European dragons breath fire, while the Chinese dragon typically breathes clouds, producing rain and lightening. The Chinese dragon is a composite of deer antlers, a camel head, ghostly eyes, a snake body, a crab belly, carp scales, hawk claws, tiger palms and cow ears. Its power lies in a large, luminous pearl concealed under its chin. The dragon can assume any dimension.

The year 2024 is ruled by yang wood sitting on top of the yang Green Wood Dragon, who is primarily yang earth. The two elements are in a destructive mode, as wood suppresses and takes the nutrients out of the earth. This means the year will have more conflict and less harmony. 
 

Yang wood is like the oak tree, strong and unbending with a dislike for change, It is sometimes referred to as the element of chaos and crisis. Yang wood represents the head and can indicate a powerful, stubborn leader who will fight for his beliefs and not compromise. On the positive side, he is a person who sticks to his principles and is very loyal. He can be firm but honest, reliable, friendly and kind.
 

The dragon is an earth animal, but he has water and wood within, so the water can drain some of the yang wood’s rigidness. The combination of yang wood and the dragon brings to mind some of the current conflicts between Israel and Gaza, Ukraine and Russia, and possibly the U.S. and China. Both Blinken and Netanyahu were born on yang wood days.
 

Going back 60 years, to 1964 when we last experienced the turmoil of a yang wood dragon year, the Vietnam War was at its height, protests against the war and student demonstrations were everywhere, Martin Luther King received the Nobel prize for leading nonviolent resistance against racism, Nelson Mandela made his speech “I Am Prepared To Die,” and Americans had just experienced the assassination of their president at the end of 1963.
 

A famous Chinese prophecy book from 660 CE., Tu bei tu, was written by an historian and astrologer and is considered one of the most renowned works of Chinese mysticism. It is frequently being compared to “The Prophecies of Nostradamus.” The book, believed to be based on the I Ching (The Book of Changes), contains 60 drawings with poems that make predictions about China’s future.
 

Poem #43 is considered to be about the relationship between Taiwan and China. The intriguing part of the prophecy is “The black rabbit escapes into the green dragon’s cave.” The year 2023 was the Black Rabbit and 2024 is the Green Dragon. 

The accompanying picture is of a big man walking next to a small man (presumably China and Taiwan walking together). Like the prophesies of Nostradamus, there are endless speculations online, but many see the Black Rabbit as the United States and are predicting there will be big changes with China this year. 

The theme seems to be one of intensity. Enjoy the ride. Stay "attuned."