Chinese Astrology

Yǐ Sì 乙巳 2025 – Yǐ Sì 乙巳 Wood Serpent Chinese Astrology Outlook Musings  

I’m really loving the flow that is bestowing us this year with the coming Yǐ Sì 乙巳 Wood Serpent. It’s time to grab your cup of tea and dive into another annual outlook for the upcoming year through a Chinese metaphysical lens. What are the Heavens trying to signal to us about where we are heading, and what is our purpose? What’s in store for the world and yourself? Put your feet up, pull up your socks, and let’s take a sip. This article is the long form version of postings earlier in January that were shared on other platforms and via Eastern Currents and Net of Knowledge. 

In last year’s Wood Dragon outlook, I mentioned it was a year of endings in order to make way for new beginnings, new life, and a new way of living. The year 2024 also marked the beginning of a new Fēng Shuǐ 风水/風水 cycle: the Age (aka Period) of 9, Huǒ-Fire 火, and the Lí Guà 離卦. Fire is an Age of new energy, joy, creativity, inspiration for change and metamorphosis. In order to renew and transform, we have to let go of that which is old and holding us back. The Dragon was a force in this, as I mentioned as an Earth sign. The Earth Chinese Astrology signs are graveyard animals. They bury things, which also means they eventually put things to rest. The year may not have felt that kind to you – with the tearing down of what you once were, or the death of what ideals or visions you once held. Or perhaps it was the death of a loved one who was not meant to be carried into the new Age of 9 and the current lifetime. This grief is real, and needed. For we can only see the future when we have the foundation and context of our past that got us here, and which gave us the lessons we need to carry forward. The world stage is now all set to launch with a bright fire we haven’t witnessed in seven years, and to spark movement in the coming year of the Wood Serpent!  

Remember that when reading any Chinese Astrology outlooks, it’s important to recall that your individual flow depends on your personal Bā Zì 八字 Birth Chart. I continue to write these outlooks every year to remind you that determining one’s energy simply by referring to one animal sign, or one year pillar, is a misguided approach. That would represent only one-eighth or one-quarter of your entire Bā Zì 八字 Birth Chart – and therefore, only a small part of your “constitutional energetic DNA.” Chinese astrology and your “fate” are determined by your entire chart – year, month, day and time pillars – which should be considered along with the interaction of the current year, your ten-year fate cycle, Feng Shui cycles, and human influence and relationships. Moreover, the month and day pillars have the most influence on our lives and personality. An annual astrological outlook is pretty general. Please keep this in mind as you read about the Wǔ Xíng-Five Behaviours/Phases (aka interactions/ elements/ energetics) 五行 and the animal energies. However, it also pays to look at the big picture. Globally, my perspective on the general 2025 Wood Serpent trends are based mostly on the Bā Zì 八字 Pillars, I Ching / Yìjīng 易經, and Lǐ Qì Pài Fēng Shuǐ 理气派風水 (形氣派风水). Now let’s dig a bit deeper! 

This looks to be a year of flow, creativity, movement, generation, entrepreneurship, industry inspiration and change! This year of the Yǐ Sì 乙巳 (Yin) Wood Serpent in 2025 begins on the first day of Spring Lì Chūn 立春 on February 3 at 22:10 (UTC+8) in the solar calendar (the true astrological date) and on January 29 in the Lunar calendar (the more commonly celebrated date). There are few, if any, Kè-Restraining (aka controlling) 克 cycles happening within the pillars of the year. If you want to just move forward, you got it! You want creative and inspirational change? Check. You want to build global finances and stability? We’ll get there. You want things to get moving? Hold on to your seat belts!  

Yin Wood – Yǐ 乙 – is the call from the Heavens this year. Yin Wood is kind, quick and adaptable. One of the greatest survivors in all of the Astrological characters, its symbol is that of a vine or bush. It is one that must move and grow or else it will die. It will keep on moving around things in its way, while trekking along its very straightforward fast-moving path. Still an astute visionary since it is a Wood element, Yin Wood – like Yang Wood – may move so fast that it misses details. Its skill lies in seeing the big picture, wanting to cultivate a community of benevolence for the greater good. Yin Wood types are direct in their delivery yet have a kind way of saying things. This quality may be well suited to service(s) to humanity such as health care, philanthropy, or social justice. The quickness of Yin Wood comes and goes like that of the Wind or a Wind storm. Much like Yang Wood, which we spoke about last year, people with Yin Wood as their core constitutional self or Rì Yuán-Day Master 日元, strive to create change for the betterment of society. They need to be able to visualize and plan and, like Yang Wood, action comes with a quickness and moves quite fast. Yin Wood, however, may act slightly less fast, in that it may move like the Wind rather than a lightning strike. As I mentioned in my previous outlook, attention to detail is a weakness for all Wood energies; however, their contribution to the world lies in being visionaries and visual artists.  

In contrast to 2024, this year’s Wood energy is less likely to be in an excess state. A big part of this is because Sì 巳, aka the Serpent – my preferred term vs. Snake – is sitting in the Chief position of the Earthly Branches this year, and is a Yang Fire sign with a little bit of Yang Earth and a little bit of Yang Metal. There is no Wood in the Earthly Branch, so the Wood is not getting rooted. In addition, the other Wǔ Xíng 五行 presence of Fire, Earth and Metal, are sedating and reducing the Wood in the Heavens. But what does this mean? (Time to refill your cup!)  

This year, Heaven’s descent of Yin Wood – Yǐ 乙 – is with the Earthly Branch of Sì 巳, the Serpent. As mentioned, Serpent is my preferred term for the more Yang and bold nature of this energetic sign and more true to the original Taoist terms. Historically, the animal names originated thousands of years later and only to help give us a quick reference to the energy of that character. The Serpent sits in the Yin position in the order of the animals in the seasons and clock, but has Yang energy within its core. As alluded to above, it is a Yang Fire as its majority core self, with a little bit of Yang Metal and little Yang Earth. The Serpent has a myth or “bad rap” that it is sneaky and cutting. I love dispelling myths – and here I will again. The Serpent is a keen observer and leader. Its leadership comes from its majority dominance of Yang Fire. This is the Sun that shines overhead in the sky, waiting to brighten and warm our day, bring joy and show the way. It is unafraid of leading when needed and sedating its Yang Fire with its own inert output of Earth and Metal. The Yang Earth holds itself back, like a mountain, sitting and observing, holding steady and patient. The Yang Metal is like an ore or axe, ready to cut through any debris in its way and forge its path, and both creating and organizing an opportunity when it is ready and in the most efficient way possible. The key is when it’s ready. For a Yang Fire, or any fire sign for that matter, they will end up moving really fast when finally motivated, even faster than Wood, but there must be passion for that to occur. Passion can occur in an instant, but it can fizzle out just as fast. For this reason, Fire signs in general can be easily distracted, with their attention getting drawn to many different things that spark inspiration in them. Thus, they may not finish what they started. However, the Serpent is a Fire sign that is a finisher. The Metal within it likes to have conclusion, closure and clarity. It will finish and in the most effective way possible. Just let it be on its Earth Mountain to ponder, and then it will cut things down and conclude. Serpents are therefore often leaders in an entrepreneurial role. Globally speaking, we will likely see more entrepreneurship this year as a whole for the globe! 

Let’s look at the year as a Pillar. Yin Wood – Yǐ 乙 – is the vine on the top with the Sun of the Sì 巳 Serpent below, overtop a mountain filled with ore. It’s a bit flipped and unnatural in its position, as the Sun most naturally would be overhead or in the highest position. In this instance, Yang Fire is influencing the Yin Wood above it. The bottom of the pillar influences the top, thus Yang Fire is heating up and drying the vine and Wood, or one could say, forcing a creative output of the Wǒ Shēng 我生 cycle in the Wǔ Xíng 五行 five behaviours/phases law. Thus, we have an amplification of creative energy this year in the form of Wood being drained by the ‘creation’ of Fire. This means Fire industries will benefit this year, such as those relating to technology, electronics, fuel/gas/oil, solar and nuclear energy, heating, the performing arts, and teaching. Globally, we may see more actual fires than usual. Lastly, the Serpent, with its Earth and Metal within it, has a Kè 克 relation with Wood. Thus, we may still see some global disagreements, anger, and daggers of conflict back and forth, but to a lesser extent than in previous years. The Metal within the Serpent may bring about very sharp words or sharp actions. However, with Yang Fire being the dominant Xíng 行 in the Serpent, Fire’s motivation is love, happiness, warmth and compassion. Serpent will strive in the end to reconnect and bring back compassion, and repair any prior conflict. The Fire of the Serpent will strive to create an end goal of peace and love. Deep down, Serpents are compassionate, so kick that myth of them being sneaky out the door! 

Looking at the pillar overall within the context of the World, there is a lot of flow for the Yǐ Sì 乙巳 year. Following the Shēng-Life creation (aka birth) 生 cycle, Wood flows to Fire (of the Serpent) that has Earth and Metal within it, which is also follows the flow of the Shēng 生 cycle. When I calculated the Four Pillars of the year of Yǐ Sì 乙巳, there were also no Kè 克 conflicts. It’s all about moving to creative change, shifting to new ideas, and moving, movement, move over! Sì 巳 is also one of the Mobility or “Movement/Travelling” animals in the Pillar Stars, so it tends to create a lot of movement in people’s lives. Globally then for this year, it’s likely that there will be a year full of movement and change, new ideas, new ways of loving, and reaching toward new states of living. The best way to be in this flow is to be moving with it, adapting, finding your way to process this, and elevating yourself in relation to a new skill, a new way of being. My philosophy for Bā Zì 八字 Chinese Astrology is that everyone’s purpose in life is to learn why something happened to you, what learning or message it holds, and if we understand that message, then we can use it to discover or pivot to our next evolved level, toward our best self, and bring that to light. 

Digging deeper and analyzing the Bā Zì 八字 Four Pillars of the year to give a general idea of each quarter, the first half of the year will start off with movement. A get-things-done type of energy. You’re done sitting round. But be careful about how fast you go and what you may push around along the way, as Wood’s aggression may incite arguments. In the second quarter, things may be a bit more tempered, with Yang Earth landing and holding down the Wood’s movement, but also allowing it to root. By the third quarter, Water will start to rise, which loves to flow and keep things moving. Since the second half of the year is dominated by the Chief of Sì 巳 Serpent and its desire for flow, creativity and implementing, this part of the year looks to be focused on a big shift in mobility, movable change, and flow. This will continue to swell and reach the shore until the end of the year. Are you ready for the ride? 

If your personal chart needs other beneficial Wǔ Xíng 五行 other than the most dominant elements of Wood, Fire and Metal this year, that may mean this year is unstable for you. Always take these messages as a time to pivot about your world, your self and your direction. Take this and do moving meditations, observe and see what your gut intuition is telling you. Everything happens for a reason even if it’s not easy to live through. With these tools to guide you, you can learn to take advantage of a door that is open for you to walk through if you pay attention, or you can choose to plug a leak that has sprung up in order to minimize the bad. I always encourage a healthy Qigong practice to enhance your Wèi-Defensive Qì bubble or a Jade curtain around you. These tools are important to learn this year as we transition into not just a Fire year, but a very moving year. Find a place in which you can settle and stand firm in the windstorm that may present this year, whether good or not. 

The Solar start (Spring), which begins at 22:10 (UTC+8) on February 3, 2025, also has the Xuánkōng Fēixīng Fēng Shuǐ 玄空飞星風水/玄空飞星风水 cycle of the 2-Star arriving in the centre. This symbolizes Earth and sickness, and it is recommended that you hang a string of six metal coins in the centre of the house to dissolve this. This is most useful if you are living in a home vs. a condominium or apartment.  

Time to refresh that tea again as we look at some possible health insights for my Chinese medicine practitioners! Yin Wood is specifically correlated internally with the Liver organ channel system. That may mean if Yin Wood is not good for a person, or creates excessive Wood, then you may see more imbalance in relation to the male reproductive organs/ inguinal area/ groin, Qì and Blood circulation, connective tissue, eye health, and Liver organ function. Additionally, we may have more mood disturbances again, with anger venting, trouble falling asleep, and overly heated bodies. Balance Acupuncturists, I’m sure you will once again be implementing Jueyin-Shaoyang III-VI or the 12 Magical/Meridian System, however I call in to your awareness of the Magic 4 Heat approach, and be mindful that the modified forms of this may be even more effective!  

Next, we take a look a bit deeper at the Yang Fire and also Yang Metal presence and how these may impact this year both globally and with health. While Fire is meant to shine bright this year, the Fire in the Serpent has to undergo very specific circumstances to be highly amplified. If these circumstances are present, this Fire is extremely strong. This could be good if you need that kick of spark, though this could be destabilizing as the Shén 神 will be unstable and disturbed. This is a time to strongly sedate instead of tonifying Huǒ-Fire 火. Globally, this would also be the case. More so, the effect this year may have is on amplifying Metal. Those parameters are more easily met in a person’s chart, which translates to help (or hurt) in the areas of the Lungs, Large Intestine, and in the finance and music industries, for example.  

Finally, I’ll end with my token food for thought on the insights of personality and relationships from the perspective of Chinese astrology – that is, how to understand people better, and how to develop improved compassion, tolerance and interaction with your patient/ partner/ child/ friend/ sibling/ colleague. How would things change for you if you knew that your partner’s Rì Yuán-Day Master 日元 (core constitutional self) is a Wood self and coupled with a Sì 巳 Serpent that has Fire, Earth and Metal? How would you interact differently knowing that the Sì 巳 Serpent is both an observer and a quick doer that is always moving. My recommendation is to let them have their freedom to move and create! Their mediation is a moving mediation. Their sense of ease and peace are associated with expansion, creation, and transformation. They also love details (Metal) in their communication, warmth (Fire) and patience (Earth). Couple this with a Yin Wood Heavenly Stem, they would also resonate with kindness (Wood). If you are too vague or circular with your communication style (Water), it will be less easy for them to understand.  

Lastly, remember the Day and Month pillar are the two most important pillars respectively of influence in a person’s Birth Chart with respect to both personality and destiny. I encourage you to remember that the year of one’s birth has the least impact on someone’s personality and destiny. In this respect, in the year of the Sì 巳 Serpent, it is worth noting the following: 

• The months of September, the Phoenix – Yǒu 酉,and January, the Ox – Chǒu 丑 (2026), are your buddies, creating harmony and more Metal.  

• The month of August, the Monkey – Shēn 申,is your best friend, creating more Water. But be careful, this is a unique relationship in Chinese Astrology with an underlying friction within it. It’s a love-hate relationship, where navigating ups and downs will be part of your journey. 

• The month of February, the Tiger – Yín 寅,is an annoyance, a friction that is subtle but enough to rub the Chief Sì 巳 Serpent the wrong way.  

• If you happen to have both a Horse – Wǔ 午 (June) and a Goat – Wèi 未 (July) Earthly Branch in your chart, you’ll likely have an extra strong Huǒ-Fire 火 in your chart this year. If Huǒ-Fire 火 is one of your favourable ones, it will be a very strong expansive, transformative and helpful year. If not, do take extra care to ground your Shén 神. 

• For the month of November, the Boar – Hài 亥 month or day, this year you are in opposition to the Sì 巳 Serpent, who is the Chief. This is a clash of Fire and Water, though it is not as significant as it might appear. The Yang Fire of the Serpent is the Sun and the Yang Water of the Boar is the Ocean. This represents a beautiful scene of the Sun overlooking the Ocean. Clashes or oppositions in general tend to bring deeper insight owing to the pull of the opposing forces. 

As I wrap up and leave you to the last sips of your tea, I’d like you to remember these things. It’s a beautiful, flowing, busy year. The change and movement may feel too big or fast for some, yet just what others have been waiting for. Impatience this year will appear more as an impulsive fire, unable to stay on track but passionately creating new ideas and igniting others to follow. A new way of living with joy, stability and peace is the end goal. Along the way, find your own den to shelter from every moving Qì around you and find your place of grounded stabilization. Embrace Fire’s love, compassion, joy and warmth and the Serpent’s patience and keen observation if you encounter conflict. Know your helpful Wǔ Xíng 五行 and know yourself and others to bring about compassion. Remember the context of the past as your platform to launch from. A life unexamined is a life wasted. Look and pay attention. Call in the observer, and do so with Love. Be a part of the continued compassionate change collectively by amplifying the joy and organizational force of the Sì 巳 Serpent’s drive to create, transform and manage, to elevate into a new world.  

May the Qì flow with you and bestow you with many blessings!

• Sonia F. Tan, BA, BA(H), DAOM, RAc, RTCMP

Certified Astrology and Feng Shui practitioner since 2011, Master of Balance System Acupuncture, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM degree), Certified Taiji Qigong Shibashi Teacher since 2023. www.SoniaFTan.com  

Founder & Director of the Tan Academy of Balance Inc school of Classical Chinese medicine & metaphysics, and the Balance System Acupuncture Certificate Mentorship Program. www.TanBalance.com 

FB: @drsoniatan IG: @soniaftan © Sonia F. Tan 2022-2025

Seasonal Solar node calendar dates

For those who have learned Balance in the Seasons (Level 6) and Chinese Astrology, here are the Chinese Solar node calendar dates for the 2025  Wood Serpent year.

YEAR: Yǐ Sì 乙巳

BEGINS: 立春 Lì Chūn – Springs Stands – February 2, 2024, 22:10 (UTC+8) & Wù Yín 戊 寅 

驚蟄 (惊蛰) Jīng Zhé – Insects Awaken – March 4, 16:07

Jǐ Mǎo 己 卯

清明 Qīng Míng – Clear Brightness – April 4, 20:48

Gēng Chén 庚 辰

立夏 Lì Xià – Summer Stands – May 5, 13:57

Xīn Sì 辛 巳

芒種 (芒种) Máng Zhòng – Feather Seed – June 5, 17:56

Rén Wǔ 壬 午

小暑 Xiǎo Shǔ – Lesser Heat – July 6, 04:05

Guǐ Wèi 癸 未

立秋 Lì Qiū – Autumn Stands – August 7, 13:51

Jiǎ Shēn 甲 申

白露 Bái Lù – White Dew – September 7, 16:52

Yǐ Yǒu 乙 酉

寒露 Hán Lù – Cold Dew – October 8, 08:48

Bǐng Xū 丙 戌

立冬 Lì Dōng – Winter Stands – November 7, 12:04

Dīng Hài 丁 亥

大雪 Dà Xuě – Great Snow – December 7, 05:04

Wù Zǐ 戊 子

小寒 Xiǎo Hán – Lesser Cold – January 5, 16:23

Jǐ Chǒu 己 丑

Blessings and flow,

Tan Shīfu 师父 

Dr. Sonia F. Tan

BA, BA(H), DAOM (DAOM degree), RAc, RTCMP

TAB Chinese New Year Celebration

February 3, 2025

Join the TAB team for an exciting Lunisolar New Year celebration featuring insightful Astrology and Feng Shui for the new year!

Start the Year of the Wood Serpent with balance and positive energy.

There are two ways to join us:

• In-person (limited seats!) at Red Tree Wellness (Suite 743 – 550 West Broadway Avenue, V5Z 0E9, Vancouver, BC)

Bonus: In-person attendees are invited to join Tan Shifu, Suzanne Laoshi and Martina for a delightful happy hour afterwards at a local restaurant (individuals pay for their own food). Let’s continue the celebration with delicious food and great company!

• Live online through Zoom

The Tan Academy of Balance Lunisolar New Year Celebration is free to attend!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

In-person seats are limited, so reserve your spot today!

REGISTER HERE

Continuing Education News

BSA Foundations (Levels 1 & 2)

We are thrilled to announce that our sole BSA Foundations seminar for 2025 will be held IN PERSON ONLY in Vancouver from February 28 to March 2, 2025.

Tuition: All three days including the textbook: $898 + GST. 

Register now! See below for registration instructions! 

Venue: UBC Robson Square, Vancouver, Canada. Course runs from 8:30am to 5pm all 3 days for a total of 21 CEU hours.

CEUs: A total of 21 CEUs will be granted.

This is an IN-PERSON ONLY COURSE with a practical component through hands-on palpation and needling practice with Dr. Tan and her teaching assistant(s).

The course offers knowledge and skills of Foundations of Balance System Acupuncture (BSA), Level 1: Single System Balance and Level 2: Multiple/Global System Balance.  

How to Register

Our registration system on www.tanbalance.com streamlines the process to view and register for all available TAB courses, make all payments (including deposits, early-bird, and pay-as-you-go) directly, and see course outlines and schedules.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Click Here to Register for a TAB Student Account.
2. After logging in, access the TAB Student Access page to view all available courses in the TAB Store.
3. Select and register for “Balance System Acupuncture Foundations (Levels 1+2): Single + Multiple Systems – In Person.”

Email hello@tanbalance.com for more information.

Mentorship News

• We are excited for the students of the Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner (BSAP) Certificate Mentorship Program Cohort 5 to reach Level 6: Balance in the Seasons in January 2025! Feedback from Cohort 5 is that they “appreciate and have felt very supported in the program”. We love hearing this because that is our intention – and that’s why it’s called a mentorship!

Cohort 6 of the BBSAP will start in September 2025. 

Application forms will be available June 1, 2025.

Click here for BSAP Program Info

• We are thrilled that Cohort 2 of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels and Channels (8EVC) mentorship with Dr. Yvonne Farrell progressed to Module 2: Luo Vessels in January, 2025! We are excited about their continued learning journey.

Cohort 3 of the 8EVC Mentorship Program begins in October 2026. 

Application forms will be available June 1, 2026.

Program Info

• Level 6: Integrate of the Certified Astrology Consultant (CAC) Mentorship with Cohort 1 continues in February 2025. This is a keen Cohort, demonstrating that they want more, and they are learning to see and appreciate the world with their new set of eyes. Tan Shifu is excited for the last half of the formal portion of the mentorship, and the beginning of their life journey with new eyes, brains and hearts. 

The next intake for CAC (Cohort 2) is tentatively scheduled for October 2026.

Program Info

Visit our website www.tanbalance.com/program-documents
or email hello@tanbalance.com for more information on all programs.

Continued Learning Resources

         Books

Tan Academy of Balance Books

Dr. Sonia Tan authored this book as a reference textbook for BSA Levels 1+2: Single + Multiple Balance. It is an essential clinical reference.

Available in English, Spanish & International French!

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