 道 – Dào/View"All experiences is the result of karma, and it is the mind that is responsible for the creation of karma, nothing else. Every experience of passing pleasure and pain and all the seemingly small and incidental occurrences of our lives arise because of the mind. However, we have no power or control over the mind at all. We may have in our mind the intention of doing something of a very virtuous and positive nature, but if something goes wrong our mind can change instantly and become very negative. We can also experience states in which we are motivated in a negative, non-virtuous way and then find that our motivation changes and becomes positive. What really controls the mind is lung [Tib.], the ‘wind’ or ‘subtle energy’ that determines the direction that the mind pursues. Thoughts arise in our minds and as they arise and we react to them, we create karma. The Windhorse, the mount upon which the mind rides like a rider on a horse, controls or directs the thoughts arising in our minds. If we are confused about the essential nature of an arising thought, it may well be a cause for the perpetuation of samsara. If there is no confusion about the fundamental nature of the thought, the essence of that thought can free itself into dharmakaya. As the thought frees itself, the enlightened mind of Buddhahood arises. The very same thought can lead to a state of freedom or to a state of confusion, and the direction it takes depends upon lung ta, the Windhorse. When lung ta is low, everything becomes a problem: our ability to make progress with both our worldly projects and the Dharma will decrease. If lung ta flourishes and becomes more positive, then even former tendencies that brought about non-virtuous or negative karma—ordinary thoughts of the five poisons of attachment, aversion, ignorance, jealousy, and pride—can be transformed into a more positive manifestation. They arise in their true nature as the five aspects of yeshe, or 'primordial wisdom' of 'timeless awareness' (rigpa), through the power of Lung Ta." -Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche 心者，君主之官也，神明出焉 The Heart is the Fire at the Center of Our Being, the Sovereign Emperor from which the spirit radiates. -Neijing Suwen Ch. 8  Bĭng Wŭ, 丙午, Qì in the Year of the Yáng Fire Horse As of Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, we officially move back into Bĭng Wŭ, 丙午, the Year of the Yáng Fire Horse, the Traveling Horse. And of course, here is my yearly reminder – astrology is not fortunetelling – we are not here to predict but to play, to run wild and free like a Fire Horse on the open plain. But like the Horse, we are also here to build, train, and put in the work. I present the following symbols as a playful mirror – these are my reflections, but I am not an expert, prophet, or soothsayer. You must study these symbols, reflect on them, and apply them to your life and to the world. We now enter a time of dramatic power and dynamism. The Fire Horse may be the most explosive and energizing symbol of the entire 60-Animal Zodiac, for it is pure Yáng Fire. We are in for a wild ride, and that may scare some of you. But do not worry. The Fire Horse has little interest in doom or gloom, for the Horse is a sunny and optimistic symbol, and it has tremendous potential. I am, therefore, excited and welcome it for many reasons. Above all, the Fire Horse is a symbol of what the Chinese Tradition calls the Jūn Hŭo, 君 火, the Sovereign Fire of the Heart, the spark of life that animates and defines us as sovereign individuals. It is a symbol of self-possession, freedom, and personal responsibility embedded in a larger web of relationships, social harmony, duty, and self-cultivation. The Fire Horse represents a big heart, full of love and compassion, that burns with passion. The Wood Snake year, however, was a bit “doom and gloom,” for the Snake is a symbol of the subterranean underworld. But it was also Yīn Wood, which is soft and pliant, a kind of “gap” or “non-year,” which is not to say nothing happened. Many powerful and transformative things happened, and the world is a very different place! The astrological influence of the Wood Snake, however, was so minimal and hidden that what we saw was not so much the overt influence of the Snake, but rather its secret or hidden influence, what it looks like when things are unobstructed. The Wood Snake hid; it got out of the way and left us to our own devices…and then, slow and sneaky, it led us through an underworld. It was an in-between, a crossroad of internal alchemy and transformation, which now launches us from the underworld into the blazing sun of the Fire Horse! The influence of the Snake may have been minimal, but of course, lots of “Snakey” things happened, so let’s reflect! First, I have some news! Upcoming Book, Online Courses, and Social Media! The big news, if you didn't know, is that I am proud to announce the publication of my book! It is titled, Chinese Polestar Astrology – a Practical Guide to Decoding the Secrets of your Character, Inner Nature, and Fate. It will be published and available worldwide this Summer on August 25th through Shambhala Books and Penguin Random House. It is a full-length, detailed guide to practicing Chinese Polestar Astrology. In it, I walk through (almost) everything I know about how to do what I do. There is, of course, a lot more to cover in future books, but this is the big picture and culmination of over a decade of writing, study, and practice. Writing this book has been a journey. It has been bestowed with blessings and yet fraught with obstacles, as some object to its very existence! But I am delighted with it and can’t wait to share it with you! I am also pleased to announce the upcoming introduction of live online courses. The website has also been revamped, as you can see, and moving forward, I plan to run small cohorts teaching people how to practice Polestar Astrology. The courses will focus on how to follow this tradition as part of a spiritual path, but they will also cover in depth how to read charts for friends, family, and clients. They will be taught in modules over many weeks and months, and I would like to run them once or twice a year. If you are interested, please let me know and stay tuned for more details. Social Media!I am also back on social media after a purposeful year-long hiatus! So follow me on Facebook and Instagram for regular astrological updates! I am starting over from scratch, so any likes, follows, and shares would be much appreciated! Going forward, I would like to post regular musings on Astrology, Dharma teachings, and so on, but I want to know what you all are interested in knowing. Please let me know what kind of updates you may be interested in, and stay tuned, for I will be sending out a survey at some point exploring some potential topics.  Yīn Wood Snake ReflectionBack to the year of the Yīn Wood Snake, which I am afraid I may have underestimated. Or, perhaps, I was spot on. I am still not sure. Such is the mysterious nature of the Snake. Again, last year, I said that this would be a kind of “non-year.” In other words, the Wood Snake is so gentle, so hidden, so transparent that it is as if there was no influence at all, and that itself was a kind of influence. It was a mirror that allowed everyone to be and act without interference, but it also brought us into the depths and darkness of the Snake’s transformational journey through the subterranean underworld. It brought with it the Treasury of Worms that lies beneath the surface—the darkness and shadow. It also had the typical inertia and stillness of all Snake years, which made it challenging to manifest true change above ground in the Yáng world. Below the surface, however, we have been transforming and shedding our skin to emerge now into the bright light of day, into the Yáng Fire Horse. The Fire Horse is the full power of the blazing Sun, and it could not be more different than the hidden baby Wood Snake. This transition is also one of the most dramatic in the Zodiac. The flip from hidden and still Yīn to a boiling, churning, chugging powerhouse of galloping Yáng is jarring. It requires careful reflection. As always, I encourage you to re-read my blog from last year and reflect…how’d it go? Due to our unique Character and Fate, we are each predisposed to have digested the Year differently, so your experiences will vary widely. As always, I am deeply curious about your experience of the Wood Snake and how it unfolded for you…so please share! Personally, this was one of the most difficult and transformative years of my life. This year has been a profound mirror and one of the deepest journeys into the shadow world I have ever experienced. It has brought forward some of the most challenging and complex aspects of my character and trauma to work through and heal. I really feel like I was led through a deep twisting tunnel and shed my skin to emerge on the other side radically different. But it was not a hell realm full of demons, but rather a dark woodland hollow full of roots and spiders, creepy crawlies from under the rock of my own unconscious, turned up for me to look at. The Wood Snake was dark but full of narrow shafts of light piercing through the dirt and shadow to reveal the mycelium of the interconnected web of my own being. It was slow, evasive, and somewhat depressing; it often felt stagnant and inert. It felt like it was difficult to change, get anything done, and stay motivated to accomplish things. I felt somewhat bogged down and called constantly to rest. I have found it difficult this past year to maintain routines and rhythms, and many of my normal activities have fallen by the wayside. It has not been an easy year, but it somehow feels like it was necessary, important, and full of deep alchemy that is not easily appreciated or understood, yet massively transformative in the long run. I have changed more as a person this year than any other, but it has been hard to appreciate this or feel like I can move forward. I am therefore excited to welcome the Fire Horse, which brings with it strong, forward-moving, practical energy. So, that was my personal experience, but what about the rest of the world? What “Snakey” things happened this year? Obviously, there is far too much to discuss, and the entire globe has undergone a massive, Snake-like alchemy, and just like each of us, the globe is poised to shed its skin and emerge radically changed in the coming year. I know, I know, politics are deeply divided. We’re all arguing and outraged. I think what characterized the Wood Snake year for me, regarding the “news,” was a sense of uncertainty, even deception, not being able to trust appearances, combined with quick, sudden changes and events, just like the striking of a Snake. I originally wrote a detailed piece covering all the news events of the year through the lens of the Wood Snake, but I decided, again, not to discuss politics. Reviewing the events of the year, however, is a powerful way to study Astrological symbols. If you are interested in hearing my take on the “politics” of the past year through an astrological lens, please let me know. If there’s enough interest, then I can post a separate blog. However, I will warn you—I am not politically affiliated. I am not on the right or left. I am not a democrat or a republican. I am not a progressive or a conservative. I believe firmly in individual and civil liberty, private property, free markets, limited government, and the rule of law, which are the hallmarks of “classical liberalism,” not because of any ideology, but because out of all the crappy options, these objectively create the most prosperity and the least suffering. That being said, I am a Buddhist. And I am, first and foremost, interested in truth-seeking, reality, and alleviating suffering. I am deeply interested in understanding politics, history, and economics through both objective evidence and the lived experience of real people. This is what informs my worldview from the ground up. You could call me a radical centrist, and this informs how I approach everything from politics to economics and beyond. Any astrological report dissecting politics would be a call to the sanity of centrism and rational debate. If this sounds interesting, please let me know! And please feel free to share your reflections! What Snake-like events stood out to you? How do you see and understand everything that happened in terms of the Wood Snake? As the Wood Snake comes to an end, we begin our transition into the Yáng Fire Horse. As we go through the following symbol, think about the year that we have come from, the state of your life, relationships, your community, your work, and so on, and expand this out to the world. What happened in the Wood Snake year that will change, come to fruition, improve, or struggle, considering this new symbol? With that in mind, let’s jump into the symbolism of the Fire Horse.  象 Symbolism So, we now collectively move into the pattern of Horse Qì, which happens to be part of my Character, as I was born on a Metal Horse Day. But this year is the Fire Horse. Fire is the Native Element of the Horse, so this year is the quintessential and most characteristic of Horse years. The Horse is an ancient symbol of the Wind, Praṇa/Vayu, Qì, and Lung (rlung in Tibetan). In Tantra and East/Central Asian Shamanism, the image of the “Wind Horse,” the Lung Ta, is an allegory for the Human Spirit of Awakening. The symbol of the Horse is an ancient and powerful Shamanic symbol central to the cultures of Mongolia, China, and Tibet. To understand the Symbol of the Horse, we must understand the role of the Horse in these ancient cultures as a symbol of freedom and expansion. The Horse, in many ways, shaped their history, primarily due to warfare, and the Fire Horse defines warriorship, physicality, and explosive power. The Horse spoken of in Chinese Mythology is the Mongolian rather than the Arabian Horse, which any equestrian person will tell you are very different kinds of horses. The Chinese attempted to train the Mongolian horse to work for a long time, but no amount of breeding and whipping coerced them to plow straight furrows, for they had no attention span and were wild. Eventually, the Chinese discovered the ox/water buffalo from the south, revolutionizing agriculture. But what about the horse? Mongolians and the famous Genghis Khan would bring down the horse as an instrument of war. The Mongolian Horse and the bow and arrow allowed Genghis and his grandson Kublai to dominate Asia. When the Chinese first saw Mongolians riding horses into battle, arrows, and swords flying, they discovered the true power of the horse, which had been abandoned in China as a plow animal. The first depictions of the Horse were a lot like the Dragon, and many of these elements would make their way into the depiction of the Dragon, for the Horse could ride so fast that it appeared to be flying. They let the reins down, put on a war saddle, and the Horse came to life. With just a little direction rather than strict control, the Mongolian Horse became the most productive tool in the Chinese military and aided in the great expansion of the Tang Dynasty. Emperors and Generals bred them successfully for war throughout Chinese history, and they were always associated with martial arts and warriorship. The image of the War Horse represents the Horse’s native element, Yáng Fire. The Fire Horse is an explosion of force, a wild stallion, uncontrollable yet capable of immense power and control if directed with skill. Like fire, the Horse represents a powerful tool that can be creative or destructive, depending on its use. The genuine impulse of the Horse is to run free, wild, and explode out, which is why Horses and Tigers get along, for the Tiger represents a similar explosion of force. The Tiger, Yáng Wood, is an immature, childlike impulse, while the Horse, Yáng Fire, is the teenage, adolescent angst, rebellious, leaping over boundaries and running wild. Each elemental version of the Horse represents a relationship to this impulse. The impulse of Yáng Fire is to energize, catalyze, activate, stimulate, transform, overpower/overcome, surprise, rebel, destroy, and excite. All Horse Characters have this lying in their nature. I was born on a Metal Horse Day, so this is part of my Character, albeit not as potent as the Year/Hour. Hopefully, then, I can share some personal insight into the nature of the Horse, which is an integral part of me. The Metal Horse, of which I am in part, and of whom I know many (1990), the “Horse in the Stall,” has a fundamental difficulty with this explosive nature—Fire “melts” Metal, leading to a kind of self-conflict and doubt. The Metal Horse wrestles between freedom and control, but their Metal exteriors make them capable of power and self-discipline in a way the Fire Horse is not. The Fire Horse is a pure wild stallion, and traditionally, in China, those born in these Years would have been sent with Fire Tigers to the military as cannon fodder. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Water Horse, the least “horsey” Horse, is more like a Clydesdale or the Budweiser Horse, the explosion extinguished, happy to be trained and trotted around. The symbol of the Horse has a lot to do with the animal itself. Horses are big and physical; they are all muscles and tendons. Mongolian horses have huge asses and hind legs, which make them powerful runners and jumpers. This physicality represents a kind of embodiment, so Horse Qì is by nature very embodied - the Horse's impulse is to feel, be, and do immediately rather than think. The Horse's opposite, the Rat, has the opposite impulse; Rat Qì tends to think and scheme, while the Horse represents what Chan Buddhism calls “no-mind.” No-mind represents embodied action without thinking and planning. Horse Qì is “doing,” but without great premeditation, like a Chan Monk sweeping the courtyard or raking stones in the garden. Horse Qì lends itself to the non-conceptual state. Horse Qì is the Wisdom of Manifestation. Suppose the Rat represents everything splintered into pieces, needing to be organized and put back together. In that case, the Horse represents the final manifestation of this in the cycle of Time, everything manifesting and functioning efficiently. Horse is D.I.Y. and manufacturing—the strength to work and put things together. The Horse is all about working and doing, like the Ox, but they are the Yáng version—muscle, speed, and power, and they can burn out, while Oxen can slowly plow forever. Horse Qì is also the outcome of the Snake. Suppose Snake represents a cynical, piercing emptiness capable of disembodied depression. In that case, the flip side of Big Yīn turning to Yáng is a kind of straightforward, logical, no-nonsense practicality. The Snake questions whether the world even exists, and the Horse just gets to work. Emptiness roaring back to form. Why think about emptiness when there is stuff to do? The Horse represents an “edgy” balance, part wild, part trained, and this gives the Horse a certain regal dignity; they allow us to use their strength, but if they want, they can leap the fence and take off. The Horse’s strong, independent nature is extraordinarily successful when set to orderly tasks. For the Horse, stuff is to do things with, and they tend not to need anything unless it represents “work,” even if that work is spiritual. Horse Hour, from 11 am to 1 pm, or High Noon, is the full height of the Sun. It is the time of day when we are at our peak and most productive. It is the time of the day for work, labor, and getting stuff done. It is Yáng Fire, the bright, burning heat of Summer when the light is the most active, warming, moving, catalyzing. If you were born between 11 am and 1 pm, you should also consider yourself part Horse.  氣 Qì Dynamics/ Wǔ Yùn Liù Qì The Qì dynamics of this year are easy to understand. The Native Element of the Horse is Yáng Fire, and the Outer Element this year is Yáng Fire. Therefore, there is a kind of harmony and congruency this year, called Balanced Fire, or Ping Qì. There are no battling Qì Dynamics or elemental disharmonies. Therefore, things flow well overall, and the negative tendency is that the power and energy of the year are overwhelming and excess. Yáng Fire is energizing, catalyzing, activating, stimulating, transforming, overcoming, surprising, rebellious, destructive, exciting, and powerful. It rises upward, generating growth, vigor, and courage. Yáng Fire is the most aggressive, engaged, and passionate of influences. The Qì Dynamic this year is explosive and bright, and it exaggerates all the Horse qualities in all of us and throughout the world. The Wǔ Yùn Liù Qì, or the Five Movements and Six Qì, of the Fire Horse year is also defined by a massive concentration of Fire energy we can refer to as a "Double Fire" or even a "Triple Fire" year. The annual or "Great Movement," or Da Yun, which is determined by the heavenly stem Bing, 丙, is all Fire. The climatic influences for the year are determined by the earthly branch Wu , 午. The Heavenly Governor, or Si Tian, is the Sovereign Fire, the Shaoyin Jun Huo, 少阴君火. This governs the first half of the year (starting February 4) and sets a baseline of intense, radiant heat throughout the year. The Source Qì, or Zai Quan, is Cold Water, or Taiyang Han Shui, 太阳寒水. This governs the second half of the year, potentially causing a sharp clash with the year's dominant Fire and leading to sudden, volatile changes. The Fire Horse year is categorized as a "Heavenly Penalty" year. This occurs because the Fire movement is "penalized" by the branch's inherent Sovereign Fire, creating a conflict where dominant heat overpowers other seasonal elements, particularly Water and Metal. We can therefore expect extreme summer heat, potential drought, and unseasonably warm periods followed by sudden cold snaps in late winter. In terms of health, the year places high stress on the Heart and Kidneys, and we can expect things like cardiovascular strain, inflammatory conditions, fevers, dehydration, and loss of Jinye fluids. Emotionally, the intensity may lead to restlessness, impulsiveness, or burnout if not balanced with cooling and grounding activities.  形 Manifestation/Character Now that we have covered the symbolism and Qì Dynamics, let’s get into key words for the Horse and talk about how this symbol manifests in/as people—what about babies born in this or any Year of the Horse? This year, these characteristics are more available to everyone! Try to imagine what these qualities would be like applied to the whole world. What if we’re all a little more “Horsey?” So, the first keywords for the Horse are social, gregarious, yet independent. Horses in the wild are social animals, running in packs. Having a social life and seeking social interaction and engagement are important to the Horse Character. Like the Goat, the herd instinct is part of the Horse, but the social nature of the Horse is much different. Horses seek to be independent despite their herd mentality, so their social impulse is often somewhat competitive. Horses are showmen, like Clydesdales. They want to socialize, but they also want to run free and impress everyone with their speed and strength. They tend to be gregarious, friendly, fond of parties, and have fun. They can, of course, be introverted, but the direction of Yáng Fire is outward-moving. Horses can enjoy solitude, but their inward expression moves out. At their best, Horses tend to be blessed with a “sunny” disposition. They can be bright, open, cheerful, and optimistic. Yáng Fire tends to look on the bright side of life. The Horse's disposition tends toward innocence, which often attracts people to them. Their sunny optimism lends naturally to humor. Horses are often jokesters; funny is critical to the Horse mentality, such is the term “horsing around.” All the Horses I know like to play and horse around. They’re natural comedians. On the flip side, the independence and social qualities of the Horse can turn anti-social, even criminal, and violent. At their best, Horses are not loners, but the nature of Yáng Fire is hot-tempered, angry, and rebellious. Their anger can lead to outbursts, which are often thoughtless. The tendency to do/act without thinking can have consequences. The bucking bronco can stamp on people, situations, relationships, etc. If their attempts at sociability don’t go their way, they can ride off into the sunset, never to be seen again. In general, the independent, wild quality of the Horse should/can never be held in. Like the Dragon and Tiger, any attempt to box in or control a Horse will be met with disaster. If restrained, they become bitter and exhibit destructive behavior. Horses can be “tamed,” but their nature is wild inside. Self-discipline for Horses is like harnessing a wild animal. The Horse's nature is fast; they do and act quickly without hesitation. With training and proper direction, Horse Qì can be put to work and is associated with strength and industry. Horses have an immense capacity to get shit done, to be the “workhorse,” as we say. Horse Qì represents the all-American virtue of productivity—just get me back to work. For many Horses, life is about work, and without something to do, they get restless, bored, and useless. Horse restlessness can be profound; they must direct themselves to tasks and projects, whether learning, reading, building, exercising, organizing, etc. Horse Qì represents craft and trade work, D.I.Y, practical and functional art. Tiger or Monkey may represent abstract art, but Horse Art, which you can sit in or do something with, like furniture or pottery, represents the dying virtue of the craft guilds. Ming used to jokingly refer to Horses as being kind of like lumberjacks/carpenters/handymen. Home Depot could be called “Horse Depot.” Horses express themselves through creating and manifesting. If they do not create, they stagnate. Of course, not all Horses are handy, but they all express some fundamental need to manifest/create. On a deeper level, this work mentality comes from embodiment, vitality, and physicality. Horses need to move and use their bodies. They need to run, hike, work out, or do anything to get moving, or else they will get restless. Horses, by nature, are also very “outdoorsy,” for this physicality cannot stay indoors too long. Horses yearn for the great outdoors and open plains and must connect with the eternal blue sky. On an even deeper level, this embodiment represents the Horse's profound capacity to feel. Despite their strong exteriors, Horses are very emotional, but they tend to express emotion more through doing rather than saying. Ming once joked about “Horse love,” a dad letting his Son use his tools. The Horse may be affectionate, but they often show rather than tell and not always through touchy-feely means. Horse Qì may not be all hugs, and if a Horse Dad makes his son a swing set, this is pure love because he made it for him. The thoughtless, active, and embodied quality of the Horse can be accident-prone. Horses can have a carelessness that tends to “not notice.” Physically, this can lead to self-injury, knocking things over, spilling coffee on your lap, falling off your bike, and so on. Mentally/emotionally, horses may have difficulty noticing and acknowledging other people’s feelings, and they may say and act carelessly and stomp all over others. The reverse of being accident-prone is cleverness. Horse Qì represents what is now called “MacGyver” ingenuity—the ability to problem-solve practically, throwing a bunch of stuff together into makeshift solutions. They can take something broken and find ten ways to assemble it. Or not. Horses can also be very clumsy. This ingenuity also expresses the virtue of thoughtlessness, which is the ability to work efficiently through embodied skill. All the “Zen and the Art of…” books represent Horse Qì. You practice and practice and practice archery, each time getting in your own way because you keep thinking. And the thousandth time, you relax and release the arrow without effort. Watching master craftspeople, chefs, dancers, and anyone who embodies a skill is a Horse Qì ballet. This cleverness also lends itself to eloquence and talkativeness, think Mr. Ed. "A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course." Horses make great orators and speakers, and they love to chat. Horse Qì can put their cleverness and ingenuity to work anywhere, including speech, and they love to impress people with this clever eloquence. This eloquence comes from a kind of direct honesty. Horses are honest because they don’t overthink. And so, their rhetoric can be very profound; they say what others feel. This often creates a kind of magnetism. Horses are attractive people. Their strength, cleverness, and ability are what most people seek yet never find, for Horse Qì is full manifestation without complication. This capacity can lead to arrogance and stubbornness, but horses are arrogant without realizing it. Horse stubbornness is a know-it-all showoff bravado, but it does not show off because it thinks it is better than people; it just loves showing off. They need to do something with all their strength. Horses are stubborn, and they are hard-pressed not to give advice or tell people how to do things—they know best. Horse stubbornness is demonstrated in the old cliche of men not wanting to stop and ask for directions or call a repairman. The Horse's personality is consistent and straightforward. Like the Ox, they tend to remain constant in their thoughts, actions, and lifestyle—they’re not prone to significant changes in terms of personality. You may not see a Horse for ten years, and no matter how much they have changed, they seem like the same old person. They may be wild, adventurous, world-traveling people, but nonetheless, they seem consistent. Some Characters, like the Snake, are a mystery. The Horse, being the outcome of Snake, is no mystery. What you see is what you get. Horse Qì is not about plumbing the depths. Which is not to say they’re not deep. Horses do not play games; they do not mislead, misdirect, or manipulate; they just are and do. All that would require too much thinking. The Horse symbol is one of power, majesty, and freedom. The Lung Ta, the Wind Horse, symbolizes the human spirit of adventure but also aggression. The Horse is raw, dynamic power and strength, pure vitality; it rides hard and can burn out in a blaze of glory, dying with honor on the battlefield. The Horse characterizes the wild shamanic nomads of Central Asia, Mongolia, Tibet, and Northern/Western China. It is the wide-open expanse of the great plains and eternal blue sky. Freedom is the Horse's impulse, dancing with the edge of restraint. Horse Qì is a turning point in the Zodiac. From here, the Horse turns to Goat, and the cycle begins to resolve itself. The rest of the Zodiac represents a kind of completion, a return to source. In terms of the Five Horses, each has its unique characteristics that contribute to the overall understanding of the Horse zodiac sign. The Wood or Cloud Horse is the most restless, withdrawn, and unfocused of Horses, and they are shy but also self-assured. The Fire or Travelling Horse is the most natural of the Horses, and they are the most outspoken, quick-tempered, and skillful, but their restlessness is profound. The Earth or Corralled Horse is daring, impulsive, and strong, and the Earth helps them to stabilize and manifest. The Metal or Horse in the Stall is the most restrained and frustrated but also the most talkative and insightful of Horses. And the Water or War Horse is the most emotional and least restless of the Horses, as the Water quells the blazing Fire. Understanding these different characteristics provides a comprehensive view of the Horse zodiac sign.  器 Synthesis, Application, and “Predictions.”  Okay, now for the fun part…what’s going to happen this year!? You tell me! As always, I hope that by presenting these symbols, I have given you enough vocabulary to think about this for yourself – so imagine into your life, the world as you perceive it, and let the symbols speak. Hold everything with a light touch - this isn't fortune-telling. As I mentioned in the beginning, we now enter a time of dramatic power and dynamism. The Fire Horse may be the most explosive and energizing symbol of the entire 60-Animal Zodiac. It is a chugging, powerhouse of Yáng. But what does this mean? To get a taste, I thought I would review what is to me the most emblematic event of the last Fire Horse Year, which, unfortunately, demonstrates the worst in this symbol: the Cultural Revolution in China. The Cultural Revolution The most iconic example of the Fire Horse was, unfortunately, the Cultural Revolution in China. In the last Wood Snake year, 1965, amidst intensifying internal power struggles in China, Chairman Mao Zedong orchestrated the Snake-like maneuvers that would launch the Cultural Revolution, which officially began in 1966 with the Fire Horse year. It radicalized Chinese society, especially the youth, as the “Red Guard” (with red symbolizing Yáng Fire), and plunged China into a decade of chaos and systematic state-sponsored campaigns of violence that killed millions of people. This was preceded by the catastrophic failure of communist collectivism in the Great Leap forward, the worst famine in human history, personally launched and driven by Mao Zedong, which killed upwards of 60 million people. In the Red Guard, millions of students formed paramilitary groups who publicly humiliated, tortured, and murdered teachers, intellectuals, and officials in "struggle sessions." The movement sought to preserve "true" Communist ideology by purging "capitalist" and "traditional" elements from society, eliminating the "Four Olds": old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits. Countless ancient temples, historical artifacts, libraries, and religious sites were looted or destroyed. China attempted to commit cultural and almost literal suicide. This event demonstrates the potential for rebellious, violent, and chaotic upheaval in the excess fire of this symbol. What lessons can be learned from this? What parallels do you see today? Because there are many… Okay, now on with the show! Personal Let’s start with the personal. Part of me wants to say—put on a helmet and strap in! But let’s not jump into negative interpretations, for this is a bright and sunny symbol, and it does not have to go the way of the Red Guard. But let’s also not be naïve—this year could be wild, chaotic, and even destructive. But don’t let that scare you. Let the Fire Horse year energize and inspire you. Let the heart overflow with love and compassion. If you have been feeling depressed, stuck, stagnant, gloomy, pessimistic, tired, lazy, and so on—drop the nonsense and welcome the Yáng Fire! Welcome the physicality and embodiment of the Horse. Get passionate and get moving! Look on the bright side, as the saying goes. Remember, by all objective metrics, we are living in the most prosperous era in human history, characterized by record life expectancy, high standards of living, and a significant long-term decline in global poverty. Statistically, this is one of the least violent periods in human history. Civilization is not coming to an end. The whole world seems to be locked in conflicting patterns of social trance and cult behavior driven by misinformation, bias, echo-chambers, and revisionist histories, and there are many forces actively driving misinformation to create fake or biased content to distort reality and manipulate public opinion. So, get out of the internet algorithms that feed you doom and gloom and go touch grass! The Fire Horse represents the bright side of things—it is the blazing sun of high noon. So let in the light. The Fire Horse is illumination and energy. It is as if the Qì of the year is shoveling coal into your engine, putting gas in your tank, or lighting a fire under you. The Fire Horse is practical, accomplishing, task-oriented, and loves building, creating, and doing things, so get shit done, which is the true Horse-year cliche! This year, you can better accomplish goals, move forward, and build a better life in all worldly and practical ways. This year is excellent for personal routines, discipline, mastery, learning, and in all the arenas where these can be applied—health, finance, work, etc. This year is all about self-possession, freedom, and personal sovereignty—this year’s blog is titled: A Sovereign Fire, which refers to the Imperial Fire of the Heart, represented by the Horse. So, inhabit your own life and know yourself, find out what you want and need, and make it happen. Personal freedom and independence will be important this year. This is a double-edged sword because we must also accept limitations and do things we don’t want to do. This year may therefore be challenging. So, find a balance. Stand up for yourself, but cooperate. Don’t join the Red Guard, lol. Think for yourself and don’t follow the madness of crowds. You may feel called to burn everything down, but wait. It isn't what you think it is. The Horse is all about building things up, not tearing them down. The danger this year is getting too worked up and overdoing it. You may feel trapped, rebellious, like you need to jump the fence and run free. You may be inspired to the point of mania. You may overwork, take on too much, and burn the candle at both ends. You may pile too many tasks on your plate and overshoot your capacity. So be realistic, plan, and work within your means, but get to work! Watch out for accidents and dramatic upheavals. Have patience with yourself and others. And play! The Fire Horse is funny, playful, and social. This year is great for parties, social events, comedy, concerts, sports, and so on. Tell jokes, live, laugh, love, all that stuff. The Horse is a straightforward, no-nonsense energy that shoots from the hip and tells it like it is. It does not tolerate nonsense. Drop the stories, drop the conspiracies, and drop the dark, depressing, pessimistic cloud hanging over you…trust me, it’s there. Relationships/Family This is an overall excellent year for relationships and family, but we must remember that the symbol of the Fire Horse is independent and self-possessed. It wants to do things on its own terms in its own way. So, focus this year on being your best self. Again, remember the Sovereign Fire of the Heart, represented by the Horse. Be self-possessed. Inhabit and embody your own being fully and approach relationships from a place of self-awareness and sovereignty. Know what you want and need, and communicate it clearly—the Horse is honest, eloquent, and straightforward. No hidden agendas or sneakiness. Last year was a journey into the dark unconscious depths of the psyche, full of uncertainty and mystery, but not this year. Be plain and speak truthfully with yourself and with family and friends. Hold strong personal boundaries, routines, and self-discipline. Focus on self-mastery. Hold yourself accountable, take responsibility for your own thoughts and actions. Stop blaming others, and relationships will flourish. This is a year to show rather than tell. The Horse is not touchy-feely but rather shows love through acts of service. Do things for people. Get practical, be useful—what can you do, build, make, offer, or take care of to make other people’s lives better? Serve people with love and compassion without reservation. In terms of love relationships, this is an excellent year for fun, adventure, and teamwork. If you are single, it is great for parties, socializing, and meeting people. For committed partnerships, it is all about building a life, a future, doing projects, and manifesting what you want. I am sure that you transformed and learned a lot in the Wood Snake year, so put all that stuff to use with the people you love. This is also an excellent year all around for friendship and camaraderie, so make new friends and focus on doing stuff together rather than alone. In all relationships, look out for impatience, immaturity, anger, explosive arguments, and acting out. Don’t be surprised if you or others throw tantrums or lose control. Patience is a supreme virtue this year. Pay attention to how emotions are stored and expressed unconsciously in the body and learn to self-regulate. Watch out for violence, fights, brawls, and so on, as this is the year for things to get out of hand. Political Okay, we head into this year with a lot of contentious issues brewing in the US and abroad. The international landscape right now could best be described as one of “controlled disorder.” We have high-stakes midterm elections in the United States, and more than 40 countries, representing 1.6 billion people, will hold national elections in 2026. So, first, on the bright side, we will see a lot of change! The capacity for our leaders to actually accomplish things is much higher, so the Horse focus should be on implementing real policy with real practical concerns, like things that actually affect the now buzzword “affordability,” like housing regulations, with a focus on the nuts and bolts of economics, infrastructure, and tangible plans. The Horse is not abstract or ideological—it is practical, and with real intelligent planning, many things can be accomplished this year. So, the Horse political advice is forget ideologies—forget right and left, forget conservative and progressive – just focus on the active processes of governing, campaigning, and decision-making where abstract theories meet real-world constraints. The three Horse questions for this year are: Compared to what? At what cost? And what hard evidence do you have? Ask these, and politics will stay in the practical realm of the Horse. If we take the Cultural Revolution as an example, then we can “predict” a potential greater rise in political violence. 1966 was called the “Red Terror” in China, in which teachers, intellectuals, and "class enemies" were subjected to public humiliation, physical abuse, and torture to force confessions of political deviance. In "Red August" 1966, 1,772 people were murdered in Beijing alone, many of them educators killed by their own students, and the Red Guards invaded over 100,000 homes in Beijing, burning millions of books and paintings and destroying thousands of historical sites! Could something like this happen again? Do we see the foundation for these kinds of movements gaining momentum? I hope not, but there are signs everywhere of a "normalization" of extreme views, and political violence in 2026 is projected to intensify globally…I make no predictions, but I will say: don’t join the Red Guard! I can be hard because it gives people power, and everyone is doing it. If you don't join, then you may be on the receiving end of the mischief. "Being on the right side of history" is tempting, but it may actually be wrong…the energy of social contagion, crusading, and campaigning is strong this year, but wait! So, slow down, question your media bias, and break out of bubbles and echo chambers! Remember that the truth is full of nuance, complexity, and gray areas that do not fit neatly into tidy narratives. Because the truth is nuanced and difficult, it requires that we study and engage deeply with differing viewpoints on the complexities of history, economics, religion, culture, and so on, and this can be challenging and tedious. If we are interested in truth, we must be open to changing our minds when confronted with reality. Global So, how do we scale the Fire Horse globally? Overall, I expect a combination of dramatic change, forward progress, and intense action. On the positive side, the ability for countries to grow, expand economically, and improve is great. But the likelihood of conflict is unfortunately high, as the Horse can inspire antisocial violence, so the possibility of war and the escalation of already existing conflicts is high. The Snake was all about hard, fast strikes, squeezing strategies, and slow transformation. We saw a lot of short skirmishes and secret strikes. The Horse may topple regimes and inspire invasion and large-scale conflict, as the Horse is the symbol of riding into battle. All the flashpoints of the world can go hot, and I would not be surprised if some things blow up. Economic/Career This may be one of the more positive prospects, and the Fire Horse is the quintessential image of work and industry. On a personal level, keep the image of the workhorse in mind. This may be a demanding year that inspires a strong work ethic. This is a year to roll up your sleeves and get dirty. Your capacity for focus, physical labor, ingenuity, and problem solving are all enhanced, so you may thrive in the workplace. This is a year for “blue collar” and skilled professions to thrive. This is not a year for “information work.” So, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, construction workers, welders, truck drivers, farmers, factory workers, firefighters, police officers, and so on – jobs that “built America,” and dangerous jobs that no one else wants to do, these are all very Fire Horse. The potential for progress, expansion, and wealth is all strong—this year is all about practical human capital. So, a strong work ethic, punctuality, good communication, education, personal skills, professional experience, networks, industry connections, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a team all become powerful tools this year. If you can step up, put in the work, and focus on real skill building and craftsmanship, then this can be one of the best years for career and economic growth, perhaps the best of all 60 years. Regarding the bigger picture, there is a lot of talk about bringing industry back to the USA, and I expect a lot of movement in this regard. The potential for a lot of economic growth is there, but it is hard to say, as last year was so unpredictable. However, I expect a booming economy this year, and that we will be surprised by what comes. Technological I am sure that AI will continue to be the big focus, but in the Horse year, it will likely transition from experimentation into rigorous evaluation and practical utility, with a focus on efficiency and the emergence of physical AI. Expect robots! The Horse year could bring AI to life and make it practical and tangible, and I expect this to be a breakout year for robotics and automation. Hopefully, we can adjust as a culture, as the risks of AI are staggering, but so are the rewards. Quantum computing, too, has reached a pivotal "inflection point," and I suspect that the Fire Horse will empower a big transition from theoretical research into practical deployment and tangible engineering milestones. That is the big theme this year – jumping from theory to practice. Expect ingenuity and grand adventure. The Artemis II is projected for 2026, and it is the first crewed mission in NASA's Artemis Program, designed to return humans to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. This is very Fire Horse—big rockets and machines blasting into space. SpaceX is also publicly committed to a 2026 launch for its first uncrewed Starship missions to Mars, which is very Fire Horse! Artistic Not everyone is an artist, but this year, everyone can be artistic, because this year is all about practical art. Fixing your sink this year can be an artistic expression. Learn skills, work with your hands, and try to master something. Forget AI and think DIY. Any project or practical concern can become Horse art if you take care in the “how-to” of things. Bring back old-world skills and knowledge. Learn how to make clothes, woodwork, make food from scratch, hunt and gather, garden, and so on. Imbue these activities with artistic care and craft functional beauty. Make art that you can use, sit in, wear, or eat. Focus on skills, practice, and discipline. Don’t worry about the final product; rather, absorb yourself in the process and lose yourself in the physicality of art – brush strokes, carving, tactile sensation, textures, materials, and so on. Do this even in mundane, everyday activities, and you can imbue the year with a sense of artfulness. And whatever you do for work, get better at the craft and skill of it, and even the most boring job can become meaningful. Physical sports that require grace, style, and creative expression are also very Horsey: ballet, Olympic sports, artistic swimming, figure skating, gymnastics, breakdancing, surfing, skateboarding, parkour, equestrian dressage, competitive dance – these are all forms of Horse art. When it comes to simply enjoying sports, Horse Qì is very simple and can love a good football game as well, no need to be fancy. But the Fire Horse may get really into sports stats. Stand-up comedy is, to me, quintessential Horse-art. Horses are eloquent, funny, and light-hearted, and comedy may become an artistic theme this year. I think we can all agree that Hollywood comedy is in decline, but there has been a resurgence in stand-up comedy over the past few years. I expect this not only to continue but to grow significantly. I would not be surprised to see a resurgence of Hollywood comedy and a return to the old-school offensive style of humor that the mainstream has become terrified of. People need to laugh; everything has felt so heavy and serious in the past year. So, go see some comedy! Tell dumb “dad” jokes. It doesn’t need to be sophisticated or insightful. Slapstick, "low-level" humor is very Horse. And learn to see humor in everything. The Snake sees how absurd everything is and gets depressed, but the Horse just laughs at everything! Spirituality The Fire Horse year is all about meditation in action. The Snake was spacious, still, and calm, but the Fire Horse is the opposite. Stillness will be more challenging, but focus will be enhanced, for the Fire Horse is like a speeding bullet, a laser beam. The Horse is all muscle and movement, and embodiment is the word of the year. Feel. Be in the body. The awareness of the body is non-conceptual. It is pure sensation. This is the second application of mindfulness in Buddhism – Mindfulness of Feelings or Vedananupassana. Sensations are either pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral – notice the "push-pull" struggle of the mind—clinging to pleasure and pushing away pain—be non-reactive and observe this without interference; this develops equanimity, and the spiritual path need not be more complicated than this. Of course, you can practice embodiment and awareness of the sensation in seated meditation, but the Horse is all about movement. So physical practices like the various postural Yogas, Qi Gong, Taiji, and so on are all much more potent. And as I mentioned before, all the “Zen and the Art of…” books are all very Fire Horse. So, archery, for example, is a powerful Horse meditation. Practice the same physical act repeatedly until you can do it without thought, without the mind interfering. Pursue the perfect repetition. AS the old Chan/Zen adage goes, “chop wood, carry water.” Washing dishes, cutting vegetables, raking leaves or sand, cultivating a garden, and so on—all these can be embodied meditations in action. Feel the muscle, the movement, the sensation, and get out of the way. Wuwei is a Horse ideal—non-striving, non-forcing, relaxed, and effortless action. Character building is also an important aspect of the Horse, and something that often gets overlooked in spiritual development. We are often eager to jump over character development in the pursuit of transcendental experience. But the foundation of the path is being a good person, and we must work out our character flaws, trauma, and psychological “issues”; otherwise, they will come back to haunt us. But the Horse does not overthink and delve into an analysis of feelings; it gets to work. They work out their issues through adversity and challenge. Some of the most powerful therapies we can do are hard, physically challenging tasks. So run a marathon, climb a mountain, do a triathlon—anything that pushes you to your edge and forces you to overcome the odds. Doing challenging things with others in the community—volunteer to build houses or a church. Volunteer in a disaster or do a job that no one else wants to do. Step up. Build character, grit, and gumption. Do hard things that benefit others. Challenge yourself to grow and get out of your comfort zone. And do it with a heart on fire. The Horse is a symbol of the Heart, the Heart that overflows with love, compassion, and the determination to overcome all odds. Secretariat is a great Fire Horse story, so watch it and get inspired. And run wild. The Sovereign Fire of the Heart is self-possessed and defies the cages we put on ourselves and others. Don’t be a doormat; do not forsake your boundaries; do not be needless—know who you are, what you want, and make it happen. Follow your path with integrity and courage. The Big Picture The big picture of this year is difficult to “predict.” The Qì of this year is an absolute powerhouse. This Fire Horse is the most powerful, dynamic, and explosive of all 60 Qì Characters, perhaps, only outdone by the Fire Dragon. It is so powerful that it could change the world—for better or worse, but I am leaning toward better. The Fire Horse is bright, optimistic, forward-thinking, and full of love. Nothing is hidden, deep, mysterious, or deceptive in the year of the Fire Horse. Everything is obvious, on the surface, out in the open, straightforward, and clear. The Fire Horse is no-nonsense and doesn’t tolerate bullshit. So, I think we are going to snap out of a lot of our bullshit. The power of this year is a real opportunity. If we can get on the saddle and ride the Fire Horse, then it can be one of the most transformative, exciting, and positive years in a long time.  12 Animal Forecast Now, let’s go through the 12 Animals and offer a map for the upcoming year – how do we each ride the wild stallion? Outer Elements: Wood Signs (+): Mother of Fire – your outer element supports and emboldens the year; this could be draining, but more likely it will be generative and result in you positively contributing to the world Fire Signs (+/-) Your Outer Element matches the year: you flow and adapt more easily, but may tend to go overboard and get angsty, manic, or burn out Earth Signs (++) Child of Fire: generative/supportive relationship; you are empowered and bolstered, and the generative direction of Fire feeding Earth enlivens and invigorates you Metal Signs (–/+) Fire controls Metal: this year may create friction; your precise, focused, and measured approach may melt and go haywire Water Signs (-/+) Water extinguishes Fire: you are in control; your fluid, cool, and calm nature keeps the fire from getting out of hand. However, emotion and excitement may clash Please take these lightly and remember that we all contain each of the 12 animals within our experience! Your Year and Hour are the most prominent, but the following applies to everyone! Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 – Very Inauspicious (-/-) This will be the roughest year for Rats all around. Prepare for a stampede. The Rat and the Horse are diametric opposites, and this contrast is perhaps the most combative of the opposite relationships, which is unfortunately worse in the Rat's favor. The Rat and the Horse see truly different worlds, and you may find that this year pushes you into survival mode. You may find yourself saying, “wait…stop!” repeatedly, and that life may feel chaotic, unrelenting, discombobulating, and overwhelming. The Yáng Fire of the Horse is in a combative opposition with the Yáng Water of the Rat. This year has the potential to bring out the worst aspects of your Character, so watch out for conniving, dishonest behavior, or overly negative doomsday pessimism. This is a generally inauspicious year for big plans, and you should be cautious in all dealings, especially financial, legal, and romantic. Lean into the social aspect of the Rat Character, for this you have in common with the Horse. Rats can be fun-loving and charming, and the Horse is gregarious and funny. This year’s practice is to see the humor and the absurdity of everything. Expect the unexpected. Focus on rest, self-care, and light-hearted fun, and save big plans for next year. Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 – Neutral/Inauspicious (±/-) The Ox and the Horse are the Yīn and Yáng versions of strength and hard work. The Ox is the Yīn plow animal that moves slowly, steadily, and consistently. Ox is used to routine, structure, and reliability. The Horse is the Yáng powerhouse of muscle that gallops and runs, loving to work and train but also loving adventure and independence. The Ox plows straight furrows, and the Horse ditches the plow and jumps the fence. So, in terms of work, progress, and accomplishment, this is a great year for the Ox, as the Yáng Fire can enliven the Yīn Earth and put some steam in the engine. It is great for being active, busy, and accomplishing tasks and projects, but it can all fall apart if the Horse cannot be tamed. The Fire Horse is too explosive and unpredictable for the Ox, and it may feel like madness. It may feel like a power struggle. There may be too much risk and danger, as well as too much chaos and confusion, that you are trying to rein in. The Ox may feel overextended trying to put things in order and get everyone back on track. So, this year is a wash and ends up neutral in the sense that it can align with your work ethic, but it may feel like a lot. So get to work and keep plowing, as usual, and expect great things if you stay on track. But don’t get flustered when things explode. The Ox can generally handle everything, and we will need your levelheaded and steady coolness in the year ahead. Avoid excess work and overdoing it; burnout will be very easy this year. Tiger: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 – Auspicious (+) The Tiger is in a trine of compatibility with the Horse and Dog, so this is a generally auspicious year for Tigers. The Yáng Wood and Yáng Fire bolster each other, and the Fire Horse brings out the active, dynamic, and dedicated light stripe of the Tiger. Last year, the Snake brought out your dark stripe, and it was likely difficult to lurch forward and accomplish what you wanted. Last year was more about hibernating in the cave. This year brings everything forward with gusto. Tigers will be on the hunt and ready for action. This is the best year you have had in a long time, and it is a great opportunity in every aspect of life. Plan and do big things. Work hard, get enthusiastic, and be dedicated. Train and play. Go on adventures. Shake off the dark, moody gloom of the Snake, and bask in the sun. You can gallop along with the Horse, but not for too long, as the Tiger is more about short bursts of speed. Learn to alternate with rest and action and let yourself be playful and optimistic. Make camaraderie, friendship, and community a priority—crawl out of the shadows and return to the world of the living. As with all the Yáng Characters, be careful of overextending and burnout, as the Yáng Fire may feel like a huge boost. You may get manic and driven trying to do all the things. The danger this year is restlessness, impulsivity, and clumsiness. Be careful not to leap over things that require attention. Take it slow, be mindful, and things will go very well. Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 – Neutral/Inauspicious (±/-) This year may be a tough one for Rabbits, as the wild energy of the Fire Horse may be too unstable and unreliable. There is very little safety and security this year, but there is the potential to build it if you are ambitious and have a strong foundation. Rabbit predictions usually go like this—if Rabbits have security, they become more like Dragons and can step up to the Yáng demands of the year. But Rabbits are not Horses, and if they try to be, they can get really stressed out trying to keep up with the demands and fall into negative patterns. So, assess your situation. If you have built a fortress, then this year can go very well. Use your relationships and resources to manage the work. Put others to work for you. The Fire Horse is a wild stallion that cannot be tamed, and it can stomp all over everything if you are not careful. This year requires caution and planning, as it is not gentle and can easily overwhelm you. So, prioritize safety and self-care; get a helmet and some floaties. Thankfully, there is nothing dark, secret, mysterious, or unknown in the Horse year. Sudden surprises or disasters, like in the Snake year, are not as likely, but there is a steady state of action to manage. But it is obvious, upfront, and on the surface, and you’re really smart at sensing and preparing for danger. You can handle what the Fire Horse throws at you. Lean into the fun and social aspects of the year, and it can be one of recovery, full of pleasant surprises, romance, and social enjoyment. Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 – Neutral/Auspicious (±/+) This is a mixed year for Dragons, but mostly good because Dragons can handle anything, and they can most certainly match the Horse’s energy. The Yáng power of the Horse and Dragon is similar, and the difficulty is that they may become competitive. So, you may find yourself challenged, and power struggles may emerge in your life. You may be called to battle, so expect some difficulties and challenges this year. However, this has the potential to bring out the best in you, and you can rise to the challenges, emerge as a leader, and level up. The Yáng Fire of the Horse bolsters and supports the Yáng Earth of your Character, and you are perhaps the most capable of outdoing the Horse. Remember, you can fly and go beyond; nothing can match your Yáng potential, not even the Fire Horse. So, approach the year with a vision, set goals, expect to work hard, and you can make the most of the year. Stay grounded and mature, and focus your energy. Without focus, the year may be too much and inspire restlessness, compulsivity, and too many projects. You may become overly ambitious and try to take over the world. The Yáng Fire can make you want to blow fire, so emotions may be on high, and your strength can become destructive if it gets out of control. With self-discipline and focus, however, you can become like a laser beam and accomplish anything. Big, grand adventures are also possible, so this is a year to just go for it. Think big, and don’t let limitations, setbacks, or challenges stop you. Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 – Neutral/Inauspicious (±/-) You are emerging from your own year, and the transition to the Horse can be jarring. We are emerging from the hidden depths into the bright sun. There’s nowhere to hide. You were likely comfortable in the murky stillness of last year, and hopefully, you were able to slide through life unattached and unseen, enjoying all the weirdness and sudden events. But now, everything has changed. The Qì is no longer hidden and still; things are not obscured or mysterious; everything is obvious, upfront, and plain. Things are moving fast, and life may reach a frenzied pace. On one level, this is exciting and may be entertaining, but it may also be intellectually boring for the Snake, for the Horse is not deep or mystical but practical and even mechanical. The energy of the year is extroverted, and it may get annoying. You may be called to work, play, and participate. You may feel like someone is shining a spotlight on you, so get ready. Thankfully, Snakes are masters of faking it, so put on whatever mask you need and get in the game. Focus on bringing out your innovative, visionary side. Snakes make excellent engineers and inventors, so apply your mental powers to actually taking life seriously. This is a year to get responsible, update your resume, get out there, and play the game. It may feel alien, weird, and uncomfortable to stand in front of the class, but challenge yourself. Put yourself out there and let in the light. If you cannot play the game, then this year may be difficult and emotionally challenging, and misunderstandings and miscommunication can happen. This year may feel awkward and cause a lot of growing pains. If you can step up, then it is a year of growth and worldly actualization. Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2026 – Auspicious (+) The Horse does particularly well in its own year. The Fire Horse is the most quintessential Horse energy, so the Qì should feel welcome and long overdue. Expect an all-around great year. Horse Qì is not competitive with itself, so the fire-power flows smoothly and bolsters everything. The world will start to feel more sensible, more practical, and that there are fewer obstacles. Horses do well in Horse years because Horse Qì is not complicated, so there’s little friction when things heat up—there’s just more power. Of course, the danger for Horses and all the Yáng Characters is too much power. So, restlessness, wildness, compulsivity, and manic overwork are the dangerous potential to look out for. You may feel so overpowered that you make a mess, cause accidents, and stomp on everything in your path. So, slow down, plan well, be mindful, and pay special attention to relationships, because you may become a reckless, wild stallion, and there could be consequences. Everything gets a power boost, so projects, plans, work, finances, relationships, fun, social life, and so on, all get superpowered. So do all the things. Think big and make everything happen. You may find structure, routine, responsibilities, obligations, and so on, to feel stuffy, constraining, or like a prison. If you feel the need to escape, breathe, slow down, and funnel that energy into something productive. Find outlets—take up new hobbies, do arts and crafts, fix things, do house projects—be the best horse you can be! Goat: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 – Very Auspicious (+/+) The Horse and Goat make for a special “marriage pair” in Chinese synastry, so they are considered a very auspicious match, and Goats are therefore poised to do very well this year. The Horse naturally transforms into the Goat in the Zodiac cycle, and the transition from Horse to Goat is much more natural and sensible than the transition from Snake to Horse. The next two years, then, should be excellent for everything all around. The Yáng Fire stimulates and nurtures the Yīn Earth of the Goat. This year is a great preparation and support for next year, and kind of a fun, but prosperous adventure before the real work for you gets started in your year. The Horse supports everything the Goat desires, and the Goat is good at directing, organizing, and harmonizing the Horse’s production. You will be called to management, leadership, and vision. The Goat’s vision comes into being because of the Horse’s hard work, so have a vision, plan well, and conduct the Qì of the year to fruitful ends, knowing that next year you can step up and experience the real fruition of your Goat-like visions. This year, you should feel sunnier and less pessimistic. So, enjoy social life, travel, and celebrate the positive influence. Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 – Neutral/Inauspicious (±/-) This is a potentially challenging year for Monkeys. The Yáng Fire of the Horse directly controls the Yáng Metal of the Monkey, and the honest, straightforward, and hard-working nature of the Horse leaves little room for Monkey antics. At first, it would seem like they have a lot in common, as both Horse and Monkey are wild, independent, and free-spirited. But the high-octane energy of the year can cause the Monkey mind to go a bit haywire. On the one hand, the fast-moving and wild energy seems like fun, but then it puts you to work. If Monkeys are mature and grounded, then this can be a productive and good year for worldly goals. Be diplomatic and practice restraint. Be organized and focused, and the year can go well, but expect to feel manic, overwhelmed, frazzled, and on edge. The Horse is simple, and the complex mechanisms of your inner workings just don’t fit; they may cause you to overthink, overdo, and misunderstand what is required of you. Self-reflection, honesty, and discipline are excellent counterpoints to the challenges of this year, and you are called to focus your Qì. Rather than swinging from branch to branch, you are called to stay on track, like a steam engine. The more you resist this, the more you will go crazy and burn out. Be physical—move your body and get the energy out so it doesn’t all get trapped in your head. Rooster: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 – Neutral (±) This is a neutral and mixed year for Roosters, as the Yáng Fire is contrasting with your Yīn Metal nature. Yīn Metal is controlling, meticulous, and neat, and the Yáng Fire is difficult to contain. However, like the Monkey, if you can focus that energy, then it can go very well, but you may also feel frazzled, discombobulated, and that the Yáng Fire is causing you to go haywire. If you try to trap the fire, it will explode. Let it soften you. Fire melts Metal. The Fire Horse is wild and cannot be controlled, contained, or dominated. But it can be directed and focused with a relaxed light touch. If you try too hard this year, the Fire Horse will rebel against you. It will fight back, and it is stronger. So, watch out for frustration, anger, and hot-tempered blow-ups. Both Horse and Rooster have a temper, and this can bring out the worst in you. Watch out for sudden incidents, accidents, abrupt changes, and so on. This is like putting a lid on boiling water—if you turn your back on it, it will start to boil over and make a mess. So, relax…which is not easy. Let go of trying to control, and cultivate Wúwéi, action without thinking, trying, or striving—go with the flow, as the cliché goes. And get physical. Get in your body and out of your head. If you can do all of this, then the year can go well, and you can take advantage of the Horse’s productivity and accomplish great things. But be warned, they will not be accomplished through control but only by letting go and getting out of the way. Let the Horse run wild and free. Let it be. Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 – Very Auspicious (+/+) The Dog is in a trine of compatibility with the Horse and Tiger, so this is a great year for Dogs. The Yáng Fire supports, bolsters, and engenders the Yáng Earth of the Dog. They are great companions, and Dog happily runs wild and free alongside the Fire Horse. The Horse is positive and non-judgmental but also has solid integrity and is reliable and trustworthy, so the Dog feels loyal, dedicated, and encouraged. This should be a great year for all things. Expect some good luck. This may be one of the best years in the twelve-year cycle. Expect progress and a natural ease to life. Relationships can go well, and you may feel inspired, dedicated, and on a mission. Feel the power. There’s no deception or need to be on guard with the Horse. You can let your guard down more and roll over for belly scratches. Of course, keep sniffing things out. If your life is not ready for this, then you must be cautious, but the year can make great progress towards happiness. Both Dog and Horse love to train and work, so this is a great year for hobbies, skills, crafts, and health. Learn new things, start new projects, make important changes, and go for it. Cultivate close friendships and deepen loyalty. Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 – Neutral/Auspicious (±/+) This is a mostly neutral year for Pigs, but it can also go very well. The Yáng Fire is in direct opposition to the Yīn Water of the Pig, but Water controls Fire, so you are not the one at odds. The year may feel demanding and hard, but you can handle it and even take control of the wild stallion. Although it is demanding, it is fun and optimistic, but it requires balance. Balance is the word of the year for Pigs. Pigs can be very dedicated and hardworking, so let the Horse bring out that side of you. Dedicate yourself to your purpose or a compassionate cause. Love and help others. Feel inspired and let the Fire and Water produce alchemy. This can be a great year for maturation and productivity, so expect work and life goals to progress well. The Horse is gregarious and loves to have fun. It loves to tell jokes, and like you, it is an eloquent speaker. So, you can discover these qualities in yourself and find a supportive audience. Again, this year is fun and optimistic, so your social life gets a boost, and relationships can go very well. The Horse works hard and plays hard, so it is not a relaxing or lazy year. Self-indulgence and pleasure seeking are quickly subsumed, and the Horse will be on you to get back to work. So, again, balance is key—work hard, play hard, but take care, for the Fire-Water alchemy can boil away and leave you with nothing left in the tank. I wish you all the best this New Year! This life passes as quickly as autumn clouds; Family and friends are like passers-by in a market; The demon of death approaches like twilight’s shadows; What the future holds is like a translucent fish in cloudy waters; Life’s experiences are like last night’s dreams; The pleasures of the senses, like an imaginary party. Meaningless activities are like waves lapping on the surface of the water. Every harmful action I have done With my body, speech, and mind Overwhelmed by attachment, anger and confusion, All these I openly lay bare before you. While circling through all states of existence, May I become an endless treasure of good qualities-- Gathering limitless pristine wisdom and positive potential. May all beings have happiness and the cause of happiness. May they be free of suffering and the cause of suffering. May all beings remain in boundless equanimity, free from attachment and aversion! Sarva Mangalam!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artwork Listed in Order
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 道 – Dào/View色即是空，空即是色, sè jì shì kōng, kōng jì shì sè "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" - the Heart Sutra  Yǐ Sì, 乙巳, Qì in the Year of the Yīn Wood SnakeAs of Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, we officially move back into Yǐ Sì, 乙巳, the Year of the Yīn Wood Snake, the Emerging Snake. By now, I probably sound like a broken record, but I must again remind you that Astrology is not Fortunetelling – we are not here to predict but to play, and, in the case of the Wood Snake, we are here to wake up and see through the veils! We now enter a strange “gap” in the Chinese Zodiac, a kind of “non-year.” The astrological influence of the Wood Snake is so minimal, docile, and hidden that it defies commentary. We therefore enter an unusual challenge and opportunity in the sexagenary cycle. We are left in an in-between at a crossroads, an eye in the storm, a still point in the flowing river. What we do during this “non-year” is up to us; it is open and malleable, and the Wood Snake presents us with the question—what do we do when we are not struck by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune? What happens when the dual world becomes transparent, gentle, and still? How do we mind this gap in the flux of yearly Qì? Yáng Wood Dragon Reflections  As we emerge from the flash bang discombobulation of the Yáng Wood Dragon, we have a lot to reflect on. It has been a Dragon of a year, indeed. A lot has happened, and big changes are happening throughout the world. As always, I encourage you to re-read my blog from last year and reflect…how’d it go? Due to our unique Character and Fate, we are each predisposed to digest the Year differently, so experiences will vary widely, but I am deeply curious about your experience of the Yáng Wood Dragon and how it unfolded for you…so please share! If I can summarize the essence of the Year – the Wood Dragon was a joker, a wild card, full of sound and fury, but perhaps signifying nothing. It was an overall playful, positive, and renewing energy. No matter what you think of what happened, in the big picture, it was a positive, generative, and transformative force, but it was a bit clumsy, startling, and destructive, and it may have seemed like a slap in the face. Wood Dragon Qì is like using explosives to clear a path through rubble – big, hard, and fast; perhaps more effective albeit messier than sifting through stone by stone. The Wood Snake is, then, like the moment after the bang. Your ears are ringing; you may feel disoriented, but hopefully now after the explosion, you can see a clear path through the rubble. And I will leave it at that. There is, of course, so much to say. Dragon years come to shake things up, but they follow the movements of Heaven. We may never know what they are all about, and the consequences are beyond us. As always, I present the following symbols as a playful mirror – these are my reflections, but I am not an expert, prophet, or soothsayer. You must study these symbols, reflect, and apply them to your life and the world. And this year, in true Wood Snake fashion, I have decided to leave the social commentary to a minimum, so I’m afraid this blog may be a bit boring, but that is the Wood Snake. In previous years, I have offered my interpretation of world events, culture, and politics through the lens of these Chinese Astrological symbols. I could talk about the US election and the renewal of leadership worldwide, the massive shifts in global politics and culture, the various wars and the transformation of the Middle East, the drone invasions, and so on, but this year I have decided to leave all that out for the following reasons... Upcoming Book! The first is my upcoming book! I am happy to announce that I have completed the first manuscript of my book on Polestar Astrology, which is soon to be published by Shambhala Books. I have submitted the manuscript to my editor and am awaiting feedback as to the next steps in the process. I worked furiously on it all year, and the final manuscript was about 1100 pages, so it has been quite an undertaking, fully suited to the Dragon Year. The second, and more exciting reason, is that I got married this year! It was perfect and everything I could have ever dreamed of. But it took a lot of time, energy, and resources. So, between writing a massive book, planning and executing a wedding and honeymoon, and working full time, I am exhausted, and my energy for creative writing is kaput and must recharge. So, apologize if this year’s blog is not as in-depth. I simply don’t have the energy or desire to write social-political commentary, and I have decided to do myself a favor and write a more minimal blog this year, which happens to align perfectly with the vibe of the Wood Snake! The Wood Snake is the ultimate minimalist energy with little interest in intellectual indulgence. I have challenged myself to rest my mind, and I encourage you to do the same. Let the mind rest. This may be the best advice I can give you in the following year. My upcoming book is an introductory guide on how to practice Polestar Astrology through the lens of Character, Nature, and Fate as I learned from the legacy teachings of Liu Ming through my own unique experience. I am very proud of what I have created and look forward to sharing it with you. Please stay tuned for further announcements and details. When the time comes, I will be redoing my website and updating my internet presence, which will be absent from social media. Wood Snake is a perfect year to disappear from these toxic platforms. I will be combining Chinese Astrology, Buddhism, and Classical Chinese Medicine and working to forge a syncretic vision of how I want to contribute to the world moving forward. The truth is that this form of Chinese Astrology is not mine and never was. It was Ming’s, and I now need to find my own path forward. On Bias and Echo Chambers The third reason is simply to avoid bias and let the symbols speak for themselves. I will give you the tools, so you can think for yourself without my bias. This was, in part, my motivation for writing the book – to teach you to fish rather than hand you a fish. If there is one thing tearing our world apart, it is media bias and the echo chambers they produce. Our cultures have swung too far into extreme views, and we need to come back to the center with opposition just to the left and right to balance each other out. We need healthy opposition rather than pathological resistance. With that in mind, let’s jump into the symbolism of the Snake.  象 Symbolism In last Year’s Blog, I tried to communicate the ineffable nature of the Dragon, which may have been confusing, and I’m afraid the Snake may be worse. The Dragon may be ineffable due to its unlimited potential. Still, it is the Yáng version of potential, meaning it is the result of full manifestation, EXTREME YÁNG, and is therefore more accessible for us to understand in this Yáng culture. As a culture, we get “doing,” but “being,” on the other hand, is a mystery. The Snake represents this Mystery, the Yīn to the Dragon’s Yáng. Yīn is manifestation, the condensation of everything into apparent form, which turns into Yáng, the expression of form through movement and dynamism. As Yīn expresses into Yáng, it opens, expands, and rises to Heaven, becoming more and more transparent, heading back towards the unmanifest. Dragon Qì symbolizes the height of this expression and movement—all manifestations integrated, directed, and flying free, Yīn going all the way to Extreme Yáng. Yīnyáng Theory teaches that Yīn and Yáng turn into one another and that Extreme Yáng gives way and turns into Extreme Yīn, which is symbolized in the Chinese Zodiac by the Snake. The Snake is Extreme Yīn, the flipside of the Dragon. In the Dragon, the entire Zodiac is manifest and expressed. In the Snake, the entire Zodiac is in seed/potential form, having been expressed fully and then disappearing, leaving behind a complete, open, and transparent vacuum. Snake is the emptiness, potential, and openness that hosts all forms. Snake Qì is the empty spoke in the center of the turning wheel. It represents the paradox that form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. Pig Qì, while similar, is Snake’s opposite. Pig Qì expresses Yīn Water, the dissolution of everything at the end of the cycle. Snake is not a dissolution, for dissolution is a gradual process. Snake is not gradual. Snake is the sudden and extreme flip from Yáng to Yīn, like the popping of a bubble or a Snake striking its prey. Dragon Qì expands until…pop! This sudden flip from everything to nothing represents Yīn Fire, the native element of the Snake. Even in complete emptiness, total vacuity, there is Yáng, a spark, an ember, a warmth pulsating, undulating in the Void. For all Emptiness is pregnant with unlimited potential. Emptiness is said to contain all potential. Every possibility is inherent in Emptiness; the entire universe resides in and emerges from space. In Tantra, Space is called the Inexhaustible Treasury, the Dharmadhātu. Everything comes from Space, yet Space is never altered, stained, harmed, or destroyed. It is Indestructible, or “Vajra,” immaculate and pristine. Of all the Twelve Animals, Snake is said to be closest to this pristine, open, spacious quality of life. Snake, Yīn Fire, is the warm and radiant nature of Life in the Void. Yīn Fire also represents the nature of Snake Hour, from 9 am to 11 am, the time of day after the sun has appeared and begins to warm the Earth slowly. Snake Hour is bright and transparent; it is the gap between the great manifestation of sunrise (the Dragon) and the productivity of midday (the Horse). Snake Hour is a time of revelation, transparency, and reflection, where we process and gather ourselves before being productive. Yīn Fire is the slow smoldering transformation of a simmering fire, like a crockpot rather than a BBQ. It is the catalytic force of alchemy and cooking - stimulating, energizing, yet still, pulsating, warming, consuming, mesmerizing; it is internal rather than external vigor. The Snake symbolizes the Heart, the Shén, the still, warm beating center of things, awake and alive, yet passive/Yīn, for the heart beats without effort. The Snake symbol is immensely old and traces back to China’s “Shamanic” roots. The Snake symbol is universal, and its expression is similar across cultures. Unlike some cultures, the Chinese conception of the Snake is not evil or sinister - it is Yīn. It represents the unknown/unknowable world, the subterranean, the submerged, the unconscious. There is no “evil” in the Chinese view of Life, but Yīn has a dark side, and the Snake can symbolize darkness. This darkness, however, is the basis for transformation. We cannot truly transform unless we consider all our dark places; we must turn up all the rocks and look at the creepy crawlies beneath the surface. Snake is what lies beneath the surface. In this sense, the Snake is like the Rabbit but taken to another level. The Rabbit is submerged in the unconscious subterranean world, but the Snake is that world; it sees through it unattached, where the Rabbit's innocence is potentially lost in the static of the ethers. Snake Qì sees through the nature of appearances, so Snake Characters are said to lead uniquely self-reflective and insightful lives. It is in the Character of Snake to reflect, mirror, question, and peak behind the curtains. Snake Qì, Big Yīn's impulse, is sinking, gathering, descending, internalizing, seeking stillness and silence. Like snakes in the wild, Snake Qì seeks to be hidden, unseen, to blend in with the environment. Therefore, Snakes have a natural inclination to “disappear,” to hide, to renounce, and to recede from the world by blending in with the surroundings. A snake might look like a vine on the tree, so it is there, present in the world, but it is not the vine, not what it appears to be. Snake Qì is not what it appears to be; it is unknowable and ineffable. Big Yīn defines all labels and definitions. Emptiness, by “definition,” is beyond conceptual elaboration, as the Buddhists say. The Snake represents the inner open capacity at the heart of the Zodiac to become any of the other 11 Characters without being defined by them. In comparison, the Dragon embodies all 11 characters. This unknowable quality is said to be the source of an unmatched charm. Snakes can become anything and anybody without being attached, representing all potential. They have the capacity of all 11 Characters available, like the Dragon, but they are not defined by, nor do they take pride in what they display. They are a mystery even to themselves. Their instinct is to hide, but they can hide in a crowded room because they are inwardly unknowable. You can “know” a Snake for years and still not know who they are. And this is not deceptive because they aren’t anybody (no one is really), and this is their power. Snakes are a mystery to themselves and other people. They cannot be known. Remember this as I get into the Key Words. We may use words to describe Snake Qì, but Snakes are not these words. The Snake symbolizes the reality that no one is what they think they are, nor are we how others perceive us. We are all a mystery. You can never really know another person—not really. We are all symbols to each other. In China, the Snake is the Sorcerer Philosopher and symbolizes the process of Alchemy and inner transformation, for the Snake sheds its skin. It is always in the process of becoming something else. They also represent what Liu Ming called the “striking force,” like Muhammad Ali (born in the year of the Snake), an aspect of the Fire Element, the ability to remain perfectly still and then strike, act, seemingly out of nowhere like a snake paralyzing its prey.  氣 Qì Dynamics The Outer Element of this year, however, is Yīn Wood in relation to the Inner or Natural Element of the Snake which is Yīn Fire. Wood is the Mother of Fire, so the generative direction of the Wood Snake flows backwards/inward, making this a deeply introspective Qì. The Wood Snake flows inward and rests or hides at the origin of all movement. Yīn Wood is the soft, weak, and vulnerable Qì that simmers just after the initial explosion of Yáng Wood, which is like the Big Bang. Yīn Wood represents innocence, spontaneity, flexibility, renewal, humility, gentleness, sensitivity, subordination, and potentiality. While Yáng Wood represents birth, the naïve impulsive force of coming into being, Yīn Wood demonstrates the outcome of that birthing force, which is exposed, raw, and tender, but with great creative potential, like a sprout emerging from the earth, ready to grow into a mighty oak, or a baby chick bursting through the shell only to then be vulnerable to predators. Both need protection, nurturing, and time to thrive. The Wood Snake is a baby Snake and therefore the gentlest form of Snake Qì, which is already hidden, secret, and still. The Qì dynamic is light and airy, and there is nothing anywhere to stick to.  形 Manifestation/CharacterNow that we have covered the symbolism and energetic dynamics, let’s get into keywords for the Snake and talk about how this symbol manifests in/as people. As we go, keep in mind this gentle dynamic of Yīn Wood and think about how this can then be applied to the Character of the whole year. The Key Terms for the Snake are, again, how they appear, but not actually how they are. You may know or be a Snake and not identify with these labels, and that’s fine. No person is really their Character; it is merely a pattern, a tendency of our Qì to display a certain way. Snake Qì symbolizes the idea that we can all transcend our limitations through nonattachment. The first Key Term, then, is deeply reflective. In many ways, it is not easy to be a Snake. Snakes are natural mystics in a non-mystic world. Snake Qì can be called penetrating insight. Without trying, Snakes tend to see through things, from the nature of appearance to essential qualities. Since Snake Qì is naturally open and empty, it is natural for Snakes to reflect on life and their situation, for their Qì display is in direct contrast with what society tells us. With training, this can lead to insight. But if Snakes are told from an early age that the world is solid, that people are real, that situations are concrete, and that they must “be somebody,” then they will fake it and pretend, while internally, they may experience deep depression, resentment, and even fear. As it turns out, Reality can be frightening to glimpse. Imagine finding out that up and down are meaningless; this is called vertigo. My teacher calls this the “round world,” as opposed to the “square world.” In the round world, i.e., in Reality, we don’t have a leg to stand on; all concepts are relative, and nothing has any inherent meaning. If you do not grasp at solidity, this realization liberates you, and emptiness becomes the source of much giggling. If you grasp, emptiness inspires terror, nihilism, and possibly suicidal tendencies. Snakes may feel that the world is meaningless, that everyone is a fake, that everything is nonsense. They may feel crazy because they see this and no one else does. Depleted, Snake Qì can turn to paranoia. They can get into trouble if they are not taught to trust their insight and vision into what lies beneath the surface. Seeing signs, hearing voices - all very Snakey, like Rabbit Qì in this sense. The truth is that there are voices; the universe is full of psychic static, and people project their thoughts and emotions all over the place with little discretion. While Rabbits tend to feel the emotional, energetic, embodied quality of this static, Snakes tend to see into the more “psychic” mental dimension of things. Snake Qì is transparent and clear, and Snakes are probably the most distant from the rich direct experience of the senses, embodied in Snake’s opposite, the Pig. Snakes can easily be disembodied and live in a flat mental world, which can turn to nihilism. They may mistrust the display of the world. On the other hand, this transparency offers insight. If Snakes go with their insight, they become wise. The Snake is synonymous with wisdom. On the surface, this wisdom comes from a natural observant quality, which comes from the Snake's impulse to lie still, wait, and watch. Snakes tend to observe and attend very closely to details, which lends them profound intelligence. On a deeper level, Snake's wisdom is both visionary and philosophical, which I’ll get to later. In Buddhism, wisdom is identical to śūnyatā, emptiness; they are synonymous. Emptiness is a complex idea, but at the deepest level, Snake Qì represents this side of reality. Snakes can be too smart for their own good and capable of immense calculation and planning. Of course, everyone can be intelligent, but Snake intelligence encapsulates the concept of genius. This kind of intelligence often goes hand in hand with depression. Snakes have the opposite of “ignorance is bliss.” Instead, Snake intelligence tends to obsess about how messed up the world is and about how messed up they are themselves, leading to cynicism/skepticism and, very often, depression. This depression does not need a cause, for Snake Qì is by nature depressed, sinking, and dark, energetically speaking. So, Snakes can appear moody and brooding. The Snake's tendency towards depression can turn to self-loathing, however, especially if their intelligence is not put to more creative outlets. Intelligence can quickly turn to hatred either at the world or at themselves. When Snakes are unsuccessful and do not find an outlet for their vision, they can turn bitter and hostile, criticizing everything and everyone and picking apart their faults. Because of their visionary and creative qualities, Snakes make natural artists. Snakes want to leave the world behind, follow their vision, and lose themselves beyond the horizon. They want to disappear. Snake Qì is a vision quest, a spirit journey into the unknown, the underworld. In their imagination, Snakes see through this world to others and realms beyond. They may even have tangible visions in their waking lives. So, Snakes can be a bit weird, although others may never know, for Snakes are the best at hiding. Snakes must find a way to express this weirdness, primarily through art/creativity. The challenge for the Snake is to go out beyond and come back. They must return their vision to the ordinary world and share it with others. Snakes are often inventive innovators, and Snake years usually produce societal breakthroughs. Without art, the Snake has no way of communicating Reality as they experience it; whether through painting, poetry, or film, Snakes communicate the dreamlike nature of reality, such as Pablo Picasso or Edgar Allen Poe (both born in the Year of the Snake). Snakes tend to be solitary and reclusive. All the Snakes I know, either by year or hour, tend to seek and enjoy time alone (of course, everyone can), and some even dream of being hermits. Snakes take great pleasure when no one knows where they are or what they’re up to. Furthermore, they tend to be somewhat evasive, which is both positive and negative. The Snake's tendency towards evasiveness can be a skill, knowing when to duck, avoid, and do nothing. This evasive quality can appear distant, aloof, avoidant, and secretive to others. You’re never quite sure about them; think Snape from Harry Potter. Snake Qì is also very discrete, which can appear positive and negative again. Spiritually, being discreet and humble is an excellent idea; showing off and making a big flap about yourself can create many challenges. Snakes tend towards the opposite; they tend to be quiet, never revealing their actual experience to anyone, even when that experience is profound. Being discrete is the Snake's form of camouflage, hiding in plain sight. Since Snake Qì is Big Yīn, and because its impulse is to disappear towards stillness and silence, Snakes are naturally calm, patient, and slow in their display. Chill is the word. Snake Qì is the opposite of scattered, and its depleted state can turn to laziness and lethargy. But in general, Snakes are relaxed and calm; they have a big open capacity to host other people’s craziness. This peaceful nature can be called meditative. Many Snakes I know have a natural inclination towards meditation as an expression of their Qì, which also has an immense capacity for trance. The Yīn Fire nature of the Snake is also hypnotizing and trance-inducing. Think Snake Charmers. Snakes have an alluring charm because of their mysteriousness. People want to figure them out, and Snakes love this because they love avoiding and evading people’s attempts to figure them out and pin them down. Snakes can play with this, so they have a specific social capacity. They make great actors and can become anyone, like method acting. They can use this capacity for social advantage, which we call “Yīn Power.” Yīn Power is essentially manipulation, which is not inherently wrong, although it can be used that way. It can be used for good, too; like many Snake qualities, manipulation evades judgment…we’re just not sure about it. Ming once told a story of a friend who learned to speak Chinese by simply becoming the teacher, imitating his mannerisms, dress, body language, etc. Monkeys have this capacity, too. Rather than learn the language, this person just became someone who already knew it, very Snakey. Snakes can embody a social role for years, at work, for example, even if it is not who they are. They can work for years as salespeople and then one day become carpenters. This changeability may sound bad, but not for Snakes necessarily, for they are unattached. Snakes can love and be fascinated by material things and then sell everything they own without a second thought. Snake Qì loves to shed its skin, change appearances, transform, drop attachments, and move on. In the Chinese Tradition, the Snake, like the Rabbit, is associated with the practice of Inner Alchemy, refining our experience backward to the Source. When depleted, the ability to become anything and take on any form can turn helpless. Depleted, snakes can feel empty, without inner and outer resources, and unable to manifest things in the world. The tendency to not take the “real world” seriously can appear to others as a lack of ambition, but Snakes don’t have ordinary worldly ambition; their aspirations in life tend to reflect a more profound impulse, which is most often to understand this strange world of appearances, this ephemeral dance we’re all born into; Snakes are perplexed as to why everyone takes the life game so seriously. I mean, why bother? Why bother constructing wealth and systems of value when everything falls apart? Of course, if a Fire Snake chooses to be successful, they can outdo everyone and make us all look like fools, but they would never believe in their actions. Hopefully, this does not sound too negative. But negativity must be available in the cycle of time. We must remember that there is no absolute negativity/evil in the Chinese View, but there is Yīn. And all Yīn Characters represent the necessity of darkness in the cycle of time. Darkness, depression, destruction, and so on must be available in Time. Otherwise, everything would grind to a halt. Of course, not all Snakes are depressed, but they do represent that tendency. The Snake symbol is rich and deep. In the collective imagination, Snakes conjure up primal, primordial, shamanic images, like Ouroboros, the Serpent eating its tail. If you want to understand Snake Qì, look at these images, for they all speak to the wisdom of the Snake. In terms of the Five Snakes, each has unique characteristics that contribute to the understanding of the Snake zodiac sign. The Wood or Emerging Snake, which we will discuss more next, is the most honest, shy, and calm of the Snakes. The Fire or Fishpond Snake is the most natural of the Snakes, and they are the most mesmerizing, ambitious, and disciplined. The Earth or Golden Snake is the worldliest and, therefore, the most determined, fortunate, and often successful Snake. The Metal or Hibernating Snake is the most bright, sensitive, and insightful, but the Metal Element makes them the most restrained and aloof. And the Water or Hidden Snake is the most mystical, secretive, and elusive of Snakes, and their potential for wisdom is excellent (as the Buddha is said to have been a Water Snake). Understanding these different characteristics provides a comprehensive view of the Snake Zodiac sign.  器 Synthesis, Application, and “Predictions" Now we get to the fun part…what is going to happen!? As always, I have no idea, and as I said in the beginning, I am going to leave my social/political commentary here to a minimum. I will instead try to summarize and give a pith interpretation of the Qì of the Year and what that could mean overall. If we put all the symbolism and Qì dynamics together, we see that the Wood Snake is, perhaps, the most delicate, minimalist, and, for lack of a better word, “weak” animal in the Chinese Zodiac. And sorry to say, it may be the most "boring" to talk about. There’s really nothing to get excited or worried about when it comes to the influence of this year. If we were to characterize the five Snakes, the Fire Snake would be like a cobra, the Earth Snake would be like a boa constrictor, the Metal Snake would be like an asp, the Water Snake would be like an anaconda, and the Wood Snake would be like a small green snake. Green snakes are small, non-venomous, and docile. The Wood Snake does not have the venom or striking force of the other snakes, so it hides and becomes invisible. The Qì, then, is just that – docile and invisible. Yīn Wood is unformed, so the Wood Snake is a baby and does not have the strong transformative “skin shedding” quality of the Earth or Metal Snake; nor does it have the deep profundity of the mystical Fire and Water Snakes. So where does that leave us? With almost nothing to say. In other Snake Years, things are much more hidden or secret, and venomous unexcepted things are more likely strike out of nowhere, like 9/11 (Metal Snake Year), or we may collectively experience huge skin shedding transformations like the fall of the Berlin Wall (Earth Snake Year). But not as much when it comes to the Wood Snake. This is why I am calling it a “non-year.” The Qì of the Wood Snake is so soft, flexible, and still that it can hardly be seen or felt, which in a way makes it even sneakier. It may as well not even be there, and that is how we can define it. The 60 Animals of the Zodiac cover every kind of Qì conceivable, and somewhere there needs to be a gap, a lull, an energy characterized by its lack of presence and “weakness.” This is the Wood Snake. There are other soft and gentle points in the cycle, like the Wood Rabbit, but this may be the most transparent and non-interfering, which makes it a kind of “gap.” We can, of course, consider all the profound symbolic qualities of the Snake, which all apply and define the Qì of the year to some extent. But the Wood Snake is the least dramatic, and all these Snake qualities are dialed down to almost zero, which gives the Wood Snake year unique challenges but also makes it a unique opportunity. The challenge is that there is little striking force or mystical, transformative, insightful strength available. Wood Snakes, as people, must often work extremely hard to overcome this inner sense of weakness or “lack.” If this lack is not understood or worked with correctly, it can lead to boredom, indolence, laziness, and sloth, and at worst, it can create nihilism, despair, and depression. The desire to give up and feel “what’s the point?” can seem very easy in a Wood Snake year. The world seems to stop and become see-through, and if this is mistaken for meaninglessness, then we may become confused and lose track of our “momentum” in life. We may feel lost, unsure, or uncertain. It may cause us to question things with no answers readily available. If this sounds depressing, remember that the Wood Snake is not as dark as the other Snakes. The recent Water Rabbit year was a dark subterranean energy full of ghosts and specters, but the Wood Snake is a fresh shimmering radiance, like the calm after sunrise. It is the Qì of small woodland sprouts or mycelium hidden just beneath the soil. So, this all begs the question, what do we do when the Qì of the year is almost non-existent? This is paradoxically the opportunity. What happens when the wind stops blowing and when we are not being pushed or pulled by the cycles of Time? What happens when we pause and enter a gap of stillness and silence that is flexible, non-resistant, docile, and weak? Well, we can do whatever we want, I suppose, or nothing at all. We can be like the small, hidden Wood Snake and slither unseen between the cracks, disappearing unnoticed. We can rest and do nothing. Or we can simply get to work without interference…but also without much wind in our sails. The lack of influence may bring out or exaggerate everyone’s innate Character qualities because everyone is free to be themselves, for we are neither bolstered nor inhibited. We have the unique opportunity to find out what we truly are. For some, this may be empowering and healing, and for others, it may be confusing and disappointing. But overall, this can be a very insightful year for all of us. The stillness of this gap will hopefully be a welcome relief. This is a peaceful, restful, and non-venomous year, without the venomous hidden surprises of other Snake years, and we can all collectively breathe a sigh of relief…that is if we can “mind the gap.” Can we recognize this and pause personally and collectively? This is a time to slow down and get our bearings before we launch forward again, rather violently I might add, with the Yáng Fire Horse in 2026, which is the true wild stallion. Of course, the world will go on as it does. Dramatic things can happen as the momentum of the past unfolds, but circumstances, responses, solutions, and so on, may lack strength, as if the wind has been taken out of our sails or the rug pulled out from under us. This makes “prediction” challenging, but we can simply apply this lack of wind power and non-interference to everything. Culture, politics, entertainment, religion, art, music, relationships, health, personal development, and so on, are all in an open and malleable gap. This is neither good nor bad. It is what we make of it. The Qì of the year is transparent and flexible, and we can mold it how we like, or we can take the opportunity to simply see through everything. The Qì of the Wood Snake can be visionary, and it offers us a chance to see through the veils, minding the gap between thoughts, to look beyond. We can grasp the emptiness of things in a very plain and simple way. To use a cliché, it is very “Zen.” Or, as Daoists might say, it is very Wúwéi, non-striving. The Wood Snake is plain, simple, minimal, and hidden from sight. It is the unbearable lightness of being. It is very easy to simply wake up and let go in a year like this because all the heavy burdens and complexity of life can seem like nothing at all. Everything falls away. Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. This is what the Wood Snake comes to show us. It takes nothing and leaves nothing. Everything is left as it is, and yet life goes on. So, what will you do—how will you mind the gap? “Delusion is like becoming possessed by a spirit during a seance, when someone starts to suddenly hop around and do all kinds of crazy things. This is exactly what has happened to all of us. Sentient beings are possessed by the ‘spirit’ of ignorance and the 84,000 disturbing emotions, and they are all dancing around doing incredible things. They have undergone all different kinds of pain and misery for so long, aeons upon aeons. But it is a self-created possession. It is not really something from outside. Buddha Nature has lost track of itself and created samsara, but it is also Buddha Nature, recognizing itself, which clears up the delusion of samsaric existence. The moment of recognition is like the spirit leaving. All of a sudden the possession vanishes. We can’t even say where it went. This is called the ‘collapse of confusion.’” -Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche  12 Animal ForecastNow, let’s go through the 12 Animals and offer a map for the upcoming year – how do we each mind the gap? Outer Elements: Wood Signs (+): your outer element matches the year; you flow and adapt more easily but tend to go toward internal frustration Fire Signs (+) child of Wood: generative/supportive relationship; you are empowered and bolstered, and the generative direction of Wood feeding Fire nourishes you Earth Signs (–/+) Wood controls/eats Earth: you may feel ungrounded, but this helps to aerate and keeps things light Metal Signs (+/–) Metal controls/cuts Wood: contrasting energetically, but you are kept in check and restrained from too much indolence Water Signs (+) Water is the mother of Wood: you support and uphold the dynamic of the year; this could be draining but more likely it will be generative and result in wisdom Please take these lightly and remember that we all contain each of the 12 animals within our experience! Your Year and Hour are the most prominent, but the following applies to everyone! These predictions all come with a caveat, as you will notice that for all Characters, this is a neutral year, as that is the nature of the Wood Snake. So don’t take these too seriously. Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 – Inauspicious/Neutral (-) Possibly a tough year for Rats. The transparent open quality may bring out feelings of fear, paranoia, or survival if you do not self-reflect, and the Qì of the Year does not cooperate well with any sense of the organization, accumulation, or outer stability that you may need to feel secure. This Year does not work to bring people or communities together, but rather it turns us more inward toward solitude, which may bring out your more negative qualities and make you feel isolated and uneasy. But remember, the Wood Snake is gentle and subtle. This feeling is not a threat this year but rather it is an invitation. Rat Qì is a deconstructive energy that seeks to take things apart to manage and control; this you have in common with the Snake who sees through to the compound and impermanent nature to the emptiness of things. If you can be comfortable with uncertainty, impermanence, and emptiness, then this Year will be profound for rest and spiritual growth. Let go of planning and scheming; drop busyness and task management; don’t take anything personally and be comfortable with stillness. Bring out your social networking skills and help bring people together because we will all need it this year. Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973,1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) The Ox is in a trine of compatibility with the Snake and Rooster, so this affinity makes this a potentially good year for the Ox. This auspiciousness is quite easy to understand; the lack of influence for the Ox will equate to a lack of nonsense and interference with routine business as usual. So, the Yīn strength of the Ox can simply allow you to plow forward as you always do, but in this year, you will find little resistance, and little pushback, and that the earth is easy to plow. Everything can go well. Ox is generally impervious to the potential darkness of the Snake, but you can tend toward stagnation if you lack motivation or inspiration. Overall, then it can be a great year for both rest and productivity, and the Ox is a champion of both. Introspect and discover your motive, and then act accordingly. Tiger: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) The dark stripe of the Tiger is very Snake-like, as the Tiger is also comfortable being hidden and still, for the time being. Tigers can be dark and moody, so watch out and don’t go to the dark side. But remember, this is the least dark and moody of the Snake years, which makes it ideal for rest and personal growth. You can let go and drop whatever is holding you back, so when you get a massive boost in the Fire Horse year, you can leap forward and truly shine. So shed inessentials and let go of the past. This year is excellent for healing, waiting, planning, introspecting, and taking stock. But it is not conducive to excess scheming, overwork, or goal setting. The upheaval and intensity of the past year should dissipate, and the pressure should ease. Don’t expect big change or put too much hope into outward or worldly progress. Simply relax and let things be as they are. Things will naturally unfold, and if you can let things be, then the Fire Horse Year will go very well and may be the best in a long time. Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 – Neutral (-) The Rabbit and Snake are both symbols of the subterranean/underworld. The Rabbit goes there to hide and find safety, but the Snake is born there. It is the underworld. The Rabbit can relax and will find that the Qì of the year is non-threatening/venomous, and the sense of stillness should bring ease, for the drama and pressure of Dragon year is over. The Native Element of the Rabbit is Yīn Wood, which matches the Outer Element of the year, so this may be the best Snake Year overall for Rabbits. However, the Rabbit craves protection, security, and strength, and there is little available. You are left to fend for yourself, and so you may feel a heightened sense of vulnerability and danger. If you have your house in order, then things can go very well, and this is an excellent year to hide, rest, and recuperate, and the spiritual power and potential for insight and creativity is off the charts and will allow you to peer into the underworld without fear or confusion. If your life is not in order, then the year can go poorly, as you may find that help is challenging and that things are difficult to secure. So, it’s a wash and balances out to be neutral. The Fire Horse year may be rough, so use this year to plan accordingly. Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) The Dragon and Snake are a Yīn Yáng pair and natural complementary opposites. Their Qì shares a lot in common as the mystical, otherworldly center of the Zodiac, representing Heaven and the Underworld. Dragons in a Snake Year are therefore apt to ride through Snake year with ease, but it may be disorienting, as the explosive Yáng energy is gone and replaced with a vacuum. Coming out of your year, you may feel either empowered or drained. Last Year was probably a big one. You may be tempted to keep the momentum going, but it isn’t there. Snake year, then, becomes a mirror and potentially an open canvas. You are asked to reflect and paint the picture you want to see. If you can reign in your bigness and deeply reflect, then the Wood Snake offers a relaxed and limitless sea of potential. No obstructions. So, what kind of life do you want? Make it happen but remember that it is up to you. Watch out for boredom, distraction, and a lack of focus. You may be tempted to go astray and wander too far into your indulgences. If you can deal with the boredom, then this year will be excellent for spiritual and personal growth. Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) This is your Year, so naturally, it can be auspicious and go very well. The danger of being in your year is that it can highlight or exacerbate your negative qualities if you have not come to terms with them. This year has the potential to bring out your inner sense of helplessness, nihilism, morbidity, cynicism, and sarcasm. You may find yourself saying—screw you guys, I’m going home. The world may seem extra pointless, so you may get depressed. Self-acceptance is key. If you are at home and embrace your inner emptiness, then you are free. You can float through life and be uninhibited and light like a feather in the breeze. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. You can be in the world but not of it. Life is but a dream, and you can go merrily down the stream. This year is profound for spiritual awakening, insight, and shedding your skin, but not in any kind of dramatic or obvious way. It is not auspicious for worldly goals or productivity, but you’re probably not that interested in that anyway. So, if you have been faking that you are interested, this is a good year for you to laugh and admit it’s all silly. If you can do that, then you may find that things align and happen naturally. Bring out your visionary quality and do art. Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2026 – Inauspicious/ Neutral (-) Could be a tough year for Horses, but it is the least difficult of Snake years. The Snake turns into the Horse in the natural progression of the Zodiac, so they have something in common, but the Horse is in many ways the antithesis of the Snake. The Horse represents a dramatic shift from extreme otherworldly Yīn back to Yáng, which in the form of the Horse is completely worldly in the most basic sense. The Snake is the most removed from the dual world, and the Horse is right at home in the world and ready to get to work. The Horse is wild but disciplined, sociable, gregarious, and engaged; they want to work, create, build, and then ride off free into the sunset on wild adventures. Snake Qì is the opposite of all those qualities. So, the Qì of the year is not conducive to anything that feels natural to you, and you may feel stunted, frustrated, and out of sorts. Projects may get delayed. The strange, mystical qualities of the Snake may be discombobulating this year but remember that the Wood Snake is the gentlest and the least intense of this weirdness. Let it inspire what you do have in common with the Snake—art. The Snake is visionary, innovative, inventive, and imaginary—bring these qualities out in your life, projects, and practices. The neutral quality is also non-obstructive, so although there is no wind in your sails, there are also no barriers to jump over. Productivity can go well if you are self-motivated and self-reliant. Help to bring others together and smile. Make people laugh. Point out the ordinariness of things and live in the moment. Goat: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 – Inauspicious/Neutral (-) This may also be a tough year for Goats, but again, it is the least challenging of the Snake years. Like the Horse, the Goat and Snake are very different. The Goat is the quintessential herd animal, and they operate based on feelings of interconnectedness and collective. The Snake, on the other hand, is the quintessential loner, and they operate based on feelings of emptiness and solitude. So, the social, political, and altruistic ambitions of the Goat are not supported this year. You may feel stunted, frustrated, and disheartened. But this is why we need you; bring out these altruistic and social qualities, and don’t give up on people! But remember the Wood Snake is soft and non-venomous – no hard feelings and nothing personal. And nothing is getting in the way. Both the Snake and the Goat share deep spiritual values; the Goat sees the principles of Qì harmony and transformation, while the Snake sees deeper to the truth that space is the fundamental medium that binds us and hosts all Qì transformation. So, relax into space. Let this be a year of rest and stillness. Focus on expressing your deeper truths and seeing through the complex webs that inform your motives in the world. This will help to free you and release the frustrations of a world out of control that may be going against your values. Express yourself through creative and artistic means; focus on self-care, healing, and close relationships. Watch out for anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. If you can relax and just be, then this year will be deeply revelatory. Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 – Neutral /Auspicious (++) The Monkey and Snake are a special Confucian pair of compatibility, so this is an excellent year for Monkeys. Both the Monkey and Snake see through the world but in different and often complementary ways. The Monkey sees the world as a kind of joke, but they find it funny and see it as a challenge to play with. However, Monkeys can lack the deeper wisdom that the Snake provides. The Snake sees through the world with deep wisdom but lacks the playful and humorous outlook of the Monkey, so they balance each other out well. Your Monkey mischief and risk-taking can go well this year, as it finds no obstruction and produces wiser and more thoughtful outcomes that can benefit all aspects of your life. Watch out for heightened anxiety and mental agitation, as this is a very “mental” year, but let the Snake Qì help you to pierce through fantasy, fear, and projection. This is an excellent year for personal growth, self-reflection, and shedding limitations. It is also an excellent year for innovation, creativity, and invention. You can reinvent yourself and your life. Pay attention to friendships and family and watch out for isolation and feelings of nihilism. Rooster: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 – Neutral /Auspicious (+) The Rooster is in a trine of compatibility with the Snake and Ox, so this affinity makes this a potentially good year for Roosters as well. The Rooster and Snake complement and support each other, as they are both piercing, intelligent, sharp, and striking energies. However, the Wood Snake is the least of these qualities, so it may not be as auspicious as other Snake years. Like the Monkey, the Snake helps the Rooster to pierce through attachment, anger, and delusion, so that all your endeavors can go well this year. This can be a great year for personal and professional development, but you must be self-reliant and self-motivated, as there is little Qì available for productivity and production. Let the Snake bring out your deeper mental, spiritual, and philosophical resources, and let that infuse everything in your life for the better. Personal, familial, and relational problems can arise if you do not tend to them with care, as you may be driven overboard into mental realms that disconnect you from your feelings. Learn to relax and be spacious without fixating or obsessing. Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 – Neutral/Auspicious (-/+) This is a mixed and mostly neutral year for Dogs that can end up going very well if you embrace it. All Dogs have a touch of the lone wolf and can be artistic, individualistic loners, (think Prince) just like the Snake. So, this is a year to embrace and celebrate those qualities. However, Dogs crave deep connection and loyalty, and the Snake shies away from this. Watch out for feelings of suspicion, judgment, and mistrust in your close relationships. If you do not have strong close relationships and are looking or dealing with issues of betrayal or mistrust, then it may be a frustrating and sad year. However, this makes it ideal for personal and spiritual growth and for embracing your lone wolf. Bring out your inner weirdo and let yourself escape. This may be a year for boundaries, self-care, and getting to know yourself on a deep level. Turn inward. Dogs can lose themselves taking care of and serving others, and you may derive your identity from being a parent, protector, or provider. Find out who you are outside all these roles. Work on your hobbies and passions and discover your hidden dreams. If you can embrace the lone wolf and let loose the inner weirdo, then this year will be an excellent springboard for the Fire Horse, which will be a great year overall. Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 – Neutral/Very Inauspicious (-/-) The Pig is the Snake’s opposite, so naturally, this may be a challenging year for Pigs. The Pig embodies everything the Snake is not, but oddly, this makes them very close to each other, for the opposite animals are mirrors. I always say that your opposite year is not inherently bad or something to be feared, but rather it is a spiritual opportunity to look in the mirror. Of course, Snake Qì goes against your instincts, so outwardly, things may be challenging and disorienting, and you may struggle all year as your honesty, integrity, and kindness could be challenged. You may feel disheartened and that the Qì of the year is cruel or critical. Personal relationships may be challenged, as people may be less inclined to connect with and indulge you. The Pig is the most fully in the world and engaged with the senses, and the Snake is the most disconnected and detached from the senses. So, for Pigs, this year may feel like the least enjoyable, sensual, and fun, but as I have said many times, the Wood Snake is a kind of non-year. It is so docile and non-interfering that you may not notice anything at all. Hopefully, this can balance out to being a kind of neutral indifferent year, and at best, it will serve as a mirror and springboard for personal growth. It may be sobering and clarifying and allow you to clean house and mature. That being said, we will all need and appreciate your fun-loving warmth and generosity, so throw some parties, bring people snacks, give some hugs, and remind everyone to enjoy themselves.  I wish you all the best this New Year! This life passes as quickly as autumn clouds; Family and friends are like passers-by in a market; The demon of death approaches like twilight’s shadows; What the future holds is like a translucent fish in cloudy waters; Life’s experiences are like last night’s dreams; The pleasures of the senses, like an imaginary party. Meaningless activities are like waves lapping on the surface of the water. Every harmful action I have done With my body, speech, and mind Overwhelmed by attachment, anger and confusion, All these I openly lay bare before you. While circling through all states of existence, May I become an endless treasure of good qualities-- Gathering limitless pristine wisdom and positive potential. May all beings have happiness and the cause of happiness. May they be free of suffering and the cause of suffering. May all beings remain in boundless equanimity, free from attachment and aversion! Sarva Mangalam!!!  Artwork Listed in Order
The Laughter of the Universe - Qì in the Year of the Yáng Wood Dragon, Jiǎ Chén, 甲辰 - Year 2024/47222/4/2024  道 – Dào/View*湯之問棘也是已。窮髮之北，有冥海者，天池也。有魚焉，其廣數千里，未有知其脩，其名為鯤。有鳥焉，其名為鵬，背若泰山，翼若垂天之雲，摶扶搖羊角而上者九萬里，絕雲氣，負青天，然後圖南，且適南冥也。斥鴳笑之曰：「彼且奚適也？我騰躍而上，不過數仞而下，翱翔蓬蒿之間，此亦飛之至也。而彼且奚適也？」此小大之辯也。 In the bare and barren north there is the dark and vast ocean - the Pool of Heaven. In it there is a fish, several thousand li in breadth, while no one knows its length. Its name is the kun. There is also a bird named the peng; its back is like the Tai mountain, while its wings are like clouds all round the sky. On a whirlwind it mounts upwards as on the whorls of a goat's horn for 90,000 li, till, far removed from the cloudy vapors, it bears on its back the blue sky, and then it shapes its course for the South, and proceeds to the ocean there.' A quail by the side of a marsh laughed at it, and said, 'Where is it going to? I spring up with a bound, and come down again when I have reached but a few fathoms, and then fly about among the brushwood and bushes; and this is the perfection of flying. Where is that creature going?' This shows the difference between the small and the great.* The flight of the Wood Dragon is the primordial gesture of the Dào itself - pure play, light expanding, flowing freely in all directions. Nature emerges in youthful and joyous participation, the full scope of life and death - fearlessly declaring itself, roaring and cavorting in unrestrained flight - the Wood Dragon flies without concern for boundaries or borders. From dark oceans, the ultimate Yīn of the Water Rabbit turns to the ultimate Yáng of the Wood Dragon - the freedom of primordial light, encompassing all possible form, wriggling, stretching in all directions, the Gate of Duality burst open - unimpeded, the Wood Dragon is the true jester, the joker, the clown, the radiant laughter of the Universe, Original Nature saturating all forms in unfathomable and endless patterns of play, the Péng Bird in flight - where does it fly? Why? Despite the vagaries of life, despite the banal grind of samsara, this Year we must contend with a force of nature that simply doesn’t care for our smallness, our pettiness, or our crusty lack of imagination. The Wood Dragon expands and bursts - it is rainbow of delight in rapture, the baby dragon bursting from the Cosmic Egg in search of the Heavens - it flies just to fly - it represents Yóu, 遊, the free and easy wander of Zhuangzi’s Péng Bird - a light-hearted, humorous, and carefree response to the chaotic state of the world, to worry, to seriousness, and to our obsession with controlling our circumstances. This Year brings the light forward again, illuminating the dark. This light in the form of the Dragon is bright Yáng Wood, like a flash bulb in a dark room. In times of great darkness, before the dawn, in the depths of the Winter Solstice, we might idealize the light and curse the dark. We might imagine the light and dark enemies. We might imagine the light superior, as it brings revelation. But we must remember they are Yīnyáng, mutually interdependent. The light that appears in the dawn is gentle and its illumination soft. Too much light becomes pollution and obscures the Stars. Too much light obscures the small, the fine, the subtle. The Wood Dragon fills us with purpose, with lightness and laughter, elevating us to the Heavens. Its light is refreshing but can become a danger if it becomes a weapon to defeat the dark. This is our danger; this is our contemplation. The light this Year is so bright we no longer see the womb of darkness that contains and births it. A light too bright can obscure the rainbow and make us think our light is the only light. This year we must welcome the light but bring some shades, lol. Listen to the Laughter of the Universe, of the cavorting Dragon, for this laughter is so big, it challenges our sanity and makes all our pettiness seem small. But do not forget the Stars or the rainbow of light that makes the manifest world beautiful. This Year, we are all Dragons, so play in the light but remember - it is only a flash. *Zhuāngzi, chapter 1, translation - James Legge (1891), The Texts of Taoism, in Sacred Books of the East, vols. XXXIX, XL, Oxford: Oxford University Press.  Jiǎ Chén, 甲辰, Year of the Yáng Wood Dragon As of Saturday, February 10th, we officially move into Jiǎ Chén, 甲辰, the Year of the Yáng Wood Dragon, the Laughing Dragon. As always, I must remind you that Astrology is not Fortunetelling - we are not here to predict but to play, especially in the case of the Wood Dragon - an eternally playful jester. I present the following symbols as a playful mirror - these are my reflections, but I am not an expert, prophet, or soothsayer. It is up to you to study these symbols, reflect, and apply them to your own life. So take my “commentary” with a grain of salt. But before we fly into the wild of the Wood Dragon, I have some great news! For all those who have not yet heard, I recently signed a book deal with Shambala Publications to author a book on Polestar Astrology! This will be a complete guide to the tradition as I have come to digest it from the legacy teachings of Liu Ming and from my own practice. In it, I will offer everything I have learned on how to follow Polestar Astrology as a spiritual path. I am aiming to have the manuscript finished by my next birthday, September 23rd, 2024, and it should be published sometime in 2025! So stay tuned for more details.  Water Rabbit Reflections and Transition As we emerge from the deep and watery depths of the Yīn Water Rabbit, we have a lot to reflect on. It has been a strange year indeed. As always, I encourage you to re-read my blog on last year and reflect…how’d it go? We are each predisposed because of our Character and Fate to digest the Year differently, so experience will vary widely, but I am deeply curious about your experience of the Water Rabbit and how it unfolded for you…so please share! As I suggested, the past two years were a potent Yīnyáng pair - Water in the form of the Tiger and Rabbit, predator and prey - a journey of inner alchemy through the bardoes of dying and death, Yáng Water, in the form of the Tiger as the tempest of dying, and Yīn Water, in the form of the Rabbit as the state of being dead, which is paradoxically full of strange echoes of life that we call Guǐ, 鬼, ghosts. The Water Rabbit represented Yīn Wood - innocence, spontaneity, flexibility, renewal, humility, gentleness, sensitivity, subordination, and potentiality, within Yīn Water - the most mysterious and complete resolution - darkness, death, return, completion, memory, synthesis, and fluidity. The positive key terms for the Rabbit were - gentle, quiet, peace loving, intuitive, intelligent, aesthetic, domestic, social, dependent, diverse, supportive, loving, and authoritative, and the more negative or depleted expression was - gossipy, snobby, superficial, paranoid, greedy, scattered, vain, promiscuous, opportunistic, deceptive, conservative, stubborn, and lazy. If you put all this together, the image of the Water Rabbit was a deep dark portal, a threshold to a great liminal space, what “happens” between things, the limbo, the bardo between death and rebirth, a year of secrets, alchemy, and mystery - deeply social, deeply felt, deeply (inter)connected. I have heard from many that this was one of the darkest years of their life, despite being peaceful. So take a moment, and reflect on your life over the past year - personally, professionally, socially, and so on; take a look at the world as you perceive it through the media, news, internet, and so on. Reflect on these key terms - how have they come up for you? How have they manifested in the world? Personally, this Year was very Rabbity for me. I took my own advice, dug in my heels, and stayed put. I poured myself into my medical practice, into writing, and I “nested” to the best of my ability. The Rabbit is considered a “Peach Blossom Star,” which means romantic relationships were big last year, and for me this came true! I met an amazing woman and got engaged! My life has led me down a lot of side roads in search of home. And while my life now is not what I imagined ten years ago, I simply can’t start over anymore. Rabbit Year pushed me into domestication and inspired me to put down some roots. While it has been very challenging, it has been one of the most rewarding and fruitful years of my life, and I can’t wait to start the next chapter of my life, and the Wood Dragon is a great energy to renew and initiate change. In my previous New Year's Blog, I said that the Water Rabbit Year would be as weird as it gets, but I really had no idea how this would manifest. While there are innumerable small examples we can point to in our everyday lives, on the public scale, two of the most profound Water Rabbit Manifestations that have blown my mind this year have most certainly been the sudden arrival of AI/Artificial Intelligence and the "whistle blower" (whistleblowing is very Rabbity) revelation of the existence of UFOs/UAPs, government programs to retrieve and reverse engineer UFOs, and the existence of extraterrestrials. I never thought I would listen to a congressional hearing on UFOs, but it happened. The theme here is that of "other" intelligence, intelligence being a key Rabbit term, here in the form of Artificial Intelligence (which is Alien but from Earth) and actual Alien Intelligence (i.e. from not-Earth or at least non-human); these are the most extreme Water Rabbity things I could possibly imagine but never would have predicted that they would come to the forefront of our collective discussion, even if they were lost in the ever changing news feed. Even more Water Rabbity is the subtle way in which these phenomena will change society. AI will absolutely change society, especially if it continues to evolve at the current rate, and we may give birth to AGI, Artificial General Intelligence, sooner than we think. Everything AI has produced, from art and innovation to pure terror and confusion is very Rabbity. If the revelation of Aliens/UFOs continues, this too will vastly alter our culture, but it is likely that this will remain under wraps for quite some time, as we’ve been conditioned for years to think it's crazy. So if you don’t believe me, there is a UAP/UFO amendment proposed to Congress in 2024 (https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/uap_amendment.pdf), and if these changes are put in place, then honesty, transparency, and reparations on the nature of truth when it comes to UFOs/UAPs may actually happen, for it is pretty clear that we are not alone in the universe, and that we have definitive evidence that has been held from the public for quite some time. Pretty wild. The changes from these are very Rabbity - they have deep social implications and will alter the very structure of society and at personal level (like people having relationships with AI bots), and both conjure our worst doomsday fears and paranoias. Some people think that AI is the end of the world and the greatest existential threat to humanity, others think it is our savior, and there have been endless conspiracy theories about the presence of UFOs since the arrival of the Atomic Bomb (and long before that). I will leave it to you to explore this on your own and come to your own conclusions. The next and worst of the most Water Rabbity manifestations this year is of course the war between Israel and Hamas, which has captivated the world and seems almost emblematic of the themes of the Year. A brutal and vicious “sneak attack” from a small, hidden group attacking a larger group to then literally run and hide in rabbit burrows (over 300 miles of tunnels under Gaza), followed by a brutal ongoing massacre in an unprecedented urban war that has produced immense civilian casualties and untold suffering amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The response from the rest of the world, though, is where the Rabbit has struck the hardest through the principles of “gossip,” safety, and vulnerability/victimhood, which essentially translates into the mist of protests, propaganda, slander, and argument. I have never seen more people arguing and taking sides as supposed experts about something they knew nothing about a few weeks/months ago. It has sent people into states of great moral confusion, split people into deeper cultural wars with tribal rhetoric, us versus them mentality, righteous victimhood, biased propaganda, reality distortion, heated accusations, and revised historical narratives spanning every position imaginable about one of the most bitter, intractable conflicts in history. You could not get a more Rabbity mess. I have been hemming and hawing about whether or not to give an in depth take on this, and we must ask - why is everyone so eager to take sides, condemn, and blame rather than understand? Does everyone with a platform need to comment on geopolitics and war? Is this just Rabbit inspired gossip? I initially wrote a long in-depth piece but decided to not share my personal take here, as I know enough to know that I do not know enough, and I do not want this blog to be about Israel and Palestine. The situation is simply too complex to do justice to it here. I am very passionate about the subject and have studied the situation in depth from every perspective imaginable, so if for some reason you are interested in an in-depth analysis of the current situation and history from the perspective of Chinese Astrology, then I will write and publish it separately, otherwise, I will leave it at this – from one perspective, the situation is a heartbreaking spiritual call to grapple with something deeply complex that poses some of the deepest, most challenging questions we can ask about human nature, religion, politics, and war. It is also an absolute industry of lies and propaganda on both sides, making it one of the most challenging subjects to engage with. As such, the whole situation is the most profound manifestation of the Water Rabbit imaginable, and the Rabbit influence here seemed to prime the world to identify deeply with and exploit this ongoing narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because it so clearly ignites the ghosts of western colonialism and the West’s ever growing hatred and condemnation of itself and especially of Israel. I pray for peaceful resolution and path toward a Two-State Solution, but I am not qualified to offer any practical solutions here; my role is merely to say that it all seems very Rabbity, and I will leave it at that, posing the question - how does all this turn in the Dragon Year? Turning back, the tribal cultural war divisions in America have only become more pronounced throughout the Water Rabbit, and we are primed for a lot of big drama in the Wood Dragon Year. With the endless legal battles of Trump and the subsequent strengthening of the cult of Trumpistan, the wide scale criticism of Biden and the rejection of the “far left” and “wokism,” the absolute mess in American Congress, and the devolution of American Politics and of both social and legacy media into a hallucination factory of biased, gossipy, judgmental bickering…the Water Rabbit has brought out some of the worst dynamics in American culture, but perhaps that is just how it appears through the news or I should say the Bad News. Our culture, as it appears through the media, has become such a house of mirrors, that we now have apps (such as Ground News, https://ground.news/) dedicated to showing right, centrist, and left wing bias in news articles, and it seems as though we now need this just to navigate the murky waters of “information.” The quality of Water Rabbit Qì was “spaced in,” and it expanded the magnitude of the present moment, slowing it down, making us more aware of time and potentially more uneasy at the slowness/quickness of its passing, like hearing the second hand of a clock ticking loudly. The capacity to then hyper focus and obsess over minutia was heightened, and with the added self-conscious social awareness of the Rabbit image, this put us at much bigger risk to be exploited by the dark side of the internet and social media. I predicted that last Year may very well have been THE Year of social media, the year of the Podcast, and probably not in a good way. Was I right? What do you think? Social media last year more than any other, which not coincidentally coincided with the meteoric rise of AI and TikTok as the most successful app in history, saw some of the most dramatic internet negativity we have ever seen, with long term consequences that I can’t even imagine. The worsening of smartphone and app addiction, doom scrolling, self-obsession, self-criticism, self-harm, body image issues, bickering, arguing, nasty comments, and so on, was off the charts. We are now learning that smartphone addiction, “TikTok Brain,” is associated with the shrinkage of the brain’s gray matter, causing “digital dementia,” the deterioration of memory, attention span, self-esteem, and impulse control, all of which increase anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, it appears that all of this has gotten worse, but we also started a lot more conversations about it and about the consequences of social media, mis/disinformation, biased media, and so on. I also said this would be a challenging Year for mental health, and this seemed to be the case, and the above challenges did not make it easier. Last Year we saw the suicide rates soar to the highest in over 80 years, especially among the elderly, and especially elderly men, which is not surprising in a Water year, Water representing death and old age. How was your mental health challenged? How about in those you know? Sorry if all that sounds negative, lol. Let’s remind ourselves that we live in the safest, most prosperous time in history. Here are a few Water Rabbity good news stories - according to the UN, the ozone layer is officially on track to recover within four decades! The 5th person was confirmed cured of HIV this year. AI is now able to detect breast cancer 4 Years before it develops, and scientists have discovered a new antibiotic for a hospital superbug, identified by an AI model trained to analyze their data. Brazil ousted 85% of illegal gold miners from the Yanomami territory, its largest Indigenous reservation, and will remove mining operations from six more reserves this year. After two decades of planning and a grueling 38 hours of negotiations, almost 200 countries have reached a historic agreement to protect the world’s oceans. The High Seas Treaty aims to classify 30% of the seas as protected by 2030 - treaties are very Water Rabbity, and it’s an ocean treaty! Ecuador has achieved the world’s largest “debt-for-nature” deal – converting US$1.6 billion in debt into a US$656m loan from Credit Suisse. Ecuador will repay this loan over the next 18 years while allocating approximately US$17m annually to support conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands. The German government has pledged to pay more than $1.4 billion next year to Holocaust survivors around the world. In a world first, California will now require large companies doing business in the state to report their carbon emissions. The new laws will require companies with more than $1bn in annual revenue to report how much carbon is being produced from their operations and electricity use. It applies to around 5300 corporations, including Chevron, Wells Fargo, Amazon and Apple. (https://zeefeed.com.au/good-news-australia-2023/) Those are just a few examples, and let’s not forget that most of what happens is good or at least ordinary, but none of that makes the news. We are just inundated with media negativity, and this Year has been no different! Just remember that old Mr. Rogers’s quote, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Very Rabbity. I will leave it to you to reflect, then, and think for yourself about the Water Rabbit Year. These are just a few of my reactions through the lens of Chinese Astrology. We now leave behind the Water Rabbit, and the transition to the Wood Dragon is dramatic. This is like delving into a deep, dark, and mysterious pool full of spectral visions to then come out the other side and shoot into the sky like a rainbow in space, like fireworks lighting up the dark. But how does a Rabbit turn into a Dragon? In the progression of the 12-Animals, the Ox represents strength, tolerance, and the continuity of routine hard work/labor, and the Tiger represents an escape from the drudgery of that continuity through rebellion, creativity, and change. The Rabbit, then, represents the result of the Tiger’s impulsive revolutionary bluster, which is a kind of raw, open, and vulnerable sensitivity; this combination gives us a profound and imaginative renewal that must be stabilized and made safe to explode into the rainbow that is the Wood Dragon. The Dragon is the fully realized inner Heart of the Rabbit - vulnerable/shy Yīn becomes big cavorting Yáng. Whatever has not been integrated or made safe in the Rabbit Year will come out forcefully in the Dragon Year; the integrated becomes positive and expansive change, but the unintegrated becomes destructive negativity. The Wood Dragon is therefore a wild card - the big, expansive, and potentially destructive nature of the symbol is hard to predict. Literally anything can happen. However, the nature of Wood is freshness, pliancy, and youthful renewal that eats away at the heaviness of Earth. The symbol is a refresh, and its destruction is making way for new growth, clearing the old to make way for the new. I feel that in the long run, it is fundamentally positive and unlimited in potential but potentially destructive in the short term. Let’s get into it.  象 Symbolism and 氣 Qì Dynamics Chinese Astrology and culture has a long-standing love affair with the Dragon, the mystical culmination of the Celestial Zodiac. During Dragon Years, everyone in China tries to get pregnant. In the Chinese mind, the promise of a male Dragon son has always represented a potential for greatness unmatched in the other signs. For the Dragon has always been a symbol of the Emperor and the ruling power of Heaven. This has led to a long pattern of sex-based discrimination, and the imbalance of the one child policy will lead to a massive population collapse in China, but that’s another story. ( https://chinapower.csis.org/china-demographics-challenges/) I have been somewhat dreading my exploration of Dragon Qì, for the Dragon cannot be defined. Whenever I do readings for Dragons or Snakes, I throw my hands up and say “¿¡!?” As the mystical Yīnyáng culmination at the center of the Zodiac, the Dragon and Snake are defined by being ineffable, characterized by their unknowable quality, but in different ways. The Snake is Big Yīn, emptiness/space, and the Dragon is Big Yáng, fullness/light expanding into the Heavens. The Snake represents the inner open capacity to become any of the other 11 signs without actually being them, but the Dragon actually is all 11 Characters embodied. The symbol of the Dragon is, then, a synthesis. If you look at depictions of the Chinese Dragon you will see that it is a composite of every animal. According to tradition, it is said to have the whiskers of the Rat, the face and horns of the Ox, the claws and teeth of the Tiger, the belly of the Rabbit, the body of the Snake, the legs of the Horse, the goatee of the Goat, the wit (or brain) of the Monkey, the crest of the Rooster, the ears of the Dog, and the snout of the Pig. The Dragon is the only animal of the 12 capable of flight, an important part of the symbol, and yet it is rarely depicted with wings, for its ability to fly is super natural. It is the only supernatural animal in the group, and so people question its existence. But the Chinese never questioned the existence of Dragons because everyone knew they were controlling the weather and water. Dragons were thought to be behind the clouds, causing storms, floods, and rain. If you could ride to the source of a great storm or flood, then maybe you could see one and earn the title “Dragon.” The synthesis of all 11 into the supernatural Dragon represents infinite potential, which is the first and most important thing we can say about Dragons. Dragon Qì is said to have the qualities, capacities, and skills of all 11 and the power to express all or none of them if they choose, sort of like the 9 on the enneagram. The Dragon can choose to deny its potential, which is why Dragons need a path. Their infinite potential is meaningless to the Chinese unless it is turned away from selfishness and towards self-reflection, dedicated to the benefit of others. Ming used to say that each Character is like a tool box with a specific set of tools/skills, but the Dragon tool box just has a Dragon in it. In other words, we don’t know what Dragons are for. They are a paradox outside the paradigm, and often they are an enigma to their friends and family. The Snake is an enigma even to themselves, but Dragons, while mysterious, are often very self-confident and assured, which is part of what baffles people about them. Historically, the Dragon is a symbol of the Emperor and the Rising Sun to the East, the ruling power of Heaven from an unknown mystical origin. Because of their potential, Dragons were considered great leaders, capable of the biggest most inclusive view with the most compassion. So, it is easy to understand why the Chinese revere the Dragon as the Emperor. There is a mountain of lore around the Dragon symbol. I will do my best to make this specific, but again, Dragons may be all or none of this, and the uncultivated Dragon may be a mess of everything all at once, unable to make sense of themselves. 木克土 Wood Eats Earth The Dragon’s native element is Yáng Earth, which is also shared by Dragon’s opposite, the Dog. They each express the virtues of Yáng Earth in different ways. For the Dragon, Yáng Earth represents flight—the ability to break away from the Earth, symbolizing the Dragon’s capacity to see and travel beyond. The Dog represents territory and the ability to intuit, cover, and protect the terrain. In Chinese Medicine, Yáng Earth and the Dragon represents the Stomach and the Fires of digestion, which is our desire to devour life and experience. Yáng Earth represents manifestation, confidence, alliance, leadership, wealth, abundance, balance, caring, and power—Yáng expressions as opposed to the Yīn aspects of Earth (nourishing, mothering, stabilizing, supporting, etc.) By nature, the Dragon has these capacities, but often has difficulty expressing them without training. And of course, each Elemental Dragon has its own challenges. The outer element of this Year is Yáng Wood, which initiates a new 10-Year cycle of the Heavenly Stems. The Yáng Wood Dragon is called the “Laughing Dragon,” for Yáng Wood represents impulsivity, birth, youth, spontaneity, playfulness, innocence, flexibility, humility, gentleness, and creativity. It is the baby dragon, hatching from the primordial egg. In the Five Element structure, Wood “eats” Earth, so this pliant youthful quality is like the roots of a sprout, aerating and breaking up the solid heaviness of Earth. Wood “destroys” Earth, but this destructive quality is not violent, it is enlivening, lightening, and enriching. It takes heaviness off the heart of the Emperor, and offers him an innocent, childlike perspective that is eternally fresh. Yáng Wood is pure expansion; it represents a naïve impulsive force to come into being and is the energy of the chick breaking through the shell, the sprout bursting out of the seed. So the Wood Dragon has a very different quality than the other Dragons. Wood Dragons can have a difficult time expressing their greatness in a mature and grounded way because of the expansive nature of Wood undermining Earth. If there is one thing we can say about Dragon Qì—it is big, sometimes too big. Dragon Qì is pervasive and expansive. It is Big Yáng exploding out into heaven, into the sky, seeking to fly beyond and above all boundaries, and the Wood Dragon is like a child, exploring, playing, and unaware of its own strength. So sometimes, it makes a mess; sometimes it breaks and destroys but not out of malevolence. The Wood Dragon breaks things because it is exploring its boundaries through playful inquiry. The Wood Dragon is like Baby Huey; naive and unaware that it is big. This bigness, in my view, is what tends to give Dragons characteristics we can talk about, which they otherwise transcend. The transcendent and fresh quality of the Dragon makes them natural mystics, and often people with Dragon Qì are interested in spiritual occult traditions, especially those with extraordinary cosmologies. The way Dragons experience themselves and the universe is just too big for ordinary views. To me, Bruce Lee was the quintessential Dragon (Metal Dragon born in Earth Dragon Hour), and his life was a demonstration of the mystical power of Dragon Qì. Dragons see through and beyond ordinary appearances like the Snake, but unlike the Snake, their powerful expansive Qì pushes them towards action and adventure. Dragons want to go beyond and actualize their potential, and they can go further than any other sign. If a Dragon chooses to leave the world, they’re never to be seen again; if they choose to embrace the world, they can go into it deeply and lose themselves in the service of greatness. 五運六氣 – Wŭ Yùn Lìu QìThe Wŭ Yùn Lìu Qì, or “Five Movements and Six Climates,” is said to govern the distribution of the annual Qì as weather patterns and their effects on living beings as resultant illnesses. While the effect of the Dragon Symbol is broad, symbolic, and can be applied everywhere, the effect of Wŭ Yùn Lìu Qì is much more “physical/medical” and for students of Chinese Medicine, it is worth studying. We can apply this prediction to weather and potential natural disasters and as an influence on disease. The following is astrological jargon for Chinese Medicine nerds, so feel free to gloss over if this is nonsense. The annual Yùn is determined by the yearly heavenly stem, which this Year is jiǎ,甲,and is said to influence the climate over the entire year. The Annual Yùn for this Year is, Tài Gōng, 太宫, Major Earth-Tone which produces Excess Damp in opposition to the Element of jiǎ,甲, Yáng Wood/Wind. The terms 太 Tài ‘Major’ and 少 Shào ‘Minor’ are notes of the Chinese pentatonic scale and are traditionally used to represent the movement of Qì. As this Year is a Yáng stem, it is Tàiguò 太过, ‘Excessive’ and is associated with more violent climate changes from the host which is Yáng Wood damaging the controlled element Yáng Earth. The Guest Qì is better understood as the Climatic Factors or Atmospheric Influences. It is determined by the year’s Earthly Branch and represents meteorological changes in upper and lower halves of the year. The Host Qì of each Year progresses naturally as Seasons starting in Spring with windiness (February – March), followed by imperial heat (April-May), ministerial fire (June-July), dampness (August – September), dryness (October-November), and coldness (December-January). The 主 Zhǔ or “Host” of the natural season hosts the 客 Kè “Guest” Qì, which descends from above during the 1st half of year and is then joined from below in the 2nd half of the year. So, the first half of this Year is governed by Tàiyáng, 太陽, Cold Water, associated with Bladder and Small Intestine, and the second half is governed by Tàiyīn Damp Earth, 太陰, associated with the Spleen and Lung, all within the context of Tài Gōng, 太宫, Major Earth-tone, which produces excess Damp all Year, all interacting with the natural progression of the above Seasons. So ask, how does wind, then imperial heat, then ministerial fire, etc, interact with Damp Earth in general all year, and with Cold Water in the first half of the year and then with more Damp Earth in the second half? Lol pretty complicated; I’ll offer some interpretation, but you can figure it out! The Yún Qì relationship this Year is both Suìhuì, 岁会, meaning Annual Agreement - the tone of Excess Earth Tone agrees with the Natural Element of the Dragon, which is Yáng Earth, as well as Tóngtiānfú, 同天符, in which the Heaven Governing Qì, Tàiyáng Cold Water is in opposition to the Spring Administering Qì, Tàiyīn Damp Earth. So, Suìhuì means that the the Qì of the Year is in agreement and therefore more mild and temperate, but Tóngtiānfú means that Qì has the generally tendency to become excessive, so there will be greater changes in weather, more acute diseases, and the overall tendency of the Year will be somewhat forceful and chaotic. So I guess it is in agreement and harmonized in its excess quality! Bring a helmet! Interpretation So, what does all that mean? Essentially, we have a year that is elementally in agreement when it comes to the element of Damp Yáng Earth, which is therefore in excess all Year, but will be undermined by the presence of Yáng Wood and Wind in the first half of the Year. But, the Year is also in discord and prone to excess and extremes with the element of Yáng Cold Water, which will clash with a second dose of Damp Yīn Earth in the second half of the Year. So, Damp Earth is in excess all Year that will be less pronounced in Spring during the time of Wind, which dries Damp, but with an increase in Damp symptoms that will get worse in the second half of the Year, especially in Late Summer, with the onset of Damp Heat, and in Winter with the influx of Cold. Dampness hurts the Spleen and Kidney; it bogs things down and accumulates, which increases feelings of heaviness in the body and impairs the transformation of food and fluids. It lowers energy, both mentally and physically, but it does so through excess and indulgence in a Dragon Year. In terms of the Spleen, excess Damp impairs digestion and can lead to an increase in abdominal pain, indigestion, gas, bloating, irregular bowels, and more acute GI distress such as loose stool/diarrhea. It also bogs down the muscles and can lead to more muscle weakness, cramping, body pain, and difficulty walking. Again, this will get worse toward the second half of the Year, but in the expansive Year of the Dragon will likely come from excess, from pushing ourselves into states of deficiency. The weakening of the Spleen/Lung can lead to increases in rumination, worry, compulsive overthinking, and create sadness and grief due to the stagnation of Qì. In terms of the Kidney, it can lead to water retention, edema, hearing problems, swelling in the lower body, cold feelings all over the body, especially the hands and feet, aching in the knees and low back, and also increased water in the intestines leading to more issues with diarrhea. It can also lead to lower burner sexual and urinary dysfunction and fertility issues. The weakening of the Kidneys can lead to increased anxiety, fear, and worry over long term issues survival and death. The influx of Cold Water the first half of the Year will further damage the Kidneys and Heart, leading to increased anxiety, chest pain, heart palpitations, as well as to more pronounced cold and flu symptoms, like fever, chills, sore throats, runny nose, headache, stiffness/body aches, joint pain, etc. The second half of the Year will introduce more Damp, leading to more weakness of the Spleen, water retention, abdominal fullness, digestive problems, weakness, poor appetite, and so on. These are just some examples of things to expect. Essentially, guard the Spleen - digestive health is crucial this Year. So is Kidney and reproductive health, but as previously mentioned, in the Wood Dragon Year, these are likely to come from exhaustion, from pushing, from doing too much, from excess indulgence, from trying to leap into the stratosphere and forgetting to take care of yourself. We weaken the middle and eventually the lower burner when we push and do not rest. This Year, digestion will be hit first, and eventually, the Kidney’s will also be affected.  形 Manifestation/Character Now that we have covered the energetic dynamics, let’s get into key words for the Wood Dragon and talk about how this symbol manifests in/as people. The first is strong or powerful. The Yáng Earth Character of the Dragon has a strength unmatched by any of the other 11 Characters, but this strength is unformed and immature in the Wood Dragon, which makes it a bit clumsy and impulsive. Dragon strength is different from, say Ox or Horse strength. Ox strength represents the capacity to carry, maintain, and endure, and Horse strength represents the power to manifest, work, and accomplish, but Dragon strength is not related to any specific capacity and is better represented by the power of a great storm, the strength of nature unleashed. We marvel at the strength of nature, and we respect and fear its destructive side. The power of water, when harvested by a dam, can generate immense energy, yet uncontrolled, a tidal wave can demolish a town. We do not consider tidal waves evil, yet we mourn and fear nature’s destruction. In the same way, Dragon strength is immense, raw, wild and can be destructive, but like the dam it can be harnessed for good. In the case of the Wood Dragon, that strength is of renewal, opening and paving the way for expansion and growth. This strength, the explosive Yáng, can turn to profound compulsiveness, which the expansiveness of Wood exaggerates. Dragon Qì can be overwhelming, and Dragons can be a handful, bundles of energy that need channels in which to flow lest they flow everywhere. Like Tiger Qì, Dragon Qì has an explosive outward moving quality, symbolized by flight, that can propel Dragons toward uncontrolled action and reaction. This compulsive strength can be physical, mental, or emotional and can manifest as patterns of unruly behavior or speech, speaking freely and challenging everyone and every idea as a demonstration of power, especially Fire Dragons. In general, Dragons need an outlet where they can demonstrate their strength otherwise they will destroy themselves. The strength of the Dragon feels very natural and becomes a kind of confidence, not necessarily social confidence but self-assuredness and confidence in view. In the Wood Dragon, this is the confidence of the child who has not yet learned to be ashamed. Other Characters have this too, Roosters for example, but the Rooster arrives at confidence through analysis. The Dragon does no analysis; they’re born assured and cannot be convinced otherwise. The Dragon has a big grandiose vision. The problem is that nothing can live up to the Dragon’s vision, so it is hard for them to come back down to Earth. Dragons feel like they’re the rulers of the universe, masters of destiny, the most capable, the smartest, the best, and so on. With training, they can be, but often, this self-assured confidence is over-confident and all talk, what we call “delusions of grandeur.” So, Dragons can be selfish and “egotistical” in the ordinary sense. Dragons often feel like royalty, like everything should be given to them, like they’re already awesome and should be rewarded justly. They may even have low self-esteem, but that’s because people just don’t get how awesome they are. They can be attention hungry and expect others to acknowledge them, regardless of what they do. The Dragon can be so confident in their abilities that they never actually work to do anything. Often, they need big reality checks, to “eat humble pie,” and they need to put in the time and effort to master something. And when they do, this natural confidence in their abilities can be actualized and taken to great heights, like Bruce Lee. Dragons, therefore, possess a natural charisma. Something about their power, confidence, and ineffability becomes enigmatic and impressive to others. To me, Patrick Steward, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, a Metal Dragon and fantastic Shakespearean actor, is a great example of the Dragon charisma. He exudes a natural confidence and restrained stability. Some great example of celebrity Wood Dragons are Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Chris Farley (a great example of destructive playfulness - Chris Farley is everything you need to know about Wood Dragon), David Spade, Stephen Colbert, Nicholas Cage, Rob Lowe, Jeff Bezos, Boris Johnson (definitely Baby Huey), and one of my favorites, 8 time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. Dragons are a mystery to others and defy labels. At their best, Dragons, especially Wood Dragons, love showmanship and can be flamboyant and outgoing. Dragons often have big personalities, even if that personality is introverted. The outgoing nature of the Dragon is based on a kind of ambition and adventurous spirit. Grand is the only scale Dragons work with. They have a big, broad, expansive, and inclusive vision, the capacity to see a panoramic picture. Philosophically, the Dragon has a view/insight no other Character is capable of and can fly out beyond the clouds. Dragons seek grand Peter Pan style adventure, and the Wood Dragon is the most Peter Pan, never grow up, stay in Neverland forever. Small goals and narrow ideas seem insignificant, unimportant to the Dragon - like why bother? Wood Dragons have a tremendous capacity for fantasy and envision themselves to be great magnanimous beings; they take the whole “I want to grow up to be an astronaut” to ridiculous proportions. They may live in a fantasy world in which they are invincible and infallible. A personal vision may not necessarily be defined, but Wood Dragons feel they are destined for greatness, and many are, like Oprah Winfrey or Jeff Bezos. Living in the clouds, fantasizing of greatness, Wood Dragons can appear aloof and distant, difficult for others to connect with. Wood Dragons are unrealistic. Nothing can live up to the Wood Dragon’s scale. It is hard for Wood Dragons to sweat the small stuff, to pay attention to details. Wood Dragons are a telescope looking out to the stars, not a microscope. They can be unrealistic with everything—their own abilities, their plans, and their expectations of others. Wood Dragons are also dramatic. They can make a big deal out of small things because big and expansive is how they roll. When things don’t go their way, and when things fall short of expectations, Wood Dragons can be sarcastic drama queens. The feeling of bigness, too, can lead to being insensitive, blunt, and unconcerned with people’s feelings, except for their own, of which they “make mountains of molehills.” The power and self-assuredness of the Dragon can be assertive, willful, confident, dedicated, and demanding. Dragons demand the best from themselves and from others and tend to assert and insist upon their opinion, which is both a virtue and a challenge. To be a leader, one must be assertive and able to make decisions, and the Dragon is the most skillful leader and should not be put in subordinate positions. They thrive in leadership roles, but without feet on the ground, they can fly over the little guy. Once the Dragon has developed their heart, their assertive willfulness can accomplish greatness for better or worse, like Che Guevara. If turned toward the spiritual path, this capacity to assert will power, to connect to the Yáng expression of Heaven, can be unparalleled. A great example of this is the late teacher and Earth Dragon Swami Rudrananda, otherwise known as Rudi. His book, Spiritual Cannibalism, is a fantastic exposition of Dragon Qì applied to the spiritual path. Rudi had titanic willpower and dedication, and he taught people to essentially “eat” and be nourished by everything as energy, to become what Tantra calls a viśvaboghi, a digester of the universe. Unfortunately, not many people possess Rudi’s willpower and fall short of his example. Not everyone can live up to the Dragon’s vision, but he was inspiring nonetheless. The final positive virtue I will offer of the Wood Dragon is generosity. It may sound like Dragons have a lot of potentially challenging qualities, but we must remember that they have unlimited potential. The Dragon can display all virtues to the grandest scale. Wood Dragon Qì is big and overflows all boundaries, which naturally turns to generosity. The flipside we discussed is selfishness, but the Dragon can give and demonstrate tremendous sacrifice for others. I must reiterate again that Dragon Qì is a paradox that cannot be defined other than to say it has unlimited Yáng creative potential. The qualities I have discussed are merely an attempt to discuss what happens when Dragon Qì is confined in human Character. Dragons can be anything or nothing if they choose, and they represent a culmination of the Zodiac, everything rolled into one, exploding out. My Mantic Arts teacher, Liu Ming, wrote a book on the stages of human spiritual development called Dragon’s Play. In the book, the Dragon represents the twelfth and final stage of human life, the greatest expression of Yáng Qì and human potential—the Rainbow Light Body, Ja lü in Tibetan, Prakāśakāya/Tejokāya in Sanskrit, and Hóngshēn in Chinese. In Daoist and Tantric cultivation, a practitioner of the Way is said to draw all of creation into their heart or navel creating a “cosmic egg/immortal fetus,” an expression of ultimate Yīn, the return to Source. The result of Ultimate Yīn turns to Ultimate Yáng, which is the Dragon, ultimate freedom bursting from the Egg, light flowing freely and consciously into all dimensions, consciously becoming the Universe, which other people witness as a display of Light. The Dragon is the primordial gesture of the Dao itself, the demonstration of the power of Source Qì to become everything, which all humans are destined for. This may sound fantastic, but of course, everyone, every Character has this potential too; it is not limited to Dragons. Dragons are just a symbol of our unlimited potential. Dragon Characters need a path otherwise this potential is meaningless. Above all, Dragons need training; they need a path, but they must never be controlled. Dragons must be left alone to follow their own way, or they will eat you, lol. Dragons, like Rabbits, exemplify the relationship between Character and Fate. An Earth Dragon born in the ghetto with no opportunity to demonstrate their leadership capacity might become a gang leader, go to prison, and be king inmate. A Wood Dragon with major obstacles and challenges without training, help, and restraint will most likely destroy themselves, like Chris Farley. The strength of the Dragon demands "big" Fate. The Five Dragons each demonstrate a different flavor of Dragon Qì, the Wood Dragon (Laughing Dragon) being the most creative and light hearted, the Fire Dragon (Sky Dragon) the most challenging and explosive, the Earth Dragon (Yielding Dragon) the most grounded and regal, the Metal Dragon (Angry Dragon) the most powerful and articulate, and the Water Dragon (Rain Dragon) the most nurturing and mystical.  器 Synthesis, Application, and “Predictions” Now we get to the fun part…what is going to happen! More so than usual, I throw my hands up, for this Year defies any confident analysis; it is truly an unpredictable Year, which may give you some anxiety. Literally anything could happen, but I suppose that is always true. So take a moment to feel the potential of an energy that is big, expansive, naive, and uncontrollable. That being said, I personally believe that the energy of the Wood Dragon is positive and renewing because it is childlike; children are not born with prejudice, hate, or malice. But like Baby Huey, a child that doesn’t know their own strength can make a mess. As Water Rabbit turns to Wood Dragon, we are confronted with a wild card, a Joker, a shiny red history eraser button. With a Fire Tiger Moon to initiate the New Year, we will be launched into the Wood Dragon like a bat out of hell. Will we press the button? What does that look like? I have no idea! Maybe nothing; maybe everything. My feeling is that the initiation of the New Year will bring a profound sense of refreshment and renewal, a kind of sober waking up call from a convincing dream. The Water Rabbit has led us until a deep dark forest, profound and challenging, and some confusion has occurred to say the least. So, my first suggestion at the start of the Year is to snap out of it. Wherever you are, whatever has happened, whatever hole the Rabbit has led you down - pause, reflect, and do whatever you have to do to just drop things, snap out of it, hit the refresh button. Splash some cold water on your face, shout, give yourself a nice hard slap. Time to start over. This is an opportunity to really break out of the mold of old habits and drop the past. There is no greater imperative this Year. The following are my interpretations - a lot of broad generalizations, trying to say something about everything to everyone, so they're naturally vague. If you want specifics, do your own thinking. Apply these ideas to your own life and see what you come up with. Personal Probably a rollercoaster. Lol. Bring a helmet. Personal upheaval, change, expansion, growth, and Dragon Drama, which is hard to comprehend or predict - could be the best or worst year of your life. The Rabbit Year was not the time to take big forward steps in life; it was a time to hold back, nest, and foster inner change. But this Year launches us forward again, you know, Yīnyáng, so this is the Year to do the big thing/s. If you are thinking about starting a business or new job, traveling, moving house, and so on, do it. Think big, think new, think refresh, and think FUN, think laughter...this is a fun, playful year. So lighten up - Wood eats Earth - it takes heaviness off the heart of the Emperor. Think bigger than you can imagine; try to let go of mental, self-imposed limitations, old habits, old/crusty self-serving delusions, and just kick the fucking door down, politely. But expect accidents, mistakes, mishaps, missteps, and so on in the process. This is a clumsy, uncoordinated, and somewhat violent process like breaking some eggs to make an omelet. This is a toddler learning how to walk; you might fall down. But it is playful, dynamic, and inquisitive. It is hard to get stuck in a rut this Year, for even the rut can be looked at from a new perspective. You can, of course, carefully plan your life and do everything according to the itinerary…good luck with that, lol. Expect your sense of realism to get distorted; this is not a “grounded” year. Fantasy and ambition can take over; you might just want to take over the world. Relationships/Family The social energy is much different this Year. Last Year was cliquey, tribal, us vs. them, don’t mess with the family, very Godfather, etc. This Year is broad, expansive, and somewhat impersonal. It is aloof but friendly, playful, even a bit slutty, but in a good way, like a dog who wants to be best friends with literally everyone. The Water Rabbit is an intimate tea time with close friends; the Wood Dragon is more like being at rave on MDMA, everything is a big rainbow of love and play in all directions. So throw some parties or something. Go to concerts, festivals, big gatherings, etc. Go to Burning Man; do something challenging that breaks you out of your rut and connects you to the universe, to a “collective,” to the forest/ocean/sky, and so on. There may be disruption to small units, families and so on, because people are aloof and distant with their head in the clouds and just a bit more selfish. But relationships are empowered to be grand, adventurous, and life changing. Romance last year was very strong, and this Year, you can take things to the next level - do big fun stuff together. Great Year to get married and have kids! The world could definitely use some Wood Dragons to break all the molds. Starting relationships may be challenging, as big crushes, infatuations, whirlwind romances, and so on, are more likely. You may fall in love every week. And close friendship could also be tough, but the energy is big enough to get you out of the cave you were hiding in last Year; it is easy to be more outgoing and extroverted. So do big fun stuff with friends, and invite everyone. Political Ugh…when it comes to politics here in America, we are set up for the rematch that no one wants. Let’s get it out the way…it’s election year, and the Trump/Biden rematch is inevitable. And we’re all sick of it - two crusty old men that represent literally everything wrong with American politics and the polarized culture war nonsense that has taken over the country. My hope is that the Wood Dragon is a strong enough of a refreshing/renewing force that it offers us another option, perhaps another candidate that isn’t fucking awful. This is a Year of wildcards, so anything can happen. Again, not predicting anything other than drama - I expect a bigger, more dramatic, more violent version of the 2020 election. Trump could literally go to jail and win and go full dictator. Trump is a Fire Dog, and Dragon is Dog’s opposite, so it could be his Year of reckoning, but if he does win, the left will absolutely snap and go haywire. If Biden doesn’t drop dead and wins, expect Jan. 6th the sequel - bigger election fraud allegations, bigger insurrection, bigger everything. The right will either double down hard or finally snap out of it. But people are so disillusioned with the left and critical of Biden that I don’t have much hope for him either. I pray that I am wrong and that it all goes smoothly, but not likely. Other than that, I again hope that the renewal force is strong. I hope that we can break out of the polarized pattern that we are stuck in and bring about a new and different way of relating and moving forward as a society. This will be a watershed Year in American politics, for better or worse. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, there are elections all over the globe and I suspect similar patterns, but I pray for the same - to get new, fresh, perspective, leadership, and renewal that isn’t driven by cultural ideology. I think some old leaders/regimes may fall. Global Unfortunately, the Year is a bit scary when it comes to global tensions. If no resolution is reached, I expect war in the Middle East and Ukraine to escalate and further involve the big superpowers with invested interest in the area. The energy invites big sudden, regretful actions that can trigger big responses inadvertently. But, it is also powerful enough to initiate big, unexpected, change and renewal. I pray it gets used to rebuild, renew, and start over. My deep hope for the Middle East is that the renewing force can produce a dropping and reforming of narratives, for what is in essence the core of the problem - that both sides have righteous victimhood mentalities and deeply held narratives that simultaneously ignore and misunderstand the other’s perspective, and both sides refuse to see the truth of the other’s narrative; nothing changes until the narratives change, as these narratives have been perpetually running them into a brick wall. Again, the Year is a wild card, and we could either initiate world peace or WWIII. I hope aliens invade, lol. Is there anything short of that that can unite us as a species? This will be a Year of superpowers and power plays, like China moving in on Taiwan (not predicting that lol). China has mostly abandoned their own history, but you better believe they will be making big moves in Dragon Year! There have been a lot of subtle tensions building throughout the world, and I expect them all to be brought to a head. Whatever has been bubbling beneath the surface will explode out. I, again, pray that we can unite in big ways for big things - this is a visionary Year, and we have the potential to be united over big issues like climate, technology, AI, space travel, etc. Economic/Career Think growth, expansion, risk, and renewal. The economy has/will always fluctuate, you know, Yīnyáng, and although the economy has sputtered a lot in the past few years, and many are predicting the economy to slow, the energy of this Year is likely to encourage an unexpected upturn. Or a big disaster! But disaster, although unlikely, would probably be temporary and bounce back strongly. This is a resilient, bouncy energy, and it may surprise us. The big picture of the economy may slow, but this is a good Year for personal finances and ambitious career and job growth. So go for that promotion, apply to the new job; it’s a great energy for taking things to the next level. However, I would watch out for extravagant spending, over-indulgence, and I would be very careful when it comes to taking big financial risks, investing, or purchasing. The Year encourages us to take big forward steps and to take risks, and this invites either big success and/or failure, similar to the Tiger Year, so keep that in mind. But a little indulgence is good; have fun, and spread it around; be generous. The Dragon has some of the greatest potential for generosity if it can get over selfishness. Cultural/Technological There are a lot of ways to interpret how culture will morph this Year. What do you think? Again, it’s a wild card, and it is renewing and refreshing. I feel like we have been caught in a doom-scroll trance that is driven by social media, smart phones, internet algorithms, etc., and the rise of AI makes this all very interesting and potentially dangerous. For we literally cannot trust anything we see, read, or even hear. AI safety will be a huge and very important conversation this Year, and I expect huge leaps forward in AI as well. This could be the Year Skynet takes over, lol. But it can also lead to huge leaps forward in technology, science, medicine, etc. This Year could revolutionize society in many ways, and our culture is going to have to adapt. This Year, there may be many big things that are new, fresh, and baby-like. They will lead to a lot of ups and downs, upheaval, revolts, revolutions, revelations, innovations, protests, and so on. Culturally, this will be a Year of big change, adaptation, and renewal, and I hope that we can break out of the polarized, us versus them mentality that we see on the internet, which is like our collective unconscious. I hope that we can collectively snap out of some of these dreams/delusions, and from a lot of the bitterness and feelings of betrayal and deceit from the pandemic and previous election and hit the refresh button. But we could also devolve into civil war. Again, wild card, expect big movement. Personally, I would say snap out of it; drop all your bullshit. If you have been caught up in extreme views, right or left - hit the reset button. The right and left have gotten so extreme that no one knows where the middle is anymore, lol. We need a new gauge - screw right and left; let's get spiralic. Artistic The Qì of the Year is deeply artistic and creative in nature, but not very mature; think “Jackson Pollock.” The desire for new/renew, for refresh, for breaking the mold is strong; so this may inspire people to tear down and start things over, which today may actually mean a return to old values! For we have already been doing the tear down thing for years; the desire to “deconstruct” things is old, tired, divisive, and played out. It’s been hijacked by corporatism. It hasn’t gotten us anywhere together, and often, it lacks a deep understanding of the nuance of history and people in favor of emotionally charged personal narratives. The cyclical nature of things demands that we return and reinvigorate the old. I would not be surprised if we see a lot of old things coming back in a new way, especially in art, music, media, fashion, etc. Many have been bemoaning the death of modern cinema, which we can attribute to the rise of online streaming, the end of movie stars, and the over-dependence on franchises, sequels, remakes, and so on. There has been a lot of independent, underground art over the past few years, with the rise of platforms like You-Tube and Spotify, where anyone can put out anything, but the mainstream has seen a dearth of creativity. I expect things like cinema to be renewed, with new creativity and new stories. We want new stories, which again, may be a return to old stories/themes, but please dear god no more remakes/sequels/live action remakes, etc. My question is how do you bring forward ancient wisdom through revitalized and revalued modern structures? What could that look like? Personally, I would recommend getting playful. Find your creativity and inject it into everything you do. We’re all artistic in different ways; sure, do some art, but think about how you can make your work, your relationships, your speech, your thinking, more artful - this Year is very “beginner’s mind.” What if your mind was uninhibited and fresh like a baby while your actions remained mature and in control? Spiritual This is truly a transcendent Year. The Water Rabbit was deeply internalized and took us through the depths of the underworld. Spiritually, the past two Years were very exorcistic, and a lot of Ghosts came up to be liberated. The darkness of the Water Element in the form of the Rabbit and Tiger was all about Death Practice. This Year is about re-birth, and the expansive nature of Wood in the form of the Dragon is skylike, fresh, unencumbered, and non-conceptual; darkness opens to light. This is very “direct realization” - spontaneous natural mind as rainbow light in open space. Tiger/Rabbit brought a lot of Ancestors and old patterns out of the dark; if you liberated them, then the Wood Dragon can blast/cut through and emerge as playful, free, and easy wandering, Yóu, 遊, which is, to me, the highest aspiration of the Year. If these old patterns were not liberated, then the Wood Dragon will only serve to blast your delusions into the stratosphere. Egoic delusions of grandeur and self-proclaimed enlightenment can masquerade as liberation, so watch out, especially for Gurus/teachers offering anything easy. Free and easy wandering is not easy if it is not earned. If you try to be a wandering Daoist, you may just be a wandering bum. That being said, non-conceptual, direct, and simple practice is best this Year. Zen/Chán, Dzogchen, Shambavopaya style practice is empowered - complex, imaginal, ritual, energy based practices are too heavy, too clunky, and don’t mix with the wiggling baby Wood Dragon. Wood Dragon is the moment of mind, clear perception, just before thought arises. It is the recognition of the nature of mind and thought that liberates thought into emptiness. Rest there. But be warned this is not easy, for that moment passes faster than most can recognize. Just sit, and in an hour of just sitting, you are lucky to have ten seconds of rest, lol. Wood Dragon is also quite dynamic, so spontaneous dance, play, movement, and so on will give flight to the wiggling, youthful exuberance that wells forth from space. Let things wiggle; this is a wiggly Year. The back and forth between sitting and wiggling is where the Wood Dragon flys. And again, humility is key, for it is easy to self-aggrandize this Year. Take yourself lightly - angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. Remember the free and easy wandering of Zhuāngzi’s Péng Bird - a light-hearted, humorous, and carefree response to the chaotic state of the world, to worry, to seriousness, and to our obsession with controlling our circumstances. Things are very much out of control this Year, and the greatest spiritual lessons we can learn is to just let go. And, laugh; laugh at everything because it is all absurd. Big Picture I’ll repeat it again - this Year is (to me) a wild card, a jester, a joker, and it is curious, playful, and explorative; it is childlike and renewing; it is expansive and destructive and out of control. I repeat - everything this year is out of control. The baby Dragon must break its shell to fly into space. It flies to discover its own edges, its own limitations, its own boundaries - we don’t know where it will take us, but whatever happens, it will change things forever.  12 Animal ForecastNow, let’s go through the 12 Animals and offer a map Outer Elements: Wood Signs - (+): your outer element matches the year; you flow and adapt more easily but have the tendency to go towards excess/anger Fire Signs - (-/+) child of Wood: generative/supportive relationship; you are empowered and bolstered but can easily push too far and burn out Earth Signs - (–/+) Wood controls/eats Earth: you may feel ungrounded, but this could be good b/c you should probably lighten up, lol Metal Signs - (+/–) Metal controls/Cuts Wood: contrasting energetically, but you are kept in check and restrained from getting out of control Water Signs - (+) mother of Wood: you support and uphold the dynamic, this could be draining but more likely generative Please take these lightly, and remember that we all contain each of the 12 animals within our experience! Your Year and Hour are the most prominent, but the following applies to everyone! Rat: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 – Very Auspicious (++) Best Year in a while. Rat and Dragon are considered an Auspicious Pair, for it pairs the smallest and largest animal in the Zodiac. This is kind of like having a telescope and a microscope - the Rat is the most zoomed in and the Dragon is the most zoomed out. You are also in a trine of compatibility with the Dragon and Monkey. And out of all three, you are the most able to thrive, for your methodical, frugal, and diligent qualities allow you to make the most sense of the chaos, and the expansive/light nature of the Wood Dragon brings out your more charming, social, and fun loving qualities. This is the Rat’s Year to strut and feel big. Everything gets empowered for the better, but expect big fluctuations, disruptions, and drama, so prepare ahead, stock up on provisions, and you will ride on the Dragon’s back. We will need you to bring our attention back to all the small things, as this Year we’re all blowing past them. Others will look to you for help, so help others to focus, and in turn, let the energy expand your vision and take your life, relationships, work, etc. to new heights. Set a big goal and shoot to achieve it with a lot of small, well planned steps. The light/fun/dance-like quality of the Year can stave off the darkness of the past two Years, so let go of any fear and come out of the bomb shelter. Ox: 1949, 1961, 1973,1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 – Neutral/Auspicious (+/-) The Ox is a little too conventional for the cavorting Wood Dragon, so like usual, you may feel like the last sane person on earth. Ox generally wants peace, tranquility, and routine, but this may be out the window - joy, dazzling surprise, and unexpected silliness is coming, and this may be a bit much. Those born in hours like Monkey or Pig will be able to enjoy this, but others may struggle with the extravagance. But your sturdiness will allow you to ride the Year without too much disruption, as the Ox is the meaning of stability and strength. The strength of the Dragon empowers the Ox to plow ahead full steam, so overall this can be a very successful Year for work, projects, and so on. Just ignore the fireworks and festivities, and stay focused. Diligent, dedicated hard work will pay off big time as long as you are not too competitive. Don’t object to stupidity; just ignore it and do your own thing. The Yáng Wood enlivens the heaviness of Earth, so this Year can be invigorating and refreshing, but watch out for overwork, as you may feel invincible and push yourself into the ground. Tiger: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 – Neutral/Auspicious (+/-) Tiger and Dragon are another auspicious but competitive pair, as they are always depicted together fighting over the Ring of Power. The Tiger is the terrestrial Dragon, and they have a similar strength. But the Tiger is striped and must rest, retreat, and hide. This Year is so yáng that it will compell your light stripe to take over and draw out your competitive, ambitious, accomplishing side. You may be blinded by a need to get shit done, to fight, to compete, and so on. Watch out for aggression and competition. This Year is all about compromise and smart allocation of resources. Don’t forget that dark stripe. Prioritize alternating between rest and intense activity. Go all out, and then go all in. If you don’t rest, you will burn out. Don’t compete but rather cooperate, compromise, and negotiate. Let go of any need to be right, be in charge, etc., and you will be able to thrive and become a Dragon. This Year will be dynamic, exciting, energizing, stimulating, and fun. Bring out your more extroverted side, be more social, and let go of moodiness. Last Year was very introverted, and the tendency is to stay hidden in the cave. Don’t be shy; let yourself out of the cage. Rabbit: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 – Auspicious (+) All Rabbits are secretly Dragons, for the Dragon is the outcome of Rabbit Qì. However, this Year can be a bit overwhelming, as there will be a lot of activity and movement, and the expansive, cavorting energy may just leave Rabbits yelling, “Wait!” However, everything coming out and getting put in motion is the outcome of the Rabbit Year, so if Rabbit Year went well, and you nested, planned, and socialized accordingly, then this Year you can expect great fruition from your previous endeavors. Last Year, Rabbit planning, scheming, and gossiping was full on, so expect consequences, for better or worse. New friends, acquaintances, resources, connections, and so on, will become beneficial. This Year, you can let out your inner Dragon, step up, and be the boss. Rabbits may find themselves enthroned this Year, and the authoritative inner confidence normally hidden in the Rabbit can come out if it was made safe/secured. This is another Year for Rabbits to strut and be in charge. But don’t overextend. Rest and retreat are important, because you must remember you're still a Rabbit. There is a lot of big, unrestrained energy flying around, and it is all too easy to absorb, take it all in, get overwhelmed, and even go overboard with any feelings of negativity. So self-reflection is important - watch out for revenge, payback, and those vicious hind legs. Dragon: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 – Very Auspicious/Inauspicious (++/–) Dragons in their own Year can be a bit scary! The auspice of the Year very much depends on how you own, understand, and express your Dragoness. You can either attain great heights or open the gates of hell. Everything is grand and bigger in scale. You and all of your positive and negative qualities and aspirations will be empowered, for better or worse. So, basically act accordingly. If you are well integrated and have self awareness, self reflection, attention to detail, and some restraint, then everything can go very well. Expect recognition, progress, excitement, and happiness. But, if you don’t have those things…lol, bring a helmet. Things could be disastrous. How will you know? Others. They will (and have always) been giving you feedback, but you may have missed that, so listen up. What have you missed? What small details have you flown over? Check the details, read the fine print, and assess. Watch out for being aloof, too busy, and unrealistic. Definitely have a big vision for the Year and set yourself out to accomplish it. Make it happen. This Year can be extraordinary, but don’t be blinded by the light. Remember, too much light blots out the stars. Keep everything in check, and it’ll be awesome. Snake: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 – Neutral (+/-) This is an interesting Year for Snakes, for the Snake and Dragon form a Yīnyáng pair, here in the form of the Wood Dragon/Snake. Wood Snake is very different from the Wood Dragon and is a big spacious gap after a big flash of light. They are very similar in their mystical qualities, but polar opposites in every other way. This is a waiting Year. Snakes are primed to hold and host the expansion and just watch and wait. You have a profound capacity to both embrace and reject the energy of the Year. Up to you. Snakes are hard to gauge, so if you feel like you want to play the worldly game, then you can really ham it up and take on the role; think method acting. You can make big leaps forward personally, professionally, spiritually, and so on; you can be in the world but not of it, and this Year leaves no residue. Ride this Year into the next. You are the most able to retreat, not participate, and simply watch and wait. Let the madness unfold; plan, build, strategize, and slip through all the cracks, weave in and out of the crowds unseen, and next Year will be more than profound. Next Year is very soft and shimmery, and we will need you to help make sense of whatever happens this Year, which could be bonkers. If you engage, this Year is fun, complex, and filled with fascinated intrigue - there is potentially a lot more activity than you are used to, but ponder and meditate in/as the eye of the storm, and then harvest the fruit. Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2026 – Inauspicious (-) Unfortunately, this Year is a bit too forceful and may have the tendency to add wood to the Yáng Fire of the Horse. Expect a lot of ups and downs and to get easily discombobulated. The Horse by nature wants to run wild and free, so in that regard, this could be an exciting Year, for there will be a lot of that going around. If you are strategic and use your energy wisely, then things will go well. Plan your action and allow time to let out pent up energy. Be physically active and generate outlets - artistic, energetic, and social. Mindfulness is key, as you may be a little accident prone, a little more clumsy than usual. You may oversay, overdo, overthink, etc., just a little more so than usual and this could set off a chain of events that could get messy. Be kind to yourself. Be gentle. Burnout is very real. Cultivate closeness and tend to your friends and family, as they will be your best support. The social, gregarious, fun loving side of the Horse is well received and needed this Year; so bring the party. But watch it on the competition; Horse wants to run faster than everyone else, and this could push people away or lead to confrontation. Remember, everything is bigger, and so are the consequences of mishaps, mistakes, and accidents. With careful planning and mindful actions, this Year can be fruitful and productive. Pour yourself into projects, to-do lists, and art/craft. Focus and do all the things, and let the chips fall where they may. Goat: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 – Inauspicious/Neutral (-) This could be a tough Year for Goats, for your perfectionist, idealistic, and fussy qualities don’t easily tolerate the wrecking ball that is the Wood Dragon. Wood Dragon might just kick over your neatly arranged legos. The intensity of the Year may be chaotic and unsettling. Goats want to negotiate, compromise, and wax philosophical about the interconnected and subtle nature of things, but Wood Dragon flies just to fly, nothing to negotiate, no reason, and if you ask why, there will be no answer, just actions. However, this is why we need you. The intensity of the Year will require peacekeeping and herd cooperation; otherwise, we could break things irreparably. Things will be broken, the baby Dragon will break the egg and fly free, so you will have a lot of work to do. Just watch out for getting flustered, impatient, or belligerent. Yelling at everyone won't solve everything. You may be in a unique position to ride the expansion and broadcast your voice, solutions, and philosophies. We will be looking at the big picture and seeking illumination. Personally, this is a good Year for socializing and making connections, and you can bring people together, merging and creating dialogue with different disparate voices. Career, financial, and political goals can gain momentum and fruition. The danger is groupthink, cult behavior, and propagandizing - these can be dangerous and destructive this Year, and people may be all too eager to join the cause. You might start a revolution, and you can either galvanize or talk sense into people. The antidote is to lighten up, play, and have fun. Don’t take things too seriously, and the Year will be joyful and light. Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 – Auspicious (+) The Monkey is in a trine of compatibility with Dragon and Rat, so this is an auspicious Year. Rat’s methodical quality makes them a little more poised to thrive in the practical sense, but Monkey’s most dynamic, active, and exciting qualities are empowered and able to thrive in chaos, and so this could be the best Year in a while. The Tiger in me offers a warning though - the big, expansive, and dynamic qualities can put you into manic overdrive, and Monkeys have been pent up for a while; the past two Years were dark. You may just go nuts and start swinging around like crazy. But screw it; let loose - be a Monkey. This is the Year to break out of the mold, change things up, take big risks, go on big adventures, make mischief, and go for the big fruit. Get out of your head, let go of any dark funk, and let in the air and light. Climb to the top branch and look out into the distance. Imagine something bigger and better and make it happen. Great Year to travel, start over, date, and innovate. Creativity is high, so play and create. Again, my warning is take it slow, breathe, don’t swing so fast that you fall off a cliff. Practice restraint and don’t go broke or lose your job. Don’t let your imagination get out of control and watch out for others - your mischief can go to profound, even destructive heights and leave a mess in the wake. Your cleverness is a powerful weapon this Year; use it for good. Rooster: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 – Very Auspicious (++) The Dragon is a symbol of the Emperor and the Rooster (or Owl) the Empress, so this is considered an auspicious pair, and this heightens the Year for romance and marriage. The Rooster is also the Phoenix and one of the cardinal directions with the Dragon. The Dragon brings out your best qualities, and vice-versa. It empowers your clarity, precision, and confidence, and you will feel more inspired, alert, and forthright. This may be the best Year in a long time, and everything in life can go well. So apply yourself; the Dragon brings out qualities of leadership and oration, so career may put you in the spotlight and ask you to step up to a new position. You can analyze, plan, and peck with precision, so finances and projects are fruitful and mathematical. The only warning is - don’t turn into a dictator. You may feel so empowered that you go mono focused, monomaniacal, and unrelenting. Watch out for tirades and crusades. And don’t get overly competitive; you may feel called to puff out your feathers and fight this Year, so fight a good fight. Practice Crane Gōngfū - think balance, grace, and careful precision. Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 – Very Inauspicious (--) Dragon and Dog are mirror opposites, so generally we say this is an inauspicious Year, but I always emphasize that this opposite nature is mirror like and therefore spiritually beneficial. The Dragon is the ultimate leader and the Dog is the ultimate follower; Dog is deeply loyal, and Dragon need not be loyal to anyone, unless they choose. Dragon energy is too opinionated, egotistical, and aloof, and your cautious, loyal, and hardworking energy is easily put off. Expect difficulties, challenges, and for your values to constantly feel affronted. This is a Year to lay low, hold back, and self-reflect. The mirror will show you all of your challenges, faults, troubles, and so on. Spiritually, this can lead to a lot of growth and transformation if you can handle the intensity and drama. Take care in relationships, for distance, disconnection, and distractedness can grow into betrayal. Focus on stability and cleaning house. With caution, you can expand and grow business and finances, but be self-reliant and trust carefully. Keep those you love close and focus on serving them. And get out of your comfort zone a bit - take some risk and go off the beaten path. Fun and sociability can lighten the challenges. Don’t let others get to you. Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 – Neutral/Auspicious (+/-) This is mostly a good Year for Pigs, as it will empower your social times, and there will be much feasting and celebration. Pig is enamored with the bigness and glory of the Dragon, but your naive/gullible nature can be easily taken advantage of and may easily go to extremes. The hard working, reliable, and unselfish nature of the Pig is a boon, as is your gregarious, funny, and eloquent side. You will naturally be drawn to more wild, fun, and sensuous experiences. If you go with it, the Year may be a whirlwind and leave you a bit hungover. Your social aspects will be more appealing to others and could bring you a lot of recognition and respect and give a platform to your stories. This can, therefore, be a great Year for productivity, work/career, and personal projects and an excellent year for love/romance. So start or invest in your goals, especially the more humanitarian and generous. They can go big and reach a lot of people. Just watch out for being too generous with everything - your time, energy, money, etc. You may be drawn to give too much, and people may take advantage of you. You may also go overboard and indulge too much, as there is a strong push to do, to try new things, to have fun, and to burst out of the shell. Last Year was very cozy and inward; this Year will bring out your party animal into full force. It will also bring out your highest aspirations and ideals and push your love into universal transcendence. This is a big year for spiritual growth and insight.  I wish you all the best in this New Year! This life passes as quickly as autumn clouds; Family and friends are like passers-by in a market; The demon of death approaches like twilight’s shadows; What the future holds is like a translucent fish in cloudy waters; Life’s experiences are like last night’s dreams; The pleasures of the senses, like an imaginary party. Meaningless activities are like waves lapping on the surface of the water. Every harmful action I have done With my body, speech, and mind Overwhelmed by attachment, anger and confusion, All these I openly lay bare before you. While circling through all states of existence, May I become an endless treasure of good qualities-- Gathering limitless pristine wisdom and positive potential. May all beings have happiness and the cause of happiness. May they be free of suffering and the cause of suffering. May all beings remain in boundless equanimity, free from attachment and aversion! Sarva Mangalam!!!  List of Illustrations in Order
 The Peach Spring Beyond this World - Meditations on the Year of the Yin Water Rabbit |
Tiger's Play--the View Teachings of Chinese AstrologyThis page is your source for pithy articles on the view teachings of Chinese Astrology. Here, I will share everything I have learned about how to follow Astrology as a spiritual path. Archives
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