Humboldt Acupuncture

HAPPY CHINESE YEAR OF THE YANG FIRE HORSE 2026!!!

The Chinese New Year begins with the new moon on February 17, 2026. This is a potent and exciting time for us to experience, as the new year begins with a full “Ring of Fire” annular solar eclipse, on Mardi Gras, and the beginning of Ramadan! Let’s explore the energetics of the “Ruler of the Year”, the Fire Horse so we can deepen our understanding, enhance our experience, function harmoniously, and try to keep up with the dynamic Horse!

The Horse, and people born in year of the Horse, are energetic, independent, and confident. Horses dislike restraint or limits placed on their freedom. An adventurer at heart, the Horse is physically quick, and quick-witted, creatively devising new solutions to old issues. The clever optimism of the Horse generally indicates this year to be good for money. This is an excellent time to start new ventures, projects and activities, and an excellent time to travel intrepidly where you’ve never been before.

As we recall, there are 12 Chinese astrological animals, and 5 elements, creating the 60 year cycle. The last Fire Horse year was 1966. Preceding, and preparing us for the Yang Fire Horse was the year of the Yin Wood Snake. The mysterious Snake has a cautious, calculating energetic. According to the 5 Element generating cycle, the Wood of the Snake fuels the Yang Fire of this year. Snakes, as we know, shed their skin to engender new growth. So, by now, we must have all shed any limitation, unburdened ourselves of any restrictive habits or programming that may prevent us from expressing freely, because now is the time to emerge from the darkness into the bright light of the Fire Horse! The Horse is high-spirited, confident, carefree and spontaneous! Let’s saddle up and ride with the wind!

The energetic Horse is the 7th astrological animal, the middle of the cycle, pertaining to the Yang season of summer, and the Yang time of day- 11AM-1PM. Each animal is associated with an element, and the Horse is naturally related to the Fire element, so this is a double Fire year! In the Chinese 5 Element system, Fire controls or transforms Metal. Utilizing the power of Fire, we have the ability to creatively transform elements, forging metal, blowing glass, etc., creating visual beauty. This year is Yang Fire, bright, like the Sun which illuminates all and warms our planet and solar system, making life on this planet possible and beautiful. Last year the Yin secretive Snake brought us inward journeys, and now the bright Yang Fire shines our path in the sun. The Horse moves confidently with nothing to hide.

The element Fire relates to the Heart. According to Chinese medicine, the Heart is referred to as “the Emperor of Organs”. All the organ systems obey the orders of the Heart. The Heart Fire, like the Sun, provides a dependability, a constancy of steady beating that brings life via the vessels to all the organ systems. Chinese medicine operates by achieving and maintaining balance. The Five Elements (fire, earth, metal, water, wood) pertain to the various organ systems functioning in harmonious relationship. For instance, the Heart Fire is balanced by the Kidney Water. The Heart Fire is pacified by Water, not burning in excess, and the Fire warms the Kidney, enabling the movement of Water appropriately throughout the body.

The Heart also holds the “Shen”, frequently translated as “Spirit”. Shen perhaps contains the most complex and ineffable concepts in Chinese medicine. Shen/Spirit is beyond the physical realm, yet it is nourished by Qi and Jing, much in the same way that Fire needs fuel to burn. Shen is displayed in the brightness of one’s eyes. Three Functions attributed to Shen are mental activity or consciousness, the Seven Emotions (joy, anger, grief, sadness, fright, pensiveness/overthinking, anxiety/worry), and the “Five Shens”, subtle aspects of spirit/consciousness pertaining to each of the Five Organ systems. Chinese medicine recognizes that our Spirit is not separate from our physical body and imbalances of Spirit cause physical symptoms. Our Shen/Spirit, alive like Fire, resides in our Heart, and directs our path.

The emotion associated with the Heart is Joy. When our Heart is light, unencumbered, we make choices directing ourselves on a Path of the Heart, the path of enthusiasm. The Horse is freedom-oriented, following intuition and enthusiasm, running without restrictions, making instantaneous choices unencumbered by thoughts. The path of enthusiasm leads to Joy. The Chinese character for Joy (Le, originating from a picture of a drum), means both Joy and Music. Music soothes the Heart and Spirit. The Horse is a social creature- this is a good year for joyful gatherings replete with music and witty repartee.

Energetic Yang Fire Horse needs balance. This year, stay hydrated! Work and play with great creative energy, though try not to get burnt out. Fire needs fuel. Get good sleep- the Yin of sleep balances Yang activity. Fire needs oxygen. Nurture the Fire in your Heart with conscious deep breathing. This is a great year for creative physical activity- build something, make useful art, garden, etc. Be active! Start something fun. Find an exercise/activity that you enjoy and continue it regularly. It is important to stay active.

The Virtue relating to Fire is Propriety, also translated Ceremony or Ritual. As the Fire of the Sun dependably shines for all, and our Heart beats regularly, so does the Emperor/Empress perform beneficial rituals at the appropriate season, balancing Heaven and Earth for the benefit of all people. According to Confucius, the intentionality of ritual ceremony acknowledges an order inherent in Nature and society. Propriety consciously promotes harmony.

Now, however, is the year of the Fire Horse 2026. Propriety is not the term generally used to describe current life in America and elsewhere. What can we expect? Fire is powerfully transformative and the Horse yearns to be unconstrained, yet each need guidance and supervision to function in harmony with the will of humanity. How to utilize the Fire Horse? Let’s study history and see what happened 60 years ago during the previous Fire Horse year.

The Fire Horse 1966 in Japan saw a reduction of births by 25% because people were afraid that girls born in the year of the powerful and independent Fire Horse would upset order by disregarding the authority of their husbands. This movement was derided as superstition, yet the data suggests that the fear of impropriety was quite popular. Meanwhile, in China 1966, the Cultural Revolution began. Like a stampede, or a wildfire, “The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” began during Red August 1966 (Red=Fire) in Beijing. 1 to 2 million people were killed, historical and religious sites were destroyed by the Red Guard who sought to destroy the “4 Olds”: old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits. Schools and universities were closed, 10’s of millions of people were persecuted, sent to re-education camps, and/or massacred. Chaos and violence characterized this revolt against established order. (In 1981, the Communist Party acknowledged that the Cultural Revolution, “10 years of havoc”, was a failure and a severe setback.)

Meanwhile in 1966, Western-type civilization was experiencing profound changes and upheaval, year of the Fire Horse. The Vietnam War escalated and opposition to it increased, accelerated by tv coverage which brought the war daily into homes across America. (Visual Yang Fire illuminating via new technology.) The Civil Rights Movement intensified and the Black Panther Party for Self Defense was founded. 1966 brought a creative revolution of popular music, art, movies and tv. The Beatles released the “Revolver” album and completed their final tour. In March of 1966, John Lennon was quoted as saying The Beatles “were more popular than Jesus.” This led to a fervent crusade by some supporters of Jesus, who disagreed with John’s statement, to burn Beatles albums in huge bonfires, in the year of the Fire Horse.

The wisdom of the Chinese astrological system allows us to study history, applying knowledge of the 60 year cycle to bring awareness to what we now face. According to 5 Element Theory, Fire melts, or destroys, Metal. Metal is form, a framework that can also represent political structure. At this moment in America, the 250 year old democratic framework is threatened. Ultra-rich oligarchs consider the democratic system to be a hinderance to economic freedom. Environmental legislation has been eliminated by decree, removing limits on greenhouse gases benefitting dirty business. Masked military, with questionable legality, is cruelly seizing people. However, what we have seen in Minneapolis has the quality of a wildfire: a mass citizen movement shedding light on the illegitimate racist cruelty enacted on one’s neighbors. Whistles and cellphones! The Yang Fire of this year is bright like the sun and warm like the Heart. Fire illuminates, cellphones document so we can see injustice. Cellphones are to ICE, what televisions were to the Vietnam War. Quasi-illegal activities operate in the shadows, but the Fire Horse operates in bright light. Keep shining. The optimistic Fire Horse has a sunny disposition!

We don’t know what will happen, except that it will be unexpected. Let’s look a little further back to attempt to understand the power and potential intensity of the Fire Horse. In 1906, year of Fire Horse, San Francisco was devasted by earthquake and fire. Mt. Vesuvius erupted violently. There were race riots in Atlanta, and numerous pogroms in Russia and Poland. Certainly, there were race riots and pogroms in other years, but that extremely fanatical and violent mob upheaval has the chaotic and destructive quality of wildfire/stampede, akin to the Cultural Revolution. Can that happen here? Unlikely, despite attempts to demonize segments of our society, most recently immigrants and people with dark skin, (and certainly other segments of our population.) Such demonizing, however, lacks popular support. Okay, but what’s the good news from 1906? Women were given the right to vote in Finland- the first country in Europe to do so. The Pure Food and Drug Act was passed in the US. And the first color photograph was invented by Louis Lumiere! Positive changes!

Okay, enough history. Be here now. What can I do in the year of the Fire Horse to maintain good health?? Do what you want to! But do it. Something new, something physical, something you are enthused about that brings you joy. Build something, make art, travel, gather socially, play, laugh, dance, eat. The Horse is all about that action, practical action. The Horse, being practical, down to earth and operating in the sunshine, is not so susceptible to shady and devious manipulation and lies. If agitated, calm your Heart. Chant the Heart Sutra. Breathe pure oxygen to nourish Heart Fire. If Heart is restless and you can’t sleep, try 4/8 breathing: inhale to a count of 4, then exhale to a count of 8, and repeat. Nourish your Heart and Shen/Spirit by walking in the forest, breathing, looking at the green trees- practice Forest Bathing: Shinrin-Yoku, Japanese forest mindfulness therapy. And as always, act compassionately to nourish the Heart and bring Joy.

The Tibetan Wind Horse, Lung-Ta, flies on the wind carrying the blessings of the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel. The wish essentially being, “May it be as you Wish”, which is the easing of suffering for all. Lung, wind, also signifies the subtle winds, prana, Qi, the positive life force that circulates in our body. May we maintain the positive confidence of the Fire Horse to overcome obstacles, act impeccably, and bring beauty and Joy to all.

This is an exciting time- the best time to be alive, right?! Of course! Ask Mr. Ed. Actually, horses were historically used for warfare and conquering, a la Gengis Khan, so a mad king expanding empire is a possibility. (Qin Shi Huang, who, in 220BCE, named himself the first emperor, comes to mind. He is the one who buried about 670 realistic terracotta horses and warriors to go conquering in the afterlife. He also burned a lot of precious books and people.) Also possible this year, however, is maintenance of the democratic voting structure and a wildfire-like mandate for change in November. Maybe ICE will melt in the bright warmth.

The Fire Horse. Maintain defensible space as wildfires are certainly possible. Balance propriety with carefree independence. This is an optimistic time. Luck is conceivable, but don’t bet the farm. The pace may be hectic at times, so take care to rest and refuel. Yang Fire is very powerful, but Yin Water is the most powerful- hydrate! Receive acupuncture and balance your internal energy and winds. Throw a party. Join a peaceful protest. “Keep your lamp trimmed and burning.”

We learn about the cycles of Nature to improve our time on Earth, to ease suffering. Enjoy the Fire Horse! Thank you for reading this.

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Dr. King.

And it’s not year of the Rabbit, but as Bad Bunny says, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." (I’m not sure it’s the only thing, but thank you Mr. Bunny.)

Gung Xie Fa Choy- May You be very Happy to Receive lots of Money in the NewYear!

Losar Tashi Delek!

May Peace and Love and Kindness prevail on our Planet Earth and beyond. Giddyup!

Jeffrey Haloff LAc. February 17, 2026

Humboldt Acupuncture

Thanks and Respect to all my teachers.