The Chinese Year of the Dragon
Gung how fat choy! (Happy New Year!) 2012 is the Chinese Year of the Dragon, and of all the 12 symbols of the Chinese zodiac, the only mythical one is the mighty Dragon. This creature is a powerful symbol both in China and around the world, and in the orient he is regarded as the bringer of fortune and the harbinger of great change. So what's in store for us as we go into the Year of the Dragon?
This time around, the elemental Dragon is water. This brings a calming influence on this often ferocious and fearless creature, tempering his rash personality a little. So while the Dragon may bring change into the world, this year the consequences may not be so far reaching or traumatic. Water Dragons tend to view things from further back, looking at the whole picture and evaluating the situation before acting. That is certainly true of our current global situation, where nations have been forced to take stock of their actions over the past couple of decades, and how they cope with the consequences of those actions. In the USA it's election year, and this more thoughtful and considered Dragon could mean that it's a closely fought contest between the Democrats and the Republicans.
Intensely loyal
Dragons are intensely loyal creatures, so this year could see some strong bonds being formed between nations that previously been rivals or even enemies. A time of consolidation could mean greater political stability in countries that have suffered the ravages of conflict and social turmoil over the last few years. Financially, it could mean that, although there is no 'quick fix' to the world's fiscal problems, steps in the right direction could take us nearer to a long-term solution. A greater understanding could also mean a cessation to hostilities, as nations come to understand that there are bigger problems to tackle than just border disputes.
The year of the Dragon will undoubtedly be an eventful one. The Dragon hates standing still and loves change. But the calming influence of the Water elemental means that this change could be slower than many would like and that it will be a year of consolidation rather than one where dramatic steps forward are taken. But this lays the foundations towards greater unity and harmony, and the Dragon's influence could be exactly what we all need to recover from the upheavals of recent times.