Slither Into the Year of the Snake with Open Eyes

Even though many people, myself included, are not overly fond of snakes, 2025 is the Year of the Snake. As the year has just begun, I, like all of you, have no choice but to slither along each day, looking for the good in the conceptual nature of snakes and focusing on the positive things the year will bring.

 The years of the snake in the Chinese zodiac are 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025. The Snake Years repeat every 12 years.

In the Chinese zodiac, the year represents wisdom, transformation, and renewal, and it is also a time to let go of the past and embrace the new. The snake is a highly respected symbol of intelligence and charm in Chinese culture and is often seen as a figure of elegance and mystery.

 The three words that are emblematic of snakes are:

-  Wisdom:  The snake symbolizes intelligence, intuition, and cunning.

-  Transformation:  The snake's ability to shed its skin symbolizes letting go of the old and embracing the new.

-  Renewal:  Each year is a time for spiritual growth and self-discovery. People born in the Year of the Snake are often described as wise beyond their years. They are known for their calm demeanor, resourcefulness, and ability to analyze situations before taking action.

 Last year was the Year of the Dragon. I challenged myself and painted a ferocious-looking dragon covered with beautiful flowers. Do you remember it?  I was so happy that people fell in love with the painting. They purchased prints of the dragon and waited in anticipation for the good things that would hopefully transpire throughout the year.

 This year, a good friend coerced me into painting a beautiful snake that symbolized the snake’s positive attributes. Her daughter was born in one of the snake years, and she wanted to give her a lovely painting to acknowledge her birth date. I wasn’t sure I could accomplish such a difficult task. How could anyone transform an ugly, slithery snake into something people enjoy seeing? I realized that I had to change my perception of snakes drastically. It helped when the image of a snake spoke to my inner self, proclaiming,  “I am good. I can bring you wisdom, transformation, and renewal. But first, you must change how you think about me.”

 With that kind of encouragement, I went to work and artistically altered the image of what most people think of when they see a snake. It was a difficult task and took many hours.  Once I thought about how most people are judged by their outer appearance and not by what lies within them, my steps while painting the snake became easier. For example, shabbily dressed people or scruffy-looking animals are almost universally pre-judged by their appearance. Rarely do people genuinely take the time to understand the personal circumstances in their difficult journey. Likewise, most people view snakes in the same way. They may not be pleasant to look at, but looking beyond that, they are symbols of wisdom, transformation, and renewal. By realizing and accepting this dichotomy, my watercolor paint hues flowed effortlessly over the snake’s body, and I completed my painting. The thought process I went through totally engulfed me with love and joy.

 I hope you now have a different perspective on snakes. As you venture out in this Year of the Snake, you will undoubtedly meet new people and immerse yourself in diverse challenges. Before jumping to a wrong conclusion, remind yourself that those initial, superficial things you see on the surface may not always be the comprehensive picture of what you see. Commit yourself to letting go of the past and embracing the new.

 If you want this Year of the Snake painting to adorn your wall or gift it to someone special, I have two original watercolors for sale.  The two watercolor paintings and the Year of the Snake postcards can be purchased at Artfulgivingshop.com