Personality | Compatibility | Ascendants | Famous "Snakes" A year for reflection, planning and searching answers. A good time for shrewd dealings, political affairs and coups d'etat. People will be more likely to scheme and ponder over matters before acting on them. An auspicious year for commerce and industry. Solutions and compromises can be arrived at, but not without some mutual distrust at first. The Snake likes to resolve his differences one way or another. If he fails and things cannot be peacefully settled, then he will declare war. Looking back into history, we find that the Year of the Snake has never been tranquil. Perhaps this is becuase it is the strongest negative force in the cycle and it follows the Dragon year, which is the strongest positive one. Many disasters which had their beginning in the year of the Dragon tend to culminate in the Year of the Snake. These two signs are very closely related and the calamities of the Snake years often resulted from excesses committed during the Dragon's reign. This will be a lively time for romance, courtship and scandals of all osrts. A good year to pursue the arts. Fashion will become more elegant and fluid; music and the theater will blossom; and people will strive for a more sophisticated life. Notable contributions will also be made by science and technology. The venerable wisdom of the Snake will be evident in many facets of our life, particularly in those requiring decisions. Although everything may look refreshingly quiet on the surface, the Year of the Snake is always unpredictable. The Snake's cool and collected front hides the deep and mysterious ways of his nature. It should be noted that once the Snake uncoils to strike, he moves like lightning and nothing can stop him. Similarly, changes that occur during the Snake's year can be as sudden and devastating. Tread lightly and be more cautious this year. Gambling and speculation is strictly taboo. The consequences will be overwhelming. The Snake is not merciful. Whatever else happens, the Snake will give us faith in our convictions and coerce us to act and to act forcefully during his reign. This is not a year for fence-sitters.   Personality People born in the Year of the Snake may become philosophers, theologians, politicians, or cunning financiers. The snake is the most enigmatic of the twelve zodiac animals. Such persons are elegant, and enjoy reading, listening to great music, tasting delicious food, and going to the theatre. They are fascinated with all beautiful things in life. Many of the most beautiful ladies and the men with strongest personalities were born in the Year of the Snake. Therefore, you should have good luck if you were born in that year. A person born in the Year of the Snake usually acts according to his own judgment, and doesn't follow the views with others. He may be a religious believer or a pleasure-seeker. In either case, he would rather believe in his own conjectures than accept the advice of others, and he is generally right. They are not annoyed by lack of money, and are usually lucky enough to own everything they need. If such a person is short of money, he can change the situation quickly. However, he shouldn't gamble, for he may lose everything he has. If he sustains great losses, he will soon come to realize his error and recover from it so that he will not be hit later. Generally, he will be cautious and alert when doing business. These persons are oversuspicious, which is their nature. They hide their suspicions, acting as if nothing is on their minds. They are also generous with money. However, such a person may be famous for heartlessness. To realize an important goal, they may act to eradicate anyone who gets in their way, without any feeling of shame. Some people born in the Year of the Snake may speak in a leisurely or listlessly way, but this does not mean that they are slow in thinking and action. They like to think deeply, plan carefully, and make a systematic and appropriate exposition of their views. They usually speak with great care. A person born in the Year of the Snake often shows a strong desire for control when associating with others, and can be strict with them. To a certain extent, he will not trust his friends. He will never forgive anyone who breaks a promise. He easily becomes excessively nervous when he is frightened or feels doubtful about something. When such a person is irritated, he will cherish a bitter hatred. However, he will act with such hostility in a secret way. He shows his resentment with ice-cold hostility instead of bitter words. Some of the people born in the Year of the Snake may strike their enemies a deadly blow. A woman born in the Year of the Snake will be quiet, serene, and have an outstanding appearance. When you look at her carefully, however, you may find that she is not perfectly beautiful. If you look at her facial features separately, you may see that her nose can be too big, or her eyes too close. But she will be quite charming if you look at her in her entirety. She acts confidently and calmly. She often strolls sluggishly, which impresses people by her love of comfort, though, in fact, she is always busy thinking. Such a woman likes to follow the fashion and be properly dressed. She loves treasures and jewelry. If she has enough money, she will buy the best and real diamonds, pearls, and other jewelry. You would best not give her gold-plating jewelry or replicas, for she may not accept your gift because it seems to be fake. She is also strict in choosing friends. If she herself does not have power and money, which she advocates, she will often marry a rich and powerful man. As long as her husband has potential, she will try her best to help him to succeed. She acts as a perfect hostess when showing her husband how to make use of every opportunity in his life. With such guidance, support and devotion, the husband will have no choice but to try his best to climb the social ladder. People born in the Year of the Snake usually have a sense of humor. In desperate situations, they can enliven the atmosphere with jokes and talk cheerfully and humorously even under great pressure. However, there are some exceptions. Some of these people are icy, some often ridicule others, and some are even grim. Now you can see that it is not easy to deal with a person born in the Year of the Snake, especially when he thinks one way and behaves in another. There always lies an alert heart behind his serene appearance. He has a strong will, and will try his best to hold fast to his position. He is so cunning that when you think you may have seized him, he has already slipped away. Chinese people believe that persons born in the spring or autumn of the Year of the Snake are the most formidable, while those born in winter are quiet and obedient, for a snake hibernates during winter. Those born in nice weather are happier than those born in terrible weather, and they feel content more easily. A person born in the Year of the Snake is a passionate lover, who always makes eyes at persons of the opposite sex. You will make a mistake if you think that such a person is always in love, for they are sensitive toward and yearn for everything, and so their eyes shine with the enthusiasm of first love when they make a good deal. People born in the Year of the Snake, especially those who like to be in the limelight and struggle for fame and gain, often lead turbulent lives that are full of passion, forcing them to rack their brains. As the core force in disturbance and difficult situations, a "snake" will face danger fearlessly, and deal with unforeseen disasters. He has a strong sense of responsibility and clear goals. He may become most powerful if he combines his lofty ideals with inborn advantages.   Compatibility Most Compatible: Snakes, Roosters Least Compatible: Rams   Ascendants Born During the Hours of the Rat - 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. An affable, sweet-talking Snake that could turn out to be a real hustler. He is sentimental about everything and that includes his money. Born During the Hours of the Ox - 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. Stubbornness hidden by elusiveness and charm. Twice as formidable to deal with if he has the Ox's stamina and willpower. Born During the Hours of the Tiger - 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. A sizzling Snake with a warm and versatile personality. Both signs being suspicious, it will be best for you to ingnore his way-out accusations. Born During the Hours of the Rabbit - 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. A mellow, smooth-talking Snake, but his bite is just as poisonous. Never makes a bad deal in business. Born During the Hours of the Dragon - 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. A snake with a touch of socialism and philanthropy. With wisdom and power combined, he may instigate real and lasting reforms. His commitment is always total -- be it for good or bad. Born During the Hours of the Snake - 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Possessive, enigmatic and very, very deep. You will never figure this one out, so don't bother trying. The only think you can count on is that when he gets a grip on what he is after, he will never let go. Born During the Hours of the Horse - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A happy, humorous Snake who will see the brighter side of life. As both signs here are strongly amorous, they could produce a playboy or playgirl of the highest order. Born During the Hours of the Ram - 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. From these two feminine signs may emerge an artistic Snake with impeccable flair. What's more, he knows how to support his pexensive tastes. his cunning motives will also be disguised by the Ram's sweet nature. Born During the Hours of the Monkey - 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. A sinewy genius. Incredibly hard to resist. Wisdom, glamor and wit blended to perfection. Never plays a game he cannot win. Born During the Hours of the Rooster - 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The community bandleader type with serious designs on absolute power beneath his gaily decorated front. Very persistent and knowledgeable. Born During the Hours of the Dog - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A loyal Snake hopefully with more of the Dog's strong convictions and morals. Likely to be highly intellectual as both signs are thinkers. Born During the Hours of the Boar - 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wine, women and song – here is a Snake who really knows how to live it up, but still shrewd enough never to get duped in his dealings. The Boar's innate goodwill could give him more credibility.   Famous "Snakes" Jean Simmons, Val Doonican, Sir Roger Banister, Burt Bacharach, Paddy Ashdown, Vivienne Westwood, Faye Dunaway, Neil Diamond, Dick Cheney, Nick Nolte, Ann-Margaret, Bob Dylan, Chubby Checker, Jesse Jackson, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Roseanne Barr, John Malkovich, Shania Twain Source: The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes by Theodora Lau Published by Arrow Books Limited