Ken Cohen on the Year of the Fire Horse & You.

Qigong Grand Master Ken Cohen recently posted a blog outlining the effects of the Year of the Fire Horse may have on you personally.

He posted the following [I have only posted some of the blog, please click here to read it in it's entirety]:

2026 Year of the Fire Horse:

Predictions & Possibilities

This year is the Year of the Horse. The horse belongs to the fire element, meaning high energy: a year of passion, bold action, adventure, opportunity, action, movement, vitality, and enthusiasm. There is a Chinese saying Ma Dao Cheng Gong, When the horse arrives, there is success. A good year to get things done, but also a caution to not act impulsively, consider words and actions carefully, no rash decisions. Fire energy may be a portent of aggression and war. It may also lead to volatility, the possibility of sudden changes, whether economic, political, or environmental.

“Elements” of the Year

The 2026 Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse begins February 17th. However, each animal in itself also relates to an element. The Horse belongs to the Fire category. Hence, this is a Fire Fire Year. The first element “fire” is called the “heavenly stem” 天干and represents spirituality. The second element, this year also fire, is called the “earthly branch” 地支and symbolizes the physical/earthly realm, especially the environment and economy.

Elements may be either in harmony or conflict. In this Fire Horse year, the elements are neither in harmony nor conflict; rather they reinforce each other. We must be very careful that the fire not burn or rage out of control, whether in the personal, social, environmental, or political realm. Of all the years in China’s 60-year cycle (12 animals X 5 elements), the Fire Horse is the most yang. For personal and social harmony, balance your fire-like tendencies with the gentle, soft, feminine power of water. Enjoy the energy of the horse, but recognize the power of inaction and meditative tranquility. Emulate the supple and subtle strength of water by practicing gentle, flowing movements such as Tai Chi. And cultivate grounding earth energy by spending more time in nature.

And because fire represents the heart, this is a year to take extra care of your cardiovascular health and everything that affects it, especially diet, exercise, and emotions. Fire also represents inflammation, and, according to the Ben Cao Gang Mu, the great compendium of Chinese herbal medicine, one of the best substances to control both inflammation and fire is tea. The text says, 茶苦而寒， 陰中之陰 ，沉也 ，降也， 最能 降火，火為百病 ，火降則上清矣。”Tea is bitter, cold, yin within yin, sinking and descending, most suitable for reducing fire. Fire is the essence of the myriad diseases. When fire drops, clarity rises.”

Inflammatory conditions may have a tendency to worsen in a fire-fire year. This includes arthritis, gum disease, asthma, diabetes, hepatitis, bronchitis, colitis, allergies, and heart disease. If you have a condition that ends in “itis” it indicates a state of inflammation. Depression and obesity are also directly linked with inflammation and pro-inflammatory chemicals in the blood.

Preparing for the New Year

 February 10 Worship the Kitchen God (Zao Jun). On this day, a week before the New Year, the spirit of the kitchen and stove reports to the Jade Emperor the good and bad deeds of the members of your household. Incense offerings may be made to his image, and Zao Jun is enticed to report sweet words by making a meal that includes sweet desserts in his honor.

 Now, get ready for a new beginning and the renewal of energy that occurs with the new year. Clean your home, clean and clear your mind of worries and negativity. Remember to send Chinese New Year cards!

 February 16 New Year’s Eve. Families symbolically seal their doors with blessing charms and vertical scrolls of Chinese characters embossed on red paper. Examples include: “May Gold and Jade Fill Your Home,” and “Live Long as the Pine and Crane”.

February 17 元旦 New Year’s Day. At dawn open the front door to welcome the energy of the New Year. Some families set off firecrackers as a way of celebrating and to scare away any lingering negative forces. In the morning, I like to light incense and candles on my altar and drink the best tea while savoring the uplifting taste and aroma. It is traditional to have a festive family meal and to wish a happy near year (bai nian) to friends, teachers, and family, especially older relatives who may have been unable to attend the family celebration.

 Particular foods are believed to enhance good fortune if eaten on New Year’s Day, including chicken (for good fortune), fish (for abundance), noodles (for longevity), and dumplings because they look like ancient gold ingots. Avoid duck, because the word duck (ya), sounds like the word that means to oppress. Also, don’t say the number four in Chinese (si), because it sounds like the word for death. On the other hand, some numbers are especially auspicious: three (san) because it sounds like life (sheng), six (liu) because it sounds like “flowing” (also pronounced liu), and eight (ba) because it sounds like wealth (fa). After the meal, the younger generation is happy to receive the traditional gift of red envelopes (hong bao) with money inside. My Taoist teacher, Dr. Huang, always gave me a red envelope on New Year’s Day and encouraged me to offer the same to my students. We also burned incense and performed special rituals at his Taoist altar.

Adapt to Change: Yes and No!

Be aware of positive and negative influences in the year, take some safety precautions, but also realize that we become less subject to outside forces to the extent that we cultivate self- knowledge, awareness, and inner strength. Astrological predictions are not set in stone; they are only influences.

How should we prepare for a year that could bring fiery change, chaos, volatility, and impulsiveness in social, economic, and geopolitical realms, as well as continued global warming and climate change? Should we assume the worst and simply go with the flow? Absolutely not. During times of chaos and injustice it is all the more important to promote stability, justice, and peace. Keep a realistic yet optimistic attitude, lest indulgence in negativity feed negative or evil spirits, which feed on pessimism. Use meditation, personal care, and your network of good people to remain rooted in virtue, integrity, and a core of strength that can no more be imbalanced than changing winds can imbalance a mountain.