The Chinese Lunar Calendar marks this as the year of the Dragon. Over the last few weeks we have been holding this crystal of creation up to the light and slowly turning it as we observe how the rays of the Sun play through its different facets. The Dragon when it more closely hugged the pole star, circa 4713 BC    Although the Oriental Dragon has traditionally received more respect than his Occidental counterpart, the raw power and destructive force of each are apparent in the many legends which record their journeys. As we pointed out last week, many have heard the roar and witnessed the power of this fearsome phenomena. For others, it was the last thing they heard. In the West, we divide the year into twelve months, based on the number of lunations during that time. As we might expect, the Lunar Calendar of China also divides the year into twelve, and the Dragon represents one of the select dozen who honor our journey about the Sun. But this series of twelve is complemented by another multiple; the five elements. These elements are: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Hence, not only is this the year of the Dragon, but it could more specifically be the year of the Fire Dragon, or the Wood Dragon. These two systems merge, so that the wheel of twelve animals can match any one of the five elements. This generates a larger cycle of sixty, or five times twelve. This is the year of the Dragon, but it is more specifically the year of the Metal Dragon.    Like the twelve signs of the zodiac, each of the elements exhibits its own characteristics. People born under the metal element are success oriented; they are strong willed, impulsive, and try to impose their opinions on others. This forcefulness makes them quite stubborn. These characteristics reinforce the qualities of the Dragon. Metal Dragons are possibly the most intense and strong willed of the entire series. They can be honest, bright, open and expressive, but also critical and unyielding. They are combative, rushing into action at a moment's notice. They can be egotistical and undiplomatic. As people, they are leaders, and don't like anyone telling them what to do. Ptolemy recorded that the nature of the constellation Draco fell under the influence of Mars and Saturn, and we can see these qualities exhibited here. They are hot-tempered, pushy and strong, with both Mars and Saturn (Aries and Capricorn) representing archetypes which want to be in charge. Because of their strong business sense, the year of any Dragon tends to be one of upheaval, and the financial market will demonstrate the high passions of this single minded creature.    It may be evident to some that if the Dragon is one of twelve, it cannot be the constellation Draco, which lies outside the zodiacal belt. But there are two Dragons in China, the Imperial and the plebeian. The Dragon of the Chinese zodiac included some of the stars which we now regard as Libra, yet others write that Draco was Tsi Kung, the Palace of the Heavenly Emperor, and that this palace... Draco and how it appears today    "is bounded by the stars of Draco, fifteen in number, which stretch themselves in an oval shape around the polestar. They include the star Tai yi, Xi, omicron, and sigma of Draco, which is distant about ten degrees from the tail of the Bear and twenty-two from the present pole."*    While the constellational depiction does not specifically state that there is a Dragon within reach of the North Celestial Pole, guarding his treasure, or his pearl (depending upon the myth), it must be remembered that in most of these ancient traditions, this was esoteric knowledge. To accurately calculate the true North Celestial Pole, which moves at a very slow rate due to the 'wobble' of precession, one gained great knowledge, stellar knowledge. None were allowed to depict the Imperial Dragon, save at the command of the Emperor, because these keys held sway over the calendar, astronomy, and astrology; powerful tools hidden within the Imperial Cabinet. These were important keys, to both the present, and the future.    This is the Year of the Metal Dragon. Some call it the Year of the Golden Dragon.    *Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, by Richard Hinckley Allen, p. 206. A few of the stars referenced by the Rev. Joseph Edkins The Constellation    Although our quote from the Rev. Joseph Edkins, an English missionary from the last century, lists only a few of the identifiable stars of the fifteen referenced, these all seem to be located in the neck, just below the head of the Dragon. Could it be that the Imperial Dragon, so often identified with the Emperor of China, in fact resides in the Palace of the Heavenly Emperor?    In the same way that the Dragon can be found the world over, so too is the New Moon often used as the start of a month or year. The New Moon, which began this Chinese New year, was an eclipse. The light which flickers at the heart of this Dragon, and therefore this year, has gone out. Dynamic leaders may arise during 2000, coercing many to follow their economic and political lead, but they will ultimately be shown to have no center, or truth, in themselves or their message. Translate to: Français | Deutsch | Italiano | Português | Español If you're on a Mac,  and you're NOT using Netscape,  you're missing the special font,  by way of TrueDoc Dynamic Fonts,  as seen in this CLIP: So if you like the font, and you've got the time, download