Feb. 8 1940 – Jan 26, 1941
ELEMENT: Metal
STEM: Positive
The mighty and magnificent Dragon of mythical folklore never ceases to enchant or stir the imagination. So it must be said that some of its magical qualities, illusory or not, are contained in those born under his sign.
The Dragon person is magnanimous and full of vitality and strength. To him, life is a blaze of colors and he is constantly on the go. Egotistical, eccentric, dogmatic, whimsical or terribly demanding and unreasonable, he is still never without a band of admirers. Proud, aristocratic and very direct, the Dragon-born establishes his ideals early in life and demands the same high standards and perfection from others that he has for himself.
In China, the Dragon symbolizes the emperor or the male. It represents power; those born in the Dragon years are said to wear the horns of destiny. A Dragon child will tend to take up important burdens and responsibilities even if he happens to be the youngest of the family. Often, older Dragon children can bring up their younger siblings with more authority than the parents.
The Dragon is a veritable storehouse of energy. His impetuosity, eagerness and almost religious zeal can blaze like the gabled fire the Dragon emits from its mouth. He has the potential for accomplishing great things, which is fortunate as the Dragon likes to perform on a grand scale. However, unless he contains he premature enthusiasm, he may burn himself out and end up in a puff of smoke. He is the most liable to become fanatical over an issue. Whatever the Dragon does, good or bad, he will never fail to make the headlines. The Chinese call him the guardian of wealth and power. Certainly a prosperous sign to belong to. But then again, the Dragon is the sign most prone to megalomania.
The powerful Dragon is difficult to contest, at times even impossible. He tends to intimidate those who dare challenge him. An angry, spurned Dragon could be like the big bad wolf at your door. He'll huff and he'll puff until he blows your house down.
But the Dragon is likely to be filial in spite of his strong temper and dogmatic ways. Whatever differences he may have with the family will be forgotten or set aside when they call for aid. The Dragon can put aside domestic resentments and come to the rescue promptly and with largesse. However, his family can also count on a severe lecture from him once the crisis is over. The Dragon seldom minces words. He cites his views like Imperial Edicts. Although he may rave about the virtues of free speech and democracy – don't buy it. He feels himself to be above the law and doesn't always practice what he preaches.
Sometimes being civil, affectionate and honey-tongued can be a terrible strain on the Dragon. He would much rather be rough, rude and utterly inconsiderate when provoked. But don't try to give him back the same medicine. Somehow, it jus won't work, unless you happen to be another Dragon and decide to do battle. Then we can all just sit around and watch the magnificent fireworks that will make the 4th of July look like candles on a birthday cake.
In spite of his volcano of emotions, the Dragon cannot be said to be sentimental, sensitive or very romantic. He takes love and adulation for granted; they are his just due. But while he may be stubborn, irrational and overbearing when irked, the Dragon can forgive you the moment he gets over his outburst. And since things are supposed to work both ways, he expects your forgiveness for his errors, too. He may even neglect to apologize at times, which may seem callous, but then the Dragon really has not time to explain himself or be bothered by grudges or trifles; he just wants to get on with his work.
While the Dragon may be strong and decisive, he is not cunning or guileful. He shuns easy adaptability and tricky negotiations. Were the contest to be decided on strength alone, the Dragon would conquer hands down; but he is often overconfident, brash, and deluded by his wonderful visions – thus neglecting to pay attention to possible upsets or underhanded plots that could overthrow him. Instead of sniffing around for brewing schemes, he prefers to plunge into battle, often he disdains to call for assistance; too sure, he rarely keeps anything in reserve. Too intent on going forward, he forgets to protect his rear and flanks. Too upright, he refuses to lie. Further, he is unable to interpret clever insinuations and generally fails to spot the evil and subversive intent of his enemies.
The Dragon has the same affinity for success as the Snake, but because he expresses his views more openly and his failures are more likely to involve some form of physical exertion, he is usually spared deep psychological problems. Being a doer, he will take to one-man crusades, lead demonstrations, write letters to the newspapers or collect a million signatures on a petition. This method of belching fire and brimstone effectively rids him of any inner neurosis that could result otherwise.
Despite his faults being as numerous as his virtues, the luster of the Dragon shines on everyone. He is not petty, nor is he begrudging with favors. He may grumble a lot, but he cannot resist helping the needy or coming to the rescue when you are in trouble. This may not be because he feels real compassion or genuine concern; more often than not, the Dragon helps because he has a profound sense of duty to all.
The Dragon will somehow always have a notable contribution to make. You can count on his support, for he will not let you down if he can help it. The Dragon will exhaust all his resources before he admits failure. An extrovert and lover of nature, this person will be an active sportsman, a travel bug and an excellent talker. He has the makings of a supersalesman and he and his band of loyal followers will always be promoting something.
The weather conditions at the time of a Dragon's birth will affect his life a great deal. A child born during a storm will lead a tempestuous and hazardous life beset by danger or spectacular experiences. One born on a day when the sea (his ancestral home) and the heavens are calm will have a protected existence and a more amiable nature.
The Dragon will either marry young or prefer to remain single. He can be happy leading a solitary life, as his work and career will keep him occupied. He will seldom lack friends or admirers to keep him company.
For a sign that never accepts defeat, the Dragon provides his own worst opposition. He will dash headlong into a disastrous situation when he is convinced he is right. Pompous and self-destructive, you say? Maybe. It is just that this person must follow his plans through – irregardless of the consequences. After all, he was put on earth to raise standards to superlative heights and the more you try to change his course of action or steer him away from trouble, the more headstrong he becomes. He lives up to his reputation for taking the lead even when it becomes most unpleasant.
Whatever else, the Dragon will be an open person – you can read him like a book. It is difficult for him to pretend emotions he does not feel. He rarely even bothers to try. He is not secretive either, and cannot keep a confidence for too long. Even when he swears not to breathe a word of it, you can be sure he will blurt it out when he gets angry and the sparks begin to fly. You say he promised to keep it a secret? What secret? How can you bother him with such a trivial thing at a time like this?
His feelings are genuine and always straight from his heart. When he declares he loves you, you can be absolutely sure he is sincere.
It will never be hard to place your confidence in the truthful Dragon. He seldom wavers, cowers or shifts responsibility. He possesses little or no self-doubt. With his natural pioneering spirit, his attempts will be stupendous successes or unbelievable exercises in futility. He must drive right to the very edge of the precipice and take a look for himself. Just hold your breath, keep your fingers crossed and pray that he has good brakes.
I guess Frank Sinatra, who is a Dragon, and his song "My Way" concisely sum up how the Dragon ticks.
Of all the animal signs, the Dragon will be attracted most to the irresistible Monkey. The Monkey will similarly be drawn to the Dragon's majesty and they will make an unbeatable team. A Dragon-Rat union will be an equally winning combination as the Rat is crafty where the Dragon is strong. They could do great things together. The Dragon will likewise make a good match with the cool and venerable Snake, whose wisdom could check the Dragon's excessiveness.
Tiger, Rooster, Horse, Sheep, Rabbit and Boar will all seek the Dragon out for his beauty and strength. Two Dragons will get along pretty well but the Dragon's relationship with the Ox may be a bit strained by the Ox's similar authoritativeness. Of all the animal signs, perhaps only the Dog will make a miserable partner for the Dragon. The Dragon will come under the close scrutiny of the Dog and the Dog will be too cynical to fall under his spell.
Above all, it is worth remembering that although the Dragon is dazzling, he is not deep. Only when he can harness his legendary powers can he perform miracles. He needs people to believe in him!
METAL DRAGON (specific)
This type could well be the most strong-willed of the Dragons. Honesty and integrity are paramount virtues to him and although he may be bright, open and expressive, he is also unbending and critical.
Action-oriented and combative, he will seek out and motivate those on his own level of intelligence or social standing. He has little patience with the lazy and the foolish. Unpliable Metal combined with his natural lunar sign, Wood, will also enable him to intimidate weaker beings into submitting to his will. Otherwise, he is the magnificent warrior at his best.
He is tremendously intense and will stake his life on his convictions. It is futile to try to convince him that certain things just cannot be done. This type of Dragon will try to exorcise whatever evil he sees in life and could be fanatical regarding his convictions and moral beliefs.
When he is negative, he will have exaggerated views of his own importance. He is a bit short on diplomacy and has the habit of going it alone if others disagree with him or refuse to accept his leadership.
The strong Metal Dragon will rush in where angels fear to tread. He will succeed because he will give himself no other recourse. He burns his bridges behind him so that he cannot turn back once he attacks.
Other famous Metal Dragons:
John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Valerie Harper, King Constantine
Other famous people born in the Year of
the Dragon:
Frank Sinatra, Mae West, Jimmy Connors, Salvador Dali, Betty Grable,
Anthony Quinn, Kirk Douglas, Shirley Temple Black, Che Guevera,
Walter Mondale, Fracisco Franco.
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