Happy New Year! Around Asia, people are celebrating the end of the Year of the Rabbit, and the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. And not just any dragon. We are now entering the Year of the Water Dragon. Only celebrated once every 60 years, the Water Dragon will bring auspicious change to us in 2012.
In the Chinese Zodiac, the dragon is the most powerful of the 12 signs. Dragons represent change, high energy, prosperity, and mobility. This year, the elemental energy of Water will temper some of the more intense qualities of the Dragon. For 2012 the Water Dragon will bring innovation, the ability to flow smoothly around obstacles, and successful expansion and growth. The peaceful, clear-thinking energy of the Water Dragon can help us see the needs of others, and work for the benefit of the people and wider world around us. The Water Dragon is a wise and powerful leader, and we can look to this powerful figure from the Asian Zodiac to inspire our yoga practice this year.
Asana: The Dragon's appearance is thought by some to be an amalgamation of several ancient totemic figures. It's head resembles a lion, it has the flexible and flowing body of a snake, and claws resembling a tiger. These animals came together to create the powerful, mythic Dragon.
Try these Kundalini yoga postures and mantras this year!
Connect with the snake-like flexibility of Dragon by working with your spine in Spinal Flexes, Cobra, or Wheel pose.
Stretch your fingers like claws and get in touch with the lion-esque strength of the Dragon in Lion pose (Simhasana).
Embrace the flowing, liquid nature of the Water Dragon with a vinyasa yoga practice.
Mantra: The Water Dragon is creative and innovative. Yogi Bhajan taught that the mantra “Ong” is a mantra of action. When chanted correctly, it activates our drive and creativity, and can help us manifest our destiny. Gurunam Joseph Michael Levry has a beautiful recording of the mantra “Ong” combined with the Prayer of Light that compliments the Year of the Water Dragon beautifully!
You may also want to connect with the energy of prosperity that the Water Dragon can bring. Chant “Har” to build your willpower and connect with the Creative Infinite. Simran Kaur Khalsa has a powerful 31 minute recording of this mantra on the album Tantric Har and Har Haray Haree Wahe Guru.
You could also chant do a Prosperity Meditation using the mantra “Aap Sahaee Hoa,” from 11 to 31 minutes. There are many wonderful recordings to help you become familiar with the mantra, like Nirinjan Kaur's version on Adhara. Also, Sat Kartar has an extended version on Spirit In Blossom. 
One “drawback” of the Water Dragon is that it can become overly optimistic, biting off more than it can chew in terms of expending energy. There are many mantras that can help you stay grounded, so that you can focus your expansive, creative energy.
“Dharti Hai” by Gurunam Singh from his album Silent Moonlight Meditation would be an excellent choice.
You could also work with any of the wonderful recordings of the Mul Mantra, such as Snatam Kaur's version on Anand, or GuruGanesha's version on Kundalini Surjhee.
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[...] marks the beginning of the year of the water dragon. Check out this article (via Spirit Voyage) to learn more about the qualities and characteristics of this sign from the [...]