Will the Year of the Dragon in 2024 bring you luck?

The results are in – will the Year of the Dragon bring you luck or challenges? Before every Lunar New Year celebration, many turn to Chinese zodiac predictions to see what the year ahead holds for them and whether their luck could be helped by the presence of lucky stars or hurt by cursed stars. These predictions are also influenced by the guardian deities (tai sui), as there are always a handful of signs that offend them, which can create more challenges for some signs. 

Feng shui master, author and TV host Tong Pik-ha gave SCMP her predictions for all 12 Chinese zodiac signs earlier this month, and we’ve summarized them below. So read on to see what’s in store for your sign this year.

Dragon (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)

February 10 kicks off the Year of the Dragon, so it's your year! But Dragons offend two guardian deities, so there may be a bumpy road ahead. Try boosting your luck with auspicious events like marriage, starting a family or a business or buying a property. There’s also a lucky star for you this year that might lead to a promotion or growth in your career.

But two cursed stars are also in play that will affect your health and could result in accidents. So, to counter these curses, Tong says you should go to the dentist in the third or ninth month of the lunar year or give blood.

Snake (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)

You’re in luck for learning, love and career advancement this year. Tong says now’s the time to learn new things, pursue further education or pick up a hobby you’ve always wanted to try. So, step outside your comfort zone and see what happens. Snakes in male-dominated industries and white-collar or clerical jobs might just see some career luck this year, too.

Love is also in the air for single Snakes to meet their partner, but watch out – there are two unlucky stars that could affect your health and your relationships. So to avoid a break-up, Tong suggests that you work extra hard on your communication this year. 

Horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)

This year, it’s all about expanding your horizons if you're a Horse, so check out some seminars or sign up for new classes.

Horses have been graced with lucky stars to help overcome obstacles this year, but beware, as there are some cursed stars in the mix, too. Tong suggests Horses stay away from water sports – especially scuba diving and jet skiing. You could also see some bad luck at home and in your interpersonal relationships. But don’t worry; Tong says you can balance this out following Buddhist tradition by going vegetarian on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar calendar month.

Sheep (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)

The prediction for this year is that if you put in the effort, you’ll reap the rewards. So now’s a good time to set your goals and work toward them.

More specifically, the lucky star will help Sheep with wealth so it might be time to invest in the new venture you’ve been thinking about! Sheep working in a female-dominated industry (like jewelry and makeup) also have a chance to see some career progress.

Don’t get too comfortable, though; bad stars will loom over your wealth and relationships, so be careful about lending money to friends and family or co-signing on a loan. 

Monkey (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)

All the cheeky Monkeys after partnerships and collabs are in luck, as it’s all about networking this year. Things are also looking up for Monkeys in the career department.

But, cursed stars might have Monkeys worried about people talking behind their back. Tong also says you should be extra careful about legal stuff this year, like entering contracts or legal agreements. So ask a pro before you sign those papers. 

Rooster (1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)

The Rooster matches with the guardian deity this year, so you’ll have good chances to network, and plenty of people will be around to help you, especially if you get into any trouble. Roosters also have a strong romance star, but relationships might end up being short-lived.

There’s one teeny unlucky star that can affect your money situation. So Tong suggests you balance this out by making a big purchase to fulfill a “happy financial loss,” like a luxury handbag or car. You’ve finally got an excuse to go snag that Birkin.

Dog (1932, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)

All the Dogs out there are conflicting with the guardian deity this year, so auspicious events like marriage, starting a family, launching a business or buying property can counter this. And get the party going because going to parties or weddings can also boost your luck!

Unfortunately, no lucky stars are hanging around this year, so you’ll need a lot of self-reliance. Plus, a big cursed star looms that will affect your finances, so say no to any big investments. Bad stars are around that will affect your health and home, and Tong says Dogs can strike the right balance by giving blood or going to the dentist in the third or ninth month of the lunar calendar year. 

Pig (1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)

Relationships and networking are on the rise this year for Pigs, as well as wealth, career and long-term goals. But even though it’s a year for wealth, pigs should still be careful when investing, because things might be a little volatile. 

The Year of the Dragon is big on romance, so single Pigs can meet their soulmate this year. A good way to do that is to get out to social events and weddings to meet your match. Unlucky stars do mean Pigs will be more absent-minded, so Tong says it might be worth buying that travel insurance for your trip abroad. 

Rat (1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)

You’re aligned with the guardian deity this year, so it’s a good time for networking and relationships. Lucky stars are also around to boost your career, so now’s a good time to go for that promotion. There’s also a lucky star for wealth! But a cursed star might make Rats accident-prone, so it’s best to stay away from risky sports. Leadership is also in the stars, so Tong says this is a great year for those in law enforcement.

Ox (1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)

You clash with the guardian deity this year, so prepare yourself for misunderstandings and gossip. But, you can reap the rewards from your hard work, so be sure to make some progress toward your goals. 

Thankfully, there are lots of lucky stars to help you overcome obstacles, with some help to get you past any failures. This is also the time for you to renovate and refresh the energy in your home to counter some bad stars, especially if you happen to live with an elderly family member.  

Tiger (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010) 

Money, money, money! Lucky stars will help you get promoted and make more money, and entrepreneurs are in a good spot to branch out into new markets. Traveling will also boost your luck this year, so take all the chances you can for a business trip. But unlucky stars will lead to accidents, so don’t forget your travel insurance.

Rabbit (1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)

Rabbits are out of luck this year as they conflict with the guardian deity, so networking and interpersonal relationships are gonna be on the rocks. There aren’t any lucky stars for Rabbits this year, so expect to rely on yourself a lot. 

Bad stars also mean accidents or injury might be in the cards, so Tong says to give blood or go to the dentist in the second or eighth month of the lunar calendar to balance out that bad energy.