Читать книгу Your Chinese Horoscope 2012: What the year of the dragon holds in store for you - Neil Somerville, Neil Somerville - Страница 8

Vibrant, exciting and colourful, the Dragon heads many a carnival. Amid cheers and much rejoicing, it weaves back and forth, enchanting the crowds. It is bold and flamboyant, and in 2012 few will remain untouched by its influence. This is no ordinary year and no ordinary time.

Dragon years are action driven and times for major initiatives. As the Chinese proverb states, ‘Better to do it than to miss it.’

This year, in view of some of the economic difficulties that have been experienced in recent years, many governments and organizations will be concentrating their efforts on encouraging growth and stimulating industry and investment. Major incentives will be offered to help the situation and in many countries projects will be announced to create new jobs and additional funding will be given to education and training. Dragon years favour progress, but opportunities do need to be taken when they arise. In this fast-moving year, there is no time to waste.

Elections will be held in several countries this year, with the economy featuring strongly in many a campaign. In the American election in particular, much of the year will be spent in considering the way forward. There will be controversy, surprise and drama. This election, as with others held in 2012, will be a driving force for change and ambitious new initiatives.

Another factor which will be important will be the question of national identity, with many people feeling concerned about their nation’s role in the world. Some countries could see nationwide campaigns giving voice to certain issues, with minorities and smaller parties active and frequently influential. This proved the case with the Polish Solidarity movement in the Dragon year of 1988, and its strikes led to monumental change in Eastern Europe. The voices of some factions in this Year of the Dragon will be equally telling.

In addition to the incentive and investment schemes launched during the year, there will be important developments in many other areas. In building and infrastructure, some large-scale projects will be started which will bring considerable improvement to some regions, while in science and medicine, exciting advances will be made. Penicillin was just one of the major discoveries made in a previous Dragon year.

In 2012 the solar system is also likely to open up more of its secrets. The last Dragon year saw the identification of two new planets, and this year again some exciting new finds will be made. For astronomers, this can be a highly significant year.

There will also be major developments in the area of transport, especially in the creation of high-speed links and the manufacture of environmentally friendly vehicles. Green technology will feature strongly during the year, with Expo 2012, held in South Korea, being a showcase for some truly innovative thinking.

A feature of Dragon years is that they favour expression, and in the world of fashion, new styles are likely to catch the imagination, while in music, artists will be keen to experiment and promote new sounds, with some new bands attracting a worldwide following. Interestingly, it was in a Dragon year that Beatlemania became such a global phenomenon, with the Beatles being the first band to sell a million copies of a record before its release.

The film industry, too, will enjoy some major successes, not only with some spectacular blockbusters but also in furthering cinematography.

The internet will continue to have a great impact, with popular new sites and exciting advances in home entertainment. As is the way with Dragon years, certain ideas will take root and develop into something major. This was the case with Wikipedia, launched in the last Dragon year, which has now grown into a vast resource.

There will be an undeniable buzz to the year and many will find it inspiring and exciting. This will be especially true of the summer Olympics, held in London. People around the world will follow the fortunes of top sportsmen and women and see some spectacular achievements. The excitement will help generate a feel-good factor that, for a time, will be a welcome distraction from more worldly concerns.

The British royal family is never far from the news and 2012 promises to be an eventful year. It was in 1952, 60 years ago, that the young Princess Elizabeth came to the throne, and this Dragon year will again see considerable pageantry and celebration, as well as some surprises.

Dragon years have considerable positive energy, but sadly can also bring disaster. This year will again be marked by natural catastrophe, perhaps very early on. Not only could there be earthquakes in various parts of the world and volcanoes erupting, but the vagaries of the weather system may well play havoc in certain regions. However, when tragedy strikes, many nations will rally and provide support. Some wonderful gestures will be made, as with the Race Against Time, a charity event raising money to fight children’s diseases which took place in a previous Dragon year, which had 50 million people participating worldwide.

As leader of the carnival, the Dragon energizes proceedings, and many will find that this is a year for action. The Chinese consider the Dragon year a time of good fortune and one favouring marriage and starting a family or business. Whatever your plans, this is a time to move forward.

Although some signs will fare better than others, the Dragon year will offer opportunities for us all. Do make the most of these 12 months, for your actions will in some way make a difference.

I wish you every success and good fortune.