Auspicious Dates and Places for the month of the Water Snake 2026
You can learn some of the secrets of the Four Pillars of Destiny that I have discovered over three decades of practising (many of which have never appeared anywhere else) in My new book I Talk to the Animals (click to sample or purchase) It’s also the starting point for my Ba Zi teaching, live one-to-one via Zoom. More info here. Watch Feng Shui Society Webinar here.
the (4th) month of the Water Snake 2026.
(19:59pm 5th May to 23:11pm 5th June inclusive)
in the Year of the Fire Horse.
Public Version
A 5 month offers (not necessarily controllable) power
A Snake Month can be deceptive
Where not to be this month: East, West, tai chi (& South all year)
Where to be this month: South East, North East
Favoured Animals: Snake, Rooster, Ox, Monkey
Especially challenged: Pig, Tiger
I produce a much more detailed summary of each month, listing the likely fortunes for every day and all nine locations which is available by monthly subscription and will be appearing monthly later this year on my Substack page.
Flame On: this Water Snake Month.
Flame On.
“Go quietly amid the noise and haste.” The Desiderata.
During a Snake Month not everything you see is what you get.
The Yin Fire of Snake brings the blur of further hurry, haste and visibility to this already fast, hasty and demanding Fire Horse year. With so much Fire it’s bound to be a physically hot time for most of us but the more subtle experience may be one of rushing not only to keep up but to correct mistakes forced by hurry.
The trick is to chill. There is always enough time. In a world in which control is pretty much impossible, it’s a time to be aware of each step as you take it and trust that the next will appear.
Perhaps stop, breathe, read that again and consider.
The elemental corrective to Fire is Water. That includes literal physical Water, so stay hydrated of course but Fire brings fevered thought too; notice and allow a speeding mind; stay cool, seek shade. Unhelpfully the Rat location due North is hazardous but if you can use a compass, the locations North 1* and North 3 offer respite.
Water is also communication; not even “represents” or “symbolises”, Water is communication. Which makes May a time to think out loud, listen and connect. Water is also emotion. We are emotional beings and we’re – whatever it is 73%? – Water. If you feel hot under the collar which is likely, express it. Which is not the same as blaming. “I feel hot and angry,” is a very different communication from “You’ve made me mad.”
This Snake’s Hexagram is Number 43 Quai Breakthrough. Quai’s shape and structure with the only yin line right at the top, gives that message away if you know how to read it. That almost-complete Yang must become entirely-complete Yang. And extremes always end in their opposite. In the world and in our homes, change is coming as some stubborn and willful structures fall away.
*Ren i337½º to 357½º & quai j 7½º to 22½º measured from the tai chi (geometric centre) of your space.
Richard Ashworth © 2026
My monthly Yi Jing (that is Book of Changes) class
(next class: Wednesday May 13th) examines the ramifications of the Hexagram for this Water Snake Month: Quai Hexagram 43, Lake over Heaven: Breakthrough.
Quai brings down barriers but there is an important caveat: don’t let the inevitability of breaking through lead to smugness or complacency. Hexagrams can be lessons and warnings as well as glimpses of possible futures.
You can visit the highlights of this and every monthly session on my YouTube Channel. You may not have the stamina for all sixty four Hexagrams but you can join us live via Zoom for a year via Sheilaashworthfengshui@gmail.com.
The Lo Shu or Magic Square for the Water Snake Month 2026
4 9 2
3 5 7
8 1 6
The kua at the heart of this month’s lo shu (above) is the pesky 5 which has no fixed Elemental value or relative Trigram. You might say it has no stake, is uncommitted, power without purpose. Obviously then approach with caution. Note that the 3 in the East is shaded yellow because the san sha or “Three Killings” has landed there. Careful. This year the South is pretty much permanently out of bounds: not settling there, in the tai chi (5) or West (7) this month, is wise as is spending more time in the North East (8), South East (4) and North West (6).
Remember you have at least four Animals to consider in your own Ba Zi chart (one each for Hour, Day and Month of birth as well as Year) and that it is as unlikely that they’re all suffering this Month as that all are making hay. Each Animal illuminates a particular aspect of life. To know this about yourself may be timely. My 2026 Annual Animal Fortunes have been on the website since January. More detail about each Animal’s immediate future in my monthly Podcast.
The Snake is Regulo 7 not Regulo 10, the heat is still building. You’re more comfortable with the headlong than most and all of us in our different ways are advised to just go with the irresistible flame of the Fire Horse. You’re up for minor revelations this month, I expect. If you know they’re coming, the night of the New Moon on the 11th would be the time to enquire.
Horses are approaching peak flame. For now more flume than flame, there is no resisting the gradient. Expect to be louder, more insistent and bossier than ever, also more perceptive and more effective if you allow the pace to be a little more than you’re comfortable with. Top speed on the Watery 14th works for you but beware reckless abandon on the 7th.
Sheep tends to go with the pyroclastic flow of a Snake Month in a Horse year. You belong to the Fire team. Let go. You won’t be alone which of course is a high priority for you. You have major work to complete on the 17th, don’t leave it beyond the 26th as the 27th looks sticky.
Monkey is the Snake’s Secret Friend but also nemesis. Capitalise on those times when you’re a bundle of laughs (14th, 26th) Stay quiet otherwise. Try to fit demands and schedule around that. The 16th and 28th may not go as you’d hoped. Detach from expectation, under-promise, over-deliver.
Rooster and Snake work together. You may find yourself in demand both for your general allure but also for resources you might be asked to make available. Aim to know one (3rd, 18th) from the other (12th). Female Roosters may be in unusual demand. That’s true all year btw.
Dog and Snake can be mutually wary but they are actually more of a mutual irritant than a challenge. Best to move slowly in the heat as it makes for better perspective on challenging days like the 30th and indeed on more conducive ones such as the 17th.
Pigs and Snakes are in direct opposition. Not a time to push your luck, which peaks on the 17th and troughs on the 31st. Prepare, chop wood, draw Water.
The conjunction of a the Watery Rat and this Water (ie less fiery) Snake can be quite creative as the 14th and 26th will tend to illustrate. Respect, expect and accept fresh ideas; spare the critique. You can be a bit much.
Ox and Snake join Rooster this month in the Metal sam he formation. It’s not the time for technical detail but you are called upon to support those who may be dismayed, harried and out of their depth. Stick to the point. Like the Rat you may be most helpful on the 14th and 26th Rats may prove your perfect partner for now, possibly longer.
Tigers are hot all year which is great if it suits you. As a visionary you may prefer to watch the action carefully from shade. Not the time for aggressive action which could lead to loss, especially not on the chaotic 10th when your temperature may be uncomfortably raised. Beware road rage. The 20th suits you but there could be a price.
Rabbits tend to be comfortable with a Snake Month. Watching and waiting works for you and knowing a predator when you see one, especially around the 11th and 23rd. You can relax on the 17th and 29th.
Dragons will tend to dispense even more learning and advice during a Snake Month. Cultivate awareness of when to withdraw and when to rush in. Your wisdom is sometimes best reserved until requested. Blundering and blurting are a danger for now; worst on the 30th if you fail to respect the sensibilities of others. But you’re very much in demand around the 26th and 29th. As ever if you teach, the Snake student approaches.
In this month’s Podcast out the 2nd week in May latest, the brilliant Zoe Vita James and I talk about our most recent feng shui projects, the likely implications for each Animal and what we may each do about it, plus the usual feng shui and ba zi banter, where to be and not to be, the well-being of Reggie the dog, why we talk more about location and timing than placing things and why Donald Trump might be remodelling the East Wing of the White House.
Selectively Helpful
Thursday 7th May, Metal Snake 3/7, Dipper, Establish (3) *** about ambition.
Dipper is a day of recompense with a karmic edge, for better or worse; Establish may prove a slightly creaky springboard. Not for making fresh connection which may prove inappropriate.
Favours: Earth(1989) Metal (1941/2001) Snake;
Earth(1969) Metal(1981) Rooster;
Metal(1961) Water(1973) Wood(1985) Ox;
Water (1993) Wood(1944/2004) Fire(1956) Monkey
Caution: Pig & Tiger.
Activity: at Monkey (SW3/WSW around 240º) for further discussion & appraisal.
Generally helpful
Thursday 14th May, Earth Rat 7/4, Astride, Danger (1) *** calculating risk works
Words that are hard to say may cross barriers that shouldn’t be there. A benign sort of confrontation follows from which advantage may be taken despite (or because of) the Fire/Water clash with the Year Horse. Good “descendant luck.”
Activity: at Dragon around 120 ºESE/SE1 for security.
Favours: all especially Monkey, Rat, Dragon, Ox.
Pretty neutral
Monday 18th May, Water Dragon 6/4 Net, Closed (5) fair play
A moment of completion, one pursuit over, another begins. Perhaps a brief moment to acknowledge and celebrate followed by consideration of the next journey. Don’t push the boat out yet.
Activity: at Rabbit (due East) for teamwork.
Favours:
Wood(1944/2004) Fire(1956) Monkey;
Earth(1969) Metal(1981) Rooster.
About Remove Days: two excellent Remove Days this Snake month and one dud.The first two (May 8th and 20th) are great for casting off whatever clout needs casting but June 1st not so much. As you know Remove days are for clearing clutter (and more) but vary in quality. So we aim to avoid baby/bathwater scenarios. Certain Animals get a free ticket (which are listed on the notes for the date) but for most of us: discard nothing on June 1st.
Not much use
Thursday 21st May, Wood Sheep 7/6, Well, Full (8) ***** hopes could be dashed
Solar Fortnight Siu Mun Small Increase opens 08:57am Best only for moving furniture. A Full Well speaks of abundant resources but these Stars don’t. Marshall and preserve assets, especially non-luxury. Very poor day.
Caution: Ox, Rat: Action rather than word.
Activity: at Sheep (around 205º SSW/SW1) for joining and belonging.
Generally helpful
Tuesday 26th May, Metal Rat 2/9, Wings, Danger (4) **** relief.
Year Clash, a Rat with teeth; words that long needed to be formed find expression. For beginnings but not for travel or experimentation. A time for spitting it out – with (perhaps surprisingly) positive results. Also for successful renovation and subtle movement towards increase in material wealth.
Favours: all especially Monkey, Rat, Dragon & Ox.
Activity: at tai chi (geometric centre) for the right words.
An important word about Water placement: For relatively obscure technical reasons
there is no day this month suitable to place long term Water. A Water Dragon placed
and timed well could enhance your whole year or indeed the rest of your life. But not
this month!
For guidance:
Fire: upwards motion, bright light, arrangements of 9; pointy, triangles, pyramids.
Earth: stillness, crystal, stone, quiet, arrangements of 2 or 8 flat, level shapes
Metal: circular motion, music, arrangements of 6 or 7, circular & globe shapes.
Water: random motion, chatter, emotion, arrangements of 1, the shapeless, still Water.
Wood: constant motion, plants, arrangements of 3 & 4, upright, columnar shapes.
Intermittently helpful
West, Intervention: Year Star: 3 Month Star:7 Moon Tin Yute Gwai Yan (at Rooster W2)
The Moon resident here all year holds secrets and wisdom. Additionally there’s a helping hand from higher up the food chain (a Tin Yute Gwai Yan Star is due West – around 270º). On top of this, this month’s Stars 3:7 make a perfect transformational He Tu 10. Locate here and allow positive change.
For assistance: Fire: burn candle for 3-4 hours at W2 on the 14th 17th 20th and 26th
Put simply: radical positive change happens here.
Avoid
South, Bright Future: Year Star: 5 Month Star: 9 Year Wu Huang Tai sui (Horse).
Hotter than ever and more insistent. Stay out as far as possible. Not much use all year, too hot; too fiery in many senses. Neutralise as far as you can but mostly steer clear. And don’t face this way either
Mitigate: t’ang lung may help, also quiet and stillness plus very carefully placed and timed Metal such as 5- or 6-pipe Metal Wind Chime. You can ask me for greater detail.
Put simply: Unwelcome attention if you stay here long.
Note: Directions are from the tai chi (ie heart of the property)
Richard Ashworth©
www.imperialfengshui.info
Richard Ashworth is one of the most respected Western Feng Shui Masters. A good taster of his approach may be found on Audible . You can also see him at work on tv’s Housebusters Most Thursdays and Fridays he is to be found teaching both feng shui and ba zi one-to-one online (times by mutual arrangement) with students from Seattle to Belgium.
Richard has worked from Lebanon to Bermuda, in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and with stars such as Naomie Harris, Kelly Hoppen and Gillian Anderson. Unusually for a Western Master, he has addressed the Grand Masters at the International Feng Shui Conference in Singapore.
Every month we send (at a modest fee) retainer clients a more comprehensive monthly bulletin than this one, covering in detail right places to be (and when) as well as the most helpful days Animal by Animal and much more from the Chinese calendar.
Subscriptions (and further info): Sheilaashworthfengshui@
Richard Ashworth©
www.imperialfengshui.info © 2026
art by @elliespinelli ©