Ibulliance: Snake Charmer

A dark night sky heralds the Lunar New Year, and ushers us into a new season. Based on the Chinese zodiac, this multi-week festival historically marks the end of winter and birth of spring—offering a time to honor ancestors and contemplate new beginnings. 2025 is the year of the Wood Snake, combining the snake’s characteristics of wisdom, intuition, charm, and mystery with the wood element representing growth, flexibility, kindness, and creativity. 

Over time, this mythical celebration has evolved into a community-centered occasion, with feasting, gifting of red envelope gifts, and theatrical displays of fireworks and lion dances. The Wood Snake offers the promise of auspicious time for personal development, fostering cooperation, and exploring opportunities, taking into account the snake’s wisdom and wood’s sustainable growth. During an era of uncertainty, unrest, and mistrust among many, the arrival of the Wood Snake is auspicious, indeed.

At Ibu, this sense of community and cooperation runs deep—core to our mission. We desire to see one another, find connection and common ground, and create sustainable infrastructure that lifts us together. Ringing in the Lunar New Year, we honor this time of renewal for our Asian partners who celebrate, and recognize there is hope for a future where introspection, adaptability, and collaboration are emphasized globally. I, for one, will strive to let go of old habits and patterns, like a snake shedding its skin, to make room for renewal and growth. Will you join me?

Cheers,
Lasley Steever
Chief Marketing Officer