Year of the Snake 蛇
Shades of orange and pink paint the sky as the sun begins its ascent—another day, another lunar new year. The wood snake slinks in from the burning forest, left scorched by the fiery dragon’s departure.
Lucky numbers: 2, 8, and 9. Avoid 1, 6, and 7 if you can. Lucky colors: red, yellow, black. Limit gold, brown and white advised the sage. And the obligatory red. Fan Tai Sui must be appeased. Celebrate with family. Remember the dead.
So, what can be said about the snake? A little dragon without the composites?
Apparently, the snake once had four legs, its form terrifying creatures and humans alike. Discontent with its appearance, it cursed the Jade Emperor, crying out, “Why do I have legs?”
The anguished cry echoed through the celestial realms, and in response, the Jade Emperor sent a divine general down to cast a spell. The snake’s legs dissolved into tiny points of light, scattering around a stream. Tadpoles consumed these light points. Their tails fell away, and four legs emerged, transforming them into frogs.
Awakening to its new form, the snake longed for its lost legs, hunting frogs and swallowing them whole in a futile attempt to return to yesteryear.
Then came the Great Race, organized to measure Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s time. It would serve as a guide for humankind. Though not favored to win, the snake’s cunning proved formidable, slithering with determination.
Upon reaching the river, it wrapped around the horse’s hoof, through the water, until it reached dry land. Just before the finish line, it uncoiled. The horse panicked, allowing the snake to claim sixth place behind the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, and dragon.
Aligned with wisdom and danger, secretive and stealthy, the snake is a guardian of sacred places. Its proximity to the earth, belly sliding along the ground, reflects a deep connection, attuned to nature’s beating heart.
Representing death and rebirth, the snake will shed its skin by the year’s end, a transformation the world desperately needs.
The Year of the Dragon, marked by war drums and resounding populist voices, contrasts with the snake’s sagacity, symbolizing a time for contemplation and renewal. A creature of healing and immortality, it inspires hope for change, though we must heed the hidden perils.
Let’s do the snake dance, calling for steady rains to cool the world’s stifling heat. To tame the combustible wood and fire. Let this year bring thoughtful change—a moment to pause and breathe, guided by the mysterious serpent age.
新年好 阿門和阿門
A 6 Minute Animation Explaining The Story of the Chinese Zodiac Snake