Welcome to the Chinese New Year, which started on February 17th, 2026 and will continue until February 6th, 2027. Let’s review the basics of the system that Chinese astrology uses. The Chinese New Year always begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice.
It’s quite amazing that this year it’s not simply the new moon. In addition, February 17th is an annular solar eclipse, which is called the “Ring of Fire”. February 17th also marks the beginning of Ramadan, as well as Mardi Gras. So it kicks off with a real bang and emphasizes the change to fire.
My opinion is that when there are several unusual events occurring at the same time, they all become much more important.
It’s vital to realize that this dynamic Fire Horse energy isn’t just about what’s happening out in the world, but it also reflects how we feel inside. In other words, we will feel as fiery internally as things look externally.
Western and Chinese astrology both have twelve symbols or animals but use them in different ways. Western astrology uses four elements of fire, earth, air and water. Chinese astrology uses five elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth.
Chinese astrology changes the animal each year but keeps the element for two consecutive years. For example, this is the year of the Fire Horse, and next year will be the Fire Goat. Each animal has a unique personality, similar to the western signs of the zodiac, and the element influences each animal. Since there are twelve symbols and five elements, the cycle repeats every 60 years. 12 x 5 = 60. So when a person is 60 years old, it will be the same animal and element as when they were born. The last time we had a Fire Horse year was 1966, and the next Fire Horse year won’t be until 2086!
The Chinese animal for 2025 was the wood snake. This was the perfect time to shed old skins and old patterns. Now that we are hopefully free from the past, we can collectively gallop forward with the Fire Horse. It is nothing less than a pulse in the collective psyche that resurfaces every 60 years.
The Horse is high-spirited, colorful, charming, adventurous, intelligent and corresponds to the western sign of Gemini. His vivaciousness, charisma and sense of humor help him succeed. His testy side is impatient, self-centered, petty and volatile. Yes, he or she has a quick temper, which luckily doesn’t last long.
Chinese metaphysics states that the Horse is yang fire. When it is a Fire Horse year, there is double fire, or double yang. The Fire Horse is the most flamboyant and magnetic of all the animals. He is captivating and just expects to win.
If used correctly, the energy of a Fire Horse year can empower us all. Ideally, we will feel invincible and ready to move forward, and fast!
Keywords for the Fire Horse are:
- The Sacred Rebel
- The Trailblazer
- The Destroyer – Creator
- The Soul that Refuses to Be Contained
- The Horse of Speed and Passion
Fire Horse years coincide with moments in history when humanity is being suppressed and collectively says, “This cannot continue … something must change.”
I so enjoyed looking into history with my Saturn and Neptune in Aries article last newsletter that I decided to do the same with the 60-year Fire Horse cycle. I went back and visited the last four cycles or times we had a Fire Horse year, and sure enough, it was very telling of our current world.
Cycle 1: 1966 The Fire Horse of Awakening
The last time we had a Fire Horse year was 60 years ago. That year was none other than 1966! The Beatles had just landed in the United States; the Vietnam War was being fiercely protested, and the hippie and new age era was born. It was a peak in the civil rights protests. The Watts riots just happened. Youth movements worldwide challenged the old systems. Music, art and a new consciousness expanded dramatically. Bob Dylan had recently released, “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” and President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated, shocking the entire world.
Themes: Youth awakening, cultural revolution and artistic reinvention.
This Fire Horse said: “Wake up. The world is changing.”
Cycle 2: 1906 The Fire Horse of Electrification
The previous Fire Horse year was in 1906. Innovative technologies were emerging with one being the first radio broadcast, which was a poetry reading and a violin solo. Early attempts at aviation were occurring.
Only 10% of homes had electricity, but it was becoming more common. Finland became the first country in Europe to guarantee full women’s suffrage, and women could now run in national elections. It was the year of the devastating San Francisco earthquake.
This was a year of new philosophies and metaphysical beliefs, highlighting Rudolf Steiner’s lectures on the “Science of Spirit” and increased interest in eastern mysticism. Freud and Jung were exploring the inner world.
The first car race occurred, the French Grand Prix in Le Mans, which was fitting for a Fire Horse.
Modernism in art and literature broke the hold of old styles.
But maybe the most important change was that the age of empires was cracking. The Ottoman, Russian and British Empires were overextended. Nationalism was rising internationally. Anti-colonialism was a movement that exchanged domination for sovereignty and self-determination.
Themes: Innovation, spiritual searching and global restructuring.
This Fire Horse said: “You can’t cling to the past.”
Cycle 3: 1846 The Fire Horse of Migration
This Fire Horse year was 1846 and was a turning point year in global migration. It was really a global wave triggered by famine, economic crisis, political upheaval and new transportation styles. The Irish Potato Famine was from 1845 – 1852. Nine million Europeans migrated, mostly Germans, Scandinavians and Central Europeans because of famine and political repression. In the United States, migrations like the Oregon Trail, the Gold Rush movement to California and the Mormons settling in Utah were also happening. Wagon-train migrations were massive. The transportation industry was transformed. Steamships replaced sailing. Railroads expanded, and Telegraph networks emerged. These inventions made long-distance travel much easier.
This was the time of the Mexican-American War. Kerosene was first produced, the Electric Telegraph Company was established in Britain, and Neptune was discovered.
Overall, this was a time of fighting for civil liberties, national sovereignty and the end of aristocratic privilege. This was the year that the dam cracked, leading to the European Revolutions of 1848 when more than fifty European regions experienced uprisings, earning the nickname, “Springtime of the Peoples.” This Fire Horse year accelerated the decline of absolute monarchies, replacing them with the ideas of liberalism and democracy.
Themes: Autonomy, migration and transportation.
This Fire Horse said: ”The journey begins now.”
Cycle 4: 1786 The Fire Horse Year of Revolution
The Fire Horse Year of 1786 was a year leading up to the French Revolution three years later. The problems were economic hardships due to social inequality, privileges for clergy and nobility versus hardships of the commoners. It was also the spread of Enlightenment, which challenged the absolute monarchy. This led to the overthrow of the old order, replacing it with political change.
Themes: Collective liberation and equality.
This Fire Horse said: “Humanity must evolve.”
Looking through the history of recent Fire Horse years, we see a definite pattern. Keywords would be:
1966 – Awakening with youth movement and cultural revolution
1906 – Transformation with new technologies, mysticism and upheaval.
1846 – Migration with scientific innovations.
1786 – Liberation with new philosophies.
Every Fire Horse year is a portal or a threshold for each of us, as well as the collective, to transform.
What can we expect from the current Fire Horse year of 2026? This is the year to ride the Fire Horse and not fear it. It is the year to be courageous and authentic and to reinvent yourself. The entire world will be stepping into a new reality.
I call it the Perfect Cosmic Storm.
In addition to the dynamic Fire Horse year, we have crucial astrology that enhances it tremendously. On February 17th, this Fire Horse cycle started, and on February 20th, Saturn and Neptune conjunct exactly at zero degrees Aries. Here is the link to that article: https://www.susiecox.com/blog/saturn-and-neptune-enter-aries
Pluto has entered revolutionary Aquarius and will remail there until 2044! Radical Uranus will enter vocal Gemini on April 26th and will remail there until 2033! When you put them all together, it is unprecedented and has never happened before like this.
This is the year to become the version of yourself that you’ve been circling for years. Ideally, you will birth the bravest, most confident, radical and fearless side of yourself.
This Fire Horse says: “You are ready for the next level.”