The Money Frog, The Year of the Horse, and Luck…
By Camille A-C
About 2 weeks ago, a friend gifted me a belated Christmas prezzie. It was a deep crimson, bedazzled-eyed little thing: a Chinese money frog. With it came a rusted coin, and an opening in its mouth for it to slot in. She told me that if I placed it by the doorway, it would bring prosperity and good fortune to my life.
At first, I was between amusement and scepticism, but then I started to take it on board, and got to hoping that this symbolic optimism might just do the trick. I found it a spot near my room’s entrance, popped the coin in its mouth and imagined all the wonderful things about to happen hahah!
And since then, I’ve started to notice good things, albeit mostly small things. Like, getting to the bus stop in perfect time (followed by a journey stacked with green lights), finding my supposedly lost earrings, and being complimented by a stranger over a knitted scarf. Just last night, my flatmate won the cash prize at a local pub quiz… £100 off rent this month eh!
Are these things actually because of the money frog? Maybe not. But am I paying more attention to the good stuff happening around me because I'd set an intention around luck? Most likely.
And the timing feels particularly noteworthy because the Lunar New Year is just around the corner. My flatmates and I have decided we're doing it properly. We're planning an evening of celebration. Red envelopes, decorations, the lot, to bring in the Year of the Horse in full force. The funny thing is, all of us have been inundated with horse content lately. Silly Instagram posts, adverts for riding lessons, and The Rolling Stone’s ‘Wild Horses’ cropping up more and more on shuffle. Surely, the algorithm is saying that this is our year.
According to Chinese astrology, the Horse is symbolic of enthusiasm, independence and adventure. After the year of the Snake, my hope for the Horse is that it’ll bring bold, fiery energy focused on exploration and adventure, shedding skin from the old to the new.
But whilst I'm genuinely enjoying my money frog and I'm excited about the ‘year of the Horse’ energy, we also have to be real when it comes to symbols of luck and fortune. They are important, and setting intentions can actually shift how we navigate the world… however, they can't do all of the work for us.
I could put 20 more money frogs by my door, and hang lucky horse shoes from every untouched wall surface in my flat. But if you’re not also showing up for yourself, doing the actual work of healing and growth, those symbols become empty. Wishful thinking is only part of the equation.
Whatever it is you’re needing to address, be that your physical health, your energetic, mental, spiritual, or the all-encompassing blanket of holistic health, Healing Space can offer you a leg-up into feeling your best self. Alongside embracing whatever rituals, or symbolic rites you chose to be a part of, Healing Space gives you the agency to chose a treatment that can provide you with what you’re seeking. Instead of passively receiving some external force, you can take your health/wellbeing/luck into your own hands.
So, although I will be keeping my frog firmly planted where it is, I’ll be taking it as a reminder, and intention-setter that I’m the one who can create my own fortune. I’ll take into my stride the galloping free-spirited horse, while keeping in mind that I shouldn’t let the fire engulf me. If for you that means some self-care as part of this year’s plan, then we’ll be here :)