Beyond Words

Happy New Year! Say what? Yep, a new year started February 17 and is now in full swing. But wait, didn’t the new year begin January 1? Yes, it did…the traditional new year linked to the Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582…but the Lunar New Year started February 17. In Chinese zodiac tradition, each year is associated with one of 12 animals and one of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. This year ushers in the Year of the Fire Horse, which is predicted to gallop in bold moves, increased intentions, boldness, ambition, and energy. Now I’m not big on Chinese legends or the zodiac, but I do like horses and our daughter did Hunter-Jumping and Dressage back in the day, so I’m running with it…excuse the pun.

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
John Wayne

So, what exactly does all this mean? According to calm.com as a new lunar cycle begins, people look to the year’s symbolism for a sense of direction or insight into what might lie ahead. According to Asian astrology, your birth year and the animal it represents determine your personality traits. Horses thrive on speed, energy, and forward momentum and paired with fire; those qualities tend to intensify. Giddy up!

Horse years can be like taming a horse and are often described as active with an emphasis on forward progress and may coincide with upheaval, cultural shifts, opportunity, bold collective movements, renewed passion, and pushing for radical change. When paired with fire, elements are intensified. Emotions can run high and drive can be intense. People born in a Horse year are commonly characterized as energetic, independent, driven, social, and self-directed. The year is predicted to propel one into fast forward motion and intentional goals and it makes sense, as what do we know about horses? They run!

All we need do is look back to the last Year of the Fire Horse to get an idea of what this year might bring.  Because an element rotates alongside the animal signs, the same combination only returns once every six years, with the previous one being 1966. IYKYK, right?

That was a year filled with a lot of horsing around, including the Vietnam War, protests, race riots, coups, worldwide nuke tests, the space race, Miranda Rights, the establishment of NOW and the Freedom of Information Act. It also brought us India’s first ever female Prime Minister; The Sound of Music Academy Award; and hit TV shows like Mary Tyler Moore Show, Star Trek, and Newlywed Game. Sports heroes included Hull, Chamberlain, Mayes, Petty, Unitas, and Ali. Perhaps through all of, what spoke loudest was music with hits by Simon and Garfunkle, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Mamas and the Papas, the Monkees, Neil Diamond, and Jimi Hendrix. Songs like “Sounds of Silence” and “The Battle of the Green Berets” will forever be tied to that year and era. Sadly, on November 24, 400 died of respiratory failure and heart attacks due to New York City smog, which was the smoggiest day in the city’s history. The city is again in the spotlight right now and once again the air is again dubious.

Funny tidbit: the most popular car in 1966 was the Ford Mustang!

But I digress.

Let’s go back to Fire Horse 2026!

This is apparently the year to put plans into action and make moves with increased activity and stronger expression while taking into account the following qaulities associated with the Year of the Fire Horse:

1. Momentum and ambition. This year may be driven by progress and visible results and people may feel impatient yet ready to take action. Dare to show your abilities along with your imperfections, share your skills, believe in yourself, and embody the spotlight! Remember, the more open you are, the more doors open.
2. Courage and visibility. Fire is connected with confidence and speaking up so this year may be the perfect time to share ideas or take the lead.
3. Independence and self-direction. A horse is linked with personal freedom and even restlessness with a powerful drive for freedom, self-expression, and breaking away from limitations. As a result, there may be a stronger desire to make independent choices or question things.
4. Restlessness. Progress will be strongly desired, so when it feels slow, frustration may build up.
5. Impulsivity and reactivity. Both fire and horses are associated with speed so decisions and moves may happen quickly but think them out and move cautiously and smartly.

Given these vibes, how should you proceed? You may feel the need to push actions, express strong opinions, and feel motivated but stay clear of overstimulation and impulsive moves. Do so by:

1. Choose a clear direction before moving forward. Clarify your direction and ask why you’re considering making certain decision. In other words, hold your horses a bit!
2. Break up goals into grounded steps. Easy does it. Increased energy can cause urgency but break things up into specific steps. You might want to trot or canter before galloping.
3. Schedule rest. Think of life as a Sabbath…a day of rest. When motivation increases, rest is often the first thing to go but over time, that can lead to irritability, fatigue, and burnout. Put your phone away. Listen to a meditation. Reflect. Go outside. Rest!
4. Practice pausing before reacting. I’ve previously chosen “pause” as my word of our traditional new year’s resolutions and boy does it make a difference, whether pausing before acting, thinking, or speaking. Yes, press forward, but strive for balance and grounding too.
5. Strengthen boundaries. This one is a must every year and pretty much every day. Even things that seem good and positive require time and energy. Ask yourself if it’s truly worth either of those and consider your capacity and load. Personally, I’ve regretted saying “yes” way more than I have saying “no.” No is okay!
6. Define what independence means for you. Horses are often linked to independence, but independence does not need to mean not asking for help or speaking up about your needs. Comfort plays a big role here.

Whether you say yay or “nay” to all of the above, it’s a good idea to be intentional about how you move forward this year and how you respond to possible faster pace. Saddle up but pause before making big decisions, protect time to rest, and honestly consider whether a move a decision is in your best interest. Don’t put the cart before the horse but pony up and take the reins or your life!

A friend of mine recently posted these graphics by Chantal Russell and I loved them so much I thought I’d share them here. Enjoy!