2012 is the year of the WATER Dragon. Water is the most yin/feminine element, but yin is not considered weak in Taoist astrology and feng shui. Instead, Water is the most powerful element for it can move around any obstacle in its path without losing its essential nature. Water can, in time, dissolve the hardest mountains.

Dragon year is very powerful and intense. The volume is turned up, events can occur quickly, and it;s easy to be overwhelmed. In a Water Dragon year, it is helpful to have a Water room in your home for rest, healing, and retreat.

In feng shui, a Water environment is cool and dark, like a bedroom or bathroom. The ideal Water room is quiet, soft, and restful.

If you haven’t been impacted by the economic recession, consider yourself lucky. Most of us have had to tighten our purse strings at some point or another, and nowadays it seems like everyone is looking for a way to save some cash. The good news? Dragon year brings the opportunity for business to boom and huge advances to be made in the financial realms. And yes. This includes your money situation. Here are 5 ways to take advantage of Dragon year and make some extra moola:

    Go big. You’ve heard it before and we’ll say it again: Dragon year is all about taking risks. Invest your time into that venture. Take the leap on starting a new career.

It’s the time of year when everyone is gettin’ real. Yep, we’re talkin’ New Year’s resolutions. Have one in mind? If not, consider our suggestions, based on your Chinese Animal Sign:

Rat- In 2012, your resolution should be to make more money! It’s Dragon year, and you’ve got the green light for projects that could launch you into a whole new realm of success.

Ox- Truth time? Your resolution should probably be to lose a few pounds. The holidays tend to be hard on your sign’s waistline, so use the first few months of the year to get on track with a fitness regime.

Tiger- Your resolution ought to be to play nicely with others.

When it’s frigid cold outside, no wonder your sex life gets icy. Forget heating up the bedroom with passion – you’re just trying to stay warm! While I know you’re busy just trying not to freeze your buns off, it’s still important to keep the sparks alive in your relationship. Despite the cold winter weather, there are some things you can do to stoke the flames.

• Bring back date night. Are you sitting on the couch watching reality TV night after night? Get off your bums and go on a date! Take your Tiger man to a wild nightclub or your Pig man to a nice, quiet French restaurant. Chivalry isn’t dead – you just need to bring it back.

• Get cozy.

If we may, we’d like to get on the soapbox for a minute. Have you heard all of the horror stories about 2012 and the impending apocalypse? Yeah, us too. Are you wondering what’s it’s all about? Scared that you need a bomb shelter? Running out and buying survival kits?

Hold up. In astrology, 2012 represents something completely different. It’s not the end of the world, but it does mark an energetic shift that’s occurring on our planet – and it’s an important time in history.

What 2012 truly represents is the movement away from world suffering and selfishness into a new phase of human consciousness. People are beginning to wake up from their slumber, adopt new ideas about community and sustainability, and are ditching their selfish and destructive ways.