Of Snakes and Crows?

I was going to begin today's blog with a bit about health and how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) specialists can tell how well you are just by looking at your face. Being an Earth Snake day, where yellow is the colour traditionally associated with the earth element and Yellow Snake relates to health, you can see how I was so inspired. 

This Yellow Snake is an important Form School principle and actually refers to the Sun; the source of health in our solar system. In Feng Shui, it corresponds to the centre of our homes and businesses, which should be kept clear, clean and well supported. 

Interestingly, some TCM practitioners use these same principles and the Yellow Snake refers to the nose. Just by using the Five Elements and comparing skin colour and blemishes, they begin to formulate their diagnosis and make their recommendations. 

Again on the subject of health and moving this time from Snakes to Crows, the Chinese almanac reliably informs us that today is the start of the Pinellia ternate or Crow-dipper planting season. It’s unusual for the book of nature to remind us of when to plant a specific variety, so it must be pretty important. Research informs us that it’s prescribed in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat obesity and is perhaps why few Chinese people suffer from this problem. However, this plant is toxic in its raw form and must first be processed before being prescribed for morning sickness, nausea, coughs, influenza (flu) and swine flu, as well as pain and swelling (inflammation).

The other Chinese almanac recommendations are free of health warnings and if you want to be in the flow today, it suggests meditating or honouring ancestors, filling cracks and refurbishment, laying foundations, buying or setting a direction for your oven, and oddly enough, planting seeds. Anyone for Crow-dipping?

If Earth Snake is found in the day pillar of your Chinese horoscope, you must either be a gardener or … a TCM specialist. Seriously though, Earth Snake people have a very expressive way with words that can eventually bring great prosperity. Natural magnetism adds to their self-confidence and attracts others, which is just as well as they are probably a “people person” and perhaps a party animal. Famous celebrities include Barack Obama, Charles Dickens (day), Cate Blanchett, Corbin Bleu, Chris Brown, Joe Cocker, Rudolph Giuliani, Cee Lo Green, Jewel, Billy Joel, Gladys Knight, Lenny Kravitz, George Lucas, Rory McIlroy, Alyson Michalka, Morrissey, Barak Obama, Frank Oz, Daniel Radcliffe, Randy Travis, Rick Wakeman and Mark Zuckerber.

See our dedicated Earth Snake web page and discover how your own Chinese astrology sign will fare today and we should return tomorrow. Until then, enjoy every moment of NOW!

Finn & Slim Shooey