Everyone seems to be talking Tiger these days—not the (yawn) bratty golfer, I’m talking about the Chinese New Year which dawns February 14, 2010. The Zodiacs, both Westernized and Chinese, are always good fun if we don’t take them too dreadfully seriously. And, I think there’s a bit of wisdom there, too.

According to people who know, Year of the Tiger 2010 is a Yang Metal year. 2009 was apparently an Earth year, which many consider to be sluggish—they say Metal will be far more dramatic and volatile. Oh, boy.

The elements of 2010 are Metal sitting on Wood. Metal Tiger, with Metal symbolized by a sword or other weapon—more international militaristic action predicted. Sitting on Wood, as the Tiger is a Wood creature, symbolizing spring, new buds, early development. Yet this Tiger also contains the seeds of the hidden Fire element, so a rise of forest-fires is predicted—wait, here’s where you lose me.

Okay, I can feel the bottom of the swimming pool with my toes now. We know from our study of Face Mapping® that Metal is associated with the lungs, and with breathing—and with the skin. Because the lungs and the skin are both intimately dedicated to removing waste-products from our systems as a whole.

Chinese astrologers worldwide ARE predicting a decline in air-quality, and this will affect people with breathing disorders. Just an aside—there could not be a better time to quit smoking. The dominance of Metal also will affect skin health and result in inflammation—environmental sensitization, most likely.

My advice: plan a skin-calming strategy now. Flushed, itchy, blotchy, tight, hot skin indicates sensitization, meaning something in the air, or in your makeup bag, or in your fabric softener, is irritating your dermis. Here, kitty-kitty! You may have a Tiger by the tail and not even know it. Get your Face Mapping® skin analysis, and get back to me.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 11:31 am and is filed under under my skin with jane wurwand, founder of dermalogica.