The Year of The Tiger

According to the ancient Chinese and many other ancient people, the way we use the calendar isn’t that well in accordance with the time of the earth. In Asia, most countries follow the lunar calendar. Rituals and dates are selected to how the moon is coordinated at that time…meaning, that every year Chinese New Year is on a different date, because the moon is always changing. During Chinese New Year, family come together, grandparents, cousins, extended relatives…all to eat a big feast, light incense sticks at the temple, and give the children money in red envelopes, wishing prosperity for everyone in the new year. The Chinese have many superstitions, and there are many traditions that they have. For me however, it is their longest vacation. 9 days, no school…this is a working culture that believes in only taking a break once you are a boss, after all. So now to reflect on the coming year of the Tiger.

And reflect I do from behind the tint of my THC oil haze that I grace through gracelessly; it’s interesting how days melt into each other. It seems surreal and mystical, like you’ve locked into the charms that a book about spirituality was talking about. Mystic oneness, where one does not sense time anymore, and the theory of time as illusion starts to make sense. Here it is not days and milestones reached, but rather, step by step getting closer to the puzzle of who you really are and what you want to be, and how you’re moving in that direction day by day. That is that “grindset” mentality the new era seems to have on a subconscious, yet seethingly visceral effect on our day to day. To chase that escape, because that’s what all the rest of them talk about. Better than just watching Netflix and letting time pass by. But who am I to judge, guilty as well. And as soon as you see all your resolutions fade one by one, you take another hit, and really think to yourself, now who am I?

Well, the Tiger symbolizes strength and courage, and if things keep going the way they have we are going to need it. I mean, on my side I have the threat of China breathing down my country’s neck; I’ve got COVID hotels looming as I plan any reconnection with the outside world. The comfort has taken its toll and I long to get out. But with this Chinese New Year, I intend to stick to developing my craft. What else does one do on a 9 day holiday when you can’t travel? You expect me to go to the East coast, while everyone has the same idea and everything’s fully booked? Fat Chance! I’d rather play playstation 5 (having just Completed one of the best games I’ve played in a long time! (Judgement)

Judgement is a game filled with so much. So many hours, mini games, amazing writing, being a detective in many different ways and also uncovering a crazy story, of a serial killer, and the powers that be helping him. It features drone racing, photographing cheating spouses, catching a panty thief and a groper called “Ass Catchem”. This game has you fighting Yakuza, being able to play poker and black jack, drink Jack Daniels, get wasted and then do a drunken combo on a group of Yakuza trying to kill you. If you want a fun wacky game that your friends can also enjoy sharing the TV with you, then please, check this out. The main campaign alone is 30hours. Many a night, you cough your lungs out, strap in, and take a wild scenic tour of Fictional Japan *

“Here is to smoking enough herb to break through the traps and mental prisons created by Babylon to make us forge our own chains”

But I digress, as I do, to say what lies ahead this year. The stocks and the crypto will rise again, and so shall we. We shall rise from the limitations the governments try to impose on us. In America last year we had the great resignation. 4 Million people quit their jobs. So if you ever felt like moving, now is the time buddy. In Taiwan, the government of the safest nation on earth is still going on (we still have to wear masks everywhere because we have 40 cases in isolation, can you believe it), but I’ll keep doing what I always do. Smoke, write, save money, invest, work out (with the mask under my chin, cause I’m not a sheep) and make my life the one I want to be.

Here is to 9 days of no work, no shops open, old people teaching children at a very young age to worship money, reinforce old traditions and have a lot of cute animal tigers surrounding me. Here is to a world where more and more I feel like the powers that be, believe that fake caring for people about their lives, if said enough will start to infect the people who are addicted to watching helpless animals on their phones with cute music playing in the background. Here is to smoking enough herb to break through the traps and mental prisons created by Babylon to make us forge our own chains, and believe that they are there to keep us safe. Today lets set a positive intention to find a quiet spot to smoke by ourselves, and reflect on your own mind and body, even tap into your organs which do so much work to keep us alive, while we don’t even know they exist (I did an Osho meditation on apple music, lol, what a stoner I know: but hell, I don’t know what a modern stoner even looks like anymore). Mentally and energetically tap into your body and ask it what it needs. Maybe time to exercise more, or cut down the caffeine or find a way to keep that negative voice that constantly criticizing your choices at bay with something that makes you feel fuckin dope! Make this your year, don’t spend on dumb shit, empower yourself bro.

Here’s wishing a Happy, Powerful and prosperous Year of the Tiger for you all.

• *more on this later.

Stay High and Stay Lifted

Jin Li Hai