delusions of the beings in the intermediate state, may they transform into buddhas of happiness!”

Title page of The Sutra of Destroying the Doors to Negative Rebirths

The Tibetan New Year, or Losar, will be on February 18th and will be The Year of the Fire Horse. The article describing the significance of the Fire Horse year and its meaning according to Tibetan astrology will be published on Nine Ways in the coming weeks.

I hope that everyone and their loved ones are all doing well and that 2026 brings you abundant happiness, indestructible health, prosperity, merit, and positive circumstances!

Raven Cypress Wood with His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche

Raven Cypress Wood ©All Rights Reserved. No content, in part or in whole, is allowed to be used without direct permission from the author.

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2025 Tibetan Astrology: The Year of the Wood Snake

The twelve animals of Tibetan astrology according to the Yungdrung Bön texts are the Rat, Elephant, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Snake, Sheep, Garuda, Monkey, Dog and Pig.  Each animal has a specific element associated with its life-force and a position direction determined by that element. Each year one of these twelve animals is associated with one of the five elements of: metal, wood, fire, water, or earth. In other contexts, metal is referred to as space, and wood is referred to as wind or air. It takes sixty years for all twelve animals to be associated with each of the five elements. When this happens, it is considered one complete cycle that repeats again and again.

The Royal Tibetan New Year begins on the first lunar day of the first lunar month. February 28, 2025 begins the Royal Tibetan New Year and the Year of the Wood Snake. Therefore, people born on or after February 28th will be a Wood Snake and will have an emphasis of the specific qualities associated with the Snake.

The 1st lunar day of the 12th lunar month is celebrated as New Year’s Day according to the custom of the ancient land of Zhang Zhung that included a vast geographical area including Tibet, parts of Nepal, and the area previously known as Persia. This is still celebrated in areas throughout the Himalayas as Sonam New Year, Himalayan New Year, or Peasants New Year. In 2025, this date coincides with January 30th. Additionally, the Chinese New Year in 2025 occurs on January 29th. Sometimes the Tibetan New Year and Chinese New Year fall on the same date, and sometimes not. This is due to a difference of how the years are calculated within the 60 year cycle.

People born during the year of the Snake will have an emphasis on the specific qualities associated with Snake. The element which governs the life-force of the Snake is Fire. So, if a Snake person wanted to strengthen their life-force, they would focus upon strengthening the element of Fire internally and externally. The positive direction is South. Facing this direction while meditating, doing healing practices, or just relaxing the mind is beneficial.

In general, a Snake person can see the depth of things and spends a lot of time thinking and processing. They can recognize the underlying motivation of others even if they do not recognize it within themselves and might use this to their advantage at times. A Snake person enjoys luxury and loves to be in elegant and beautiful surroundings. They can have an intolerance for hardship or discomfort. Generally magnetic and charming, they are socially graceful and often surrounded by admirers. However, they can become vengeful when angered. Thus, they benefit from the practicing tolerance and openness.

The Snake’s soul day is Tuesday and its life-force day is Friday. These are the best days for beginning new projects and activities that are meant to increase or develop something. The obstacle day is Wednesday. This day is best for purification and letting things go. It is not a favorable day for beginning new activities.

Snake years include: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, & 2013

If you were born during a previous year of the Snake, this year as well as other Snake years are considered a time of vulnerability to obstacles. This same astrological principal applies to the other eleven animal signs during their associated year. Therefore, it is recommended to engage in practices that support vitality, good fortune and spiritual merit such as hanging prayer flags, having a soul and life-force retrieval ritual performed, restoring any deterioration or violation of one’s spiritual commitments or any damaged relationship with one’s spiritual brothers and sisters, and/or performing prayers and rituals to remove obstacles. In general, making an effort to engage more with virtuous activities of body, speech and mind and committing to engage less with non-virtuous activities is supportive. According to the words of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché, the practice of developing sincere, unbiased, and unlimited compassion is the greatest of all protections.

A common prayer within the Yungdrung Bön tradition that is used to remove obstacles is the Bar Che Lam Sel, The Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path. The English, Spanish, and Portuguese translations of this prayer are offered free for personal use on the Nine Ways Publications page. Click on the Publications tab above and scroll down to find the download link for the prayer.

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2024: Year of the Male Wood Dragon

The Tibetan lunar new year of 2024 corresponds with February 10th on the Western calendar and is the start of the Year of the Male Wood Dragon. The Year of the Male Wood Dragon continues until February 27, 2025.

According to Tibetan astrology, there is a twelve year cycle with each year being characterized by a specific animal and associated with one of the five elements. A complete cycle of the twelve animals in association with each of the five elements takes sixty years. These twelve animals according to Yungdrung Bön astrological texts are the Rat, Elephant, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Snake, Sheep, Garuda, Monkey, Dog, and Pig.  Each animal is associated with a specific element for its life-force as well as a specific direction which is determined by the life-force element.  Not only are these twelve animals associated with a particular year, they are also associated with particular months, days and hours.

For those born during a previous year of the Dragon, this year as well as all other Dragon years are considered a time when there is a great possibility of obstacles, illness, financial troubles, accidents, or harm to the reputation through scandal or gossip. This same astrological principal applies for all of the other eleven animal signs during their associated years. Therefore, it is recommended to be proactive in order to dispel or avert the obstacles. It is advised that Dragon people engage in practices that support vitality, good fortune, and spiritual merit such as hanging prayer flags, saving or protecting the life of other living beings, making sa tsa, repairing any deterioration or violation of one’s spiritual commitments or any damaged relationship with one’s spiritual brothers and sisters, and/or performing prayers and rituals to remove obstacles. Reciting the mantras of Duk Kar, Jamma, or the Medicine Buddha as well as invoking and making offerings to the protectors is of great benefit in providing protection and blessing.

Duk Kar, the White Umbrella Goddess of the Yungdrung Bön

Those people born during a Dog year also have the possibility of a significant obstacle during the Wood Dragon year. Legal difficulties, problems with business competitors, or other adversarial relationships could arise. Therefore, they are also advised to recite the mantras of Duk Kar, Jamma, or the Medicine Buddha and/or to repair roads or paths, make sa tsa, and perform rituals to reverse misfortune.

Those born under the sign of the Ox or the Sheep may experience accidents or illness. Reciting the Medicine Buddha mantra, caring for the physical health, being mindful to especially avoid contagious illness during the Wood Dragon year, and/or performing a ritual of ransom to reinforce the life force are all methods to avert the potential obstacle. To a much lesser degree, those born under the sign of the Mouse and the Monkey might also encounter obstacles, illness, or problems during the Wood Dragon year. 

In general, making an effort to engage more with virtuous activities of body, speech and mind and endeavoring to engage less with non-virtuous activities increases merit, removes obstacles, and supports all the forces of our vitality, health, and good fortune. According to the words of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché, the practice of developing sincere, unbiased and unlimited compassion is the greatest of all protections.

A common prayer within the Yungdrung Bön tradition that is used to remove obstacles is the Bar Che Lam Sel, The Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path. The English, Spanish and Portuguese translations of this prayer are offered free for the personal use of any sincere practitioner. Click on the Publications tab above and scroll down to the download links for the prayer.

Thangkha depiction of Yungdrung Bön astrological symbols. Private collection: Raven Cypress Wood

People born during Dragon years will have an emphasis of the specific qualities associated with the Dragon. The element which governs the life-force of the Dragon is Earth and its direction is Southeast. Therefore, if a Dragon person wanted to strengthen their life-force, they would focus upon strengthening the element of Earth internally and externally. The positive direction is Southeast. Facing this direction while meditating, doing healing rituals, or just relaxing and taking deep breaths is beneficial for those with the Dragon as their natal animal..

In general, the Dragon is flamboyant and impulsive.  It has a fiery disposition whose energy and drive seem endless. Convinced of its superiority of destiny and vision, it wants to live life to its fullest and is often frustrated and impatient with the perceived limitations of others and circumstances. The Dragon always wants more. It has lots of charisma, wit, and enthusiasm that is admired by others and are thus often placed in leadership roles. The Dragon can also be unrealistic in its demands and can become angry to the point of deeply wounding others due to its lack of tact.  However, the Dragon easily forgives, and is sincere and generous in its relationships. The Dragon‘s intentions are clear since it is difficult for it to conceal whatever it is feeling.

The Dragon’s soul day is Sunday and its life-force day is Wednesday. These are the best days for beginning new projects and activities. The obstacle day is Thursday.  This day is best for cleansing and letting things go and for not taking risks or speaking mindlessly. It is not a favorable day for beginning new things such as starting a fundraising effort, signing contracts, groundbreaking for construction, and so on.

Dragon years include: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, & 2012

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2023: Year of the Water Rabbit

The twelve animals of Tibetan astrology according to Yungdrung Bön are the Rat, Elephant, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Snake, Sheep, Garuda, Monkey, Dog, and Pig. Each animal has a specific element associated with its lifeforce and a positive direction determined by that element. Each year, one of these twelve animals is associated with one of the five elements of either metal, wood, fire, water, or earth. In other contexts, metal is referred to as space, and wood is referred to as wind or air. It takes sixty years for all twelve animals to be associated with each of the five elements. When this happens, it is considered one complete cycle that repeats again and again.

February 21, 2023 begins the Tibetan Royal New Year and the Year of the Water Rabbit. The year of the Water Rabbit continues until February 9, 2024. Therefore, people born on or after February 21st will have the natal astrology of a Water Rabbit with its associated characteristics. In general, Rabbit years are considered to be times of calm and ease that bring beauty and harmony. They are periods with less suffering and conflict. Thus, people have more time for entertainment, pleasure, and enjoyment. Because of this, there is the temptation to become lazy and distracted especially if the previous year was especially difficult. Also, Rabbit years are often times of population growth.

In general, the Rabbit is kind and polite, and enjoys elegance and comfort. It protects its peaceful environment and will make an effort to avoid conflict and confusion which can give others the impression of being indifferent or aloof. If the Rabbit feels directly threatened, it will express its anger through subtlety and cleverness rather than outbursts.

The element which governs the lifeforce of the Rabbit is Wood and its positive direction is East. So, if a Rabbit person wanted to strengthen their lifeforce, they would focus upon strengthening the element of Wood internally and externally. This could be as simple as wearing the color green which is associated with the element Wood. The Rabbit’s positive direction is East. So, facing this direction while meditating, reciting prayers, or just relaxing and taking deep breaths is beneficial. The negative direction is West. This is the direction from which danger or obstacles are most likely to arise and it is the direction towards which to release and let go of negativity or for ritual offerings to pacify negative forces.

The Rabbit’s soul day is Thursday and the life-force day is Saturday. These are the best days for beginning new projects, activities to increase or develop something, or meeting new people. The obstacle day is Friday. This day is best for cleansing and letting things go. It is an unfavorable day for beginning new projects or taking risks.

Rabbit years include: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, and 2011

Thangkha depicting the Tibetan astrological symbols and their relationships. Private collection: Raven Cypress Wood

According to Tibetan astrology, there are five factors associated with each year that have a corresponding element. These five factors are lifeforce, health, personal power, lungta or the force of good luck, and soul. The elements associated with these five factors change each year. For the Water Rabbit year of 2023, these five factors and their associated elements are:

  • Lifeforce: Wood
  • Health: Metal
  • Personal Power: Water
  • Lungta: Fire
  • Soul: Water

Although the associated elements to the five factors change each year, the element associated with the lifeforce is determined by the animal sign. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the influence of the year of the Water Rabbit upon the lifeforce of each of the other natal animal signs without having knowledge of the respective birth year. This influence is calculated by the relationship of the five elements to one another. For example, the element of Wood is considered the Mother of the element of Fire. Thus, a Wood to Fire relationship is considered Excellent. However, a Fire to Wood relationship is considered Neutral. There are six possible types of combinations that result in a relationship that is either Excellent, Very Good, Good, Neutral, Bad, or Very Bad. The influence of the Water Rabbit year on the lifeforce of each of the astrological signs is as follows:

  • Rat: Neutral
  • Elephant: Very Bad
  • Tiger: Bad
  • Rabbit: Bad
  • Dragon: Very Bad
  • Snake: Excellent
  • Horse: Excellent
  • Sheep: Very Bad
  • Monkey: Very Good
  • Garuda: Very Good
  • Dog: Very Bad
  • Pig: Neutral

Because these are calculations regarding the lifeforce, if the prediction is negative it would be particularly beneficial for those individuals to protect the lifeforce of other beings, to perform or sponsor the performance of a Life Release ritual which frees those animals that would be otherwise killed, or to contribute to the care of homeless people and/or stray animals. Also, it would be very beneficial to perform longevity practices such as The Longevity Practice of Tsewang Rikdzin (https://www.lulu.com/shop/raven-cypress-wood/indestructible-the-longevity-practice-of-tsewang-rikdzin/hardcover/product-23499207.html?page=1&pageSize=4), and to recite many longevity mantras. These activities specifically protect and strengthen the lifeforce.

This calculation concerns only one factor among five and is only a partial view of the totality of the possible influence of the year. Tibetan astrology includes calculations based upon the influence of both the five elements as well as calculations based upon the influence of the constellations. In order to have a complete prediction of possible influences or events, it is necessary to look at a complete astrological calculation based upon an individual’s date and time of birth.

However, especially if a person was born during a previous year of the Rabbit, this year is considered a specific time of vulnerability to obstacles and illness. Therefore, it is recommended that those individuals take preventive measures to reverse or at least diminish the potential for any problems or obstacles to arise. It is important for them to avoid any risky behavior and take extra care with their health and safety. Making an effort to engage more with virtuous activities of body, speech, and mind and engaging less with non-virtuous activities as well as encouraging this behavior in others is a method to eliminate obstacles. Additionally, spiritual activities that support merit, good fortune, and health such as hanging prayer flags, donating to spiritual practitioners or any kind of charitable work, repairing damaged or broken spiritual commitments with one’s lama, spiritual community, or enlightened beings, connecting with the protectors and meditational deities, having a soul and life-force retrieval ritual performed, and regularly performing prayers and/or rituals to remove obstacles are skillful methods to reverse potential negativity. According to the words of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché, the practice of developing sincere, unbiased and unlimited compassion is the greatest of all protections.

A common prayer within the Yungdrung Bön tradition that is used to remove obstacles is the Bar Che Lam Sel, The Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path. The English, Spanish, and Portuguese translations of this prayer are offered free for personal use on the Nine Ways Website. Click on the Publications tab above and scroll down to find the download link for the prayer.

“By reciting this Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path a single time, obstacles of an entire year are pacified. By reciting it one hundred times, obstacles of one lifetime are pacified.

Furthermore, by merely reciting it, it has the ability to protect from fear or injury from gods, demons, and humans, fear of not having food, wild animals, the five elements, etc. It pacifies illness and negative spirits, and reverses all negative predictions or divinations.”

— Excerpt from Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path
Geshe Yongdong Losar. Photo: Courtesy of Sherab Chamma Ling

For those interested in a traditional Tibetan astrological horoscope to calculate the influence of 2023 on each of their natal factors of lifeforce, health, personal power, lungta, and soul, Geshe Yongdong Losar of Sherab Chamma Ling in British Columbia, Canada offers Tibetan astrological horoscopes through his website. Follow this link for more information about Geshe Yongdong and his astrological calculations: https://sherabchammaling.com/product/astrology-reading/

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