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“The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you,
don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you truly want,
don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the door sill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep. “
~Rumi
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YEAR OF THE WATER HORSE
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As spring feeds streams and rivers, the horse’s hoof beats can be heard cascading forth. The horse’s element, FIRE,
means we’re in for a steamy year!
The horse comes to ask the pinching question,
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“ARE YOU AWAKE?”
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Notes for 2002
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“The tea kettle is whistling for your attention. Yang force is at its peak. Look before you leap.
Balance yourself between deliberation and action. This will be a year of travel, spending, turbulence and turmoil.
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Things may seem greener on the other side of the fence. Draw your energy from the sources of fire and water.”
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To ring in the Chinese New Year of 2002 we explored the Five Flavors and the elements of Fire and Water—a menu and performance of Mild, Spicy, Pungent, Bitter, and Sweet. Hot green tea represented the marriage of fire and water, served in hand thrown tea bowls from potter Timothy Langholz.
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Guests entered through a round Moondoor and were seated. A reading of Keeping Quiet by Paul Neruda opened the show.
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They were visited by a Mardi Gras band and parade with a 6-person Metal Snake puppet;
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a Tom Waits-ish character singing and ranting;
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Fire Dancers warming it up;
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Water Dancers cooling it off;
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Horse puppets;
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Talking Heads;
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Rumi poem painted on a pregnant belly;
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and all the while in the background a Tai Chi dancer keeping the calm with the violin.
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The second performance fell upon the Tuesday of Mardi Gras and the beginning of the Chinese New Year.
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MENU
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Spring Roll with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Tea Egg filled with Wasabi Yolk
Slaw of Spring Greens, Toasted Almonds and Sesame Dressing
Tri Colored Rice
“Little Bites” of
Intoxicated Shrimp
Marinated Radish Fan
Pickled Ginger
Pickled Baby Grape
Coconut Macaroon Shell with Vanilla Creme
and Crystallized Ginger
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Spring Festival
celebrates the first new moon after the sun enters Aquarius revealing the sun’s warm return
and the cleansing rain.
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As you enter the new year, put hehind you things of the past. Clean, pay your debts, cut your hair, put on new clothes. Open your doors to fresh air and new beginnings. Set off firecrackers to scare away the beasts of the past. Splash fresh water to wash away your sorrow.
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Lanterns, like the full moon, are brightness in your future. Flowers, fruit trees and gifts in red envelopes can symbolize the new year.
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Post “FU”, the Chinese word for LUCK, upside down (like the horseshoe) on your door so that good luck will pour out upon you and your guests as they enter.
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