BLOcK

If the angel deigns to come, it will be because you have convinced him, not by tears, but by your humble resolve to be always beginning: to be a beginner. Rainer Maria Rilkethe Snake...this year appears tranquil on the surface, but in actuality many of the disasters and calamities whose seeds were sown during the excess of the Year of the Dragon manifest themselves in the Year of the Snake. The Snake likes to resolve conflicts, and if no peaceful settlement can be reached, then the Snake will attack...this is a most auspicious year for commerce, industry, science, technology and the arts...for courtship, romance, and scandals of every sort. Music and theater flourish, and sophisticated elegance is the rule of the day. the Snake appears to move slowly, but once roused she stikes like lightning.this is the most enigmatic and mystical sign of the Chinese zodiac, endowed with innate wisdom and a mysterious allure. it is said that the most beautiful women and powerful men are born under this sign. both the Snake's thinking and emotions run very deep. in their relationships they can be possessive and demanding, and they will never forgive a promise broken or a wrong done. once aroused to anger their hatred can be vicious and unrelenting...and it's silent, cold, and deadly. the Sicilian adage, "Revenge is a dish best served cold," must have been coined by a Snake.above all, the charasmatic Snake has a profound sense of responsibility and enduring purpose. like their cousin the Dragon, they are born to lead and soar to great heights. Snakes are by nature skeptical and mistrusting, and inclined to be somewhat superstitious. like the Dragon, theirs is a karmic sign, and it is their destiny to pay all dues and settle all scores before they leave this life. they can be deeply religious and even psychic or, on the other extreme, totally hedonistic and materialistic. money comes easily to them, and they are rarely bothered by financial woes. Snakes can also be quite generous, but they can be ruthless in eliminating anyone who stands between them and their goals.there is no anticipating a Snakes's next move...they are constantly calculating and plotting. they are highly secretive and very careful about what they say. shrewd and prudent, they are adept in business and financial transcations and can also make excellent politicians. they understand and desire power, and beneath their outward cloak of serenity are always alert and on guard. their philisophical bent allows them a refined sense of humor as well as considerable grace under pressure. in times of adversity, they can be relied upon to remain calm and maintain their presence of mind. they deal with misfortune with a calm assurance and intrepidity. they are remarkably resilient. in the event of a catastrophie, they are able to shed their skins and reemerge with a new and even more resplendent one, almost as if by magic.Snakes of both sexes are characteristically blessed with beautiful complexions. under their cool demeanors, they are high strung, finely tuned individuals. the female Snake is more often than not a sleek, serene, and enticing beauty, sensuous, graceful, and languid in her movements and manner. she is confident, collected, and poised and her effect can be quietly mezmerizing. she will love jewelry...as long as its the real thing...and her tastes are sophisticated and singularly elegant. she is fully aware of her mysterious allure and aura of sexual intrigue. equality of the sexes is not an issue with her. hers is an ancient female power...the snake-goddess personified...and she has no need to compete with men when it is so easy to entice them to do her bidding.like all Snakes, she admires power and the influence that comes with money and will have high standards for a mate. if her husband has not yet attained her goals, she will dedicate herself to seeing that he does, working behind the scenes, dressing the part, playing the perfect hostess, offering shrewd advice, and exercising her hypnotic charm.all Snakes are passionate lovers, with reputedly strong sexual appetites. in fact, they persue all objects of their desire with the same covetous fervor. they often...especially those with an insatiable lust for power or fame...lead dangerous lives full of intrigue and excitement.Snake children are reticent, pensive, intelligent, and alert. they know what they want and are very practical in establishing their goals. they are careful and attentive and know how to avoid trouble. secretive and brooding, they hide their pain and are capable of bearing grudges for a long time. they are often misunderstood because, being Snakes, they are enigmas who refuse or fail to communicate successfully with those around them. however, they are charasmatic, and other children will look to them for leadership. gifted with a high IQ and a natural aptitude for learning, a Snake is able to discipline herself and has remarkable focus.the Snake will make the best partnership with the stalwart and reliable OX, the audacious and colorful Rooster, and the illustrious and straightforward Dragon. Rat, Rabbit, Sheep, and Dog or another Snake will make good secondary matches. the Snake and the Boar are diametrically opposed to eachother, and such a union is ill advised. where the Snake is secretive, polished, sophisticated, and complex, the Boar is mundane, straightforward, and simplistic. the two will never understand eachother, and their conflicts will be deep and long lasting...they are natural enemies. the defiant Tiger will clash with the Snake's secretive and discerning ways, and they will be mutually suspicious of eachother. the wily Monkey will oppose the Snake with its own form of cunning, and the two are likely to engage in an ongoing cloak-and-dagger war, each trying to catch the other unaware...