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Here’s what “The Year of the Fire Horse” means when we boil it down. (sharing this from an energetic, TCM, cosmological and astrological perspective) : Essentially, this year is a rare year in the old Chinese calendar when all the ‘Yang Fire’ (picture the image of a sun at its absolute zenith) meets the symbolism of the energy of the Horse (The horse is a creature of great movement, blood and vitality and the embodiment of open horizons and an unbound spirit) In this body of wisdom and calender, this comes only once every sixty years and has a reputation that comes with it (from lore, to families skipping a year to have their children) In the language of the Five Phases (or 5 element theory - of which there is Fire, Earth, Metal, Water + Wood), the Horse already belongs to Fire (think the energy of high summer, at high noon, and our own blood at its most vital warmth in the Heart at its own most energetic fire.) This is what the year of the Fire Horse is energetically : Fire layered upon Fire. So what does that get us? Well, when Fire sits upon Fire, it is like standing beneath the big open sky at midday in July - its illuminating. Nothing is hidden. Think of how the shadows shorten and everything is revealed in bright relief. This would be a good mental description: When the heat is rising and our qi is natural moving outward. Our spirit becomes more visible. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fire governs the Heart and our Shen (spirit housed in heart. Its our consciousness, capacity for joy, ability to connect and to speak of truths, even those long withheld.) When the element of Fire is balanced, it shines and is beautiful and life giving. And when excessive, it scatters. A Fire Horse year carries the same dual potential. It can feel catalytic, expressive and utterly alive with creative charges. But it can also feel volatile, fast, emotional and overwhelming. Fire stirs and moves through stagnancy. It brings incredible circulatory quality to what has been cold. A strong Heart fire though, asks (needs) to be anchored by Kidney Water. It will need depth, inward stillness, balance, rest and a very certain rootedness. This is so that the flame becomes illuminating rather than a decimating wildfire. This goes both for us personally and in our collective humanity - in society and over all of the Earth. HOW TO STAY HEALTHY AS A BURNING WILD SOLAR MARE RUNS THROUGH YOUR LIFE … Think like a classical physician did as a high summer approached : When the Yang rose + the heat dominated, the task was to root in. When it is bright fire but contained by a root, there is joy, clarity + inspired speech. When it flares upwardly without an anchor for us, there is amazing agitation + insomnia, mental illness and inflammation. So the first medicine for this year, is depth. Strengthen your Kidney Water. Guard your fluids. Sleep before midnight. (Try 10) Protect the lower abdomen from cold and the mind from overstimulation. Let your days have color, but your evenings descend over your body with silence. Practice returning to yourself. In the body this means a breath that drops below the navel, with exhalations longer than inhalations. This is a warmth gathered in your belly rather than a heat rushing to your head. Eat in a way that moistens without clogging: simple broths, lightly cooked greens, pears, cucumber, small amounts of bitters to clear out excess heat, mineral-rich foods to replenish what summer sweat depletes. Avoid too much alcohol, hot spice, screen-light at night. These are small things that save you from too much fire this year. Emotionally, protect your spirit. Limit conflict. Choose conversations that illuminate you rather than inflame you, etc. Spend time near water: Swim in lakes, rivers, even a bowl of cool water beside your bed. Be symbolic. Gentle movement rather than frantic exertion. Practice slow moving Qi that circulates but does not scatter. She is a fire horse. Do not chase her. 🫶🏻🐎