The Spiral of Change

An old mapmaker welcomed me into his shop, the air thick with the scent of ink and parchment. Rolled maps filled the shelves, their edges curling like serpents.

“Are you searching for a way forward?” he asked, gesturing toward his work.

“I’m trying to understand the Year of the Snake,” I admitted.

He unrolled a map of coiled rivers and mountain paths. “The Snake doesn’t walk straight – it spirals. Its movement teaches us to approach challenges indirectly, to find solutions through adaptation rather than confrontation.”

I studied the map’s winding lines. “So, the year will require creativity?”

“And patience,” he said with a nod. “The Snake’s wisdom is in its timing. It strikes not out of impulse but precision. 2025 will reward those who are willing to wait for the right moment to act.”