The year of the Wood Snake is upon us, and with it, the invitation to slither into the spirit of the dead-shedding totem of power, resilience, and personal evolution. The Snake is synonymous with Yin energy — feminine cunning,

This week’s new moon, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, will signal the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is this year called the "Year of the Snake."

Although the rabbit was smaller than the other animals, it was clever and skilled at jumping, ultimately racing to secure fourth place. Folktales portray the rabbit as a symbol of gentleness, kindness and purity, which explains its ranking among the top five in the zodiac.