Chinese Lunar New Year - The Year of the Fire Horse

The Chinese Lunar New Year is marked by the second new moon after the winter solstice (which is why the date of the new year changes every year). The Chinese zodiac animals are described as the animals that the Jade Emperor invited to a race and the order of the zodiac animals is the order the animals completed the race, which also revealed their character. Ancient Chinese cosmology also described nature in a never-ending cycle of elements. The Chinese lunar calendar is among the oldest in human history to mark time and the Chinese New Year celebration is the largest celebratory event on earth (observed by over 1 billion people).

The new lunar year on February 17th will be the Fire Horse. This is a powerful combination of factors that may, at times, feel overwhelming. The horse has the qualities of endurance, power and steadfastness. The horse also has the qualities of leadership, assertiveness and innovation. The fire element can be changeable and intense. It is the qualities of relationships and presence. Being fully present is when you are in full acknowledgement of the pains of the past and hopes for the future but your actions and awareness are rooted and grounded in the “right here and now”. Not spending your energy on wishing you were already at a destination in the future or regretting that you can’t change a past incident – but holding the potential for both while being fully aware that the only time to take action is in the right-here-and-now. Presence is your truest source of power. 

So, this new year may bring rapid changes and innovations but calling upon the steadfast and enduring qualities of the horse to help you stay present and connected with important relationships to help see you through any challenges the year may bring. You have these qualities within you and this year will ask you to bring them forward.