BEST WISHES FROM THE MIRROR FOR 
THE YEAR OF THE WATER DRAGON 2139

The Sign of the Water Dragon

In Tibetan astrology the sign of the Water Dragon is a very important sign, associated with mystery and the unknown. It is the symbol of everything that can happen unexpectedly, linked, of course, to the maturation of the karma of a person. It is a legendary animal, not a domestic animal, of which human beings know little, it cannot be touched and its head and its tail can not be seen at the same time. This year, 2012, is a very special year in which many things may happen that we do not expect, and for people born under this sign, its influence will certainly be very positive: they will have a new self-confidence, more clarity and mental stability, even from a spiritual point of view if they seriously dedicate themselves to the practice of Dharma with perseverance and dedication, they can achieve unexpected results.
The sign of the Dragon contains the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. This year will be the year of the Water Dragon, a sign full of positive energy and resources, but which needs to be contained. This is the principle characteristic of water, which takes the form of the vessel that contains it, so it must find the right cause and condition in order to draw upon all its resources. Since this year is under the influence of the Water Dragon, the water is like a river in flood with a lot of flowing water rather than a stagnant pool, hence many things move, ideas change, there will be a lot of creativity, there will even be a lot of changes from the economic point of view.
In the constellation of the Dragon, the sign of the Dragon has the honor of being the guardian of the Eastern Sky, and traditionally speaking, the Dragon brings the four blessings of the East: health, virtue, longevity and harmony. It has always been considered to be a symbol of prophecy and wisdom, and in the East it is often put at the entrance of temples and monasteries, as the guardian of the treasures that are kept there.

We can see that there are the four animals even on Tibetan prayer flags: the wind horse (lung-ta) brings strength and fortune, and needs the eagle (wisdom), the dragon (power), the lion (courage) and the tiger (self-esteem) to achieve a perfect balance.
The characteristics of this sign are ambition and the ability to organize for oneself and for others. People born under this sign prefer to live by their own rules, and if they are left alone often reach the goals they have set for themselves. They apply themselves totally and with dedication and are not afraid of challenges or taking any kind of risks. They are always very enthusiastic about what they do, dedicating a lot of energy to it although at times they waste a lot on new projects and in the end feel tired, exhausted or unmotivated.

Those born under the sign of the Dragon have an altruistic attitude, are attentive to the needs of others, are usually very generous and try to help those who are in need, even if they are unable to seek help for themselves. They do not like gossip and are very responsible. They are often surrounded by many people because they have a very charismatic personality, but deep down they prefer to be alone perhaps because they are more successful when they do not work in a group and are able to commit themselves totally to what they are doing. They never tire out and go on until they have completed a project, following their own methods. They are considered to be hard workers, but often suffer from muscle tension and headaches caused by the stress of their increasingly busy lives and challenges. Generally they do not have many children but tend to devote themselves to community projects outside the home. Their daily routine should be integrated with walks in the countryside, meditation or yoga which will be able to balance their body and their mind which are always on the go. 

The positive days for this sign are Sunday and Wednesday. The negative day is Thursday, so on this day it is better not to start any business such as opening a shop, not to undergo surgery or get married.
The sign of the Water Dragon, the sign for 2012, is possibly the most balanced of the signs. The mewa number is six, the mewa of the angels. Those born in this sign are very intelligent with a long life that is precise and well organized and take care of their appearance. They have a more versatile mentality and are also able to look at things from other points of view than their own, they do not always need to be right and can make decisions in consultation with others. This sign, however, does not like restrictions of any kind which could stifle creativity and may get angry very easily and must be careful because others could harm him or close relatives might be jealous of him. 

In general these people are very loving, full of ideas and good humor, with lots of energy, very ambitious and always thinking about big projects and big ideas to be undertaken. They use theatrical gestures but not to draw attention to themselves. It is a natural way for them to behave and doesn't mean that they have something to show.  They are often aware of their talents, although, as we mentioned previously, too much enthusiasm often leaves them exhausted, and although they are always surrounded by many people, deep in their hearts they love solitude because they know exactly how to look after themselves. 

In Tibet, these animals are mainly seen during the summer, which goes from spring to autumn and is called the season of the Dragons. They often appear with the noise of thunder and with lightning and some people manage to see their tails. People have to take care of their wheat crops in the fields because in the months of July and August the lightning and thunder from the dragons may destroy the entire harvest, mowing down whole fields. Then in September and October, the dragons sleep and wake up again in April and May with the first spring thunderstorms. 

In Tibetan villages the rain is always connected to dragons, and when it does not rain for several months, they do pujas to invoke the rain, which usually arrives. The figure of the dragon is often linked to the nagas, which are spirits that protect places, and dragons are often asked to protect the wheat fields. It is said that in general a snake can transform itself into a dragon after many years.

Lama Gendun Dhargay, February 2012