"See a penny, pick it up... All day long, you'll have good luck."

Do you remember that saying from when you were a child?  Well, if you see one of these copper beauties today, definitely stop to pick it up, for today, we celebrate
National Lucky Penny Day! 

While no one seems to know the origin of imbuing the penny with "good luck," the penny is quite the historic gem, today's one-cent piece having been modeled on the ancient Roman denarius.  The penny was first introduced in England in 757 A.D. and the coin made its way over to America with the first settlers.  The first pennies as we have come to know them today were minted in the United States in 1793 and were made from the plentiful metal at the time, copper.

While pennies are not 'worth' the same as they might have been over 200 years ago, many people still collect these gems in coffee cans, banks, and change jars.  They may only be 0.01, but after a while, the numbers begin to add up!  Take this National Lucky Penny Day to impart the value of currency to your children; donate your pennies to a charitable organization or the homeless population or the needy or the sick.  Go on a 'treasure hunt' and try to find as many pennies as you can today (use the #LuckyPennyDay on social media to record your findings).  What other symbols, totems, memories, etc. give you the sensation of luck?  Of feeling lucky?

Say WHAT?

Paraskevidekatriaphobia - the fear of Friday the 13th.

While there is no mention of Friday the 13th until the writings of the 19th Century, some posit that the fear is rooted in the religious.  According to National Geographic:

"The trepidation surrounding Friday the 13th is rooted in religious beliefs surrounding the 13th guest at the Last Supper—Judas, the apostle said to have betrayed Jesus—and the crucifixion of Jesus on a Friday, which was known as hangman's day and was already a source of anxiety..."

There are numerological implications surrounding the Number 13 as well.  According to numerology, the number 13 has the strange misfortune of being placed behind the number 12, considered to be a complete number (there are 12 signs of the Zodiac, 12 months in the year, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, etc.).  The number 13, therefore, is seen as 'less than' or 'slightly beyond completeness', adding to its mystery.

There are those who believe that if you can pronounce the word paraskevidekatriaphobia, you will be cured of the fear.  While there is much speculation as to where this mysterious "holiday" began, there is no doubt there will be many of us steering clear of black cats, ladders, and many other superstitious symbols associated with 'bad luck' today.

What superstitions or fears do you have?

Happy New Year!  Today is the celebration of the Chinese New Year - the year of the sheep… um… goat… um… ram?  Which one is it?  You may have seen all of these animals in reference to this year's celebration… and they are ALL correct.  According to a report on NPR today entitled Whatever Floats Your Goat, the Chinese word for the year is yang.  "Some Chinese words are vague and not as specific as English words, so yang could refer to a goat, a sheep, or even a ram."  While the goat is more commonly seen in China and Vietnam, the sheep is the symbol for Korea to denote this year's celebration.   And according to an article on the China Highlights website:
 
"Actually, Chinese people are also not quite sure about that. In Chinese the word 羊 (yáng) is a generic term, and can refer to a sheep (绵羊), goat (山羊), ram/buck (公羊 male sheep or goat), 羚羊 (antelope), etc. There is a lack of clear definition on the zodiac "Goat" in Chinese history."

Now that the confusion has been figured out (HA!), let's talk about what this upcoming year symbolizes and the predictions for the year.  Experts in Chinese astrology are calling for an 'unforgettable year."  The overall theme for the year is "creativity and diligence resulting in prosperity."  According to The Examiner:

"Opportunities to change the world for the better abound as long as humanity works together," the website writes. "Prosperity and wellbeing for all is possible as long as we actively move away from chaos."

Those individuals born in the Chinese sign of the Goat are described as group oriented, honest, creative, stable, gentle and compassionate.  Many Asian families do not want their child born in the Year of the Goat - There is a popular Chinese folk saying 'Only one out of ten people born in a year of the Goat finds happiness' (十羊九不全), which means most babies born in a year of the Goat are destined for failed marriages, unhappy families, and bad luck.  Most Chinese people also believe that babies born in a Goat year will grow up to be followers rather than leaders.  While this may be an "outdated" notion, it has a real affect on Chinese society and financial markets.

For all of you crystal healers and lovers out there, it is also a wonderful time to re-charge and re-energize your crystals with the light, beauty, essence and energy of The Universe and Mother Nature in its purest form.  So get those crystals on your window sill, sit back, and allow the unknown to happen!