Reflections on the Year of the Yang Fire Horse

As we gathered on Chinese New Year to welcome the Year of the Yang Fire Horse, I found myself reflecting on how easily we misunderstand Fire.

In the collective, Yang Fire is often translated as intensity — bold moves, rapid growth, decisive action. The Horse becomes a symbol of speed, ambition, and forward momentum.

And yet, in the Five Phase tradition, balanced Fire is not frantic. It is the clarity of the Heart. It is warmth that connects rather than consumes. It is illumination without agitation.

During our practice together — standing, breathing, moving slowly with the sound of the crystal bowls — I was reminded that confidence does not come from force. It comes from knowing where your weight is. In Tai Chi, we empty before we move. We root before we step. We shift fully, and only then do we advance.

The Horse, when at ease, does the same. It feels the ground beneath its hooves. It does not waste energy reacting to every sound. It responds when it is time.

This feels like the deeper invitation of the year ahead.

Not to match the speed of the world.
Not to let outer chaos dictate our inner climate.

But to nourish our own flame so it burns steadily.

Yang energy can rise quickly. Fire can flare when overstimulated. If we are not tending ourselves — resting, breathing, choosing connection over performance — that same fire that gives clarity can turn into exhaustion.

To live well in a Fire year is not to push harder. It is to regulate. To stay centered in our truth. To let action arise from alignment rather than urgency.

When the inner flame is steady, we move with quiet confidence. We trust what is unfolding. We know when to act — and when to wait.

May this be a year where we shine without strain.
Where our clarity comes from rooted presence.
Where our confidence is born not of speed, but of steadiness.

Root deeply. Move when it is time. Shine steadily.

And may we all remember, “The flame that is tended will warm the world. The flame that is forced will consume itself.”