Enter the dragon, indeed.
In 2024, it is out with the Water Rabbit and in with the Wood Dragon.
The dragon will commandeer the calendar on Saturday, Fe🎉b. 10, 2024, and reign until Jan.🙈 29, 2025.
The dragon is the only mythological creature in the whole of the Chinese zodiac, implying that under the talons o𝄹f this totem, we can and should take flight and fight fear.
While the archetype of the dragon applies directly to those born during his 12-year cyclical tenure, the energy of the Wood Dragon will lend itself to the collective throughout the year✅ to come.
Mythology of the dragon
Following the myth, the 12 characters that inhabit the Chinese zodiac earnedꦓ their places within it through a river-crossing race ordered by theౠ Jade Emperor.
The order♔ of the calendar follows ꦗthe outcome of this hallowed contest.
Within the story of the dragon lies the true message of this year — strength is a gift to be lent, ꩲnot a power to be wielded.
The dragon, with his ability to fly high, was the predicted winner — but he was delayed by a kind-hearted detour to save a village from immolation. On his way across the water, he gave the fledgling rabbit a gust of wind to help make it to shore, thereby placing himself, by merit of magnanimity, in fifth place, after the bunny, and before the♑ snake.
Sounds like a poem title to me!
Withinꦡ the story of the dragon lies the true message of this year — strength is a gift to be lent, not a power to be wielded.
Chinese zodiac
As in Western astrology, the Chinese zodiac co❀ntains 12 signs, each represented by a different animal.
Makꦆing it across the heavenly river were rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig, respectively. Each sign is also associated with one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
Unlike the Greco-Roman zodiac system, the Chinese zodiac follows the moon. While the Western zodiac ꩲwheel moves through all the signs in a single year, the Chinese zodiac takes 12 years to cycle through each of its archetypes. (The last time we lived through a dragon year was 2012.)
The Chinese zodiac is known as shengxiao, which translates to “born resembling,” based on the belief that people inherit and exhibit ♛the traits of the animal whose sign they fall under.
The Chinese zodiac is known as shengxiao, which translates to “born resembling,” based on the be🌟lief that people inherit and exhibit the traits of the animal whose sign they fall under.
You can read more about the history of the Chinese zodiac and the traits associated with each sign here.
Dragons, don your best pair of red underwear
A special note to all those born in the year of the dragon: In Chinese astrology, when your zodiac sign comes back 💖around, you offen𒁃d Tai Sui the God of Age, and incur his ominous wrath.
To combat the curse, you must take extra precautions and double down on driviဣng away the baddies and generating good luck.
The belief is that piling on jade jewelry and wearing red clothing — especially underwear, bou😼ght for you by others — vastly improve your chances of survival. Red or dead, can dig.
Year of the Wood Dragon 2024
The dragon is synonymous with yang energy — vitality, vision, and vigor. At best, dragons are action-oriented, benevolently motivated leaders who hold t𓃲he good of the collective above their own needs.
The scaly, dicey underbelly🐷 of the dragon is a tendency towards bluster and dominance, tactlessness, and a hot temper.
Fittingly, the closest relative to the dragon in Western astrology is the hair on fire, no🌃w means now, passion before patience sign of Aries.
Dragon years are defined by momentum and reaction — to add to the 🍌bonfire, the element for 2024 is wood, which fuels flames and enhances the intensity and i𝐆nstability of the dragon.
Fittingly, the closest rꦉelative to the dragon in Western astrology is the hair on fire, now means now, passion before patience sign of Aries.
If change is what you’re after, this dragon year is here to help — courtesy of a slash-and-burn path to newness.
In a global context, a Wood Dragon year could equate to unrest an🍬d upheaval — the theme here is ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚprogress with a price.
How does Western astrology reflect this energy?
, zodiac expert and founder of, shares, “There are intriguing thematic parallels between Western Astrology and the Chinese Zodiac in 2024. Pluto entering Aquarius will empower the unique ideas of the individual, while the North Node in Aries will further underscore themes of boldness and self-reliance.”
In Western astrology, the North Node is known as the Dragon’s Head, and the South Node, the Tail. With the head rearing in the fire sign of Aries and the tail twisting in the cardinal air of Libra for the first time in nearly two decades, this year is truly about the intersection of me vs. we, self-reliance and growth through relationships.
What can we learn from the Wood Dragon?
The lesson of this cycle is 🍨not compromise — wherein someone or everyone loses so♌mething, but creative solution, in which everyone gains more than they ever expected.
To take it back to the myth of the dragon, when we help others get to the proverbial shore, we earn not just respect, but our own place i𝔍n the circle.
Grim continues, “Combined with other transits, like Mars aligning with Uranus on the fixed star Algol in mid-July, we could even witness sudden leadership changes in the political sphere. New leaders could emerge who fit the traits of the Dragon.”
As we enter a presidential election year, it remains to be seen which candidate will emerge victorious. May the baptismal fire of this dragon age warm but never burn you and clear the way for a future that’s brighter and better for all.
Astrologer researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girls’ guide” to strip clubs, and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.
