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Born in a Year of the Snake? Your zodiac conflicts with coming lunar year’s guardian deity

Lunar New Year in 2025 ushers in conflict between a guardian deity and some Chinese zodiac signs, among them Snake. What to do

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The Hock Kung snake temple in Selangor, Malaysia. In the coming Year of the Snake, certain people’s zodiac signs, including Snake, will be in conflict with the tai sui, or guardian deity, and precautions need taking. Photo: Shutterstock
From snake-themed events to whether your luck is in: discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year in our Year of the Snake 2025 series.
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Anyone who reads their Chinese zodiac would have come across the term tai sui or found their sign in conflict with, or offending, the tai sui – the guardian deity for that year.

The 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac are tied to Jupiter’s 12-year orbital cycle, with each lunar year associated with a celestial figure believed to oppose Jupiter. This figure is known as the heavenly general, cycle god, Grand Duke of Jupiter, or tai sui.

If your zodiac sign clashes with the tai sui, it is thought to herald a period of adversity or upheaval. A detailed chart outlines which zodiac sign conflicts with one of the 60 tai sui deities and, based on their attributes, predicts the nature of the challenges you might face.

Snakes need to be careful in the Year of the Snake, as theirs is one of the Chinese zodiac signs in conflict with the tai sui, or guardian deity. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Snakes need to be careful in the Year of the Snake, as theirs is one of the Chinese zodiac signs in conflict with the tai sui, or guardian deity. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

To appease the tai sui, the most common practice is to visit a temple with a dedicated shrine to perform a ritual known as sip tai sui. This ceremony grants a protective talisman to shield you from misfortune in the coming year.

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