What Ai Doesn't Know about The Year of the Fire Horse

Unlike any other year of my 15 years of writing, I've never seen so many mentions of the Chinese Zodiac Year. As a student of teacher of Taoism and after sharing more extensively last week on our Women's Legacy Collective call, I received a nudge to share some of the nuances about this year that you won't read in many other places, as Ai hasn't been read into wisdom traditions.
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The Chinese Zodiac calendar also used in Feng Shui is based on Five Element Theory, the elements of each animal of the zodiac, and the yin and yang element of each year. There are 60 combinations, which correspond with each year and the movement of the cosmos. The Year of the Yang Fire Horse is double fire and the most yang of the 60 pillars: think peak of summer energy.
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While the official Year of the Fire Horse began on February 4, 2026, sparks of fire came in cosmically and elementally around October 8, 2025. Many of my community members and clients are quiet sensitive and connected to the "weather of the cosmos." If you're like them, you may have been in a complex dynamic from October 8th on where in some parts of your life, the light of small sparks of fire, hope, possibility were coming in, whereas in other parts that were more connected to your Year of the Yin Wood Snake (think slow burn and more secretive energy) invited you to cultivate the second skin before you could shed the layers, relationships, and dynamics.
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Some of the confusion that floods us annually is that the New Year (take your pick : Gregorian calendar, Lunar New Year, or your Solar Return) should unequivocally be filled with fanfare and celebration, so that we can move forward with that momentum. When we dig deep and set soul level intentions, what has been stagnant will begin to release: read discomfort. Setting intentions is the energy of the the wood element, spring plants breaking through the earth. A break through is rarely a celebration until the harvest. So the momentum that ai serves on the saddle of the Year of the Horse is a bit sideways.
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With the Year of the Fire Horse, we need to look at how the wood of the Year of the snake was tinder for the fires and momentum of this year. A snake is small, silent, quick, magical, and sneaky with lots of alone time, hiding out, sun bathing in the mix. Horses are 900 to 2,000 pounds depending on the breed. If you've ever spent time with horses, especially therapeutic horse, they demand presence and authenticity. They won't move an inch unless you're embodied (you in contact with your heart and feet on the earth). Whatever we or our systemic fields haven't been able to see will become illuminated this year. The momentum you're seeking will be ignited by what is illuminated in your and your systemic field's wholeness.
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The last time we had a Year of the Yang Fire Horse (or double fire) year was 1966. In America, we were in the throws of Civil Rights Movement, Viet Nam, Cold War, the race for space, and James Brown, the Beatles, and Star Trek. In China, fires were set in the Cultural Revolution where many Taoist texts and teachings were burned and forbidden. During this time, people also found ways to receive support, connect with spirit, understand guardians, protection, and unseen help from angels, deities, guides, and the mystery through rituals, prayers, practices, talismans, and in their homes and communities.
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Each of the pillars and elements have their own alchemy. When something is alchemized by fire, it reaches completion and is often transmuted into something completely different.
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Fire isn't innately one rhythm and neither are horses. If you've ever built a fire, it takes time and practice and guardrails for safety and an intentional time. Horses are as telepathic as dolphins, and when them move together or with you, they ask for presence and heart based connection to support two way communication and forward movement. I've seen many references suggesting using the earth element this year to support your momentum. Fire creates ash. Ash creates earth. Not all of us will need more grounding this year to navigate the yang fire energy.
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The momentum, passion, light, and forward movement that awaits you and your systemic field in this Year of the Yang Fire Horse invites you into to transform and perhaps even transmute something you know or that has been hidden in plan sight.
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Where can you invite in ceremony or ritual with the element of fire to illuminate what still remains hidden that asks for support and recognition?
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What do you need to close the books on spiritually, energetically, emotionally, and physically where you haven't been able to take someone or something off of the hook?
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How are you being called into your purpose or mission here in this Big Life You Came to Live?
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If you are born in the Year of the Horse (like me, an earth Horse) 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, and 2015, this year has even bigger invitations and discernment for us. The bigger the light and opportunities, the more potent the responsibilities and the more humility is required.
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If you would like more tailored support on how to navigate the Year of the Horse, schedule a complimentary 30 minute call to explore how we might work together.
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Sending grace and sacred stoking for your inner alchemy and external movement,
Amy