Cave Canem

The connection of the Dog and Tiger as members of the Fire Trio brought the Dog certain rewards in 2022. Perhaps the most significant one was the delay of consequences the Dog has been avoiding, once again. That won’t have been true for every Dog, but it seems to be very true of the ones in the news. As for consequences, they aren’t inherently negative. You already know how this works – luck is according to behavior most of the time. If you want to maximize the luck, do good things with it and get good results.

For the Dog, the Tiger and Rabbit years bring lessons about power. When we think of power, most of us think of being in control. A recent study says that like a drug, an overload of the privilege to control can change your brain and not in good ways. Vladimir and the former guy are good examples of what happens when the power controls you. People seem to go a little mad, sometimes when given even the slightest taste of power. [insert joke about the carin’ of karens here]

After 2022, whatever Dogs might have left to learn about power is the lesson this Water Rabbit year will offer: how to handle it properly, and what happens if you don’t. In the Wood Dragon year of 2024 it’s the Dog who will be clashed. Then you’ll be the underdog.

When I think of power, I think of the service you can do with it, especially when it is given to you by people who need you. Power has to be directed to do good things.

Without seeing power as a way to deliver service, its potential is unfulfilled or at worst, corrupted. Dogs who understand these ideas will make themselves relevant for years to come. For example, Mother Teresa was born in 1910, a Metal Dog year. She died at age 87. She would be 120 years old in 2030 and people will still be talking about her then. Maybe using power to deliver service confers longevity too. Jimmy Carter, a 1924 Wood Rat, is another example of how to use power for service. He’ll be 99 this year.

So here we are in 2023 which, for the Dog, is mostly about power. You have the opportunity to appoint yourself leader as well as being elected by the Rabbit, the boss of the year. Courtesy of your special relationship with the Rabbit, you’re going to have advantages that others don’t. I’d call that lucky.

With 龍德 Dragon Virtue on their side this year, many of the Dog’s problems will tend to dissolve, however, if you want to get the most out of Dragon Virtue, look for good deeds that you can do. Do as many as possible. Use your power for service. In 2023, the Dog’s main job is to learn to serve. This isn’t about sacrifices. In fact, I would suggest that if you think of doing the right thing as a sacrifice, you might either change your mind, or keep that to yourself. I mean, is it really a sacrifice if you’re doing it to go around and get sympathy?

Another big lesson for the Dog this year is how to access power through grass roots movements that prioritize and provide domestic safety. The Dog is meant to help a diverse community, not to discriminate. Take a moment to think about how you might apply this in your life. Seek the power of consistency and persistence. Look to help those who are the most in need. They are the ones you guard.

If you’re a Dog who is feeling abandoned or cast out, you can change that if you want to. Simply stop the repetitive patterns you might have with relationships. In the context of the power you will have in 2023, your alienation could be dangerous, especially if you were motivated to seek revenge. Reintegrate yourself.

Do you feel like people haven’t been treating you properly? Then start treating them properly and see if it changes how you feel. If you’ve already tried that and it didn’t create the changes you are looking for, maybe you need to find new friends, or choose yourself a new family. In a Rabbit year, most of the Dog’s benefits have to do with changing their ideas about power and what it’s meant for. Be careful of it going to your head, somebody might get hurt.

Due to their Secret Friendship with the Rabbit, the Dog can drain the power of the year to use as their resource. This relationship is quite supportive for the Dog but not so much for the Rabbit, that is, unless the Dog cares to make it so. What I’m saying is, this kind of advantage will require putting yourself into service if you want to avoid blowback. Because this year is all about power for the Dog, if you mess up it may take you a while to come back from that. Your actions carry extra impact and so do the consequences (positive or negative). All you have to do is make them what you want.

For Dogs who have the means, this is a good year to buy property. You may want to target a particular place on the map, depending on the use you will make of the land. Is it for housing? Agriculture? Or some other purpose?

Dogs may be receiving money from family or chosen family to help with their investment. In the context of real estate and property, you might choose to spread the good luck you have with it this year when so many people need access to safe and healthy housing. There are two ways to look at this.

If you have opportunities to invest in land, you might use your luck to help others find safe places to stay. Alternatively, if you use your luck to take more than your share, you shut out the people you are meant to serve. Which will you choose? As much as the Earth is not ours to own, we all could use a little to live on safely. Even a small patch confers power. Would you ever consider starting a collective or commune?

Because you have access to powerful people in 2023, Dogs are in a position to extend their own social network and base of operations. Again, you also have that kind of benefit to offer to others. Tiger, Horse and Rabbit are the obvious recipients, however, it’s probably best to defend and assist everyone in your vicinity. Mostly, you can be indiscriminate in sharing your power. If there are bad guys nearby, you’ll sniff them out in no time. You can always change your mind. That’s what it means to use power appropriately. Stay hyper aware of your motives. There’s no point in faking humility. Either you feel it or you don’t. It’s what you do that matters.

Remember that when people are successful, and you will be this year, there will be those who don’t like it. This is the kind of energy that is ready to take you down a notch, so stay away from pedestals.

Engaging with the power that is in your vicinity this year could make the Dog, but it could also break them. It might not be the Rabbit you are latching onto, but something much bigger. Before you decide to make an alliance with the “boss”, get your potential new job description. Consider having someone else read it. Get some advice. Avoid harm in your fierce pursuit of justice. If you think any amount of collateral damage is okay, think again. You are hurting yourself too. That’s not sustainable.

If Dog is in your day branch, you have a chance to find a good fit with a partner this year. It would be hard to break up this potential alliance if you can bring power equity to the relationship. The Rabbit and Dog can make a good home together. If you have expertise with this, share it with others.

Dogs have the option in 2023 to learn how to control power, and to prevent the misuse of authority by turning it to service. This is your time to turn the tables on corrupt structures and hierarchies.

Job Title: Beneficent Henchman
Associates: Tiger, Horse, Dog, Rabbit
Best months: February, March, June, October
Romance: Yes. Let your partner shine.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.