Chinese New Year 2026 — The Year of the Fire Horse

Topics (linked to paragraphs): The Four Pillars /BaZi The element balance What’s your element? Fire The Horse The Animals signs and their Elements What the Fire Horse means Look to the past to know the future 1966 1906 1846 1786 1726 2025 in review Pacing the Void The Dark Warrior The Year ahead Events to be watched In conclusion

Gong Hey Fat Choy, Everyone!

When I was younger my father had a little mantra he used to always quip to us to keep us motivated: “As you travel on through life, brother, whatever be your goal keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole.” It was good advice. I have kept it to heart throughout my journey through this life. What does that have to do with the Chinese New Year, though, you might ask? Well, it brings to mind the poetic name of the Chinese Animal Sign for this year – the “Travelling Horse”, more commonly known as the Fire Horse.

The Lunar New Year for the Fire Horse begins on an annular eclipse. There is a report on the eclipse itself on the blog site. The eclipse falls in the 11^th Chinese lunar mansion of the Void, to which we will return shortly. Most Chinese astrology focusses on the Four Pillars (BaZi) as a fundamental, which describes quite a lot, but there is much more to Chinese astrology than the Four Pillars. The BaZi chart for the New Year based in the lunar calendar is below:

Normally we would use the solar calendar for BaZi, but since we are looking at the lunar year, we have used the lunar calendar to generate the chart above. It is said the solar calendar relates to nature, while the lunar calendar relates to humanity. There are quite some interesting esoteric thoughts on the matter, but we will leave that for now.

The Four Pillars /BaZi: We note in the chart above that all four of the Pillars are denoted as being Yang. That automatically tells us the year will be out of the ordinary, because what we aim for in Chinese astrology is balance. And this is definitely an unbalanced chart regarding the fundamental Yin and Yang qualities. For people familiar with this form of Chinese astrology there is also something else of note: there is a full Trio of animal signs represented, all of which together denote movement. This is called the South Triangle, which is associated with the Fire element. Those three animals are commonly associated with hunting and as such carry a masculine emphasis. It is a very ambitious and competitive combination with a great determination to succeed, whatever the cost. The triangle can represent either a ruthless streak, competition in sports, or even bring a very sharp intellect when found in the chart of an individual. The united influence of these three animals denotes a year in which we will see the stimulus of rivalry and the need to succeed. In other words this is going to be quite a year in terms of geopolitics. But be aware: With a double Dog in the Four Pillars there is always the danger of the ‘black dog’ – depression. But we can see the dual Dog emphases in two ways – as a caution or as a double-dog-dare!

The element balance: In terms of elements found in the 12 boxes represented in the chart above, the influence is rather balanced. There is no one element that predominates. However, with the Fire Triangle just mentioned, along with the Yang influence, we are going to see strong and decisive moves in politics across the board and across the world. This will be a definitive year in terms of geopolitical influence, one in which the political structure of the world will be significantly changed for good or ill, depending on one’s perspective.

With these preliminary points in mind we can now begin parse the individual elements of the Fire Horse and then look at the prevailing trends from previous Fire Horse years, after which we will return to the actual planetary considerations. In the old days of China the consideration of the movements of the planets through the lunar mansions was considered to be used solely for the government and important people within Chinese society. If you go to the link at the blog site highlighted above, one can begin to get a sense of what the eclipse which starts this year actually conveys to us in terms of the Chinese Imperial Astrology. In terms of the BaZi, however, we start with the elements.

What’s your element?: It is relatively easy to discover the element connected with any particular year along with its polarity. The Chinese use a Five Element system instead of the Western four elements. The Chinese elements in sequence are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each of the five elements has a Yin and Yang expression. Combined, we have a sequence of ten, endlessly repeated. Thus, for each decade it is thereby easy discern the element and its polarity associated with any given year. Every odd numbered year is Yin, and every even numbered year is Yang. Each decade starts with the Water element, so years ending in one and two are respectively Yin Water and Yang Water years. From the Five Element cycle just mentioned years 3 and 4 express the Wood element. Years 5 and 6 express the Fire Element. Years 7 and 8 express Earth element. And the decade ends with the numbers 9 and zero expressing the Metal element. Thus, for this year we have Yang Fire as the element being expressed. The Five Elements denote the five processes of transformation, and as such are never static. In contrast, the 12 Animals represent a specific phase of a cycle, but which itself is always in motion.

Fire: Fire is the element most associated with the brilliance of intellect. People born under its influence tend to go into professions, teaching and philosophy. Fire produces light, which tends to expose things, and as such Fire people can be good researchers and investigators. Yang Fire people make a big mark and then move on quickly. So in this year we can expect the big events, which will change our outlook this year and in the years going forward. Fire is associated with the South direction, with the summer season, and naturally with heat. Fire is associated with spirit. Philosophically fire manifests as inspiration, as well as a spirited philosophy. In excess, it produces vivacious people. Strong Fire shows as decisiveness. Its weakness is being too quiet. So this is a year where it is meant for people to speak up! Fire’s quality is lively and its demeanor is agile. Baser people exhibiting fire are aggressive, whereas cultured people exhibiting fire are educated.

In Chinese medicine Fire rules the heart and the small intestine. The small intestine is the Yang organ, which separates the nutrients from the waste as it passes through the digestive tract, while the heart is the Yin organ. Thus we have the Yang Fire element associated with mental discrimination. Fire is stored in the vessels. Its sense is smell, it opens to the tongue, and its color is red. Fire also shows in the color of the face. Mars is called the Fire Planet. Then we couple that with the expression of the Horse.

The Horse is a masculine animal, in its attitudes as well as its attributes. It is one of the sportive animals along with Tigers and Dogs. Of the Trio, the Horse is the more macho of the three. Tigers tend to be the more subtle and strategic thinker, whereas the Dog tends to be more social and family oriented. But if you live with a Horse person, be prepared to move and to stay outside quite a bit. Horses chafe when they have to stay inside for too long a period. In other words, symbolically Horses need to get out and run rather than to stay in the stable all day. Horses tend to stay with their own kind. They are both sociable and competitive, but prefer to work within a team rather than individually. The Horse is a natural leader. In a marriage or partnership a male Horse person will tend to insist on more traditional roles within the relationship. Horses tend to be conservative. They can be revolutionary, but only if the people around them are revolutionary as well. If one’s partner is a female Horse person, be prepared to be organized by her, to share responsibility equally, to be paid equally and to live within a more non-traditional role within the relationship.

The Animals signs and their Elements: There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. There is no clear correspondence between them and the 12 signs of the Western zodiac. Those 12 Chinese animal signs also cycle through endlessly in a 12-year cycle. Therefore, with five elements and twelve animals we have a combined cycle sixty years. In that vein there are five types of Horses, according to their elements:

The animal signs come in pairs regarding the elements, except for four of them – the Ox, Dragon, Sheep and Dog, which all express the Earth element. Then we have the natural pairs of animals. The Pig and the Rat are the Water pair. The Tiger and Rabbit are the Wood pair. The Snake and the Horse are the Fire pair. And the Monkey and the Rooster are the Metal pair. Thus, with the Horse we have a double Fire emphasis this year.

What the Fire Horse means: Each of the 60 Element/Animal combinations has poetic sayings attached to them. The sayings associated with Fire Horse are as follows:

“Much can be gained through travel whether this is undertaken for business or pleasure. Many companions are met with on the way, and this leads to greater social standing. But do not let prudence be overtaken by boastful arrogance. The path to the stars shows great ambitions and the promise of future fame. But idle dreams are not enough. Determination and single-mindedness will unlock the treasures that are there.”^[2]

Look to the past to know the future: With the preceding points in mind, what did we see in Fire Horse years over the past 300 years? Perhaps we will see patterns emerging. And just to be clear, our modern society and educational system only really took off in these past 300 years. What we have as major indicators thus far are as follows (and the list is not all-inclusive):

1966: The unmanned Soviet Luna 9 made the first successful soft landing on the Moon and returned images from the surface. The Australian dollar was introduced. There was the 1966 military coup in Syria. Soviet probe Venera 3 crashed onto the surface of Venus, the first time a man-made spacecraft landed on another planet. John Lennon stated the Beatles were more popular than Jesus (he later apologized for the remark). The US under LBJ sharply escalated the war in Vietnam. De Gaulle pulled France out of NATO. Demonstrations against the war in ‘Nam escalated in the US. The Soviet Luna 10 became the first man-made object to enter lunar orbit. Timothy Leary founded the League for Spiritual Discovery, a religion declaring LSD as its holy sacrament. LSD was made illegal in the US the same year. The Cultural Revolution started in China. The Beatles gave their last live performance as a touring band. The Black Panthers were founded. Reagan was elected governor of California. The UK nationalized 90% of its steel industry, The Outer Space Treaty was signed, banning weapons of mass destruction in space. Counterculture was all the rage in the West.

1906: The HMS Dreadnought was launched sparking an arms race between the UK and Germany, the San Francisco quake of 1906, which destroyed most of the city, the Lusitania was launched, the Russian Tsar ceded his autocratic powers to be shared with the Russian Duma, women’s suffrage was granted in Finland (the first in Europe), the Dreyfus Affair ended, the first German submarine (U1) was launched, the first officially recorded powered flight in Europe, the US passed the Pure Food Act and the Meat Inspection Act, there were race riots in Atlanta, Teddy Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Prize for negotiating the peace in the Russo-Japanese War. Women’s suffrage began to take hold across Europe.

1846: The Mormons in the US began their migration to Utah, The Liberty Bell was cracked while ringing for George Washington’s birthday, the US annexed Texas from Mexico, the Mexican-American war started, the UK replaced their old mercantile trade system with one of free trade in repealing the Corn Laws, California declared its independence from Mexico, the saxophone was invented, Neptune was discovered, the Great Famine in Ireland started producing deaths, a cholera pandemic in South Asia. Kerosene is first refined, which helped majorly to save the whales.

1786: Columbia College (later university) held its first graduation, The Creek Nation declared war on the state of Georgia. Shay’s Rebellion began, which had an impact of debate about the Constitution. Mont Blanc was climbed for the first time.

1726: Gulliver’s Travels is published, a satirical novel criticizing the flaws of various civilizations. It was originally published as political satire. The book sold out in a week.

What we see in common with all the events just listed for Fire Horse years are major military operations being undertaken, advances in space exploration, exploration in general, revolutions and rebellions and the establishment or changing of governments and/or government structures. Not listed in the above are natural and man-made disasters. In 1966 there were very notable airplane/airline crashes with large casualties (1966). There were also strong earthquakes in all those above years (1966, 1906, 1846, 1786, and 1726) and major fires (1966, 1906, 1846 and 1726). There were simply too many of the quakes and fires to list here. Before we go to the forecast for this year there are two more items which we need to address – the year that was and the eclipse that started this year. We begin with the review of last year, from the Chinese New Year letter for 2025.

2025 in review: The following was forecast for the year just passed, with actual developments during last year marked below each forecast with the ‘ο’ indent symbol.

• The military and/or societal collapse of Ukraine and possibly Israel as well
  • • The situation remains as a slow grind. Both Israel and Ukraine are still facing societal disruption. The power grid in Ukraine has been all but destroyed, making cities unliveable. Israel is close to civil war. This will be covered in the Pisces letter.

  

• *New alliances and security agreements being formed. Look for these in Europe (Eastern Europe especially), Africa (Nigeria is undergoing a period of turmoil) and South America
  • This is still in development, covered more in the Pisces letter.
• BRICS is not expected to make much progress this year since Brazil faces internal power struggles and the factions most aligned with Washington are against BRICS. The other current members are well on their way to executing payment systems that bypass the SWIFT system, the latter which the West controls. China and Russia, for example, execute around 95% of their trade in their local currencies (Rubles and Yuan).
  • A new architecture for cross payments in local currencies for BRICS members has been accelerated, expected to be rolled out this year. It is a slow process.
• *West Asia will begin its transformation this year. The US, Israel and the Turks are caught in a quagmire in Syria. Israel has been defeated by Hamas and Hezbollah in terms of being able to enforce Israel’s will. The Israelis and Americans have also lost the propaganda war worldwide. Hamas and Hezbollah have won the PR war. The situation at the moment is in stasis except for Syria, where ethnic cleansing is currently underway.
  • The 12-Day War changed the dynamics in West Asia. Israel lost that war. Russia and China are strengthening Iran. Trump imposed a ‘Gaza Peace Plan’ on Israel over Gaza, which in effect is a smokescreen for ongoing ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. The US is pulling out of Syria, abandoning the Kurds. The January riots in Iran were yet another attempt by the West at regime change in Iran. Hamas and Hezbollah are quietly rebuilding themselves. The vast majority of the world’s people are sick and tired of Israel, with similar sentiments growing toward the US. We wait to see what happens with Iran.
• China will pull farther ahead in the tech and space race, while the US lags farther and farther behind. Expect Taiwan to move closer in relations to the mainland. It will be a matter of economic survival now that Trump has pronounced that TSMC will be relocating to the US – so he thinks.
  • Taipei is balking at moving part of its operations to the US. China has pulled ahead of the US in global research output. China is pulling ahead of the US in space. The relationship between Taiwan and the mainland remains fluid.
• Unrest will rise still further in the US and Europe. Europeans have had enough of war. Trump tariffs will be a further tax on American citizens. Walmart shoppers, prepare yourselves! It will be the same for cars, electronics, coffee, and a host of other items.
  • Protests have risen in the US since Trump took office. Protests have risen in the EU, too. Trump’s tariffs have resulted in higher prices for American consumers and US corporations.
• Expect Washington to be strong-arming its neighbors. Trump has already bullied Colombia over immigration. That was easy, though, since Colombia is a colony of the US. It gave Trump an easy win. Greenland and Canada will not be easy. The US may once again ransack Panama in an attempt to expel Chinese business, who have warehouses there. Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia will be in the crosshairs, especially now that Rubio is Secretary of State. None of the latter will be easy.
  • Washington has already done Venezuela in kidnapping Maduro. And now they are pressuring Rodriguez to conform. There is an active blockade of Cuba, for which there is a small but growing international effort to break, headed by Russia and China. Canada has broken with the ‘rules-based order’ and is focusing on a coalition of nations to form an alternative economic bloc. Greenland is still up in the air. The ‘Chinese businesses’ in Panama are actually based in Hong Kong (still Western-friendly) but they are pulling out. Panama has been forced to void their contracts.
• Politically we will see a return to conservative politics, meaning traditional conservatism in contrast to the neo-conservatism we see in the West. This year will mark the tide turning back toward traditional values. Wokeness, liberalism as the West practices it, neoliberal economics – all are on their way out. In Europe it is starting in Eastern and Central Europe.
  • Trump has signed executive order to ban ‘woke’ policies. Central and Eastern Europe continue to swing to the right in politics.
• We can expect some revelations in the fields of particle and theoretical physics. Advances in the detection of gravitational waves, coupled with the observational astronomy of deep space will add to Einstein’s revelations from 1905…Add in also advances in quantum computing, AI, developments at CERN…well, it is the Quantum Year, after all.
  • Italian scientists created a super-solid from light at the quantum level. It is a milestone in the field of condensed matter physics.
  • In astronomy, think ‘Little Red Dots’. These are supermassive black holes (event horizons) at the edge of the universe, thought to have formed with the Big Bang. Revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope, understanding of these objects advances our understanding of the formation of the universe.
  • The dark energy, governing the expansion of the universe, may be weakening.
  • Advances in optics may greatly expand exploration of the universe by measurement of gravity waves

With the review of the year done we now have a basis for what is likely to occur this year. We start with the lunar mansion for the eclipse.

Pacing the Void: The title of this topic is also the title of a book, which describes the night sky as observed by the court astrologers in China during the T’ang dynasty. As stated at the start of this letter, the eclipse took place in the Chinese lunar mansion called Void. The symbolic animal associated with that lunar mansion is the Rat. This Rat is different from the Rat of the 12 zodiacal signs. This one is the emblem of timidity and meanness. Void is thought to be unlucky. This Rat is also known to be of sharp intelligence and as a symbol of wealth obtained by diligence. Legend has it that should a large Rat with a large stomach paunch enter one’s house it should be treated as an honored guest. Such a Rat is called a ‘Money Rat’ whose arrival is an omen of approaching wealth.

Also of interest is the Rat is not the only money spinner. There are others such as Red Spider which is a form of northern centipede and even the Snake is classified in the same category. Thus we see that Rats can be associated with wealth. On the downside, the Rat is one of the five feared household animals which could cause disturbances due to insanity. Those five feared animals are the Fox, Weasel, Hedgehog, Snake and Rat. These are worshiped as the Five Great Families. Since we all know the relationship between cats and Rats, the coming of a strange cat to the household is seen as an omen of approaching poverty. It is said to be so because it can foresee where it will find plenty of rats and mice in consequence of approaching ruin. On the other hand, it is very unlucky when a cat is stolen from a house.

The Dark Warrior: The lunar mansion of the Void is the central lunar mansion of the Black Tortoise palace. Void symbolizes loneliness, emptiness, hibernation and the grave. This is considered to be a lunar mansion of illness, as well as being unsuitable for public, financial or personal matters. This particular lunar mansion is one associated with waging war, which worsens troubles and increases misfortune. This lunar mansion seems to be a contradiction to the otherwise vibrant and outgoing energy of the Fire Horse. Moreover, since the year starts after 4 February, the Li Chun, and ends after February 4, 2027, this is considered to be a dark (or ‘blind’) year, which signified a poor harvest in the old Chinese superstitions.

Of particular interest this year regarding the constellation of the Void, this is said to be the place where the Emperor deals with issues of the netherworld. We certainly have that in our faces at the moment with the release of the Epstein files and with the fall of world leaders and elites gradually gaining momentum. The Emperor in this case refers to our current world leaders in general. In ancient China, there was only one Emperor. In the Void it is said that the stars are in charge of death, sacrifice, worship and the grave. People born on this day, between the 21^st and the last degrees of Aquarius, are said to be curious, superstitious, persistent, fortunate, talented, romantic and argumentative. The Black Tortoise quadrant is also called the Dark Warrior Palace, which includes the eighth through the 14^th lunar mansions.

This year also starts with the Saturn/Neptune conjunction at the Aries world view point. Saturn and Neptune both fall in the 13^th lunar mansion called the House which is considered to be lucky. That lunar mansion is also associated with the element of Fire and the animal of the Pig – also considered to be a financial animal. With these points in mind we can move on to consider the possible unfolding of this year.

The Year ahead: The start of this year will be chaotic, as indicated by the eclipse in the Void. The Void can be either a descent into darkness or toward expansion of consciousness, contemplating universal truths. And our sojourn there will likely bring both darkness and Light. This year we will have to look beyond ordinary appearances. This year in particular represents the pangs of birth, the birth of a new awareness. The Void is not the abyss. The Void is the realisation that all events have causes, while at the same time what we see as a singular event is actually an illusion – an illusion born from our ignorance of the causes that have brought the event into being. By tracing back the causes we can resolve the root. The causes lie in the underworld, unnoticed beneath our feet. The darkness we perceive as chaos actually invites us into the freedom of Knowledge, should we choose to courageously face some uncomfortable truths. We are standing at an open door. Do we walk through into the Light of Knowledge or do we close the door and remain in darkness? Thus marks the start of this year.

The Fire Horse is getting ready to bolt from the stable, to commence its travels far and wide, making friends along the way, leaving the past behind. It is momentarily pacing the Void, awaiting direction. The indications that direction is coming are immanent and then the journey commences. The leader who understands the mandate of Heaven – who practices due diligence – will ride this worthy steed to success. The skilful rider will stay on course. The fearful or the unskilled will either dismount or be thrown off. The leader of low understanding will be thrown from his or her fiery mount, to wander the world directionless and into obscurity.

Our greatest journey is toward the Light of our divine essence. As the past crumbles we need not – indeed must not mourn. As the future reveals itself we welcome it, unafraid. This Horse will carry us to new vistas. Fire is exciting! Fire is restive! Fire burns with passion! – passion for freedom, passion for wisdom! And above all, Fire is courageous.

This journey is not a race. There will be times to stop and to take in what we see around us. Some of it will be ugly. Some of it will be tempting. Yet in the midst of our musings a clear voice will stand out – our own inner voice. That will be the gift of this year to us should we choose to listen.

There is no trust in our leadership any longer. Do we need leaders to mark our journey for us, anyway? Or are we the journey itself? That is the fundamental and driving matter before us now. Because the Fire Horse is actually the fire of our own consciousness, with our minds being the steed. We must determine the direction and tame the steed, lest we be thrown off our path.

Events to be watched: As we saw in the forecasts for each Lunar New Year, certain events and developments will stand out. We list a few of the major trends here:

• There will be war in West Asia, unless Western leaders can step up and rein in the Israelis and the American hawks. If it comes to pass it will be intense and bloody. And it will decide the fate of the region, as well as America’s standing in the world. Iran will remain, as will its government. But there will be reforms there after the fact. Israel may not remain, at least in its present radical political form.
• The US and Western Europe will be embroiled in and divided by scandals, among them revelations from the Epstein files. These scandals will be necessary because behind them are revealed the ‘men (and women) behind the curtain’.
• The Trump presidency will not survive this period, nor will several governments in Western Europe. The Meloni government along with several others are making backchannel openings for rapprochement with Russia, necessary for Europe’s future.
• We will begin to see Europe dividing into cultural blocs within the EU. This will eventually change the face of or end the EU.
• The BRICS interstate financial exchange mechanism will be finalized toward the end of this year, giving BRICS nations (around twenty thus far) the mechanism needed to bypass sanctions by the West and the dollar-dominated world financial situation.
• West Asia (formerly the Middle East) will divide itself into cooperative blocs after the coming conflict. This is already taking place.
• There will be an internal struggle in the US about what to do about Zionism. This is already developing, but it will be blown open this year. There is a very strong Zionist minority in the US – Jewish and Christian – that is facing a reckoning.
• American AI giants are causing an unsustainable market bubble that will burst this year, causing cascading financial defaults. There is also a developing struggle about how that AI is to be used – for surveillance and control, or to serve and develop the nation, based in the needs of the average American. Elitism in particular in the US is coming strongly under the attention of the American public – a minority public at present, but steadily growing.
• Europe will slowly and in some cases grudgingly return to cooperation with Russia. This will be helped by the ousting of Atlanticist leaning politicians and the exposure of similarly aligned elites. It will be a matter of necessity for Europe to approach Russia if the EU wants to remain viable as an economic bloc. This will further aims toward peace in beleaguered Ukraine, which is on the verge of a total collapse of its essential infrastructure.
• The major military conflict in Ukraine will dial down toward the end of this year as the Ukrainian armed forces are exhausted. It will take some years yet for the conflict itself to be fully resolved. Zelenskyy will be forced out this year. His position is untenable. But what will remain? The old ancestral hatreds toward Russia by European elites will still be intact, but Europe will have to accept that Ukraine is a lost cause.
• Asia, especially in the Far East will go from strength to strength. Japan and South Korea are facing a growing realization and choice: Stay tied to the US or go where the growth is. This will be an interesting year to watch in Asia.
• A big year is planned in space, especially in our own solar system, with asteroid fly-bys, Mars missions and the first manned Moon mission since the Apollo series of missions. There will be a mission to study the moons of Mars, a Mercury orbiter mission, space weather satellites and a Jupiter mission. There are also plans for space telescopes to study the atmospheres of exoplanets.

In conclusion, prepare to have your awareness expanded – about our leaders, about the way the world is run, about our solar system and far beyond. Travel brings understanding and brings a great many unexpected surprises, enriching our wisdom. At the same time be aware that systems that do not serve human needs will come under increasing scrutiny this year. Given its trajectory the West will continue its decline, while the East continues its rise. This is all within the cycles and is to be expected, even welcomed if it causes the awakening of common sense amongst its leadership. But the decline can be changed if we organize and demand transparency and accountability from government. The underworld is being exposed. We must keep the pressure on to ensure its continued exposure. But most of all, we will be called upon to realize our common humanity. Horses like to run together, after all. When we work together, inspired by common cause, there is nothing beyond our reach! And remember: Keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole! Enjoy your travels this year.

Picture credits:

1. Tetragram 13, night time. From the T’ai Hsüan Ching ↑
2. Walters, Derek, The Secrets of Chinese Astrology (2003) London, Hamlyn pubs., pp. 67 and 73 ↑