By Firepig, Bill Hajdu

Hail mighty Dragon! Your arrival is most welcome. People and businesses around the world have had difficult times over the last few years, so the good luck you bring is timely and needed. 

The Dragon is in fact the major symbol of good fortune in Chinese Astrology. The Dragon constellation, for example, is accorded the honor of being the guardian of the Eastern sky. According to tradition the Dragon brings in the Four Blessings of the East: Wealth, virtue, harmony, and longevity.

Indeed, of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac the Dragon is the most special, as it is a mystical being rather than an earthly animal. It is sometimes called a karmic sign. In this context that means we can expect grand things this year. Bigger than life is very much a Dragon thing. There will be spectacular successes as well as crash-and-burn failures. 

To get an idea of the magnitude of events that might occur in 2012, it is helpful to look back on the last time the Water Dragon made an appearance, the year 1952.

• In February, Elizabeth II became Queen of the United Kingdom, beginning a reign that still continues today. The UK was responsible for another amazing feat of longevity.
• In November, Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap opened in London, eventually setting the record for the longest, continuously running production of a play in history.
• It is not really cause for celebration, but in 1952 the United States introduced two of the most destructive weapons in history, the hydrogen bomb and the B-52 bomber.
• On a more positive note, the field of medicine saw the first successful separation of Siamese twins at Mt Sinai hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.
• And, to make the point that significant bad things can also happen in a Dragon year, in December a killer fog descended on London, one result being the invention of the word smog. 

Throughout history parents in China have hoped to have children during Dragon years. What famous people will be born in 2012, and how will they change the world?

The year 1952 claimed world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Lee Hsien Loong. In the world of sport, Jimmy Connors dominated the world of tennis and became one of the greatest players ever, while football coach Bill Belichick struck fear into the hearts of opponents, winning four Super Bowls in the process. And, Craig Newmark, founder of Craig’s List, revolutionized the world of advertising.

In fact, Dragons dominate the world of business. CEOs born in 1952 have run Coca Cola, Exxon-Mobil, Alberto-Culver, Time Warner, Colgate-Palmolive, Viacom, UPS, Radio Shack, Clorox, Tiffany & Company, Hershey, ITT, Macy’s, Xerox, and Walgreens, to name a few. 

(continued on next page)

About Us   Table of Contents   Archive List   Contact Us  
Why the Jade Dragon