2025 - The Year of the Yin Wood Snake

It is early February and we can already see and feel Spring in its infancy. Have you taken a walk recently and noticed the fresh buds at the ends of branches? You may even find the tiny tips of crocuses peaking out thru the barren ground. Can you feel the sun’s increasing presence? How about how the air feels less dry? In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the seasons ebb and flow like overlapping bell curves, beginning and ending six weeks before and after the fullness of the season. Many parts of the world mark this seasonal shift. Imbolc in the ancient Celtic traditions, St. Brigid’s Day in the Catholic faith, and Groundhog Day here in the U.S. all celebrate the signs of life after a long Winter. In China, The Lunar New Year celebration, or Spring Festival, begins on the 2nd new moon after Winter Solstice, and continues to the full moon that follows. The Lunar New Year also marks a shift in energy for the upcoming year in Chinese astrology. This is the result of a long observed cycle that people in China outlined ages ago. As Michael Max of Qiological said in his recent podcast on the year of the snake,

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“People who spend a lot of time outdoors learn to read the weather by the shape of the clouds, direction of the wind, and how it smells. People who spend time fishing learn about where fish are and where they aren’t. … There are patterns and cycles that if tended to closely, give you a glimpse of the influences at play and that can be very helpful when trying to understand the future and how the ascendant influences of the moment might shape things.”

The Chinese describe these yearly energy shifts as a progression of animal characteristics, repeating themselves in a 12 year rhythm, with 5 element cycles adding an extra descriptive layer. I find the potential shift in energy fascinating and enjoy listening to feng shui practitioners and eastern astrologers as they describe what we might expect for the year ahead.

This year, on January 29th, 2025, we entered the year of the Yin Wood Snake. The 3 yearly qualities need to be conceptualized together. Let’s briefly define them so we can view this year through all three lenses.

• Yin is internal, feminine, soft, dark, cold, quiet. In TCM, yin is the blood, fluids and structure in our body. It keeps us grounded, calm, moisturized, nourished, and supported. It is in harmony with and the opposite of Yang.
• Wood is one of five elements which continually generate each other in a cycle. It transforms from water, and into fire. It is represented by Spring, the blue-green color, the sour taste, anger or patience, and the liver organ system in TCM.
• The Snake is a solitary animal that will only live in a clean environment. It makes its home where it won’t be seen. It waits patiently in utter stillness until timing is impeccable for what it desires and then is quick to take action. Snakes regularly shed their skin in order to continue growing and in order to stay alive.

When these 3 qualities are combined, the picture becomes a small, green garden snake. Of all the snakes, this one is essentially harmless. With the Yin Wood Snake in mind, here are 3 things to consider for optimizing our health this year.

Address hidden toxins in your home.

Since the snake chooses to be hidden and in a clean environment, let’s examine the overlooked areas of our homes. Many chronic health problems are, in part, the result of invisible exposures to environmental toxins. Our bodies will silently do whatever it takes to protect us, but when that toxic load becomes too high, we start experiencing symptoms. The liver organ system does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to clearing toxins from the body. In TCM, when the liver gets overwhelmed we see issues in the liver itself, skin rashes, digestive issues, or headaches. Where are potential toxins hidden in our homes? We need to examine our air, water, and food. The below list can feel overwhelming, but keep in mind that no one can avoid ALL toxicity in the world. Perhaps one or two of these questions will stand out to you.

• How clean is the air you’re breathing at home? Do you need to test radon levels? Do you have hidden molds? Are you using air filtration systems that remove allergens? Are your cleaning supplies and beauty products filled with perfume or harsh chemicals? Do you have wifi-connected devices near your body when you’re sleeping?
• Have you tested the water in your home? What type of pipes are delivering your water? Can you improve the filters for your drinking water? What about your bathing water?
• How chemical-laden is the food you are eating? Do you recognize all the listed ingredients of the items you buy? Are you avoiding known carcinogens? Are you thoughtful about the quality of produce and protein you choose? Is there a way to grow some of your own food in a kitchen, porch, or backyard space? Are your storage containers and cookware adding to the toxic load in your food?

Take this year to check on a couple of these possible sources of toxicity in your home. It might be the thing that takes the load off your body just enough for it to find better balance.

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Preventative medicine is your friend.

Much like our homes, we need to address underlying issues in our bodies as well. The yin snake likes to wait quietly until it’s ready to strike and the wood organ system, the liver, when it is undernourished, or overly stagnant, gives rise to wind. Wind is another Spring/Wood characteristic. It describes symptoms in the body that move around, change quickly, or come and go. Things like restless legs, muscle twitches, and fibromyalgia fit in the category of wind, as do migraines, stroke, or blood pressure fluctuations. If you have symptoms that are easy to ignore, even though they may seem small right now, find someone to help you prevent bigger issues. This is advice we should always follow, but let’s use the year of the yin wood snake as a reminder. Acupuncturists observe the subtleties in our bodies and in our symptom experiences, and often can balance out deficiencies or excesses before they get worse. Other preventative modalities like functional medical doctors, chiropractors, or therapists might be useful for you too. Either way, address those hidden symptoms this year to prevent a potential snake strike.

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Foster patience.

This year is yin and solitary, and primed for internal change, just as the snake is regularly shedding it’s skin to become a bigger, newer version of itself. We often resist change, even when it is necessary. We struggle to embrace the growth in ourselves and interact with others in new ways. This struggle appears in stay at home moms who are ready to have a working life outside of the home, or in employees who want to change fields or return to school. It is hard to choose a healthier lifestyle when those habits are incongruent with friend’s or family’s choices. Change can be frustrating, but we don’t become better, more fulfilled, healthier versions of ourselves without growth. This journey requires us to be patient with ourselves and the people in our lives. In TCM, the liver organ system helps us make choices, process change, deal with stress, frustration, irritability and anger. When it is balanced, we don’t linger in any stagnating emotions too long. We find ourselves capable of patience. We can “go with the flow”, be a “free and easy wanderer”, and “not be blown by the winds of change”. Physical movement and exercise help us keep the liver energy flowing. Yin movements like qi gong, yoga, or stretching nourish and ground us. Choosing foods that support the liver, like sour fruits (strawberry, kiwi, lemon, lime, hibiscus) or green veggies (leafy greens, brussel sprouts, asparagus) also help. Adding vinegar dressings, pickled foods, or fermented veggies to your meals will support the liver as well. Plus, remember the power of a deep, mindful breath for fostering patience.

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May this year of the yin wood snake bring you health, happiness, and prosperity and may we all find ways to be patient, make small changes, and improve ourselves and our homes.
​Gong Xi Fa Cai!

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 If you are interested in diving deeper into what the yin wood snake year may be like, I recommend listening to the Qiological podcast episode 393 that I quoted earlier. The guest, Gregory Done, and the host, Michael Max have a great conversation that is easy to follow whether or not you are an acupuncturist. They also talk about how people born in different eastern zodiac animal years may feel during this year of the snake.
If you want to look up which animal you were born under, here is a website where you can get your full eastern astrological birth chart. 

 Is there anything you would like to know more about? What feels particularly poignant for you about this year’s energy? Please send me a message. I’d love to hear your thoughts.