Snake 2014
Who is a Snake?
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001.
Month*: May
Hour: 09:00 am – 11.00am
Day: ask us
* 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 between. 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. Snakes being of Candle Flame fire, are easily discouraged and sometimes they should be. A Snake may stick long term with an inappropriate choice so as to put off making any choice at all.
The most written about Snake in 2013 was probably Xi Jinping, born in Snake in the Grass year 1953 and elected 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 – have never been so stark.
The Snake is the seeker after truth. This can mean that an immature or unbalanced Snake is a purveyor of pork pies. The balanced or mature Snake has absolute integrity. But meanwhile what you see may not be what you get. Taking into account the Bo Xilai trial and a push-me-pull-you approach to liberal reforms, you might well say that about Mr Xi. Compare perhaps with triple Snake (year, month, day) Tony Blair.
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 in a relationship, the Snake of either gender is not the decision maker. The decisions she 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 the water Snake of 1953 is one of the best makers and keepers of relationship of all 60 pillars.
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 and the Ox determined 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 themselves earn undying trust.
The Snake can also work with the Dragon in what is called the House of Magic. Only the Snake can subordinate her ego to the extent that the Dragon demands while also keeping up. One ideal vocation for a Snake is high-level p.a. Usually (and wisely) the Snake opts for the role of No 2 rather than Big Chief.
Being substantially of yin fire, the Snake often has intellectual and visual gifts. She makes a good critic as her judgement is good and she is not out to destroy egos. She will generally have natural and effortless style.
The Snake has a love-hate relationship with the Monkey. Both have hands-on and logical ability and both attract the occasional tussle but where the Monkey welcomes the opportunity for mischief, the Snake treats dispute as a necessary and regrettable evil. When a Tiger appears either in the form of a Tiger-born person or a Tiger year like 2010, this misunderstanding can turn nasty. In a Horse year, however, the issues are very different.
The Snake is opposed to the Pig and as both of these 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 (or month) and vice versa.
The Snake prefers a short menu and yes/no questions. In a Rat year the Snake may be overwhelmed; there is just too much choice, The Snake’s dreams may come true only for her to run in the opposite direction. Often communication 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 a typical Ox year there is just enough water but not too much. This makes scope for just the restricted level of communication the Snake prefers.
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. A Wood Horse year is apt to offer more fire than the average Snake is comfortable with. Now read on.
Snake in Wood Horse Year.
Stars include: mo yuk Scandal, po sui separation.
This is your year to be patient. Not, notice, a year that tries your patience. In the Horse Year much appears slightly out of reach. But there’s plenty to grasp if you’re discerning. The Snake is part Metal which the white-hot Horse can not help but knock into shape.
2014 is a year to aspire and career is the focus. The bright light of the Horse leads to recognition in your work, possibly more than you were looking for. You will be tried, tested, examined and inspected but by year’s end you’ll more than likely have your niche. This also applies to academic pursuits in this 4 lo shu academic year.
The Snake is the seeker after truth. Often this search is not successful but in the year of the Wood Horse, light falls everywhere. Those issues that were swept back under the table in 2013 reemerge. Hillsborough, Wikileaks, Operation Yew Tree, Leveson, the true timescale of climate change; everything comes to light. Presidential and other candidates are embarrassed. The Water Snake was the Year of What You See Is Not What You Get. The Wood Horse is the Year of No Secrets. Truth emerges everywhere and you are not exempt. This aspect is – obviously – personal as well as public. If you have skeletons stored away, out they tumble.
The Dragon year of 2012 will have tended to see you playing someone else’s game and in the Snake year it may not have been easy to stay 100% truthful – including to yourself – without sustained support. In 2014 you step into your own shoes.
It may be demanding to keep up. This year it will be easy to lose touch with friends and family. You may have a very full intray. Maintain your priorities. This is a subtle kind of truth to be true to.
The importance of truth to you means that you are best advised to reject unearned praise. “Illusory glory” is one of the things GrandMaster Raymond Lo warns against.
In relationship, there’s real progress. It hasn’t been easy for you recently. That’s just a function of poor choices, isn’t it? The Horse is your Peach Blossom, the bringer of romance. As the Horse is fiery and rules noon and due South, it may be that you meet someone special on your summer holiday. Don’t go to Helsinki.
Finally the Snake can be a nodder. You appear on the outside to be seeking and taking advice but often that can all be show. This year seek advice and receive it in a mature manner. If it’s sincere and well-informed, take it. If not, not.
Health: care of eyes and bones. Drink plenty of water.
Money: best after June.
Relationship: plenty of opportunity.
Feng Shui: for romance, seek the Horse at due South.
Readers’ Digest Version: demanding and worth it.