liminal_luke

The Year of the Fire Horse is already upon us but I wanted to run one final poll between two horses to see which the membership prefers. The top horse was suggested by @Taomeow- If you´d like to vote, please choose ONE or TWO. Thanks! ONE TWO

There´s a lot to be said for following where the energy is, finding what "hits the spot." My mom has done commision paintings before but always thinks the work she does for herself is better quality -- probably because she chooses the subject and it´s always something that interests her. I think I might know Person C. Qigong, to me, is like a specific tool. You´ve got your qigong hammer and your qigong wrench, qigong to tonify the liver, qigong to open the hips. Taiji, by contrast, is more holistic -- each form is the whole shabang, the entire workshop, a mini version of the universe that mirrors the larger Universe. Similarly, other Daoist arts are also the whole universe. Feng Shui can be the whole universe, flower arranging ditto, tea, etc. To a certain kind of person, qigong can be frustrating because when they´re working on tonifying their liver qi or whatever, everything else that is not that qigong, all the rest of it, tugs at their consciousness. Some people want to work with the whole or nothing. Anyway, this is my theory. Not sure if it would mean anything or not to Person C.

I´m trying to think of something funny to say, but faster, whittier Bums keep jockeying ahead of me.

When i signed up for this mod gig, I was told it would be easy. I think I was taken for a ride.

I´m used to it though. Some Bums are always trying to cause a stirrup.

I disagree. This snakey behavior is so last year.

Normally the contentiousness would bother me, but this year I´m feeling rather equine about it.

Agreed. Especially since we had a gallop poll and everything!

Maybe they figured with me hangin´ round that one flamer was enough? https://youtu.be/gfpsnT5BBgs?si=Bjzcg1NF31LkOJMN

Take it from a drifter, if you´ve been practicing the same system for two years and feel the benefits, you´re doing pretty darn great!

We had to work with the banner image a little because it wasn´t the right size at first. Ended up using a version of the horse with a little brighter colors but the same idea. Hope you like it!

Still working through some technical difficulties but should have it in final form soon.

In the interest of rolling out the banner image as expeditiously as possible, the poll is now closed. Horse number Two pulled ahead and is the winner. Thanks to every one who suggested possible images and gave their opinion along the way. Forward!

You rebel, you!

Say what you like about astrological omens, but I guess I´m just not that fired up.

I thought this article on health during the Fire Horse year was interesting. Chinese Medicine Doctor's Guide for the Year of the Horse

Thanks Cobie! That one is from my partner Jose. The other two are from my mom. Number Two is her attempt to draw a horse using Chinese-style brush strokes, a good idea I think, though it sounds like the first horse is preferred overall so far.

Please reply with your vote for the banner image -- Horse One or Horse Two. Horse One Horse Two

I´m a ONE.

In my mind, indigenous people are those who are rooted by blood to communities that have protected them, more or less, from alienating and spirit-fragmenting modern influences. (This is, perhaps, an overly romantic definition, but whatdaya expect -- I´m not a very indigenous person. )

My artist mom drew it up. The basic outline of the horse she got from an open source pic on the internet, and she added the ombre effect to look like fire. She´s thinking the outer parts of the legs need to be darker so she may make another version of the same thing for us to consider.

My understanding is that you can provide a link to an outside source that says whatever you like. The moderators don´t police sites other than TDB. (I reserve the right to say otherwise if it turns out I´m wrong. It´s happened before. )

Whatdaya think?

@Cobie I share your preference for a symbol that feels peaceful rather than fiery in an angry way. To my thinking, balanced fire has many positive qualities and these are the ones our banner should emphasize -- vibrancy, warmth, playfulness, forward motion, willingness to take necessary action. Political conflict and social media squabbles can also be fiery, but most of us will agree we´ve had enough of that. This said, I think the logo really does need to be a horse. The point of changing the banner every year around this time has always been to reflect the energy of the coming year according to Chinese astrology.

Thanks, @steve. I´m feeling unsure how to proceed at the moment as Taomeow´s image isn´t free to use and lots of folks objected to Nungali´s image. If more people want to put forth suggestions -- copywrite free only please! -- I will set up a poll.