2012 - Year of the Water Dragon

2012 - The Year of the Water Dragon  by Jane Lyle

Enter the Dragon, it’s 2012. It’s dramatic, intense, and mystical, and it begins with the new Moon on 23rd January 2012.

Chinese New Year always begins on the second new Moon after the previous Winter Solstice, according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. The fifth animal in the Chinese astrological system, the Dragon is very fortunate for some of us - but volatile, creative, and feisty too. It is the only magical, mythical creature amongst the Chinese animal signs, and as such enjoys a quite a reputation for drama and good fortune. The Dragon is said to guard the Gates of Heaven.

2012 is the year of the intelligent Water Dragon, last experienced in 1952. The five elements of Chinese astrology, feng shui, and medicine are earth, metal, water, wood, and fire. They, too, unfold in cycles. The basic larger Chinese astrological animals cycle is sixty years - although the last Dragon year was 2000, when the Metal Dragon glittered - metal is the preceding element in the elements cycle. Each animal comes around every twelve years. But which ever element he finds himself in, The Dragon is a masculine, yang sign - active, fiery, and glamorous.

So, what does Chinese astrology have to say for our year ahead?  The Year of the Rabbit had a strong message for the Euro, and Europe as a whole - as we predicted in 2011. The Water Dragon presided over the dawn of the European community just after the Second World War. So once again we can expect upheavals in Europe, and perhaps a massive change for the Euro itself as some countries opt out. Global finances continue to be unstable, and you certainly don’t need Chinese astrology to tell you that!

Areas favoured by the Water Dragon include hospitality, agriculture, environmentally friendly projects, medical research, and innovative, inventive thinkers in general.  Property may actually be ok amidst the stormy seas of 2012, but that will depend upon where it is. This is a stormy year in every way, with news of dramatic floods, earthquakes, and storms.  We can also expect many more storms of protest, as people continue to demonstrate and strike around the world.  Revolution is in the air in both Chinese and Western astrology, and there’s no stopping it now.

Lucky animal signs in this wild year are Monkey, Rabbit, Rat and Tiger. For the Goat, Rooster, Pig and Ox it’s a neutral year, for Horse and Snake a year with much to think about. The Dog can expect many challenges, while the Dragon will be energized, but must be cautious when making important decisions. If you don’t know what Chinese sign you are - here’s a guide. And remember, Chinese astrology is very complex, so anything based on your animal sign alone is just a little new year taste of this huge subject.

Gung hay fat choy! Wishing you a happy and prosperous Chinese new year!


Want to know which Chinese animal you or your friends and family are? Here they are:
1.    Rat - 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912, 1900
2.    Ox - 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, 1901
3.    Tiger - 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914, 1902
4.    Rabbit - 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915, 1903
5.    Dragon - 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, 1904
6.    Snake - 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, 1905
7.    Horse - 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906
8.    Goat - 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907
9.    Monkey - 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908
10.  Rooster - 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909
11.  Dog - 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910
12.  Pig - 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911

* If your birthday is in January or February check the exact date of the Chinese new year. Because it is a lunar calendar, it varies annually.