Posted by Elisa Beatty Jan 20 2012, 1:01 am
I love the fresh start that comes with any New Year (plus I live near San Francisco) so I always love celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year.
This year, the Lunar New Year occurs on January 23, this coming Monday, with parades and other celebrations continuing through the next month.
Even better, 2012 is YEAR OF THE DRAGON, my very favorite sign in the Chinese zodiac. Since I was born a multiple of twelve years ago (I’m not telling how many!!), I was born in a year of the dragon, and am thrilled to be heading into another 12 months of fabulous dragon energy.
Last year was Year of the Rabbit–dominated by a perfectly lovely sign associated with hard work, longevity, practicality, keeping promises, and sticking with a project until it’s DONE. Definitely a good sort of year for writers, but the dragon….well, that’s a whole ‘nother level of intensity.
The Dragon is the most powerful sign in the Chinese zodiac: associated with the divine, with deep creativity, and with good fortune in all endeavors. Dragons are confident, fearless in the face of challenge, and almost inevitably successful. Although they have a tendency to be solitary (writers, anybody??), they attract friends, are generous and helpful, and often take leadership positions.
Dragons are also known for being innovative, enterprising, flexible, brave, and passionate. They let nothing stand in the way of their goals. Sounds like a great plan for all of us!
You don’t have to be born a Dragon to ride the wave of dragon energy that’s supposed to be the hallmark of the coming twelve months. So let’s all embrace the Dragon, and set off on a super-charged year!
What about you? Do you have any lucky signs or seasons? What symbols do you draw good creative energy from? (If you’re on the Festival site, click the title of this post to jump to the Ruby site, where you can leave comments.)
I’m the year of the rooster (which means you and I would get along great lol). And I’m actually pretty spot on to the description of the rooster. Lucky symblols? I like to have my evil eye with me to ward off bad energy and I prefer numbers divisable by two (because I’m OCD about odd numbers lol).
The rooster seems like a cool symbol: I had to go look it up, but what I read talks about being extremely perceptive and observant, with a kind of “sixth sense” about what’s really going on, plus a strong capacity to dream.
Definitely good for a writer!
I married a dragon, but I’m a goat. (Why is it I suddenly feel like the entre?) As much as I hate math, I’m into numbers. Numerology has me pegged as an eleven, a master number, and 3s, 8s, and 5s abound in my world. It’s really rather startling, but I’ll spare you the details. Still, I’m not much into astrology (unless it’s in one of Addison’s books. Can you say yummy?) or prognostication of any kind. My mantra is God has it, and as long as He does, it’s all good.
Oh! My master number is 11, Gwynlyn, and my other numbers abound in 5. Even my phone number and address are 5′s and I live on 5th street…can we say I value not being restrained, lol. I haven’t really done anyone around me, that would be interesting, I think.
OMG, Gwynlyn, that line about being an entre just cracked me up. Thank you for a really great laugh over my morning cuppa Joe.
LOL, Gwynlyn!!!
In my family, my kids and I are rather dramatic / high-energy signs: Dragon, Tiger, Monkey. My husband is a Rat. Ticks him off no end.
I just checked out the Goat / Sheep sign, though, and it sounds like a more serene and balanced form of the dragon:
“creativity, intelligence, dependability, and calmness. Comfortable being alone to ponder the workings of their inner minds, Goats enjoy being part of a group, but prefer the sidelines rather than the center. Their nurturing personality makes Goats excellent care-givers. They’re quite and reserved because they spend much time absorbed in their thoughts.
Home and alone is where Goats feel most comfortable. There they can express themselves artistically, whether it’s by painting, cooking or participating in whatever artistic endeavors they enjoy.”
It also mentions they’re very aware of fashion and are always turned out beautifully!!
<>
This could be why Hubble accuses me of “Thinking things to death.” Maa-aa-aa *g*
I, too, am a Virgo, Elisa, and I know exactly what you mean. No accountant here!
Reminder to self: don’t use copy & paste in comments. The script disappears.
I was referring to the bit about spending time in my head, Elisa. *sigh*
What fun information about the year of the dragon. Personally, I’m superstitious about eights. Born on 8/18/8*, sold my first short story in 2008, and always had 8s in the addresses of the places I most enjoyed living. I just hope I don’t have to wait 6 more years for another lucky year!
Cool! Eight is such a beautiful number: infinity turned on its side.
Kung hei fat choi, Elisa! May this year be hugely successful for you. Just as Vivi has a thing about 8, I have a thing about the number 3. I’m the third daughter, born on 23/03/*3, and I’m hoping for a three-book deal — lol.
Absolutely, a 3-book deal it’s going to be!!
Last year was a great year for getting things done, and so I’m willing to embrace the dragon and accomplish more!
Yup–getting things done was the year of the Rabbit. Buckle your seatbelt for the Dragon!
Not that we’re not going to get things done this year!
I’m just thinking it’s going to be more intensive, with big flashes of inspiration driving us along! (That’s what I’d like, anyway!! LOL).
Not particularly superstitious here. (Although being born on 3/3/X3–where X=a decade I’m keeping quiet about– I ought regard 3 as a really lucky number. But I don’t. To be honest, I’ve always believed that you make your own luck with hard work. That may sound dragon-like, but really I think the puritan work-ethic is just built into my bones.
No question the best luck is the luck you make yourself! (I still like all those 3s!! You and Vanessa!)
While I don’t believe the year, day, hour of your birth cements your destiny, I do find it fun to read the characteristics of each sign.
I’m a Horse, and yeah, I can be real stubborn. I don’t give up easily. I love to run free and do things my own way, but at the same time, I’ll carry the load when needed.
The horse carries the lucky number 9. Guess what? If you add the two last digits of my birth year, they add up to 9. If you subtract my birth month from my birthdate it equals 9. My favorite number is a multiple of 9. I became a Ruby in 2009. Was it written in the stars? hmmmm.
Hmmmm, indeed! Love all those 9s!
My sister is a Horse, and I hear you on the stubborn but unstoppable thing!
You know, another reason I like the Chinese zodiac is that the Western zodiac pegs me as a Virgo, which sounds so much less awesome than a Dragon.
Virgos are supposed to be orderly, methodical, and make good accountants. SO NOT ME!!!!
I much prefer seeing myself as a Dragon.
I’m a Virgo, too. Only thing I’ll claim is I like things even. Crooked pictures make me nuts!
I was born in the year of the Rat and I have no clue as to what works for me in numberology. But I like 8, 4, and 2. Actually my birthday – 8/24. I like even numbers best – see above info. LOL.
This is really interesting reading everybody’s numerology stories. I’m not really ‘in to’ the zodiac signs what y intrigues me is that people actually fit into those signs. I am Libra and according to what they say about Libra that’s me. And according to the Chinese zodiac I’m a monkey and that’s me all over.
Wow…a Libra Monkey!!! That’s an intense, no-holds-barred, spontaneous, free-spirited and fiercely independent(!!) combo. Which does make perfect sense for you!
My son is an Aries Monkey–also a formidable soul. Rules and regulations? Not interested in those. But he has a FABULOUS time in life. (And is also a sweetheart under all the wild monkey-business.)
I don’t generally follow the zodiacs but it’s interesting to read about. I’m the year of the rat, but I don’t fit most of the rat’s characteristics. Although I found a site that said more specifically, I’m a “wood rat,” based on the year I was born.
They are ” successful despite their perpetual fear of failing.” Heh, not sure about the successful part but that fear of failing is spot on
But I’m also a Scorpio which fits me better. Especially the parts about being deeply emotional and easily aroused to ferocious anger. I think my husband would agree with that
My sister’s a Scorpio. That description also fits her pretty perfectly.
Last year was a very difficult year and I’m happy to see the Rabbit leave! VERY much looking forward to some high-powered Dragon energy
I pull a lot of creative energy from Dragons ~ maybe because I’m an Aries and I need/like the fire!
Sounds perfect for you, Andrea!!! Enjoy the fire!