The Year of the Wood Dragon
The Chinese Lunar New Year is almost upon us. The Chinese Zodiac animal will change from the Rabbit energy we experienced in 2023 to the Dragon energy on the 10th of February.
2024 is set to be a more active and energetic year with the Dragon energy that will come in. Importantly, the Dragon is the only animal of 12 in the Chinese zodiac that is a mythical creature. They are strong, independent and seen as auspicious, symbols of good luck, honour and success. With the wood element we can think of a tree and laying secure and stable foundations for the year and even years ahead. Wood energy is also more yang than the more yin water energy we had the last two years and in Chinese medicine, the wood element correlates to the organs of the Liver and the Gallbladder. The Liver is known as the ‘general’ and is in charge of ensuring the smooth flow of Qi around the body and the gallbladder ensures the production of bile to emulsify fats. Both organs also help with planning and decision making. When the wood element is out of balance we commonly see issues such as muscle tension, digestive issues, headaches and emotions such as frustration and anger. This will be something to watch out for if we get too stuck in our yang energy. More yin activities such as grounding, yoga, swimming and tai qi can help you find your centre if things get too fast paced.
Parallel to western astrology, the most important transit we will see this year is the planet Pluto moving into Aquarius after being Capricorn since 2008. If we think back to that time, there has been a lot of turmoil in the world with many natural disasters, wars and financial upheavel. With Pluto moving into Aquarius this is supposed to be a time of collective change, freedom and humanity. There will also be new inventions, new technology and new systems of power.
Dragon years usually bring with them new technological advancements too, we may see more AI, space travel and digital technology.
Of course a good way to stay balanced emotionally and physically this year will be to have regular acupuncture sessions to keep the body functioning optimally.
Remember - prevention is always better than cure.
Famous people born in the year of the Dragon include: Bruce Lee, Martin Luther King, Vladimir Putin, Pelé