Download on the App Store

Updated 2026-06-25

The Earth Snake Year

What it means to be born in a Earth Snake year in the Tibetan-Mongolian (zurkhai) tradition — the Snake's nature shaped by the element of Earth. tradition

Earth Snake years: 1929, 1989. The next Earth Snake year is 2049.

The Snake

Wise, intuitive, private and elegant. The Snake is one of the twelve animal signs (jil) that, paired with the five elements, make up the 60-year cycle.

The element of Earth

Earth governs stability, nourishment, patience, loyalty and practicality; its season is the turn of the seasons and its direction is the centre. Earth is the grounding, holding energy — it gives a sign reliability, endurance and care for others, though it can settle into stubbornness or worry.

Earth Snake: the blend

A Snake born in a Earth Snake year carries the Snake's nature — wise, intuitive, private and elegant — under the influence of Earth, the element of stability, nourishment, patience, loyalty and practicality. Earth is the grounding, holding energy — it gives a sign reliability, endurance and care for others, though it can settle into stubbornness or worry.

Years of the Earth Snake

1929turns 97 in 2026
1989turns 37 in 2026

Frequently asked

What years are Earth Snake years?
The Earth Snake pairing falls on 1929, 1989 and recurs every 60 years.
What is a person born in a Earth Snake year like?
A Snake born in a Earth Snake year carries the Snake's nature — wise, intuitive, private and elegant — under the influence of Earth, the element of stability, nourishment, patience, loyalty and practicality. Earth is the grounding, holding energy — it gives a sign reliability, endurance and care for others, though it can settle into stubbornness or worry.
How does the Tibetan element–animal cycle work?
Tibetan astrology overlays a 12-year cycle of animals with a 5-element cycle (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). Each element governs two consecutive years, so 12 animals × 5 elements form a 60-year cycle before the same animal+element pairing repeats. Every year therefore carries both an animal and an element — 2026 is the Fire Horse. The system blends indigenous Bon astrology, Chinese-derived element/animal astrology, and Indian Kalachakra star astrology.

The Snake in the other elements

Wood Snake Fire Snake Metal Snake Water Snake

More on the Snake sign → · What is zurkhai? →

Animal/element traits and yearly outlooks are presented as traditional belief, not fact, and vary between astrologers and lineages.