Kung Hey Fat Choy -Happy Chinese New Year
Fire Horse
Kung Hey Fat Choy
All across China and throughout the world, people are celebrating lunar new year, and saying “Kung Hey Fat Choy” which means “Congratulations, may you become prosperous”. Rooted in the lunar calendar, this holiday moves through 12 animal signs and 5 elemental phases, which creates a 60 year cycle that continuously unfolds.
This past year, 2025, we saw the energy of the wood snake. For many, it brought about revelation and a more clear view of things previously unknown, or misunderstood. Its influence was supported by letting go of habits and structures that no longer served us.
With this full moon energy on February 17th, we enter the year of the fire horse - Bǐng Wǔ 丙午.
In Chinese medicine, these annual transitions aren't about fortune-telling or superstition. They're about recognizing patterns and cultivating awareness. They give us a lens through which to observe the underlying mood of a year, and how we might best care for our bodies and spirits as conditions shift. This framework helps us track what's moving through nature, our physiology, and the wider human experience. Each year has its own themes, and when we understand them, we can engage with a greater sense of steadiness and clarity.
What this year may bring
The fire horse is a forceful, yang dominant year that holds power, acceleration, and forward momentum. It amplifies what remains unresolved. Movement quickens, intensity rises and while this can seem overwhelming or even destructive, it's actually an invitation into fuller expression. The fire horse is untamed by nature, like a wild stallion. In a culture that prizes control, this energy can challenge our understanding of what true freedom looks like.
This can be a potent year for transformation, creative leaps, and shifting trajectories. Events may unfold quickly, sometimes without warning. It may feel, for some, as though life is calling for immediate evolution, asking us to rise and respond in real time.
With this movement, strong fire can become excessive, especially when we're already running on empty. The fire horse year isn't necessarily about doing more. It's about staying rooted and deliberate, even as momentum builds around us.
In Chinese medicine, fire corresponds to the heart system. Not just the physical organ, but everything it governs: circulation, rest, emotional regulation, and mental focus.
When fire is in balance, it brings warmth, presence, and connection. When it runs too hot, common signs include agitation or unease, difficulties with sleep, racing thoughts and mental turbulence, feeling simultaneously wired and worn down.
This is why 2026 is a year that calls for grounding tools and nervous system care. Especially for those already dealing with chronic stress or depletion.
How to move with fire horse energy
Some supportive practices include establishing solid routines, prioritizing nervous system regulation and restorative sleep, choosing steady, moderate movement over intensity, incorporating easily digestible, nourishing foods, creating or deepening a meditation practice, and using acupuncture to maintain equilibrium and prevent accumulated strain.
Acupuncture can be especially valuable during fire years, to help regulate the system and keep energy flowing smoothly. When external conditions seem to be overwhelming and stressful, building internal rhythm becomes critical. Often the most potent thing we can do is create spaciousness and allow our body to slow down. To notice what the body is signalling, and respond before stress crosses into burnout.
May we all find our balance, and rhythm as we navigate this powerful year ahead.
In healing and restorative power,
Erin and the Jade Team xx