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Cultivating Discernment in the Year of the Wood Snake

    Cultivating Discernment in the Year of the Wood Snake

    The fourth in a series of blogs on the Chinese Lunar Year shift as we enter The Year of the (Yin, Wood) Snake in 2025

    – For the first instalment “A Journey of Refinement and Wisdom”, click here
    – For the second instalment “Embracing Change”, click here
    – For the third instalment “The Power of Patience”, click here

    In a world filled with distractions, choices, and competing priorities, discernment is the compass that guides us to what truly matters. In the Year of the Wood Snake, discernment is an essential quality to embrace. The Snake, known for its sharp instincts and careful decision-making, invites us to slow down, evaluate our surroundings, and align our actions with wisdom and intuition. Cultivating discernment means learning to recognise what deserves our time, energy, and trust—and what doesn’t.

    “A hyperrealistic visionary art depiction of a wise serpent gazing with intense clarity, symbolizing discernment and intuition. The snake is surrounded by faint, glowing sacred geometry patterns, including triangles and interconnected lines, emphasizing its sharp awareness. The background features an ethereal forest illuminated by soft light, with colors transitioning from earthy greens to vibrant golds and blues. The serpent’s eyes glimmer with intelligence, and its scales shimmer subtly with iridescent hues. The overall style blends hyperrealism with mystical, mildly psychedelic art elements, portraying focus and wisdom.”

    A Practical use of Esoteric Acupuncture

    From the Esoteric Acupuncture and Lightbody Activation Syllabus, we have several foundational patterns that are keys to cultivation of greater discernment, namely:
    – Integration Synthesis
    – Extended Indigo Triangle
    – Discern the Whisper
    – and the Antahkarana practice

    The elegantly integrated energetics of these New Encoding patterns accesses complex multidimensional and non-linear information, and refines it through resonant structures and distillation processes in order to provide greater clarity, discernment power, and the ‘separation of pure from impure’, by aligning with the Heart and higher value systems.

    Stay tuned for the release of our courses on these patterns.

    An example using integration synthesis pattern:
    Tune in to and triangulate the points TianMan (‘Celestial Fullness’, eDu20) at the crown center – where we connect to source and higher self, and bring the attention down to LaoGong (‘Place of work’, PC8) in each palm, where we manifest individuality in the physical, sequentially, right then left. 
    Fill this large triangular container that is formed with Heart Frequencies (eg Love, compassion, wonder, joy), from the Heart Center (Ren17), connecting this fourth point with the three corners of the triangle.  You can bring the heart point out in front of your body to create a higher-dimensional tetrahedral structure, which can hold more resonant light frequencies. 
    Then notice any sense of movement, internal adjusting, (im)balance, tilt or rotation, knowing, imagery or other content that enters your awareness as the field resolves. 
    When encountering a moment that requires an increase in your faculties of discernment, refresh this structure, and see how simply and elegantly the clear Inner Knowing of your Heart emerges.

    For an embodied experience of Snake energy, come along to my Introduction to Snake Baguazhang  workshop on 16th Feb 2025 in Byron Bay.

    The Snake’s Lesson: Trust Your Instincts

    The Snake’s intuition is one of its greatest assets. It senses vibrations, sees through illusions, and acts with precision. In 2025, we are called to hone our instincts and listen to the quiet voice of inner knowing. When faced with decisions, pause and ask yourself: “Does this feel right for me?” Your intuition often knows the answer before your rational mind catches up.

    Reflection: Recall a time when your intuition guided you to make a wise decision. How did you recognize that inner knowing? How can you strengthen that connection this year?

    Evaluating People and Situations

    Discernment isn’t just about making choices; it’s also about understanding the intentions and energies of those around us. Not everyone or everything is as it seems, and the Snake reminds us to see beyond surface appearances. This year, pay close attention to how people make you feel and whether their words align with their actions.

    Strategic Action: Practice the art of observation. Instead of immediately reacting to situations or promises, take a step back and gather more information. For example, if you’re considering a new partnership, ask yourself:
    •Does this align with my values?
    •Are their intentions clear and trustworthy?
    •How do I feel in their presence—energised or drained?

    Setting Boundaries with Discernment

    A key aspect of discernment is learning to set boundaries that protect your time, energy, and well-being. The Snake teaches us to conserve our resources and invest them wisely. In 2025, prioritise relationships and commitments that nourish you and let go of those that drain you.

    Mantra: “I honor my energy by saying yes to what aligns and no to what does not.”

    Practice: Take a moment to review your commitments. Are there any that feel out of alignment with your goals or values? Consider whether it’s time to gracefully step away.

    Making Aligned Decisions

    Discernment requires balancing logic and intuition. While it’s essential to gather facts and analyze options, it’s equally important to tune into how a decision feels. Aligned decisions often bring a sense of ease, clarity, and excitement, even if they require effort.

    Exercise for Decision-Making:

    1. Write down your options when faced with a decision.

    2. Sit quietly and imagine yourself choosing each one. Pay attention to how your body reacts—does it feel light and expansive or heavy and constricted? Calibrate to your higher heart field, and activate one of the New Encoding Patterns mentioned earlier.

    3. Use this body intelligence and  transrational insight, along with logical evaluation as required, to inform and guide your choice.

    Discernment in Action: Saying No

    One of the most powerful tools of discernment is the ability to say no. Saying no to what doesn’t align creates space for what does. This year, practice saying no from a place of clarity and self-respect.

    Simple Script: “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’ll need to decline this opportunity. I’m focusing on priorities that align with my current goals.”

    The Gift of Clarity

    When you cultivate discernment, you gain clarity—not only about the world around you but also about yourself. You begin to see your values, desires, and purpose with greater precision. This clarity empowers you to act with confidence, knowing that your choices align with your highest good.

    Closing Thoughts

    The Year of the Wood Snake is a time to honor your instincts, evaluate your priorities, and make decisions that reflect your inner wisdom. Discernment is not about judgment or perfection; it’s about alignment. As you navigate 2025, let the Snake’s sharp awareness guide you to what truly matters. Trust yourself, and you will find that the choices you make this year lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

    Stay Tuned for the Next Blog Post: Finding Balance in the Year of the Wood Snake

    For an embodied experience of Snake energy, come along to my Introduction to Snake Baguazhang workshop on 16th Feb 2025 in Byron Bay.