Author: Kyle Chapin

A bit of history of Horse is China, 

The horse is descended from a region in upper Asia, and the ancestor of all horses was the strong celestial charger of the horse king, Ma-wang.

Horse breeding was a highly developed art and the hobby of em-perors in classical China, especially during the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618 to 905). Great dynasties expanded and wars were won thanks to the horse, which is revered in China.

The year of the Horse is a time of victory, adventure, exciting activ-ities, and surprising romances. Decisive action, not procrastination, brings success. Energy is high and production is rewarded. A Horse year marks the middle of the twelve-branch cycle and is the culmination of activities begun six years ago. Actions and achievements during this important year can influence the direction of the remaining years of the twelve-branch cycle. On a global scale, expect world economies to become stronger and industrial manufacturing to rise-or expect economic chaos and collapse, such as World War One in 1918, a yellow Horse year, or the Great Depression in 1929 that influenced white Horse year. Under a strong Horse’s in-fluence, there is no middle ground.

This Year of the Fire Horse  is a rare, high-energy, and transformative 60-year cycle event characterized by intense passion, bravery, and rapid, often chaotic change. Associated with the Yang Fire element, this year emphasizes bold action, ambition, and independence, favoring rapid progress but requiring caution against impulsivity and overextension. 

• Significance: Considered both auspicious for success and challenging due to its “double fire” nature, which intensifies the Horse’s already restless, independent, and stubborn energy.
• Themes: Represents a “personal reset” or grand turning point, encouraging the pursuit of long-held dreams and swift, decisive action.
• Outlook: A year for breaking old patterns, where success is achieved through courage rather than waiting for opportunities. 

Tips for the Year of the Fire Horse

• Actionable Advice: Harness the energy by setting bold goals, traveling, or initiating major life changes, but avoid reckless, impulsive decisions. Take your time to make plans, evaluate the circumstances.
• Maintain Balance: Practice patience and find constructive outlets for the high-intensity energy to avoid burnout or conflict.
• Luck: Those born in Tiger, Dog, Goat, Rabbit, Snake, and Horse years are considered to have, on average, smoother progress in 2026. 
• Be sure to keep your center! This year is about passion and quick change, that does not mean you need to be running at that same speed.  Take your time when making decisions.  Be patient.  Be intentional. 
• Create as much stillness as you can to offset the speed and fire of this year.
  • GIDDY UP! HOLD ON TIGHT!!!

During my studies in Chinese Medicine, we would often talk about how one relates to something can affects one’s health, especially food!  The favorite anecdote was two people come to a pastry shop storefront. They both admire the beautiful pastries in the window. One person says, no thank you ,I’m going to be good, and goes along their day. The other person goes in the shop, gets a pastry of their desires, eats it, and loves every bite of it. The other person who was going to be good can’t stop thinking about the pastry they denied themselves. The question often was who was healthier?

The one argument that abstaining from flour, cream and sugar is the healthiest move is the most obvious choice.  However, the tension, yearning, and internal discourse for the delectable treat could also be a health complication.  If we flip the coin, we can make the argument that by eating this sumptuous treat with great joy can be a wonderful nourishing delight, and, also worrying how it is wreaking havoc on one’s cholesterol and insulin levels.

So, what is the right answer?  Here is the rub, in Chinese Medicine, there is no definitive “right” answer, more to the affect, what is the “MORE RIGHT ANSWER”! Meaning, it’s relative.  How we relate to any and all things makes a huge difference how it affects us.  However, a person with type 1 diabetes is not going to digest a creamy puff pastry very well, no matter how well they embrace it.  This is what we mean by the more right answer, because how we relate to something is different for everyone.  I embrace the delicious treat for it’s delicacy or I need it because I’m looking for fill an emotional void.  Our resonance to what we consume is a deeper meaning to us than we realize, most of the time.   

In the reality of “things”, a pastry is no different than a watch or sweater, if we are choosing these things to bring happiness, wholeness, a confirmation to our identity.  Which, in the end, leaves us empty and hungry for the next thing to bring a sense of fulfillment.  There is little nourishment or satiation from things that we crave to fulfill our emotional/spiritual voids.  We must learn from our cravings. Everything has a medicinal value, and, if consumed inappropriately it can become poison.  If we are striving to have a long vital life, it is of utmost importance to maintain a strong sense of self awareness of what and why we crave the foods, things, people and circumstances that we do.  Without that perspective, we very well may be consumed by what we crave instead of consuming it.