Happy Chinese New Year to everyone! On January 29th, 2025, after a 60-year wait, the Year of the Blue Wood Snake returns, marking the beginning of a new cycle and bringing to a climax the changes initiated in the Year of the Dragon. Discover how to harmonize the astral energies of the Blue Wood Snake with Feng Shui in your home.
Keywords for the Year of the Blue Wood Snake: wisdom, knowledge, introspection, planning, calculation, and answers. Equivalent Western zodiac sign: Taurus. Symbol: bamboo Chinese character: 蛇 (Shé)
Those born between February 2, 1965, and January 20, 1966, fall under the combination of the Snake and the Wood element (Blue Wood Snake). While those born in 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013 are also part of the Dragon sign, their combinations with the Earthly Branches are different, subjecting them to other energies within the cycle of Five Elements or Five Phases. The corresponding Western zodiac sign is Taurus.
The Chinese serpent goddess, Nüwa, molded the first humans from the yellow clay of the Yellow River. This creation myth is one of many Taoist tales featuring a magical and mysterious serpent. The Serpent is associated with goddesses and heroines who assist women in childbirth and bless children with extraordinary talents. Serpent heroines have enchanted and aided scholars in learning the Confucian classics. Asian cultures revere the Serpent and honor its feminine yin energy, unlike the West, which associates the Serpent with cold-blooded monsters. A classic Chinese tale tells of a thousand-year-old serpent that practiced magic and transformed into a beautiful woman. Through her charm, she married a scholar, leading a happy life. However, a Taoist monk pursued her, knowing she was not human and being skilled in capturing shape-shifting animals that falsely assumed human forms. The wise Serpent managed to evade him many times before revealing her dual nature.
Nu Kua Goddess’ Picture- By By Chinese Artists – http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15250/15250-h/15250-h.htm#d0e5806, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29818433
The Year of the Snake is a time for introspection, planning, and seeking answers. People will reflect and think before acting. Good taste and elegance will prevail in fashion, theater, cinema, and all arts. The wisdom of the Snake will influence contributions to science through new inventions and technological discoveries. However, this is not a favorable year for gambling, investments, or taking financial risks, as the calamities of the previous Year of the Dragon may continue into the Year of the Snake. Political extremism, scandals, and the revelation of secrets may occur.
Characteristics of Those Born in the Year of the Snake.
They are keen observers of human nature, possessing an acute perceptiveness. They are rarely overtly aggressive, though they may secretly plan their next move. The Snake exhibits incredible patience, waiting silently until the opportune moment. When they strike a target, they are swift and focused, rarely missing. In ancient Taoism, the Snake is a symbol of wisdom. Those born in a Snake year are often philosophical and spiritual, with wisdom and grace. However, the Snake must not let their contemplative nature become overly brooding, gloomy, or moody. Snakes possess a particularly refined taste in fashion, and their attire reflects art and creativity. They can be frugal if necessary, though they prefer the luxury of a materially rich life. Both romantic relationships and family are important parts of a Snake’s life, so they often marry young. Regardless of gender, Snakes are generally very attractive, and their mystical and mysterious personalities only enhance their allure. They rarely worry about a lack of suitors. A natural philosopher and theologian who enjoys introspection and contemplation, the Snake is psychologically complex. Just as the external events of the Dragon tend to be grandiose, the inner life of the Snake is particularly rich and detailed. The Snake constantly analyzes, examines, probes, and questions. On the downside, the Snake must curb their immense pride and tendency to want things their way. This can make Snakes uncompromising and jealous in relationships. Snakes can be ruthless when challenged. As the master of the human psyche, the Snake can become a formidable enemy.
The Snake is associated with the Southeast direction and its corresponding element, Wood, in contrast to the Silver Pig, which is linked to the Metal element and the Northwest.
The signs most favored in 2025, along with the Dragon, are the Phoenix (1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017) and the Ox (1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021), which correspond to Virgo and Capricorn in Western astrology, respectively.
The sign least favored in 2025 is the Pig (1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019), but the Monkey and the Tiger (corresponding to Scorpio, Leo, and Aquarius, respectively) may also encounter some difficulties.
HOW TO HARMONIZE YOUR HOME WITH THE BLUE WOOD SNAKE YEAR AND FENG SHUI?
The Earthly Branch corresponding to the Snake is the fifth, sì (巳), its azimuth direction is 150°, and the corresponding element in the Wuxing is Wood. This means that, regardless of your birth sign, to prepare your home well for the energies of the new Chinese year, you should favor the direction (150°) and its corresponding element (Wood), which also coincides with the element of the Snake this year.
In more detail, the 150° direction should be understood as a 30° angle between 135° and 165° within the Chinese Compass (Ba Gua); therefore, our direction for 2025 will be Southeast.
Considering that the Wood element is strongly supported, we should nurture the energy chain of the Wood-Fire pair, paying particular attention to the Fire direction, which is close to Southeast.
Therefore, on the Ba Gua, we identify which areas of our home fall within the Wood directions (East and Southeast) and South (Fire) and verify if the colors, materials, and shapes harmoniously follow the sequence of the Five Elements cycle, weakening it where we notice excesses or taking advantage of the Snake’s energy if we are deficient in the Wood element. In the Southeast, we should not lack plants, rectangular objects, or vertical interior design elements, using bamboo and softwood materials. In the South, instead, we try to use pointed shapes, glass materials, light, and bright colors, in order to allow the development of the Wood energy towards realization in the Phoenix sector. We should lovingly nurture the growth of plant life in our homes by placing fast-growing plants in the Southeast, supported by water, and succulent and spiny plants with vibrant blooms in the South, creating a Zen corner or a rock garden.
