Year of the Snake: what Snake people are like

The Snake is the sixth animal of the cycle, calm and watchful. People born in the Year of the Snake often have a still, thoughtful presence. They prefer depth to noise and are usually thinking more than they say.

Born in January or early February? Check the Lunar New Year date for your year.

What Snake people are like

Snake people tend to be wise, elegant and intuitive. They read between the lines and like to understand something fully before they act. Many are also playful and quick to laugh once they feel at ease, a good reminder that a birth year only describes tendencies.

• Thoughtful. Snakes like to take their time and get it right.
• Intuitive. They often sense how someone feels before a word is said.
• Graceful. A Snake tends to move through the day in a calm, unhurried way.
• Private. They open up to a trusted few and enjoy their own company.

Because they think so carefully, Snakes can wait too long for the perfect moment. Their instincts are usually good, and trusting them is often the push they need to take the step.

Good company

The Ox and the Rooster are the Snake's trio partners. The Ox shares its patience, and the Rooster shares its love of doing things well. The Monkey, often named as the Snake's secret friend, has a quick humour that coaxes the Snake out of its shell.

People born in any two years can get on well, of course. The pairings are just something fun to talk about.

A small thing to try this week

Give yourself ten quiet minutes this week without your phone: a cup of tea, a window and your own thoughts. Snakes think best in stillness. See which idea floats up when the noise is off, and write it down before it slips away. A small notebook by the kettle helps.

In Slipmatic

Press the button on the Robo-Booth ’84 and it prints a slip on how your Chinese year sits with today. With Slipmatic Plus, a fresh slip for the Snake is waiting every morning.

For entertainment and reflection.