As the eventful Year of the Rabbit 2023 comes to a close, nestled between two Yang years – the Tiger of 2022 and the forthcoming Dragon of 2024, the echoes of global upheaval persist. The year of the Tiger witnessed a world-altering tragedy, the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, setting the stage for tumultuous events during the Year of the Rabbit. Subsequently, 2023 served as a transitional period, preparing the ground for profound changes.

The dawn of the Wooden Dragon (or Spring Festival) commences on February 10, 2024, persisting until January 28, 2025.

The Year of the Tiger 2022

The Year of the Rabbit 2023

The Resolve of the Dragon

The year 2024, the Year of the Dragon (aligned with the Wood element and associated with the colors green or blue), promises to be even more dynamic and turbulent. The geopolitical and climatic disruptions witnessed in 2023 are expected to intensify, presenting challenges on military, political, and natural fronts.

In Chinese culture, the Dragon is revered as the most sacred symbol, embodying strength and resolve. For humanity, this year will be one of significant trials. It is imperative to face these challenges with adaptability rather than rigid expectations, as flexibility emerges as a key trend in contemporary coaching and psychology.

Renowned Ukrainian coach Olha Larina, on February 6, 2024, articulated the trend: “Flexibility is currently a crucial component of productivity. No one knows what will happen in a month, a week, or half an hour. It is essential to be able to reshape your day here and now.”

Cyclic Nature of History

In Chinese tradition, each year is symbolized by one of the 12 animals of the zodiac, each associated with one of the five elemental colors (Black-Water, Green-Blue-Wood, Red-Fire, Yellow-Earth, White-Metal), cycling continuously. A 60-year cycle begins with the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Examining the events of the Wooden Dragon year in 1964 provides insights into potential recurring themes. Significant global events, such as civil conflicts, geopolitical shifts, and natural disasters, demonstrate a cyclical pattern every 60 years.

Wooden Dragon of 1964

In the year of the Wooden Dragon in 1964, significant events unfolded:

• The ongoing Colombian conflict starts.
• The Mozambican War of Independence is launched (1964-1974).
• The military overthrows Brazilian President João Goulart in a coup, starting 21 years of dictatorship in Brazil (1964-1985).
• Vietnam War: The U.S. sends 5,000 more military advisers to South Vietnam, bringing the total number of United States forces in Vietnam to 21,000.
• Greeks and Turks begin fighting in Limassol, Cyprus.
• Northern Rhodesia, a former British protectorate, becomes the independent Republic of Zambia, ending 73 years of British rule.
• A U.S. Air Force jet training aircraft that strays into East Germany is shot down by Soviet fighters near Erfurt; all three crewmen are killed.
• The era of Nikita Khrushchev concluded, with Leonid Brezhnev and Alexei Kosygin assuming power in the Soviet Union.
• Nelson Mandela and 7 others are sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa.
• American civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. becomes the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
• The last judicial hanging in the United Kingdom takes place.
• The island of Malta obtains independence from the United Kingdom.
• The 1964 Summer Olympics are held in Tokyo, Japan, the first in an Asian country.
• In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople meet in Jerusalem.
• United States presidential election: Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson defeats Republican challenger Barry Goldwater with over 60 percent of the popular vote.
• The Christmas flood of 1964 begins in the United States, affecting the Pacific Northwest and some of Northern California. It will continue until January 7.
• The Great Alaskan earthquake, the second-most powerful known (and the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history) at a magnitude of 9.2, strikes Southcentral Alaska.

Personal Feng Shui Instrument

The Four Features serve as the primary tool in traditional Feng Shui, influencing both external environments and internal facets of individuals. These Features – Mountain, Guardian Hills, Energy Spot and Water – offer guidance on how to cultivate an ideal persona, especially crucial in the Year of the Dragon.

• Mountain: Represents the physical body, necessitating attention to physical well-being through regular exercise and practices like Yoga, Qigong, Taichi.
• Hills: Signify work and achievements essential for sustenance, emphasizing the importance of setting goals and striving to attain them.
• Water: Represents life’s purpose and mission, urging self-discovery and answering existential questions like “Who am I?” and “What is my purpose?”
• Energy Spot: Symbolizes the heart, emphasizing love and compassion as paramount for a fulfilling life.

Feng Shui, therefore, is not merely a guide for design and locating places with positive energy but a manual on becoming a well-rounded individual leading a meaningful life.

Chinese Zodiac in 2024

According to Chinese astrology, the Year of the Dragon is auspicious for those born in the Year of the Rat (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020) and Monkey (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016), presenting challenges for those born in the Year of the Dog (1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018).

However, the Yin-Yang duality reminds us that challenges foster resilience and innovation.

Individuals born in the Year of the Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021) and Dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012) may encounter friction and obstacles due to the strong impulses and ambitions associated with the Dragon year, representing an opportunity for growth.

For the others, the Year of the Dragon promises a smooth ride at high speeds on an individual level. Despite the global complexities in 2024, it could be a year of effective strides forward.

In dealing with the Dragon, it is essential to approach with gentleness and flexibility, savoring every moment of life.

Authors: Shan-Tung Hsu, Taras Lytvyn