Fire, Courage and Freedom: but remember to stay grounded
How may this Year of the Yang Fire horse influence you?
Although the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2026 begins today 17 February, the solar new year began on 4 February with Lì Chūn (the Beginning of Spring). I love that the ancient Chinese respect the lunar and solar cycles and that there is a moment of transition: an overlap between the two years.
This year the lunar new year is the same day as Shrove Tuesday: the Christian tradition of pondering one’s spiritual growth, burning Holy Palms and celebrations. Last year it aligned with the Celtic festival of Imbolc and the Christian festival of Candlemas.
Last year was the Yin Wood Snake. Yang and Fire are more outward, expansive energies than Yin and Wood and the Horse is a more dynamic creature than the snake. Many people predict a year of movement and activity. However each person responds to these outer changes differently.
I don’t want to offer you predictions for the year, but simply to offer thoughts on what the Yang Fire Horse embodies with an invitation to reflection on how you might want to align with its energies.
The main gifts
• Fire invites connection with our consciousness, heart and passion,
• Yang is about dynamic outward movement
• Horse offers movement, courage, independence, speed, restlessness and freedom
These active energies can be auspicious and offer great potential but are a potent mix and need to be tempered with more Yin, even earthy, anchoring qualities.
The last year of the Yang fire horse was 1966
This offers some indications of how these changes express in the outer world. It was a fast moving year within a cycle of humanity seeking truth, freedom and justice. Wounds were created by the background of wars and the breaking of traditions. It was part of the shift into modern consciousness with different experiences of trauma and healing needs.
The last Horse year was 2014: that year was a Yang Wood Horse. Horses are always Yang. I wrote a blog on the Yang Wood Horse in that year:
Chinese New Year as a Threshold
I like to think of the new year as a gateway rather than a “new beginning”. We don’t begin anew each year, but rather are invited to reflect on the previous year and what is changing in our life..
We are still in winter, Yin, and the new year is an invitation to ponder a change in cycles. We can pause and remember previous cycles. The Chinese new year is marked by the annual passage of the 12 animals of the zodiac (12 years) along with the 10 year Yin/Yang cycle of the five elements of Wood (Spring) → Fire (Summer) → Earth → Metal (Autumn) → Water (Winter) → Wood (Spring). Each element lasts for two years: first expressing the Yin (inner) aspect and then the Yang (outer) aspect. The cycle resets after 5 animal cycles (5 X 12) i.e. 60 years: with the same Yin or Yang expression of the element and the same animal.
Ancient Chinese Perspective
In traditional astrology: Fire Horse years were considered high-energy, potentially volatile, challenging and transformative.
Children born in these years were thought to be:
- fiery, spirited, and independent
- challenging to family or authority
- capable of great achievement but also impulsivity
In some traditions, Fire horse girls were thought to be too challenging!
Major events of 1966
The Cultural Revolution China: Mao Zedong
Young people (Red Guards) were mobilised. Traditional structures were attacked and many teachers, elders, healers, and intellectuals were persecuted. Families were torn apart
This created deep intergenerational trauma which many Chinese alive today carry in their body.
Escalation of the Vietnam War
This was a year of bombing campaigns and rapid troop deployment. Many US troops, along with Vietnamese families experienced trauma.
Cultural Revolution, especially in the West: Youth, Sex, Consciousness
The Beatles released their album Revolver which was influenced by their interest in LSD and eastern philosophies. This influenced many to question the nature of consciousness, authority, sexual and family and religious norms. Yet there was not much containment or grounding of these new ideas. This led to a crisis on authority and collapse of old structures, as students began to rebel and the old authorities began to crumble.
How to use the gifts of the Fire Horse: What would you like to transform this year?
I will soon be posting short videos of these practices on my Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels.
Take a moment to pause and reflect on how these qualities live within your body.
How can you access them ?
Posture: Try standing proudly like horse and access your strength and courage
First feel your feet anchoring you to earth.
Channel the bold, restless energy of a Fire Horse by noticing where your own energy wants to move or expand.
Breathe strongly out and gently in imaging your nostrils like a horse.
You can also practice the yogic breath of Fire
Often people do this with both nostrils. We will begin with this but then do it with alternate nostril breathing.
This helps balance between Yin and Yang, left and right in a calming, watery way.
Put your right-hand thumb over your right nostril and your index and middle finger over your third eye. Breathe in through your left nostril. Close your left nostril with your ring finger. Pause for a moment with both nostrils closed. Release your thumb and breathe out through your right nostril. Close your right nostril. Pause with both nostrils closed. Breathe out through your left nostril. Find your rhythm for each part, but aim for at least four seconds.
Breath of Fire:
This powerful breath from Kundalini yoga balances Yin and Yang in a fiery way and activates your perineum and the powerful Extraordinary Vessels of Chinese medicine. It’s too strong in pregnancy unless you are used to doing it.
Breathe in deeply. Breathe out quickly and sharply through your nose drawing your abdominal muscles in and your pelvic floor muscles up. Repeat for at least 20 out-breaths. Allow the in-breath to happen naturally. Repeat a few times.
Combine Breath of Fire With Alternate Nostril Breathing
Close your nostrils. as in Alternate Nostril Breathing. Breathe in through your left nostril with your right closed then breathe out quickly and sharply through your right nostril as you release your thumb. Repeat breath of fire for up to a minute. Pause and hold your outbreath. Switch sides, breathing in through your left nostril with your right closed. Breathe normally for at least a minute to end.
Now be aware of anything that has changed in your body.
Allow this energy to rise within your body. Especially notice your heart and how it may want to expand.
How do you want to express your fire energy: what do you want to transform in your life?
Now let your thoughts ground into the earth once more.
Reflect on the rhythms in your life and how you can pace your fiery ideas.
Create a ritual to support you during this year
Feed the fire within you.
Step 1: Grounding and Connection
Kneel on all fours like a horse.
Take 3–5 slow breaths, feeling the connection of your hands and knees to the earth
Imagine roots growing from your hands and feet into the ground
Whisper or think: “I am here. I am ready to feed my fire.”
Step 2: Light Your Fire
Light your candle
Focus on the flame as a mirror of your inner energy
Visualize your own “inner fire” kindling, spreading warmth and vitality
Say: “I invite the fire of life, courage, and freedom.”
Step 3: Horse Movement
On all fours, move like a horse:
Rock back and forth
Move forward with rhythm
Shake your shoulders, neck, and tailbone
As you move, imagine yourself leaping into new possibilities, carrying your energy forward
Step 4: Neigh / Breath of Fire
Make a horse sound: neigh, whinny, or simply hum
Let your sound release tension, open your heart and help you be present.
Step 5: Set Intentions
Sit comfortably or kneel
Reflect on one or two things you want to ignite or transform this year
Step 6: Closing
Slowly blow out your candle
Thank the horse and the earth for their support.
touch the earth in gratitude
Reflective Prompts for this Yang Fire Horse Year:
Take advantage of the ways in which you can use the transformative powers to shift habits and patterns
Temper the impulsive nature of fire by focusing on your hearts capacity to reflect.
Be aware of potential for conflict: Reflect on how you hold your boundaries, ground, and self regulate. What supports you in moments of conflict.
Notice in your life where you can express your autonomy to be free and independent.
What would you like to be carried differently this year?
