Who is a Snake?
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001.
Month*: May
Hour: 09:00 am – 11.00am
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.
* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.
What is a Snake?
The Snake is yin Fire and sits between the Horse and the Dragon, possibly the most powerful pair of animals in the Zodiac and certainly among the most difficult stools to fall among. So a typical weakness of the Snake is indecision. Next to that is lack of commitment and finally a propensity for sudden and uncharacteristic dishonesty. The Snake is the prisoner who breaks at the threat of torture; a reasonable decision if you know you’re going to give in anyway btw.
There are perhaps old souls and younger souls. The younger Snake often has a vivid imagination and an inconsistent relationship with the truth; the older Snake may treat Truth as sacred. And Snakes being of Candle Flame Fire, can be easily discouraged. Sometimes they should be actually. Some Snakes stick long term with an inappropriate choice so as to put off making any choice at all.
The most written about Snakes in 2021 are apt to include Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. Xi, born in 1953, the year of the Snake in the Grass and appointed at a time when the internal tensions in China – between efficiency and self-expression, between industrial wealth and rural poverty and between cohesion and corruption – had never been so stark. Never question his sincerity – he means what he says – but he is likely, like his near-twin Tony Blair, to believe that the more he is opposed by those whose beliefs conflict with his own, the more right he must be. For both of these, dictatorship – that is tianming the Mandate of Heaven – is the preferable regime because the Snake can so often not tell the difference between their viewpoint and the absolute. This is perhaps the mark of the young soul.
Older souls may include 2020 Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. Born a Metal Snake in 1941, his bluntness is typical of the mature or balanced Snake. A spade for him is not a manually-operated digging instrument but a spade.
Typically, squeezed between the two, the choice for the Snake is between opposites: the extroversion of the Horse and the subtlety of the Dragon, instinct and logic, process and end product, long and short term, relationship and freedom, employment or entrepreneurship. In the face of this dilemma, a balanced Snake will often develop sufficient charm to get through without having to make the hard decisions.
Typically the Snake of either gender is not the decision maker in relationship. When they marry a Pig this is doubly so; the power of the Pig’s uncertain yin Water may precisely match the delicate yin Fire of the Snake, often making for stand-offs and provisional decisions. Those the Snake has not made may include the one to be committed to the relationship. The partner of the Snake (best choice probably Ox or Rooster though Monkey lady and Snake man works well) would be well-advised to drag at least this minimum communication from the Snake early on. Interestingly Snakes can despite all this be among of the best makers and keepers of relationship of all 60 Animals. But they sure can make it hard for themselves.
One of the advantages of being between the autocratic Dragon and the unruly Horse is that the Snake has her ego in check. Many would consider her wise because what she has to say is well-considered and she never says too much. The Snake can be a brilliant collaborator, especially with the Ox and the Rooster who are in a sense similar to her neighbours: the Rooster is blatant (much like the irrepressible Horse) and the Ox determined (like the heads-down Dragon) while the Snake anchors them to each other. There may be moments of doubt when the Snake’s loyalty wavers. At such times, the Snake asks searching questions which should have been settled long ago and then usually re-commits. The high minded Brutus was probably a Snake. Not Judas though. To know this, grants the Snake both power and integrity. Snakes who know this about themselves earn undying trust.
The Snake can also work with the Dragon in what is called the House of Magic#. Only she can subordinate her ego to the extent that the Dragon demands while also keeping up. An ideal Snake vocation is high-level p.a. Usually (and wisely) the Snake opts to be No 2 rather than Big Chief.
The Snake often has the intellectual and visual gifts of Fire. She makes a good critic as her judgement is sound and she is not out to destroy egos. She will generally have natural and effortless style too.
On the other hand the Snake has a love-hate relationship with the Monkey. Both have hands-on and logical ability and both attract occasional tussles but where the Monkey welcomes an opportunity for mischief, the Snake treats dispute as a regrettable evil. When a Tiger appears in such a form as a Tiger-born person or a Tiger month (February), this misunderstanding can turn nasty. In a Dog year like 2018 it’s plain sailing, in an Ox Year such as 2021 – when the Monkey is for the second consecutive year, favoured – more complex. If there are Monkeys in your friend group, seek them out and try to find common ground. They may save you when the chips are down.
The Snake is opposed to the Pig and as both are members of the informal group sometimes called the Four Terminals#, they can impede each other’s movement. Snakes may develop mobility issues in a Pig year and vice versa.
The Snake prefers a short menu and yes/no questions. In a Rat year their yin Fire may be baffled by the width of choice represented by yang Water. It’s possible that the Snake’s dreams will come true only for her to sprint in the opposite direction. Deep communication often has to be wrenched from the Snake and in the Water years of Rat and Pig there is little support for the tight-lipped. In the Ox year that follows, expect just enough Water but not too much. This makes scope for the restricted level of communication the Snake prefers.
Final health note: Snakes have a complex relationship with Fire. They are not usually sun-worshippers but often their skin needs just a little regular sun and without it they may fall prey to easily avoided ailments such as vitamin D deficiency. Caution!
Richard Ashworth © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info
# These terms are the brain children of the man who first introduced me to the Chinese Zodiac, Derek Walters, still the only Western authority respected to any degree in Asia. I sometimes tell my students that of the many thousands of books written on Chinese Astrology in the West, 99% are either nonsense or derived from Derek’s The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology. Or both.
The Snake in 2021
You’re tempted by what is shiny, but don’t take the prize if it’s not for investigative reporting. Surrender to a higher power to reap the biggest reward, or just act like there is one watching. Your own truth telling power runs deep, but it’s also volatile and prone to turn in unexpected ways when you don’t respect it.
In 2021 Snakes may have a deep running feeling of impatience, even anger, thinking about what you could be doing if things were “normal”. It may have you questioning what you would be willing to sacrifice to push goals along. You are already quite fortunate. Why push it?
In the year of the Metal Ox, it’s not really that surprising that the Snake would be so lucky. First off, you are a member of the Metal Triad Snake-Rooster-Ox. You’ve already got a relationship with the people who will call the shots in 2021. They will look to you for information. Be honest. Not wanting to be the bearer of bad news is no excuse for spinning. Just tell the truth.
The Snake is often the sign of a politician and you were meant to persuade. You can get away with a lot, however, sticking to facts will better serve your future plans and endeavors. 2022 is a Tiger, let us not forget.
If Snake is your month of birth, you can expect to feel more optimism than is your wont. That will be emphasized in March. Enjoy!
If you’ve got a Water Snake pillar in your BaZi you may find you have the capacity to keep tabs on what is meant to go unseen and you’ve the means to put a stop to any sort of harmful nonsense. The Rooster could use your reassurance about this. We all could to be honest.
Fire is not strong in 2021, so you’re going to need to rely on the breaks you have and the ones you can create. You have the advantage in February and August when it comes to the Fire Penalty, this year it seems to bring more opportunities for you. This may sound contradictory, but in May you will need to take extra care with fire: candles, incense, fireplace, campfire, smoking…This applies to Snake children too. Keep an eye on them.
You’re naturally attracted to your resource, Wood, but this year it’s weak too, meaning the kind of classes you want to take may not be available. There will be few opportunities for training or other education except in August. It’s your hard work that will certainly get the recognition it deserves this year. Focus on that.
Direct your work towards your purpose consciously or you may find you don’t have enough to do. What is it you’re working on that you feel you never have enough time to pursue? This is probably the year to put as much focus as you can on that. Your actions are going to have a set and long-term outcome. May will be a good month to set things in motion, mostly by watching and observing. You’ll want to know what might get in your way.
Other than January, May, September and November it could be a pretty quiet year. If you are wishing for something, anything to happen, be specific instead. Know what you are asking for and how it might happen.
I put a spell on you
Because you’re mine
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (1929 Earth Snake)
If you’re ready to rebrand, that’s what May and June are for. Do it sooner if you can. If you’ve been in error, own it and apologize. Change your position publicly. You can count on people recognizing and accepting your changes this year. Follow through by way of your future actions. Don’t blow your chance for amnesty by making false confessions.
Your friend/ex the Monkey could use your assistance in August. One of you may be looking for a place to belong, the other for advice. This is familiar ground for you. Keep an eye out for the Rooster who may need a nudge in the right direction in September. Support the culture that supports you.
| January | Complete anything lingering from 2020 now. |
| March | Sunny prospects. Go for it. |
| May, June | Rebrand |
| September | Last chance for rebranding. |
| November | Could be issues with housing. |
Snakes to Watch
1977 Fire Snakes: Fiona Apple, Zak Bagans
1965 Wood Snake: JK Rowling, Brett Kavanaugh, Bob Ferguson
1941 Metal Snake: Bernie Sanders
©Stephanie J Stewart 2021