
This path of movement continues to expand and develop in the Yang Earth Dog year of 2018. Yang energy is masculine. Earth is grounding and the energy of the Dog is one of relationship. It is a time for expressing a personal truth that values and cares for yourself and others. What is your relationship to yourself, to others and life?
In the Chinese system, the fundamental five elements combined with the zodiac symbols describe the energetic interactions and relationship between things. Instead of looking at this system as purely a predictive one, by understanding the nature of the energy, you can use this energy of the Yang Earth Dog for your highest good. You can empower yourself by attuning with the beneficial vibrations of Earth Dog energy.
The Nature of the Energy of Yang Earth Dog
Yang energy is one of action and movement. This is a yellow yang year symbolized by a hill or mountain. Hills are an outward and noticeable expression of stability and combined with the color yellow, it indicates emotional stability. Sacred hills have been known for displaying a high degree of spiritual focus. When you climb a mountain, your perspective and perception of the world around you expands. A sense of spaciousness and freedom as though you are above the fray frees your emotional body. You are able to experience yourself and life without limitation or restriction. You experience your Essence Self.
Earth energy is stable, grounding, empathetic, kind, practical, abundant, reliable, responsible, and has integrity. Earth elements interact; they combine, blend, dissolve and reassemble continually into new constituents and forms. Earth nurtures you and gives you life. Your body is made from the elements of earth. She provides an abundance of resources to nurture your body, feed your senses, and gifts you with bountiful beauty. Earth is self-renewing and seeks balance and harmony. Your body is constantly rejuvenating. You are newly reborn every day.
Dogs are loyal and protective and they communicate through feeling the energy around them. They have highly attuned senses. Their acute senses of hearing, seeing and smelling instantly inform them about the character and intentions of other animals and people. They react immediately to what the energy tells them. They are all about relationship; they are pack animals and live to be in connection with those around them. They know that connection with the pack is vital in order to thrive and prosper. They grow and develop when there is healthy interaction and care and will reciprocate with attentive friendliness and love. Dogs are forgiving and tolerant. They live in the moment and attune themselves to the energy they are presented with. They are loyal to a fault.
Supporting Connection through the Blending of Energies
The integration of these attributes and characteristics creates a delightful and harmonious blend of potent energies to benefit your growth. The vision and expansion of yellow Yang provides movement towards the centered nurturing abundance and stability of Earth while fostering healthy interaction of love and connection through Dog.
The opportunity at this time is to attune to your own truth and values that have awakened inside of you and begin to realize your interrelationship with life and how that shows up. Earth reflects the way humanity cares or does not care for her and through your own body reflects back to you the ways you care or do not care for yourself.
Being a significant and accepted member of the pack is crucial for a dog. Their incredible capacity to forgive, protect and to be loyal to the pack or their human caretaker can be an admirable quality or a detriment depending on circumstances. When a dog is treated with kindness, respect, nurtured and loved, they will follow you anywhere, protect you, and give you joy, companionship and love. With severe mistreatment a dog will be aggressive and mean, or timid, fearful and withdrawing due to the trauma. The injury causes them to react strongly in order to keep safe. It can take a long time before they can trust their own senses or humans again. Their ability to forgive draws them to heal and reconnect.
Attuning to Yang Earth Dog energy can tell you about where you have been hurt and how you react. Have you been treated poorly? Have you shut down emotionally or diminished your ability to sense or connect with others? Do you have healthy boundaries, which create connection or do you push others away or withdraw in order to disconnect? Are you able to forgive yourself and others of past mistakes and move on or do you hold onto pain and resentment?
We all need each other. Yang Earth Dog is supporting emotional stability and necessary connection through establishing appropriate boundaries, respecting yourself and others. If you have a tendency to push others away but yearn to reconnect, learning about respectful behaviors can open your eyes. If you have a tendency to allow others to intrude on your personal space, disempower or diminish you then learning how to achieve healthy boundaries will empower you.
Dogs use their Senses to Check out the Territory before Connecting

Dogs are social creatures. With their tail wagging, mouth open in a wide grin and an “I’m so happy to meet you, let’s connect” attitude when passing me on a path, it is hard to resist their effusive buoyant nature. I can’t resist reaching out my hand for the ritual “smell test” before a dog let’s me pat its head. That “smell test” is respectful. It says, “I respect your space and your body.” Dogs use their senses to check out the territory and see if others are safe before deciding if they want to connect. Feel that energy? When you smile with that kind “happy to greet you” aura, you are irresistible too and you get to choose whom you allow into your sphere for deeper connection. Discernment is respectful to you and to others.
The charge of Earth Dog is cultivating integrity in relationship through respect, honesty, fairness, truth and justice. Are you aware of how others receive your energy? Each one of us has a responsibility to “the pack” and gifts to impart. Are you playing as a team member? Calm, patient assertiveness gives you confidence and impeccability with your energy. This allows you to approach every situation with balanced emotions. The Yang energy gives you the strength to speak up and expose injustice. Are you able to recognize the difference between story and truth?
Remember the vista from the mountaintop? Reach for a broader understanding and perspective instead of being bound by judgment and fear. The energy this year invokes the higher qualities within you that contribute to harmonious connection, integrity and justice for humanity. As you stand up for your highest values, you not only personally grow but you contribute to the well-being of the entire human family.
Attuning with Yang Earth Dog Energy
- Be in touch with your Senses and Aware of your Energy
- Heal the Past and Forgive
- Live in the Present Moment
- Seek Connection and Foster Healthy Relationships
- Know that you are an Integral member of the Human Family; You make a Difference and You Matter
- Discern the Difference between Story and Truth
- Give your Loyalty to Honesty, Fairness, and Integrity
- Curtail Reaction and Respond with Loving Kindness
- Be Respectful and use Appropriate Boundaries
- Be a Team Player and Speak your Truth
- Ground Yourself in Love
- Greet the world with Curiosity and Joy