By Kate Downes, LAc TCM Practitioner
When most people think of astrology, they often think of daily horoscopes or compatibility tests. But the field of astrology is much deeper, and can even offer us a unique path to healing.
Astrology has been used as part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Let’s explore how astrology plays a role in wellness, and how you can use it to support your holistic self-care practices.
Chinese Astrology Meets Chinese Medicine
Chinese astrology is based on a twelve-year cycle, and each year is represented by an animal sign (we are currently in the Year of the Rabbit!).
Each animal sign has its own set of personality traits and characteristics, which may influence the way you see and approach life. Additionally, Chinese astrology also considers the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), which can further influence how we respond to the world around us – both physically and mentally. The combination of your animal sign and element can provide insight into their strengths, weaknesses, and overall life path.
When it comes to healing, understanding your element and animal sign can help you tailor your treatments or self-care practices to support your weaknesses and enhance your strengths. For instance, if you were born in a fire year and feeling restless or aggravated, you may consider calming water-based practices (like baths or the Once in a Pink Moon Water Element Collection) to balance your core element.
Or, if you are feeling like you lack the spark you once had, you may choose to stoke your fire energy with warming and invigorating practices (like an infrared sauna or breath of fire breathwork) and self-care products (like Once in a Pink Moon’s Fire Element Collection).
Some Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners specialize in using astrological analysis to guide you on your unique healing path, based on a much more advanced, complex Chinese astrological reading.
What About Western Astrology?
Chinese and Western astrology have their differences, but they can complement each other when used together. By combining these two systems, you can gain a deeper understanding of your character and life path.
The Western style is based on a twelve-month cycle, with each month being represented by a zodiac sign. Western astrology also considers the positions of the sun, moon, and planets at the time of a person's birth, which further influences their destiny.
While Chinese astrology assigns zodiacs by year and Western astrology assigns them by month, there are some cross-overs in personality and health traits. Astrologers believe that Jupiter is responsible for the connecting link. It takes Jupiter twelve years to go through the Western Zodiac and it spends about one year in each sign. This is how each Western zodiac connects to each Eastern zodiac signs:
- Rat = Sagittarius
- Ox = Capricorn
- Tiger = Aquarius
- Rabbit = Pisces
- Dragon = Aries
- Snake = Taurus
- Horse = Gemini
- Goat = Cancer
- Monkey = Leo
- Rooster = Virgo
- Dog = Libra
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Pig = Scorpio
Once in a Pink Moon: Where Eastern Medicine & Western Astrology Meet
Our Once in a Pink Moon line is a celebration of astrology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the uniqueness of you.
Why combine astrology and TCM? We believe that understanding yourself at a deeper level – down to your astrological signs and constitutional elements – makes your self-care rituals not only more effective but more empowering.
And we speak from experience! Our founder, Lin Chen, has used astrology and TCM together to guide her own healing and self-love journey. These two practices were instrumental in helping her leave toxic relationships and forge a new path forward.
Each Once in a Pink Moon collection is inspired by a zodiac sign, TCM healing botanicals, and the element that ties them together. Let’s take a closer look:
The Fire Element Collection
The fire element collection was designed to awaken the bold energy of fire. TCM ingredients like energizing ginseng, cooling hibiscus, and soothing green coffee oil, bring balance to fire types.
The Air Element Collection
Inspired by air’s ability to be a catalyst for change. It rules new beginnings, carefree feelings, and an open mind and heart. This collection uses TCM herbal ingredients like licorice and rice bran to moisten dryness and clear inflammation.
The Earth Element Collection
The earth element is grounding, awe-inspiring, and stabilizing. This collection uses TCM ingredients such as snow mushroom (tremella) and calendula to support the skin by removing impurities and imparting a grounding energetic balance.
The Water Element Collection
Water is the element of emotions, dreaming, and healing. This ritual set focuses on TCM ingredients like seaweed, blue lotus, and rose to create an ultra-hydrating, soothing ritual for mind, body, and skin.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine and astrology work together in perfect harmony to promote healing and help you cultivate self-love. For more inspiration to guide your unique self-care journey, follow @pinkmoon.co and @_onceinapinkmoon, and sign up for SMS love notes from us – including your monthly horoscope!
