2013 – The Year of the Snake

Renee Lehman

(2/2013) The Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year) is a time to welcome prosperity, wealth, and longevity, and a time to remove any negative qi (pronounced "chee") from the past. There is even a tradition prior to the New Year for every family to thoroughly clean the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes of making way for good incoming luck

Chinese Calendar History

The Chinese calendar was originated by the Yellow Emperor Huang Ti, and has been in use for centuries. The Chinese calendar is called a lunar calendar, but is really a calendar based on the moon and the sun. The Gregorian calendar, which the world uses today (originated 430 years ago) is a solar calendar.

The Twelve Animals of the Chinese Calendar

The Chinese calendar is made of five, twelve-year cycles. Each of the twelve years of the Chinese calendar is appointed one of the following 12 animal’s names (in this order): rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon (the only mythological animal), snake, horse, sheep, monkey, fowl, dog, and pig. The animal that rules the year of your birth is said to exercise a major influence over your life, and that year in general. Much of the information used for this article is taken from The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes by Theodora and Laura Lau, 2007.

Last year, the Year of the Dragon, was characterized by enthusiasm, excitement, potential, and intensity. The Year of the Snake which begins on February 10, 2013 will be characterized by great transformation (just think about how a snake sheds it’s skin). This Year of the Snake is meant for steady progress and attention to detail. Focus and discipline will be necessary for you to achieve what you set out to create, because the Snake strives to achieve great heights and has unshakeable determination.

Ancient Chinese wisdom says a Snake in the house is a good omen because it means your family will not starve. This statement gives you an inkling into the nature of the Snake’s character: it could be taken metaphorically to mean that a Snake’s family would never starve because she is such a great mediator, and a good business-person; or it could mean that a Snake would be willing to sacrifice her possessions, something the Snake has a lot of, in order to pay for her family’s food. Either way, this is representative of the Snake’s character and is a measure of the value she puts on her material wealth.

The Snake

Mine is the wisdom of the ages.
I hold the key to the mysteries of life.
Casting my seeds on fertile ground,
I nurture then with constancy and purpose.
My sights are fixed.
My gaze unchanging.
Unyielding, inexorable and deep,
I advance with steady, unslacked gait,
the solid earth beneath me.
I AM THE SNAKE. (Lau & Lau, 2007)

Snake Personality

If you were born in one of the following years, your sign is the Snake (1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, and 2001). A person born in the year of the Snake is considered keen and cunning, quite intelligent, and wise. They are also a deep thinker, endowed with inborn wisdom, and intuitive. It would be accurate to say that people born in the year of the Snake are graceful and soft-spoken, and will gravitate toward the finer things in life. When it comes to decision-making, Snakes are extremely analytical and as a result, don’t jump into situations. They are effective at getting the things they want, even if it means they have to scheme and plot along the way.

A person born in the year of the Snake prefers living a life of calmness, preferring quietness over noise and a manageable workload rather than a schedule that’s overly-booked. Snakes become easily stressed when their lives aren’t peaceful or in order. Too much of this way of life can shorten a snake’s life!

A Snake is not likely to have money problems. Most times, she is fortunate to have what she needs. A Snake treasures her privacy, and dislikes useless small talk. She is confident and collected, and has a profound sense of responsibility.

Famous People born in the Year of the Snake:

• Muhammad Ali, American Boxer
• Martha Stewart, American Business Magnate
• Sarah Jessica Parker, American Actress
• Abraham Lincoln, American President
• Johannes Brahms, German Composer
• Oprah Winfrey, American Journalist
• Henry Ford II, American Inventor
• Pablo Picasso, Spanish Artist

General Predictions for The Year of the Snake

The 2013 Year of the Snake will bring people unexpected changes, instability, and transformation. This year it is important to plan carefully and adequately evaluate before taking any actions. Research and investigation are supported in all of your endeavors. A new-found ambition to greatness will inspire you to be all you can be, and allow you to achieve your goals. This is a great year to realize your goals and advance spiritually.

During this year, people will become more aware of their sixth sense or intuition. Deep transformation and healing are often represented by the Snake. Slowly we begin to see the reasons for events in our lives. We will realize the root cause of some dysfunction(s), and just like the snake, slowly we will shed our skin. We become shiny and new as we acknowledge and release the past.

It will be a year when everyone could see an improving trend. Natural or man-made disasters and energy of hostility will reduce considerably. A new sense of peace will fill the year. Countries will display better diplomacy and goodwill among each other.

Words to Live By in the Year of the Snake

• The only real valuable thing is intuition. - Albert Einstein
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• Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. - Steve Jobs
• Listen to your intuition. It will tell you everything you need to know. - Anthony J. D'Angelo
• Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming. - John Wooden
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• Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us. The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a personal one.  - Marianne Williamson

Do any of these resonate with you? If so, write it down and place it somewhere you see it every day. Use it to help you to be more self reflective.

Slow and steady wins the race in 2013 Year of Snake.

Renee Lehman is a licensed acupuncturist, physical therapist, and Reiki Master with over 20 years of health care experience. Her office is located at 249B York Street in Gettysburg, PA.  She can be reached at 717-752-5728.