道 – Dào/View色即是空,空即是色, sè jì shì kōng, kōng jì shì sè "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" - the Heart Sutra Yǐ Sì, 乙巳, Qì in the Year of the Yīn Wood SnakeAs of Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, we officially move back into Yǐ Sì, 乙巳, the Year of the Yīn Wood Snake, the Emerging Snake. By now, I probably sound like a broken record, but I must again remind you that Astrology is not Fortunetelling – we are not here to predict but to play, and, in the case of the Wood Snake, we are here to wake up and see through the veils! We now enter a strange “gap” in the Chinese Zodiac, a kind of “non-year.” The astrological influence of the Wood Snake is so minimal, docile, and hidden that it defies commentary. We therefore enter an unusual challenge and opportunity in the sexagenary cycle. We are left in an in-between at a crossroads, an eye in the storm, a still point in the flowing river. What we do during this “non-year” is up to us; it is open and malleable, and the Wood Snake presents us with the question—what do we do when we are not struck by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune? What happens when the dual world becomes transparent, gentle, and still? How do we mind this gap in the flux of yearly Qì? Yáng Wood Dragon Reflections As we emerge from the flash bang discombobulation of the Yáng Wood Dragon, we have a lot to reflect on. It has been a Dragon of a year, indeed. A lot has happened, and big changes are happening throughout the world. As always, I encourage you to re-read my blog from last year and reflect…how’d it go? Due to our unique Character and Fate, we are each predisposed to digest the Year differently, so experiences will vary widely, but I am deeply curious about your experience of the Yáng Wood Dragon and how it unfolded for you…so please share! If I can summarize the essence of the Year – the Wood Dragon was a joker, a wild card, full of sound and fury, but perhaps signifying nothing. It was an overall playful, positive, and renewing energy. No matter what you think of what happened, in the big picture, it was a positive, generative, and transformative force, but it was a bit clumsy, startling, and destructive, and it may have seemed like a slap in the face. Wood Dragon Qì is like using explosives to clear a path through rubble – big, hard, and fast; perhaps more effective albeit messier than sifting through stone by stone. The Wood Snake is, then, like the moment after the bang. Your ears are ringing; you may feel disoriented, but hopefully now after the explosion, you can see a clear path through the rubble. And I will leave it at that. There is, of course, so much to say. Dragon years come to shake things up, but they follow the movements of Heaven. We may never know what they are all about, and the consequences are beyond us. As always, I present the following symbols as a playful mirror – these are my reflections, but I am not an expert, prophet, or soothsayer. You must study these symbols, reflect, and apply them to your life and the world. And this year, in true Wood Snake fashion, I have decided to leave the social commentary to a minimum, so I’m afraid this blog may be a bit boring, but that is the Wood Snake. In previous years, I have offered my interpretation of world events, culture, and politics through the lens of these Chinese Astrological symbols. I could talk about the US election and the renewal of leadership worldwide, the massive shifts in global politics and culture, the various wars and the transformation of the Middle East, the drone invasions, and so on, but this year I have decided to leave all that out for the following reasons... Upcoming Book! The first is my upcoming book! I am happy to announce that I have completed the first manuscript of my book on Polestar Astrology, which is soon to be published by Shambhala Books. I have submitted the manuscript to my editor and am awaiting feedback as to the next steps in the process. I worked furiously on it all year, and the final manuscript was about 1100 pages, so it has been quite an undertaking, fully suited to the Dragon Year. The second, and more exciting reason, is that I got married this year! It was perfect and everything I could have ever dreamed of. But it took a lot of time, energy, and resources. So, between writing a massive book, planning and executing a wedding and honeymoon, and working full time, I am exhausted, and my energy for creative writing is kaput and must recharge. So, apologize if this year’s blog is not as in-depth. I simply don’t have the energy or desire to write social-political commentary, and I have decided to do myself a favor and write a more minimal blog this year, which happens to align perfectly with the vibe of the Wood Snake! The Wood Snake is the ultimate minimalist energy with little interest in intellectual indulgence. I have challenged myself to rest my mind, and I encourage you to do the same. Let the mind rest. This may be the best advice I can give you in the following year. My upcoming book is an introductory guide on how to practice Polestar Astrology through the lens of Character, Nature, and Fate as I learned from the legacy teachings of Liu Ming through my own unique experience. I am very proud of what I have created and look forward to sharing it with you. Please stay tuned for further announcements and details. When the time comes, I will be redoing my website and updating my internet presence, which will be absent from social media. Wood Snake is a perfect year to disappear from these toxic platforms. I will be combining Chinese Astrology, Buddhism, and Classical Chinese Medicine and working to forge a syncretic vision of how I want to contribute to the world moving forward. The truth is that this form of Chinese Astrology is not mine and never was. It was Ming’s, and I now need to find my own path forward. On Bias and Echo Chambers The third reason is simply to avoid bias and let the symbols speak for themselves. I will give you the tools, so you can think for yourself without my bias. This was, in part, my motivation for writing the book – to teach you to fish rather than hand you a fish. If there is one thing tearing our world apart, it is media bias and the echo chambers they produce. Our cultures have swung too far into extreme views, and we need to come back to the center with opposition just to the left and right to balance each other out. We need healthy opposition rather than pathological resistance. With that in mind, let’s jump into the symbolism of the Snake. 象 Symbolism In last Year’s Blog, I tried to communicate the ineffable nature of the Dragon, which may have been confusing, and I’m afraid the Snake may be worse. The Dragon may be ineffable due to its unlimited potential. Still, it is the Yáng version of potential, meaning it is the result of full manifestation, EXTREME YÁNG, and is therefore more accessible for us to understand in this Yáng culture. As a culture, we get “doing,” but “being,” on the other hand, is a mystery. The Snake represents this Mystery, the Yīn to the Dragon’s Yáng. Yīn is manifestation, the condensation of everything into apparent form, which turns into Yáng, the expression of form through movement and dynamism. As Yīn expresses into Yáng, it opens, expands, and rises to Heaven, becoming more and more transparent, heading back towards the unmanifest. Dragon Qì symbolizes the height of this expression and movement—all manifestations integrated, directed, and flying free, Yīn going all the way to Extreme Yáng. Yīnyáng Theory teaches that Yīn and Yáng turn into one another and that Extreme Yáng gives way and turns into Extreme Yīn, which is symbolized in the Chinese Zodiac by the Snake. The Snake is Extreme Yīn, the flipside of the Dragon. In the Dragon, the entire Zodiac is manifest and expressed. In the Snake, the entire Zodiac is in seed/potential form, having been expressed fully and then disappearing, leaving behind a complete, open, and transparent vacuum. Snake is the emptiness, potential, and openness that hosts all forms. Snake Qì is the empty spoke in the center of the turning wheel. It represents the paradox that form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. Pig Qì, while similar, is Snake’s opposite. Pig Qì expresses Yīn Water, the dissolution of everything at the end of the cycle. Snake is not a dissolution, for dissolution is a gradual process. Snake is not gradual. Snake is the sudden and extreme flip from Yáng to Yīn, like the popping of a bubble or a Snake striking its prey. Dragon Qì expands until…pop! This sudden flip from everything to nothing represents Yīn Fire, the native element of the Snake. Even in complete emptiness, total vacuity, there is Yáng, a spark, an ember, a warmth pulsating, undulating in the Void. For all Emptiness is pregnant with unlimited potential. Emptiness is said to contain all potential. Every possibility is inherent in Emptiness; the entire universe resides in and emerges from space. In Tantra, Space is called the Inexhaustible Treasury, the Dharmadhātu. Everything comes from Space, yet Space is never altered, stained, harmed, or destroyed. It is Indestructible, or “Vajra,” immaculate and pristine. Of all the Twelve Animals, Snake is said to be closest to this pristine, open, spacious quality of life. Snake, Yīn Fire, is the warm and radiant nature of Life in the Void. Yīn Fire also represents the nature of Snake Hour, from 9 am to 11 am, the time of day after the sun has appeared and begins to warm the Earth slowly. Snake Hour is bright and transparent; it is the gap between the great manifestation of sunrise (the Dragon) and the productivity of midday (the Horse). Snake Hour is a time of revelation, transparency, and reflection, where we process and gather ourselves before being productive. Yīn Fire is the slow smoldering transformation of a simmering fire, like a crockpot rather than a BBQ. It is the catalytic force of alchemy and cooking - stimulating, energizing, yet still, pulsating, warming, consuming, mesmerizing; it is internal rather than external vigor. The Snake symbolizes the Heart, the Shén, the still, warm beating center of things, awake and alive, yet passive/Yīn, for the heart beats without effort. The Snake symbol is immensely old and traces back to China’s “Shamanic” roots. The Snake symbol is universal, and its expression is similar across cultures. Unlike some cultures, the Chinese conception of the Snake is not evil or sinister - it is Yīn. It represents the unknown/unknowable world, the subterranean, the submerged, the unconscious. There is no “evil” in the Chinese view of Life, but Yīn has a dark side, and the Snake can symbolize darkness. This darkness, however, is the basis for transformation. We cannot truly transform unless we consider all our dark places; we must turn up all the rocks and look at the creepy crawlies beneath the surface. Snake is what lies beneath the surface. In this sense, the Snake is like the Rabbit but taken to another level. The Rabbit is submerged in the unconscious subterranean world, but the Snake is that world; it sees through it unattached, where the Rabbit's innocence is potentially lost in the static of the ethers. Snake Qì sees through the nature of appearances, so Snake Characters are said to lead uniquely self-reflective and insightful lives. It is in the Character of Snake to reflect, mirror, question, and peak behind the curtains. Snake Qì, Big Yīn's impulse, is sinking, gathering, descending, internalizing, seeking stillness and silence. Like snakes in the wild, Snake Qì seeks to be hidden, unseen, to blend in with the environment. Therefore, Snakes have a natural inclination to “disappear,” to hide, to renounce, and to recede from the world by blending in with the surroundings. A snake might look like a vine on the tree, so it is there, present in the world, but it is not the vine, not what it appears to be. Snake Qì is not what it appears to be; it is unknowable and ineffable. Big Yīn defines all labels and definitions. Emptiness, by “definition,” is beyond conceptual elaboration, as the Buddhists say. The Snake represents the inner open capacity at the heart of the Zodiac to become any of the other 11 Characters without being defined by them. In comparison, the Dragon embodies all 11 characters. This unknowable quality is said to be the source of an unmatched charm. Snakes can become anything and anybody without being attached, representing all potential. They have the capacity of all 11 Characters available, like the Dragon, but they are not defined by, nor do they take pride in what they display. They are a mystery even to themselves. Their instinct is to hide, but they can hide in a crowded room because they are inwardly unknowable. You can “know” a Snake for years and still not know who they are. And this is not deceptive because they aren’t anybody (no one is really), and this is their power. Snakes are a mystery to themselves and other people. They cannot be known. Remember this as I get into the Key Words. We may use words to describe Snake Qì, but Snakes are not these words. The Snake symbolizes the reality that no one is what they think they are, nor are we how others perceive us. We are all a mystery. You can never really know another person—not really. We are all symbols to each other. In China, the Snake is the Sorcerer Philosopher and symbolizes the process of Alchemy and inner transformation, for the Snake sheds its skin. It is always in the process of becoming something else. They also represent what Liu Ming called the “striking force,” like Muhammad Ali (born in the year of the Snake), an aspect of the Fire Element, the ability to remain perfectly still and then strike, act, seemingly out of nowhere like a snake paralyzing its prey. 氣 Qì Dynamics The Outer Element of this year, however, is Yīn Wood in relation to the Inner or Natural Element of the Snake which is Yīn Fire. Wood is the Mother of Fire, so the generative direction of the Wood Snake flows backwards/inward, making this a deeply introspective Qì. The Wood Snake flows inward and rests or hides at the origin of all movement. Yīn Wood is the soft, weak, and vulnerable Qì that simmers just after the initial explosion of Yáng Wood, which is like the Big Bang. Yīn Wood represents innocence, spontaneity, flexibility, renewal, humility, gentleness, sensitivity, subordination, and potentiality. While Yáng Wood represents birth, the naïve impulsive force of coming into being, Yīn Wood demonstrates the outcome of that birthing force, which is exposed, raw, and tender, but with great creative potential, like a sprout emerging from the earth, ready to grow into a mighty oak, or a baby chick bursting through the shell only to then be vulnerable to predators. Both need protection, nurturing, and time to thrive. The Wood Snake is a baby Snake and therefore the gentlest form of Snake Qì, which is already hidden, secret, and still. The Qì dynamic is light and airy, and there is nothing anywhere to stick to. 形 Manifestation/CharacterNow that we have covered the symbolism and energetic dynamics, let’s get into keywords for the Snake and talk about how this symbol manifests in/as people. As we go, keep in mind this gentle dynamic of Yīn Wood and think about how this can then be applied to the Character of the whole year. The Key Terms for the Snake are, again, how they appear, but not actually how they are. You may know or be a Snake and not identify with these labels, and that’s fine. No person is really their Character; it is merely a pattern, a tendency of our Qì to display a certain way. Snake Qì symbolizes the idea that we can all transcend our limitations through nonattachment. The first Key Term, then, is deeply reflective. In many ways, it is not easy to be a Snake. Snakes are natural mystics in a non-mystic world. Snake Qì can be called penetrating insight. Without trying, Snakes tend to see through things, from the nature of appearance to essential qualities. Since Snake Qì is naturally open and empty, it is natural for Snakes to reflect on life and their situation, for their Qì display is in direct contrast with what society tells us. With training, this can lead to insight. But if Snakes are told from an early age that the world is solid, that people are real, that situations are concrete, and that they must “be somebody,” then they will fake it and pretend, while internally, they may experience deep depression, resentment, and even fear. As it turns out, Reality can be frightening to glimpse. Imagine finding out that up and down are meaningless; this is called vertigo. My teacher calls this the “round world,” as opposed to the “square world.” In the round world, i.e., in Reality, we don’t have a leg to stand on; all concepts are relative, and nothing has any inherent meaning. If you do not grasp at solidity, this realization liberates you, and emptiness becomes the source of much giggling. If you grasp, emptiness inspires terror, nihilism, and possibly suicidal tendencies. Snakes may feel that the world is meaningless, that everyone is a fake, that everything is nonsense. They may feel crazy because they see this and no one else does. Depleted, Snake Qì can turn to paranoia. They can get into trouble if they are not taught to trust their insight and vision into what lies beneath the surface. Seeing signs, hearing voices - all very Snakey, like Rabbit Qì in this sense. The truth is that there are voices; the universe is full of psychic static, and people project their thoughts and emotions all over the place with little discretion. While Rabbits tend to feel the emotional, energetic, embodied quality of this static, Snakes tend to see into the more “psychic” mental dimension of things. Snake Qì is transparent and clear, and Snakes are probably the most distant from the rich direct experience of the senses, embodied in Snake’s opposite, the Pig. Snakes can easily be disembodied and live in a flat mental world, which can turn to nihilism. They may mistrust the display of the world. On the other hand, this transparency offers insight. If Snakes go with their insight, they become wise. The Snake is synonymous with wisdom. On the surface, this wisdom comes from a natural observant quality, which comes from the Snake's impulse to lie still, wait, and watch. Snakes tend to observe and attend very closely to details, which lends them profound intelligence. On a deeper level, Snake's wisdom is both visionary and philosophical, which I’ll get to later. In Buddhism, wisdom is identical to śūnyatā, emptiness; they are synonymous. Emptiness is a complex idea, but at the deepest level, Snake Qì represents this side of reality. Snakes can be too smart for their own good and capable of immense calculation and planning. Of course, everyone can be intelligent, but Snake intelligence encapsulates the concept of genius. This kind of intelligence often goes hand in hand with depression. Snakes have the opposite of “ignorance is bliss.” Instead, Snake intelligence tends to obsess about how messed up the world is and about how messed up they are themselves, leading to cynicism/skepticism and, very often, depression. This depression does not need a cause, for Snake Qì is by nature depressed, sinking, and dark, energetically speaking. So, Snakes can appear moody and brooding. The Snake's tendency towards depression can turn to self-loathing, however, especially if their intelligence is not put to more creative outlets. Intelligence can quickly turn to hatred either at the world or at themselves. When Snakes are unsuccessful and do not find an outlet for their vision, they can turn bitter and hostile, criticizing everything and everyone and picking apart their faults. Because of their visionary and creative qualities, Snakes make natural artists. Snakes want to leave the world behind, follow their vision, and lose themselves beyond the horizon. They want to disappear. Snake Qì is a vision quest, a spirit journey into the unknown, the underworld. In their imagination, Snakes see through this world to others and realms beyond. They may even have tangible visions in their waking lives. So, Snakes can be a bit weird, although others may never know, for Snakes are the best at hiding. Snakes must find a way to express this weirdness, primarily through art/creativity. The challenge for the Snake is to go out beyond and come back. They must return their vision to the ordinary world and share it with others. Snakes are often inventive innovators, and Snake years usually produce societal breakthroughs. Without art, the Snake has no way of communicating Reality as they experience it; whether through painting, poetry, or film, Snakes communicate the dreamlike nature of reality, such as Pablo Picasso or Edgar Allen Poe (both born in the Year of the Snake). Snakes tend to be solitary and reclusive. All the Snakes I know, either by year or hour, tend to seek and enjoy time alone (of course, everyone can), and some even dream of being hermits. Snakes take great pleasure when no one knows where they are or what they’re up to. Furthermore, they tend to be somewhat evasive, which is both positive and negative. The Snake's tendency towards evasiveness can be a skill, knowing when to duck, avoid, and do nothing. This evasive quality can appear distant, aloof, avoidant, and secretive to others. You’re never quite sure about them; think Snape from Harry Potter. Snake Qì is also very discrete, which can appear positive and negative again. Spiritually, being discreet and humble is an excellent idea; showing off and making a big flap about yourself can create many challenges. Snakes tend towards the opposite; they tend to be quiet, never revealing their actual experience to anyone, even when that experience is profound. Being discrete is the Snake's form of camouflage, hiding in plain sight. Since Snake Qì is Big Yīn, and because its impulse is to disappear towards stillness and silence, Snakes are naturally calm, patient, and slow in their display. Chill is the word. Snake Qì is the opposite of scattered, and its depleted state can turn to laziness and lethargy. But in general, Snakes are relaxed and calm; they have a big open capacity to host other people’s craziness. This peaceful nature can be called meditative. Many Snakes I know have a natural inclination towards meditation as an expression of their Qì, which also has an immense capacity for trance. The Yīn Fire nature of the Snake is also hypnotizing and trance-inducing. Think Snake Charmers. Snakes have an alluring charm because of their mysteriousness. People want to figure them out, and Snakes love this because they love avoiding and evading people’s attempts to figure them out and pin them down. Snakes can play with this, so they have a specific social capacity. They make great actors and can become anyone, like method acting. They can use this capacity for social advantage, which we call “Yīn Power.” Yīn Power is essentially manipulation, which is not inherently wrong, although it can be used that way. It can be used for good, too; like many Snake qualities, manipulation evades judgment…we’re just not sure about it. Ming once told a story of a friend who learned to speak Chinese by simply becoming the teacher, imitating his mannerisms, dress, body language, etc. Monkeys have this capacity, too. Rather than learn the language, this person just became someone who already knew it, very Snakey. Snakes can embody a social role for years, at work, for example, even if it is not who they are. They can work for years as salespeople and then one day become carpenters. This changeability may sound bad, but not for Snakes necessarily, for they are unattached. Snakes can love and be fascinated by material things and then sell everything they own without a second thought. Snake Qì loves to shed its skin, change appearances, transform, drop attachments, and move on. In the Chinese Tradition, the Snake, like the Rabbit, is associated with the practice of Inner Alchemy, refining our experience backward to the Source. When depleted, the ability to become anything and take on any form can turn helpless. Depleted, snakes can feel empty, without inner and outer resources, and unable to manifest things in the world. The tendency to not take the “real world” seriously can appear to others as a lack of ambition, but Snakes don’t have ordinary worldly ambition; their aspirations in life tend to reflect a more profound impulse, which is most often to understand this strange world of appearances, this ephemeral dance we’re all born into; Snakes are perplexed as to why everyone takes the life game so seriously. I mean, why bother? Why bother constructing wealth and systems of value when everything falls apart? Of course, if a Fire Snake chooses to be successful, they can outdo everyone and make us all look like fools, but they would never believe in their actions. Hopefully, this does not sound too negative. But negativity must be available in the cycle of time. We must remember that there is no absolute negativity/evil in the Chinese View, but there is Yīn. And all Yīn Characters represent the necessity of darkness in the cycle of time. Darkness, depression, destruction, and so on must be available in Time. Otherwise, everything would grind to a halt. Of course, not all Snakes are depressed, but they do represent that tendency. The Snake symbol is rich and deep. In the collective imagination, Snakes conjure up primal, primordial, shamanic images, like Ouroboros, the Serpent eating its tail. If you want to understand Snake Qì, look at these images, for they all speak to the wisdom of the Snake. In terms of the Five Snakes, each has unique characteristics that contribute to the understanding of the Snake zodiac sign. The Wood or Emerging Snake, which we will discuss more next, is the most honest, shy, and calm of the Snakes. The Fire or Fishpond Snake is the most natural of the Snakes, and they are the most mesmerizing, ambitious, and disciplined. The Earth or Golden Snake is the worldliest and, therefore, the most determined, fortunate, and often successful Snake. The Metal or Hibernating Snake is the most bright, sensitive, and insightful, but the Metal Element makes them the most restrained and aloof. And the Water or Hidden Snake is the most mystical, secretive, and elusive of Snakes, and their potential for wisdom is excellent (as the Buddha is said to have been a Water Snake). Understanding these different characteristics provides a comprehensive view of the Snake Zodiac sign. 器 Synthesis, Application, and “Predictions" Now we get to the fun part…what is going to happen!? As always, I have no idea, and as I said in the beginning, I am going to leave my social/political commentary here to a minimum. I will instead try to summarize and give a pith interpretation of the Qì of the Year and what that could mean overall. If we put all the symbolism and Qì dynamics together, we see that the Wood Snake is, perhaps, the most delicate, minimalist, and, for lack of a better word, “weak” animal in the Chinese Zodiac. And sorry to say, it may be the most "boring" to talk about. There’s really nothing to get excited or worried about when it comes to the influence of this year. If we were to characterize the five Snakes, the Fire Snake would be like a cobra, the Earth Snake would be like a boa constrictor, the Metal Snake would be like an asp, the Water Snake would be like an anaconda, and the Wood Snake would be like a small green snake. Green snakes are small, non-venomous, and docile. The Wood Snake does not have the venom or striking force of the other snakes, so it hides and becomes invisible. The Qì, then, is just that – docile and invisible. Yīn Wood is unformed, so the Wood Snake is a baby and does not have the strong transformative “skin shedding” quality of the Earth or Metal Snake; nor does it have the deep profundity of the mystical Fire and Water Snakes. So where does that leave us? With almost nothing to say. In other Snake Years, things are much more hidden or secret, and venomous unexcepted things are more likely strike out of nowhere, like 9/11 (Metal Snake Year), or we may collectively experience huge skin shedding transformations like the fall of the Berlin Wall (Earth Snake Year). But not as much when it comes to the Wood Snake. This is why I am calling it a “non-year.” The Qì of the Wood Snake is so soft, flexible, and still that it can hardly be seen or felt, which in a way makes it even sneakier. It may as well not even be there, and that is how we can define it. The 60 Animals of the Zodiac cover every kind of Qì conceivable, and somewhere there needs to be a gap, a lull, an energy characterized by its lack of presence and “weakness.” This is the Wood Snake. There are other soft and gentle points in the cycle, like the Wood Rabbit, but this may be the most transparent and non-interfering, which makes it a kind of “gap.” We can, of course, consider all the profound symbolic qualities of the Snake, which all apply and define the Qì of the year to some extent. But the Wood Snake is the least dramatic, and all these Snake qualities are dialed down to almost zero, which gives the Wood Snake year unique challenges but also makes it a unique opportunity. The challenge is that there is little striking force or mystical, transformative, insightful strength available. Wood Snakes, as people, must often work extremely hard to overcome this inner sense of weakness or “lack.” If this lack is not understood or worked with correctly, it can lead to boredom, indolence, laziness, and sloth, and at worst, it can create nihilism, despair, and depression. The desire to give up and feel “what’s the point?” can seem very easy in a Wood Snake year. The world seems to stop and become see-through, and if this is mistaken for meaninglessness, then we may become confused and lose track of our “momentum” in life. We may feel lost, unsure, or uncertain. It may cause us to question things with no answers readily available. If this sounds depressing, remember that the Wood Snake is not as dark as the other Snakes. The recent Water Rabbit year was a dark subterranean energy full of ghosts and specters, but the Wood Snake is a fresh shimmering radiance, like the calm after sunrise. It is the Qì of small woodland sprouts or mycelium hidden just beneath the soil. So, this all begs the question, what do we do when the Qì of the year is almost non-existent? This is paradoxically the opportunity. What happens when the wind stops blowing and when we are not being pushed or pulled by the cycles of Time? What happens when we pause and enter a gap of stillness and silence that is flexible, non-resistant, docile, and weak? Well, we can do whatever we want, I suppose, or nothing at all. We can be like the small, hidden Wood Snake and slither unseen between the cracks, disappearing unnoticed. We can rest and do nothing. Or we can simply get to work without interference…but also without much wind in our sails. The lack of influence may bring out or exaggerate everyone’s innate Character qualities because everyone is free to be themselves, for we are neither bolstered nor inhibited. We have the unique opportunity to find out what we truly are. For some, this may be empowering and healing, and for others, it may be confusing and disappointing. But overall, this can be a very insightful year for all of us. The stillness of this gap will hopefully be a welcome relief. This is a peaceful, restful, and non-venomous year, without the venomous hidden surprises of other Snake years, and we can all collectively breathe a sigh of relief…that is if we can “mind the gap.” Can we recognize this and pause personally and collectively? This is a time to slow down and get our bearings before we launch forward again, rather violently I might add, with the Yáng Fire Horse in 2026, which is the true wild stallion. Of course, the world will go on as it does. Dramatic things can happen as the momentum of the past unfolds, but circumstances, responses, solutions, and so on, may lack strength, as if the wind has been taken out of our sails or the rug pulled out from under us. This makes “prediction” challenging, but we can simply apply this lack of wind power and non-interference to everything. Culture, politics, entertainment, religion, art, music, relationships, health, personal development, and so on, are all in an open and malleable gap. This is neither good nor bad. It is what we make of it. The Qì of the year is transparent and flexible, and we can mold it how we like, or we can take the opportunity to simply see through everything. The Qì of the Wood Snake can be visionary, and it offers us a chance to see through the veils, minding the gap between thoughts, to look beyond. We can grasp the emptiness of things in a very plain and simple way. To use a cliché, it is very “Zen.” Or, as Daoists might say, it is very Wúwéi, non-striving. The Wood Snake is plain, simple, minimal, and hidden from sight. It is the unbearable lightness of being. It is very easy to simply wake up and let go in a year like this because all the heavy burdens and complexity of life can seem like nothing at all. Everything falls away. Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. This is what the Wood Snake comes to show us. It takes nothing and leaves nothing. Everything is left as it is, and yet life goes on. So, what will you do—how will you mind the gap? “Delusion is like becoming possessed by a spirit during a seance, when someone starts to suddenly hop around and do all kinds of crazy things. This is exactly what has happened to all of us. Sentient beings are possessed by the ‘spirit’ of ignorance and the 84,000 disturbing emotions, and they are all dancing around doing incredible things. They have undergone all different kinds of pain and misery for so long, aeons upon aeons. But it is a self-created possession. It is not really something from outside. Buddha Nature has lost track of itself and created samsara, but it is also Buddha Nature, recognizing itself, which clears up the delusion of samsaric existence. The moment of recognition is like the spirit leaving. All of a sudden the possession vanishes. We can’t even say where it went. This is called the ‘collapse of confusion.’” -Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche 12 Animal ForecastNow, let’s go through the 12 Animals and offer a map for the upcoming year – how do we each mind the gap? Outer Elements: Wood Signs (+): your outer element matches the year; you flow and adapt more easily but tend to go toward internal frustration Fire Signs (+) child of Wood: generative/supportive relationship; you are empowered and bolstered, and the generative direction of Wood feeding Fire nourishes you Earth Signs (–/+) Wood controls/eats Earth: you may feel ungrounded, but this helps to aerate and keeps things light Metal Signs (+/–) Metal controls/cuts Wood: contrasting energetically, but you are kept in check and restrained from too much indolence Water Signs (+) Water is the mother of Wood: you support and uphold the dynamic of the year; this could be draining but more likely it will be generative and result in wisdom Please take these lightly and remember that we all contain each of the 12 animals within our experience! Your Year and Hour are the most prominent, but the following applies to everyone! These predictions all come with a caveat, as you will notice that for all Characters, this is a neutral year, as that is the nature of the Wood Snake. So don’t take these too seriously. Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 – Inauspicious/Neutral (-) Possibly a tough year for Rats. The transparent open quality may bring out feelings of fear, paranoia, or survival if you do not self-reflect, and the Qì of the Year does not cooperate well with any sense of the organization, accumulation, or outer stability that you may need to feel secure. This Year does not work to bring people or communities together, but rather it turns us more inward toward solitude, which may bring out your more negative qualities and make you feel isolated and uneasy. But remember, the Wood Snake is gentle and subtle. This feeling is not a threat this year but rather it is an invitation. Rat Qì is a deconstructive energy that seeks to take things apart to manage and control; this you have in common with the Snake who sees through to the compound and impermanent nature to the emptiness of things. If you can be comfortable with uncertainty, impermanence, and emptiness, then this Year will be profound for rest and spiritual growth. Let go of planning and scheming; drop busyness and task management; don’t take anything personally and be comfortable with stillness. Bring out your social networking skills and help bring people together because we will all need it this year. Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973,1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) The Ox is in a trine of compatibility with the Snake and Rooster, so this affinity makes this a potentially good year for the Ox. This auspiciousness is quite easy to understand; the lack of influence for the Ox will equate to a lack of nonsense and interference with routine business as usual. So, the Yīn strength of the Ox can simply allow you to plow forward as you always do, but in this year, you will find little resistance, and little pushback, and that the earth is easy to plow. Everything can go well. Ox is generally impervious to the potential darkness of the Snake, but you can tend toward stagnation if you lack motivation or inspiration. Overall, then it can be a great year for both rest and productivity, and the Ox is a champion of both. Introspect and discover your motive, and then act accordingly. Tiger: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) The dark stripe of the Tiger is very Snake-like, as the Tiger is also comfortable being hidden and still, for the time being. Tigers can be dark and moody, so watch out and don’t go to the dark side. But remember, this is the least dark and moody of the Snake years, which makes it ideal for rest and personal growth. You can let go and drop whatever is holding you back, so when you get a massive boost in the Fire Horse year, you can leap forward and truly shine. So shed inessentials and let go of the past. This year is excellent for healing, waiting, planning, introspecting, and taking stock. But it is not conducive to excess scheming, overwork, or goal setting. The upheaval and intensity of the past year should dissipate, and the pressure should ease. Don’t expect big change or put too much hope into outward or worldly progress. Simply relax and let things be as they are. Things will naturally unfold, and if you can let things be, then the Fire Horse Year will go very well and may be the best in a long time. Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 – Neutral (-) The Rabbit and Snake are both symbols of the subterranean/underworld. The Rabbit goes there to hide and find safety, but the Snake is born there. It is the underworld. The Rabbit can relax and will find that the Qì of the year is non-threatening/venomous, and the sense of stillness should bring ease, for the drama and pressure of Dragon year is over. The Native Element of the Rabbit is Yīn Wood, which matches the Outer Element of the year, so this may be the best Snake Year overall for Rabbits. However, the Rabbit craves protection, security, and strength, and there is little available. You are left to fend for yourself, and so you may feel a heightened sense of vulnerability and danger. If you have your house in order, then things can go very well, and this is an excellent year to hide, rest, and recuperate, and the spiritual power and potential for insight and creativity is off the charts and will allow you to peer into the underworld without fear or confusion. If your life is not in order, then the year can go poorly, as you may find that help is challenging and that things are difficult to secure. So, it’s a wash and balances out to be neutral. The Fire Horse year may be rough, so use this year to plan accordingly. Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) The Dragon and Snake are a Yīn Yáng pair and natural complementary opposites. Their Qì shares a lot in common as the mystical, otherworldly center of the Zodiac, representing Heaven and the Underworld. Dragons in a Snake Year are therefore apt to ride through Snake year with ease, but it may be disorienting, as the explosive Yáng energy is gone and replaced with a vacuum. Coming out of your year, you may feel either empowered or drained. Last Year was probably a big one. You may be tempted to keep the momentum going, but it isn’t there. Snake year, then, becomes a mirror and potentially an open canvas. You are asked to reflect and paint the picture you want to see. If you can reign in your bigness and deeply reflect, then the Wood Snake offers a relaxed and limitless sea of potential. No obstructions. So, what kind of life do you want? Make it happen but remember that it is up to you. Watch out for boredom, distraction, and a lack of focus. You may be tempted to go astray and wander too far into your indulgences. If you can deal with the boredom, then this year will be excellent for spiritual and personal growth. Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) This is your Year, so naturally, it can be auspicious and go very well. The danger of being in your year is that it can highlight or exacerbate your negative qualities if you have not come to terms with them. This year has the potential to bring out your inner sense of helplessness, nihilism, morbidity, cynicism, and sarcasm. You may find yourself saying—screw you guys, I’m going home. The world may seem extra pointless, so you may get depressed. Self-acceptance is key. If you are at home and embrace your inner emptiness, then you are free. You can float through life and be uninhibited and light like a feather in the breeze. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. You can be in the world but not of it. Life is but a dream, and you can go merrily down the stream. This year is profound for spiritual awakening, insight, and shedding your skin, but not in any kind of dramatic or obvious way. It is not auspicious for worldly goals or productivity, but you’re probably not that interested in that anyway. So, if you have been faking that you are interested, this is a good year for you to laugh and admit it’s all silly. If you can do that, then you may find that things align and happen naturally. Bring out your visionary quality and do art. Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2026 – Inauspicious/ Neutral (-) Could be a tough year for Horses, but it is the least difficult of Snake years. The Snake turns into the Horse in the natural progression of the Zodiac, so they have something in common, but the Horse is in many ways the antithesis of the Snake. The Horse represents a dramatic shift from extreme otherworldly Yīn back to Yáng, which in the form of the Horse is completely worldly in the most basic sense. The Snake is the most removed from the dual world, and the Horse is right at home in the world and ready to get to work. The Horse is wild but disciplined, sociable, gregarious, and engaged; they want to work, create, build, and then ride off free into the sunset on wild adventures. Snake Qì is the opposite of all those qualities. So, the Qì of the year is not conducive to anything that feels natural to you, and you may feel stunted, frustrated, and out of sorts. Projects may get delayed. The strange, mystical qualities of the Snake may be discombobulating this year but remember that the Wood Snake is the gentlest and the least intense of this weirdness. Let it inspire what you do have in common with the Snake—art. The Snake is visionary, innovative, inventive, and imaginary—bring these qualities out in your life, projects, and practices. The neutral quality is also non-obstructive, so although there is no wind in your sails, there are also no barriers to jump over. Productivity can go well if you are self-motivated and self-reliant. Help to bring others together and smile. Make people laugh. Point out the ordinariness of things and live in the moment. Goat: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 – Inauspicious/Neutral (-) This may also be a tough year for Goats, but again, it is the least challenging of the Snake years. Like the Horse, the Goat and Snake are very different. The Goat is the quintessential herd animal, and they operate based on feelings of interconnectedness and collective. The Snake, on the other hand, is the quintessential loner, and they operate based on feelings of emptiness and solitude. So, the social, political, and altruistic ambitions of the Goat are not supported this year. You may feel stunted, frustrated, and disheartened. But this is why we need you; bring out these altruistic and social qualities, and don’t give up on people! But remember the Wood Snake is soft and non-venomous – no hard feelings and nothing personal. And nothing is getting in the way. Both the Snake and the Goat share deep spiritual values; the Goat sees the principles of Qì harmony and transformation, while the Snake sees deeper to the truth that space is the fundamental medium that binds us and hosts all Qì transformation. So, relax into space. Let this be a year of rest and stillness. Focus on expressing your deeper truths and seeing through the complex webs that inform your motives in the world. This will help to free you and release the frustrations of a world out of control that may be going against your values. Express yourself through creative and artistic means; focus on self-care, healing, and close relationships. Watch out for anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. If you can relax and just be, then this year will be deeply revelatory. Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 – Neutral /Auspicious (++) The Monkey and Snake are a special Confucian pair of compatibility, so this is an excellent year for Monkeys. Both the Monkey and Snake see through the world but in different and often complementary ways. The Monkey sees the world as a kind of joke, but they find it funny and see it as a challenge to play with. However, Monkeys can lack the deeper wisdom that the Snake provides. The Snake sees through the world with deep wisdom but lacks the playful and humorous outlook of the Monkey, so they balance each other out well. Your Monkey mischief and risk-taking can go well this year, as it finds no obstruction and produces wiser and more thoughtful outcomes that can benefit all aspects of your life. Watch out for heightened anxiety and mental agitation, as this is a very “mental” year, but let the Snake Qì help you to pierce through fantasy, fear, and projection. This is an excellent year for personal growth, self-reflection, and shedding limitations. It is also an excellent year for innovation, creativity, and invention. You can reinvent yourself and your life. Pay attention to friendships and family and watch out for isolation and feelings of nihilism. Rooster: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 – Neutral /Auspicious (+) The Rooster is in a trine of compatibility with the Snake and Ox, so this affinity makes this a potentially good year for Roosters as well. The Rooster and Snake complement and support each other, as they are both piercing, intelligent, sharp, and striking energies. However, the Wood Snake is the least of these qualities, so it may not be as auspicious as other Snake years. Like the Monkey, the Snake helps the Rooster to pierce through attachment, anger, and delusion, so that all your endeavors can go well this year. This can be a great year for personal and professional development, but you must be self-reliant and self-motivated, as there is little Qì available for productivity and production. Let the Snake bring out your deeper mental, spiritual, and philosophical resources, and let that infuse everything in your life for the better. Personal, familial, and relational problems can arise if you do not tend to them with care, as you may be driven overboard into mental realms that disconnect you from your feelings. Learn to relax and be spacious without fixating or obsessing. Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) This is a mixed and mostly neutral year for Dogs that can end up going very well if you embrace it. All Dogs have a touch of the lone wolf and can be artistic, individualistic loners, (think Prince) just like the Snake. So, this is a year to embrace and celebrate those qualities. However, Dogs crave deep connection and loyalty, and the Snake shies away from this. Watch out for feelings of suspicion, judgment, and mistrust in your close relationships. If you do not have strong close relationships and are looking or dealing with issues of betrayal or mistrust, then it may be a frustrating and sad year. However, this makes it ideal for personal and spiritual growth and for embracing your lone wolf. Bring out your inner weirdo and let yourself escape. This may be a year for boundaries, self-care, and getting to know yourself on a deep level. Turn inward. Dogs can lose themselves taking care of and serving others, and you may derive your identity from being a parent, protector, or provider. Find out who you are outside all these roles. Work on your hobbies and passions and discover your hidden dreams. If you can embrace the lone wolf and let loose the inner weirdo, then this year will be an excellent springboard for the Fire Horse, which will be a great year overall. Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 – Neutral/Very Inauspicious (-/-) The Pig is the Snake’s opposite, so naturally, this may be a challenging year for Pigs. The Pig embodies everything the Snake is not, but oddly, this makes them very close to each other, for the opposite animals are mirrors. I always say that your opposite year is not inherently bad or something to be feared, but rather it is a spiritual opportunity to look in the mirror. Of course, Snake Qì goes against your instincts, so outwardly, things may be challenging and disorienting, and you may struggle all year as your honesty, integrity, and kindness could be challenged. You may feel disheartened and that the Qì of the year is cruel or critical. Personal relationships may be challenged, as people may be less inclined to connect with and indulge you. The Pig is the most fully in the world and engaged with the senses, and the Snake is the most disconnected and detached from the senses. So, for Pigs, this year may feel like the least enjoyable, sensual, and fun, but as I have said many times, the Wood Snake is a kind of non-year. It is so docile and non-interfering that you may not notice anything at all. Hopefully, this can balance out to being a kind of neutral indifferent year, and at best, it will serve as a mirror and springboard for personal growth. It may be sobering and clarifying and allow you to clean house and mature. That being said, we will all need and appreciate your fun-loving warmth and generosity, so throw some parties, bring people snacks, give some hugs, and remind everyone to enjoy themselves. I wish you all the best this New Year! This life passes as quickly as autumn clouds; Family and friends are like passers-by in a market; The demon of death approaches like twilight’s shadows; What the future holds is like a translucent fish in cloudy waters; Life’s experiences are like last night’s dreams; The pleasures of the senses, like an imaginary party. Meaningless activities are like waves lapping on the surface of the water. Every harmful action I have done With my body, speech, and mind Overwhelmed by attachment, anger and confusion, All these I openly lay bare before you. While circling through all states of existence, May I become an endless treasure of good qualities-- Gathering limitless pristine wisdom and positive potential. May all beings have happiness and the cause of happiness. May they be free of suffering and the cause of suffering. May all beings remain in boundless equanimity, free from attachment and aversion! Sarva Mangalam!!! Artwork Listed in Order
3 Comments
Seth Koss
1/28/2025 11:17:17 am
Awesome! I love your writings. I look forward to it every year and share it far and wide. Thank you for your hard work. And congratulations on your new marriage and your new book! I will buy a copy!
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Thank you for choosing to write a "more minimalistic" version of the yearly essay instead of none at all! Being born in a snake year myself, I've been very curious about what you would have to say about this one. These essays are probably my favorite astrological writing overall; I look forward to the next one at each turn of the year and, of course, I'll get your book as soon as it drops. :)
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Tiger's Play--the View Teachings of Chinese AstrologyThis page is your source for pithy articles on the view teachings of Chinese Astrology. Here, I will share everything I have learned about how to follow Astrology as a spiritual path. Archives
January 2025
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