Today marks an important milestone in our annual journey around the sun as we reach the precise astronomical mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In the Celtic Wheel of the year this moment is called Imbolc, and in the Chinese system it is called Li Chun. While it may still be quite cold, one thing both cultures agree on is that we are now leaving the dark Winter season and entering the ever brighter days of Spring.
Li Chun also marks the Solar New Year in the Chinese Calendar and it is at this moment when we energetically leave the Snake Year and officially enter the Fire Horse year. Lunar New Year cultural celebrations will begin on February 17 this year, a bit later than usual which bodes well for a year of growth and expansion.
The date and time of Li Chun or Coming of Spring is used to create the birth chart for the New Year as well which can tell us a lot about what the personality of this year and what the make up of elements in the chart show about the themes we will encounter. This year’s chart, shown below, shows us an unbalanced and volatile year with an excess of fire and no water. This indicates an acceleration of the rapid changes that were set into motion upon entering this fiery twenty year cycle called Period 9 which began in 2024. Indeed, the Fire Horse year will likely continue to build to a climax many changes which are the hallmark of this paradigm shifting nature of this era. From the economy, to politics, to environmental and cultural shifts nearly everything is subject to change this year. The trend now is away from old established structures to younger, new, and more inclusive models of human interaction with the world.
The four pillars of this chart can also be read pictorially, as shown below, which indicates a hot, dry climate conditions with a scarcity of water making it a precious commodity both literally and figuratively.
Without water to calm and cool the situation through dialogue and diplomacy we will see more of the shadow aspects of fire, Impatience, Anger, Rage, Conflict, Agitation, and most notably destruction. However, this is not to say the year will be entirely negative. In fact, this year is clearing away old systems to create something new. Therefore, it will be imperative to harness the positive aspects of fire such as Heart Centeredness, Hope, and Inspiration to help us steer the course of these changes in a more positive direction.
The month of the Metal Tiger is a particularly helpful month to harness another positive aspect of fire which is spirituality, as the Metal Tiger pillar is one of ten special spiritual pillars. One of the best ways we ways we can enter this new year is to lean into and cultivate personal practices of meditation, prayer, yoga, martial arts, or any other mode of centered devotional time. This month is a particularly supportive month to lean into and to focus on any personal Qi cultivation that fosters spiritual maturity.
Another way to harness spiritual energy for this year is to meditate with the Qi Men Dun Jia Spiritual Deities to gain support for your personal goals and endeavors. Their locations for this year are as follows:
Chief – East
9 Heaven – Southeast
9 Earth – South
Black Tortoise – Southwest
White Tiger – West
6 Harmony – Northwest
Great Moon – North
Snake – Northeast
The image of the Metal Tiger pillar is of an axe chopping wood which tells us that the best way to strengthen ourselves now at the start of this intense new year is through action, hard work, and consistent effort.
The I Ching hexagram for this month #30 called Fire, reflects the increasing fire energy of this time of year in its primal, Earthly manifestation. This hexagram is comprised of Fire trigram atop Fire trigram, fire doubled. This hexagram paints an image of two fires joined together to create a much larger fire like a large bonfire. Perhaps more importantly, as the trigrams also represent two women, it speaks of clinging to one another for support as fire clings to wood as its source of fuel and strength. This hexagram shows us that there is power in collective strength, there is greater safety in numbers. This month while it is important to focus on cultivating and growing ones own inner light through personal spiritual cultivation, the I Ching shows us that it is also time bring our individual lights together to create even greater levels of illumination to the world around us. Look to ways to connect with others, to foster community, to gather with neighbors. This is a month not only to harness the fire but to gather around it as humans have done since the dawn of time. Make time for connection to brighten your world and in the lives of others as well.
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