The Gregorian year 2026 begins now as we approach the final month of this Wood Snake year when the Earth Ox month begins on January 6. Now is the time prepare to welcome the energetic start of the Fire Horse year which will gallop in on February 4 nearly two weeks ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations on February 17. This is a transitional month, creating a bridge from Winter to Spring and from one year to the next. This is an in-between time and the energies now are very much in flux.
The Earth Ox is a pure Yin Earth pillar which can bring grounding to this transitory time. Yin Earth upon Yin Earth in this pillar displays the image of a large open field, laying fallow under the winter frost and snow. Fertile ground where dormant seeds lie patiently waiting. Indeed with the Earth Ox many things lie hidden below the surface, there can certainly be a tendency with this pillar to prefer for things to remain hidden and out of sight. Truth though hidden cannot withstand the approach of the fiery Horse year nor the fires of Period 9 which have a way of unearthing things and bringing truth to light.
While we are moving from the darkest month of the year toward the light of spring, it is still the winter season, the most yin time of year. This is still a month that favors rest, a slower pace, quietude, and contemplation. This a month for being still and deep listening. With the frenetic activity of the holidays past now is an ideal time to take a personal inventory, to let go of what feels complete from this past year and to ask what seeds of becoming would you like to plant in the fertile new year? Just as a gardener begins planning the next year’s garden in the cold of winter now is the ideal time to plan ahead for what you wish to create for your life in the year ahead.
The Earth Ox is pillar, true to its Capricorn nature, is inherently practical so preparing for the new year should be grounded in sensible action steps. As with many cultures from the Celtic world to China folks prepare to welcome a New Year by cleaning house, opening the door to sweep out the old and let the fresh air in. This is an ideal month to tidy up loose ends, settle outstanding accounts, and generally set things in order. A physical house cleaning and organization will be helpful before making adjustments to your space to take advantage of the new Feng Shui energies that the Horse Year will also bring to your environment.
The I Ching hexagram for this month provides additional insight on how best to manage the shifting energies of this month. The Hexagram this Ox month is #25 called Truthful which employs the imagery of the Heaven trigram above the Wood trigram to paint a picture of openness and natural innocence to describe the quality of Truthfulness. In order to be truthful one must of course be truthful with oneself. To look ahead to the new year requires one to be honest with oneself about what is working, what is not, and what is truly desired. Of course Truthfulness must also extend to our interactions with others. This hexagram is also called Without Wrongdoing and encourages behavior rooted in truth that does no harm to others. This month acting from one’s own truth in an above board manner will be imperative as the cost of not doing so is great. In the midst of the great changes of this time the one thing that never changes, despite attempts to alter or cover it, is the truth. Speak your truth, and act in service of the truth and it shall set you free.
Of course another practical way to prepare for the new year and see what it has in store for you personally and professionally is to schedule a one-on-one astrology session to give you the insight you need to plan your year and make the most of what it has to offer. To book a session please use the link below and if you cannot find a time there that suits your schedule please message me to obtain an alternate time. http:// https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=24963388
My limited edition Shamanic I Ching deck is with the printers and should be available for shipping in time for Chinese New Year. To order your card deck click the link below:
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