Welcoming the Year of the Snake

Shedding Skins & Letting Our Dragons Fly

As we slither into the Year of the Snake, I find myself shedding more than just old, limiting beliefs—I am shedding the weight of what no longer serves me, both within and around me. My Muse has guided me to create a JEMM for this Lunar New Year that honors the dragons we have birthed, giving them space to fly. But before I can take flight, I must first build my nest—by detoxing my home, clearing the dust, and making space for what truly matters.

Today, people all over the world are celebrating the Year of the Snake. For me, the Lunar New Year holds special meaning, as each animal that defines the year helps us reflect on the one we've just experienced and prepare for the one ahead. These symbols invite us to look at how they've shaped our journey, whether we realize it or not, and in doing so, we collectively move toward creating greater harmony in our lives. By honoring the energy of each animal, we give ourselves permission to embody the qualities they offer, allowing the magic of their mythologies to guide us forward with strength and confidence.

The Year of the Snake (2025) is a powerful one, symbolizing wisdom, transformation, and strategy—a year to move with intention, shed old layers, and embrace new opportunities.

2025: The Year of the Wood Snake 🌿🐍

Each Snake year is influenced by an element, and 2025 is ruled by Wood. This adds themes of growth, flexibility, and renewal to the already intuitive and strategic energy of the Snake.

What This Means for 2025

🔮 Self-Mastery & Inner Growth – The Snake is deeply introspective. This year calls for inner transformation, refining your skills, and trusting your instincts. A perfect time to step into your highest potential.

🌱 Strategic Expansion – Wood brings steady, organic growth rather than quick wins. It’s a year to lay strong foundations, make calculated moves, and build something long-lasting.

🐍 Shed the Old, Embrace the New – Like a snake shedding its skin, 2025 is about releasing outdated beliefs, patterns, and relationships that no longer serve you. Transformation is the theme!

🌊 Flow & Adaptability – The Snake is fluid, and Wood adds flexibility. Expect unexpected shifts, but know that moving with the changes will lead to breakthroughs.

🧠 Deep Knowledge & Influence – This is a great year for learning, sharing wisdom, and stepping into a leadership role. Snakes are magnetic, and 2025 is about using your voice and presence to inspire.

As we move into the Year of the Snake, I’m reminded of the importance of ceremony. In today’s fast-paced world, we often forget that ceremonies allow us to pause and create a sacred space to reflect, release, and renew. This year, I’m not only focusing on shedding old skins and cleansing my environment but also on honoring the moments that have shaped me.

In the spirit of ceremony, I’ll be dedicating time to honor the past, the lessons, and the moments of growth, whether big or small. This isn’t just about physical decluttering; it’s a chance to clear emotional and spiritual dust, making room for the new. I encourage you to take time to reflect on your own pivotal moments. What can you honor and celebrate in your life as you prepare to step into the new?

To honor the shift from the Year of the Dragon to the Year of the Snake, I’ve created a JEMM as a sacred ceremony—a way to mark this transition with intention and flow. Although the scheduled JEMM for today was the last one of the Muse series, called "Building your Nest", I will be dancing out this New Year JEMM I've been crafting all month.

As I designed this JEMM, I created a workbook to help participants reflect on the past year and set clear intentions for 2025—honoring the Dragons they have birthed or nurtured while shedding what no longer serves them. This process allows these Dragons to take flight as we move toward the Year of the Horse in 2026. The worksheet below was inspired by my earlier JEMM, 'Slay the Time Dragon.' While both explore similar themes, the intention behind each exercise carries its own unique nuance.

You are invited to take some time today to honour this Lunar New Year, and reflect on the prompts above. I am planning to eventually offer this to the public; the point of the workbook is for the participants to reflect on their intentions before the dance, so that they can get the most transformation out of their movement. I believe these exercises will help in creating a more embodied practice for each participant, and reinforce the spirit of ceremony for this event.

Here are the different Dragons you may have been working on last year. These are just suggestions, if you identify different Dragons that you were nurturing that's not on this list, you are welcomed to honour that!

1. Health Dragons

• Definition: This Dragon represents how people take care of their bodies and minds. It could be about fitness goals, healing from illness, mental health journeys, or even building better habits.

• Examples: Starting a workout routine, quitting bad habits, or addressing chronic health issues.

  
  

2. Personal Growth Dragons

• Definition: A Dragon of inner work, emotional healing, or spiritual growth. It’s the journey of becoming the best version of oneself.

• Examples: Healing childhood wounds, overcoming fears, or committing to mindfulness practices.

  
  

3. Creative Dragons

• Definition: The art, music, writing, or other creative projects people pour their hearts into.

• Examples: Finally writing that novel, starting a dance project, or launching a creative business.

  
  

4. Community Dragons

• Definition: The ways people show up for others and create connections, whether in their local community or globally.

• Examples: Volunteering, building meaningful friendships, or organizing events to bring people together.

  
  

5. Freedom Dragons

• Definition: Efforts to reclaim personal freedom, independence, or sovereignty.

• Examples: Financial independence, breaking free from toxic cycles, or creating the freedom to travel or explore.

  
  

6. Home Dragons

• Definition: Creating a safe, nurturing space—whether that’s a physical home or an inner sense of belonging.

• Examples: Buying a house, moving to a new place, or finding peace in solitude.

  
  

7. Legacy Dragons

• Definition: Building something meaningful to leave behind, whether for one’s family or the world.

• Examples: Starting a family, mentoring others, or creating projects that impact future generations.

  
  

8. Adventure Dragons

• Definition: The pursuit of joy, exploration, and new experiences.

• Examples: Traveling, picking up new hobbies, or stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

  
  

9. Healing Dragons

• Definition: Addressing unresolved pain, trauma, or grief.

• Examples: Going to therapy, letting go of past hurts, or forgiving oneself or others.

  
  

10. Learning Dragons

• Definition: Personal or professional growth through education.

• Examples: Starting a new course, finishing a degree, or learning a new skill.

  
  

11. Play Dragons

• Definition: Reconnecting with fun, playfulness, and the joy of being alive.

Examples: Doing things “just because,” exploring hobbies, or finding delight in small moments.

Building My Nest: A Year of Renewal

As we transition into the Year of the Snake, this is our time to shed what no longer serves us and step fully into the next chapter with clarity and intention. But before we can truly move forward, we must first build our nest—clearing our space, both physically and energetically, to make room for what’s to come. For me, this means committing to detoxing my home, letting go of what’s collecting dust, and rediscovering what still holds meaning.

As I mentioned in the last post, I am taking the rest of this week to focus on deep cleaning this entire house - a job I've been procrastinating on because it's a collective detoxing and not just my own. I have slowly done this over the years, but the flow in the house came to a holt when I decided to move away for a year and come back. In order for me to proceed with the plans that I have, I need to do this job thoroughly. I wrote an earlier post on decluttering and cleaning, which can be found here, and will be incorporating these principles all week.

This is more than just cleaning—it's an act of transformation, a sacred ceremony of release and renewal. And as I take these steps, I invite you to do the same. What are you ready to shed? What are you making space for in this new year?

Happy Lunar New Year, again - may this time be the pivot you need to shed that skin and begin to fly!

xoxoxo