Yet, somewhat unexpectedly, I found myself drawn to the image of another goddess in the temple garden.

It was Guanyin, the one who, they say, hears the cries of the world, the one who hears people when they call for help. Her statue stood slightly apart from the main square. In her hands she held a small vase from which water was quietly flowing.

In tradition it is said that Guanyin uses the water from this vase to soothe the suffering of the world - a symbol of compassion that calms pain and brings peace. I stood there for a while, watching the water flow. The water around Guanyin is, of course, not meant as decoration. In Eastern traditions it often symbolizes wisdom.

Water does not react with force, and it does not push. Yet over time it shapes the rock. Calmly, and without effort. Without the need to overcome anything.

Much is being said about the energy of this year as the year of the Fire Horse - an energy of movement, breakthroughs, courage, and change. Fire has the power to move things that have stood still for a long time.

But fire also has another nature. If it is not grounded, and if it is not accompanied by water, it can quickly become too strong. When we look at the world around us today, we can feel a lot of fire - speed, tension, and reactions that continue to escalate. As if the collective energy of humanity sometimes reacts faster than it can understand.

In moments like these it can feel as if the world is rushing forward blindly. Perhaps that is also why the image of water in the temple has stayed with me so vividly.

Water means space. A safe space.
It means the ability not to react immediately.
It also means allowing ourselves to tap into inner wisdom first, before we respond.

In tradition, Guanyin is the one who hears the cries of the world. She brings compassion and peace. In the same way, we ourselves cannot always stop the winds of the world. We cannot always stand against the fire that appears around us.

Yet we can always choose how we respond to that fire.

A great fire can easily take hold of us, and before we know it, we ourselves become fire. If we want to use this year for positive transformation - for a step forward on our path - it is up to us to be able to find water within ourselves.

Water that brings peace, grace, and space where things can ripen instead of burn.