YEAR OF THE DRAGON

As the Year of the Rabbit comes to a close, the Chinese Zodiac will shift clockwise once again, this time ringing in the Year of the Dragon. 

The fifth sign of the 12-creature zodiac, the Dragon has forever been amongst China’s most auspicious symbols. Throughout history the Dragon has represented power as a symbol of the emperor. The modern interpretation of the Dragon is one of great success and happiness.

The Dragon’s distinctively unique characteristics were defined during the Sung Dynasty, describing a creature with the head of an ox, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a scaled serpent, with the muscular build of a donkey and legs of a phoenix. The strength of the Dragon is expressed both in stature and movement as being all-powerful yet entirely unpredictable. 

According to the zodiac, those born in the Year of the Dragon are known to be innovative, enterprising, self-assured, brave, passionate, conceited and quick-tempered. Considered to be the free spirits of the zodiac, Dragons seek total freedom and exude boundless energy. The extreme ambitiousness that defines the Dragon is believed to almost insure success. 

Dragons though, must be aware of their expressed enthusiasm, which can often leave then exhausted and unfulfilled.  While Dragons are known to be reliable and eternally helpful, they are defined by a prideful self-sufficiency that often impedes them from accepting the assistance and companionship that they so willingly give to others. Dragons are also known to be risk-takers, seeking radical means to accomplish their ambitious goals. As a result, Dragons tend to achieve financial success, but also can suffer from high levels of self-inflicted stress. 

The Year of the Dragon will begin on January 23, 2012 and last until February 9, 2013.