There is a lot to share about Chinese New Year, and it’s fun to explain things in more detail through Chinese medicine and the Five Elements.  For example, two consecutive years are spent in the same element; there are five elements:  fire, earth, metal, water and wood.  2026 changes to the Fire Element, which corresponds to the season of summer, socializing, and the internal organs Heart, Pericardium, Small Intestine and San Jiao, read more about the Fire element here https://daisylear.com/loving-intention/.  2025 was the year of the yin wood snake, a transformative period of time.  In this article, I will first provide a little background information about the Fire element, then explore Horse’s nature, and finally integrate the two.

 

The fun superficiality of the Chinese calendar actually runs deeply, and much like Chinese medicine, the calendar is pervasive throughout all aspects of being human; affecting day to day living, farming, health care, etc. and continues to apply to life today because we are part of the environment, not merely observers.   As we strive to live in harmony with our environment, we also notice how we change and respond to each season.  Each season corresponds to the Five Elements; fire/summer, metal/autumn, water/winter, wood/spring, and earth/transitions between seasons, as well as internal organs, sound, direction, etc.  And like everything you can possibly think of, each element also has Yin/still and Yang/active aspects.  2026 turns over to the Fire Element cycle with yang;  yang fire corresponds with active communication, socializing, play, dance, maintaining clear roles in our lives, and establishing healthy boundaries.  Last year’s yin wood snake was a lot to swallow and also gave us a chance to embrace the more contemplative and thoughtful aspects of creative transformation (read https://daisylear.com/2025-year-of-the-yin-wood-snake/).  2026 will most likely involve fast moving activity.  

 

The characteristics of yang fire is active, bright and hot (as opposed to a small smoldering / yin fire).  As we know from nature, big fires create dryness and wind which helps spread the fire to a larger area.  Socially, we may see this as large gatherings and movements in which a harmonized yang Fire Element would translate as immense love and excitement. We may need to look closely at social movements to ascertain whether they are from love, compassion and empathy or for the purpose of spreading rumors and fear.  From a Chinese medicine perspective, intense heat, dryness and wind create a variety of health concerns involving ailments that move from place to place within the body, or begin when fluids are deficient / “dried up” – such as blood, lymph and nervous system dysregulation.  Be particularly careful this year if you live in a dry climate like Colorado, which is already typically dry, and this year is expected to have less precipitation.  As such, it will be important (especially this autumn) to pay attention to the lungs since they do not respond well to dryness.  In this case, heat and dryness create more phlegm.  It is therefore important to be active and consume moistening and juicy foods.

 

Historically, the horse has allowed humans to travel and experience people and environments outside of their community.  In general, people born during the year of the Horse tend to be athletic, adventurous, social and emotional.  While the horse represents athletic movement, strength, speed, work, etc., there is also the stubborn and immovable aspect of the horse; “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”.  We may encounter this type of immovable stubborn behavior this year.  Let’s also keep in mind the abuses humans have imparted upon horses when they will not bend to their will and perform the tasks the human wants them to do; fear tactics, emotional and physical abuse are not the way to win over a person or situation.

 

The Horse combined with yang Fire is a perfect harmony of energies to bring about active socializing, and both physical and open minded exploring.  The key this year will be to maintain the fire and not burn out too quickly from expending our exuberance too quickly, and become exhausted as the year comes to an end.

 

The Year of the Yang Fire Horse begins February 17, 2026 and ends February 6, 2027.  People born in the year of the Horse :  1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1988, 2002, 2014, 2026.

 

From the Ling Gui International Healing Qigong School :

The Year of the Horse brings movement, vitality, and the courage to move forward. Guiding this energy is Hexagram 13, 同人 (Tóng Rén), which signifies harmony, union, and working together with others. The Horse urges us onward, while Tóng Rén keeps the heart light. Action is encouraged, but not forced. Progress comes not from struggle, but from sincerity—when intention is pure, the path naturally rises to meet our steps.

Spring is especially important, as what begins now sets the tone for the entire year. 

This is a time to move with joy rather than fear, to trust the intelligence of motion, 

and to let clarity—not control—be the guide. 

When energy surges, the Horse teaches us to ride it, not resist it.