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The Dragon's Last Breath

Writer's picture: stan@myredstring.orgstan@myredstring.org

On January 29, the year of the Dragon will breathe its last breath as we welcome the year of the Snake. For many in Southern California, the dragon leaves a path of utter destruction as low humidity and high winds continue to drive the spread of fires across the region. To date, the fires have burned more than 40,000 acres and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. In its wake, the lives of thousands of people, including many of our supporters, have been upended and changed forever.


To the brave firefighters, first responders, and volunteers risking their lives to fight the fires, words cannot express our gratitude to your courage and sacrifice. To our friends, families, partner charities, and all those impacted by the wildfires, who have lost homes, businesses, or loved ones, our thoughts and prayers go out to you.


But we know that our thoughts and prayers do nothing without real action.


As a small philanthropic foundation, our task will be to determine how best we can help within our limited means. We know that many of those affected are still trying to make sense of what has happened, and all the needs, concerns, and priorities may not yet be known, but it is a question we will begin to discuss in the coming weeks as we kick off our first grant cycle of the year.


So, will the coming of the Snake help calm the turbulence and uncertainty?


The snake is the sixth of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Although humans have perceived snakes as both fearful and sacred beings, in many east Asian cultures, the snake is considered the wisest and most agile animal of the zodiac. Living both under and above ground, the snake was thought to know all the secrets of life, symbolizing it as a beacon of wisdom.


Each year, the zodiac animal is paired with one of five elements, metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. This year, the snake is paired with the wood element. The snake is known as skilled hunters, masters of disguise, and ability to shed its skin, symbolizing personal transformation and renewal, but also as secretive, cunning, and sometimes ruthless. The wood element symbolizes growth, stability, and creativity. This unique pairing of the snake and wood symbolizes both concepts of growth amid adversity and transformation and rebirth.


The symbolic meaning of the Wood Snake offers a lens through which to interpret potential trends suggesting major changes for the world. Ideas, ways of doing things, politics, social, and economics will all see enormous changes. A year that will begin turbulently but settle down over time. As for whether these are good or bad changes really depends. Like in all change, there are those who benefit and those who don't.


"Caution" will be the word for 2025. This isn't a prediction of doom and gloom, but rather a call to all of us for conscious engagement, proactive adaptation, and collective action to help meet the challenges and changes that lie ahead.


The last year of the Wood Snake was in 1965. It was a year of sweeping changes, particularly in the United States. From the Vietnam War escalating to the Civil Rights Movement gaining momentum; the continued expansion of government with the passage of Medicare and Medicaid, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act; the Beatles dominating the music scene, while NASA made strides in space exploration with the Gemini missions; technology advancements with the introduction of the first commercial minicomputer, and fashion trends shifting to embrace bold and colorful styles. 1965 left a lasting impact that continues even today in both our social and political discourse.


Let us hope that the best of humanity that resides in each of us will allow us to rise above our circumstances and events and work together to overcome the challenges ahead and move us all toward a brighter tomorrow.


From all of us at Red String, we wish you a very Happy Lunar New Year!


(To be continued)



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