Lunar New Year 2025: yin wood snake
Spanish Woman Artist: Carmen Leijas with the stunning feminist snake design.
Happy Lunar New Year!!!
With the energy coming in for the Chinese New Year, I thought I’d share some insights for what’s to come. Last year was Yang (excess) Wood Dragon year and was a doozy! It certainly took its toll and left some worn out. As we find ourselves at the beginning of 2025 we welcome in the Yin (deficient) Wood Snake serpent. Themes that may be present~ transformation, adaptation, flow, change, and rebirth.
Despite people’s long standing trepidation, and not without reason- some snakes can be dangerous, no doubt. However, the energetic signature of the serpent is wise, intuitive and cunning with a knack for survival. They have abilities to adapt, respond, and live in most environments and climates. A totem for medicine throughout the ages and nations- Ouroboros, Caduceus, the Naga, Jörmungandr, Rod of Asclepius, they all harbinger transformation and healing power. Throughout a snake’s life they will undergo this process known as ecdysis, of outgrowing what have known as home to shed their skins anew. Letting go despite its discomfort. Through this natural process we can find more ease and let it go.
How can we allow for softer release to the inevitable change. A path in which we must all walk. The more we are attached and unwilling, the more suffering we will feel. Serpent teaches us to flow, grow, move, shimmy, and release. Trusting new skin is already under way pushing up from deep within.
Life is about relationships. We are dynamic and complex yet simple and basic. Both can be true, two sides to the same coin; yin and yang.
Such as the trees grown from a seedling, rooted in soil, relating with earth and sky. Nothing can exist without the interconnectedness of another. In Chinese Medical elemental theory, these associations and relationships indicate health and wellness within the body, mind, and spirit.
When there is deficiency in wood, we look to the controlling sequence and the element that it corresponds with (see 5 element image).
This year ahead, at the level we can influence: the human qi level (the Yun in Stems and Branches theory)- human is what’s between Heaven and Earth- is the only arena we can truly support ourselves. We cannot control the weather, seasons or chaos around us. Let us take a peek into its intelligence and systems to tend :::
Yin metal is airy, fairy, feathery and light. Closest association with Air in western elementals. Connecting to the organ of lungs, and it’s yang organ pair being the large intestine, which is in charge of absorbing water and letting sh*t go…
These systems also house grief, so a note of tenderness that no one escapes the gripping resolve of this alchemical experience which we all undergo- as snake knows…
Lungs find purity in acceptance, simplicity, and beauty. It gains levity in the inhale and steadiness in the exhale. Inspiration of ideas flow when the energy is moving and, when it is blocked can be obsessive or compulsive. When lungs don’t have enough energy to support it becomes constricted with inability to expand and find buoyancy. This can cause issues in the cardiovascular, lymphatic, muscular system, and creates imbalance especially above the diaphragm. This upper chamber houses the heart and lungs, who mutually relate with one another, to keep oxygen (qi) exchanging and distributing blood throughout the body.
Find breath, nourishment, and beauty in your daily life, my loves.
Yin metal is adornments, jewelry, and precious metals. It begs you to organize your closet, cabinets and bookshelves by beauty not order and function.
Wearing gold will support the energy if deficiency/weakness is taking hold. Copper will be conductive and moving, and silver more sedating if you have excess present.
This will strengthen the wood energy of the year to come. Instead of putting more logs on the fire, ie: anger, rage, aggression, irritation, sacred rage. Those things are all welcome and/but perhaps not the best use of your vitality - or maybe it is! They can move, motivate, activate and initiate the fuel needed, and can also splinter and burn you out when out of control. Utilize the breath to resource you for purifying and tempering your path of transition. Process what you can during this inflammatory experience on this planet. Bolster joy and navigate your field efficiently.
Virtues of the wood are; compassion, hope, patience, forgiveness, benevolence, strength, flexibility, vision and foresight.
Assess wisely and take heed to the transformative nature of this time. Change your vantage point- get to the high branch of the tree, or get your belly low to the earth. Slink into the waters as serpents do to swim around a bit.
Take that 10 minutes to make herbal tea, do a restorative (surfers) pose, and scroll less. Repeat. Trust me, your future self will thank you.
Make big batches of soups, share with friends & community members, gather and connect when you have it. Check in with yourself. If you don’t have it, cancel plans, go inward, rest, drink quality water, light candles, pull cards, write cards, write stories, speak/sing/whisper prayers, get in water: salt baths, hot springs, and minimal cold plunging is advised this time of year.
If you’re having blurry vision (physically or metaphorically) you can soak 10-15 Goji berries, drink the tea and eat the berries.
If you want more Snake wisdom, Gaela has a beautiful article through the Power Path group
Blessings of wellness to you all,
Natalie 🐍