Glenn Stewart Coles, 9251 Yonge Street, Suite 8-924, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4C 9T3
Text Box: In Eastern mythology, as Buddha lay on his deathbed, he invited all of the animals in the world to a final feast. Only twelve animals showed up, and subsequently each creature was given the honor of representing a lunar year. The eleventh animal to approach Buddha was a Dog. In determining the calendar of the Chinese horoscope, the five elements (water, fire, earth, air and metal) are also included, resulting in a sixty-year cycle. This year, beginning January 29, 2006, is the year of the Fire Dog. If we base predictions of the year on the characteristics of an animal, what can we anticipate? The dog is known as man’s best friend, a loving loyal pet that will always provide compassion. They serve selflessly, and teach us the lesson of unconditional love. As we move into the year of the dog, deciding to be selfless and to offer love unconditionally is a worthy goal for anyone. Our caring and compassion should not be reserved for a select few, but offered to all mankind. Dogs are both leaders and followers, and move easily between roles. It would serve us well to gain the same skill. We are reminded that the best teachers are also the best students, and that all roles are only temporary. Any particular role does not define who we are; instead our roles indicate what we choose to be at that moment. Like the dog, our character comes from within. Even when they are whacked with a newspaper, a dog will always return to its owner. Dogs understand forgiveness, and realize that surface emotions are not always indicative of deeper feelings. When we receive anger, it helps to realize that there are many other aspects buried in that anger, and that usually it has little to do with ourselves. By learning to love unconditionally, we can see past the flaws of others, and connect with the true soul underneath. The Fire Dog is most commonly identified as the Dalmatian, the spotted black and white canine made famous by the Disney movie. In the 1800’s, Dalmatians were known as ‘carriage dogs’, as they loved to run beside horse-drawn carriages. Dalmatians would often live with the horses that pulled fire wagons, and when a fire alarm rang, the dogs would race alongside the horses through the streets, leading the way to the fire. In the year of the Fire Dog, it is appropriate to enthusiastically move towards situations where people require the most help. As for me, the Year of the Dog starts out with uncertainty. Much like the lost animals in another Disney movie ‘The Incredible Journey’, I begin the year with hope and anticipation, but I don’t really know which path to follow. I move forward with trust and compassion, and shall follow my instincts. As with all mankind, our future lies in our choices, and all we can really do is be firm in the character that we choose to radiate, and see what happens. May your year be filled with kindness and compassion. © Copyright Glenn Stewart Coles, 2006 First Published January 29, 2006

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Year of the Dog

 

Deciding to be selfless and offer love unconditionally is a worthy goal for anyone.