In my culture, when we celebrated our New Year on December 31st, we always made a big deal about one of the animals in Chinese culture. It depended on whose turn it was to represent the coming year. I’d be all into it! I would dress up in the colors symbolic of the coming year, and whipping up a dish that the animal of the year was into. We’d set up a symbol of the animal on our dinner table alongside the one from the previous year to give it a proper send-off. I would dress up in the colors symbolic for the coming year and have a dish that that animal was in favor of. And yeah, we totally believed this ritual would bring us some good luck for the year ahead. Every time my mom came back from Russia after seeing my grandma, she’d bring a new ceramic animal from this cool factory outside Moscow. I’ve got a whole crew of these critters chilling on a special shelf in my kitchen. Funny thing, we’d do the whole animal celebration again on Chinese New Year Day, but it was more low-key.

It’s been ages since I’ve celebrated like that, until one of my clients mentioned they were having a family gathering to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Got me thinking why I drifted from that tradition and decided to dive back in. My clients gave me a special ‘goodie bag,’ which, in Chinese culture, is given to everyone who is single. So, I figured, why not dig into the significance of the Year of the Dragon and how it impacts us, no matter where we’re from. Did my own digging and put together the deets for both of us.

So, in the rich tapestry of Chinese culture, the Year of the Dragon is a big deal. People are all about its power, wisdom, and bringing in the good fortune. The Dragon is the mightiest of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Like, it’s got serious myth and legend cred, seen as this divine powerhouse with all the strength, courage, and vitality vibes. The Dragon is a symbol of power, associated with emperors, leadership, and protection.

The Year of the Dragon promises a period of profound transformation and renewal. People born under this sign are believed to possess an innate ability to rise above challenges and conquer adversity. They’re all about that fiery determination and spirit, ready to slay whatever obstacles come their way.

Now, in the world of Chinese astrology, each year is ruled by one of five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, or water – which gives it its own flavor. And the Year of the Dragon? It’s extra special because it’s all about the element it’s aligned with, shaping what goes down during its reign. Like, a Fire Dragon year is all about passion and dynamism, sparking off creativity and innovation. On the flip side, a Water Dragon year is more about going with the flow, being intuitive, and diving deep into emotions. Then you’ve got the Wood Dragon, which we’re rolling with in 2024. This one’s all about putting ideas into action, being diplomatic, and cracking jokes left and right.

In history, dragon years have been huge moments of change, shaking things up from top to bottom. Empires rising and falling, tech booms, social revolutions, these years serve as pivotal moments in history, shaping the course of humanity’s collective journey.

Economically, the Year of the Dragon is the time to make it rain. Businesses boom, new opportunities pop up left and right, and everyone’s feeling bold enough to take some risks and harness the Dragon’s energy to pursue ambitious ventures and breakthrough innovations. It’s like the Dragon’s breath blows in a whole gust of wealth and prosperity.

Plus, the Year of the Dragon is all about looking inward and getting real about our goals and values. It’s like a cosmic invitation to tap into our inner strength and resilience, ready to take on whatever life throws our way.

So, 2024, the Year of the Dragon, is bringing in a mix of old traditions and new challenges.  Here’s what’s up for grabs:

1. Renewed Energy and Optimism: After all the craziness, 2024’s all about hitting refresh and feeling ready to take on whatever’s coming our way.
2. Tech’s getting a serious glow-up: Get ready for some wild tech breakthroughs, from AI to renewable energy, all thanks to the Dragon’s innovation vibes. Tech giants are cookin’ up their own AI chips, oiling their gears to face a prior gebAI boomer.
3. Climate change ain’t going anywhere: My dad would talk about climate change concerns and environmental sustainability for years. Well, they ain’t going anywhere and will continue to grow, reflecting the Dragon’s reverence for nature and harmony.
4. Political and social shake-up: From calling for more accountability to fighting for justice, 2024’s all about stirring the pot.
5. Economically, it’s time to cash in: businesses are booming, investments are flowing, and everyone’s feeling the wealth vibes.
6. Cultural Celebrations: Let’s party like it’s 2024: Get ready to celebrate those ancient traditions and make some new friends along the way.
7. Personal Transformation: 2024’s all about finding your groove, chasing your dreams, and becoming the dragon you were meant to be. Plus, who knows what cosmic promises await us? The Earth is awakening becoming aware of herself and takes everyone with her. Or we take the Earth with us.

As an apotheosis of all that the year promised, I got an interesting encounter the other day. I gave a ride to someone. He spent most of the time on the phone and got off a few minutes before his drop-off. As a farewell, he said to me, “You will be safe. The doors will open up for you soon.” I want to share this promise or prophesy (who knows?) with you who read this post.