February 17, 2026 opens the year of the Yang-Fire Horse. What does this mean? Saddle-up and see the description below of the Heavenly Stem, Earthly Branch, and corresponding hexagram for the year, and listen to my 2026 Yang-Fire Horse New Year Talk. Be sure to first listen to this talk: Introduction to Lunar New Year Talks: Classical Chinese Almanac-Astrology. For more background on this system, see my introductory post on Chinese almanac-astrology and view these YouTube videos describing the Heavenly Stems, the Earthly Branches, and the Sexagenary Cycle.
Yang-fire (bǐng, 丙) is spreading heat – the pinnacle of yang. It aggressively expands and proliferates – connecting with, influencing, and transforming everything in its path. Fully burning and expressing without reservation, it is totally “on” and potentially destructive, like an out-of-control wildfire. Horse (wǔ, 午) is a large, beautiful, conspicuous animal that thrives in the limelight of mid-day, merrily prancing in full glory. Horse is a social creature that likes to connect with others through shared labor. Work for Horse is more like play – it is undaunted by challenge and handles pressure with ease, as long as it means having a good time. The native Dynamic of Horse is Yang-Fire, so this is Horse in its pure form – radiant, active, joyously galloping with its herd. Robust body and soaring spirit, ready to take off in full flight.
Fire Horse corresponds to Hexagram #46, Earth/Wind: “Glorious Ascension”. Stirring within, wide-open field without. The character (升) means rising upward or to hoist or advance in rank – literally, a ladle pouring out rice: “here you go, more rice for you.” Ascension, promotion – Yang-Fire in full glory. The character may also suggest the Big Dipper pouring out nourishment to the world. In Daoist cosmology, Taiyi (太一) “Supreme Unity” is the supreme deity who lives somewhere beyond the North Star. Taiyi generates the world by pouring out qi through the Big Dipper, which cascades down the Terrace Stars and manifests as our world. Taiyi responds to the cries of the world by pouring out blessings through the Big Dipper. Just as alchemy is a path of resolving duality into unity, Daoist ritual practice involves the priest walking up the Terrace Stars, pacing the Big Dipper and petitioning Taiyi on behalf of all beings. This hexagram is about the ascension that happens when we are fully nourished. Liu Ming says, “Supported by Heaven, we mount the winds of fate.” It also suggests natural cycles and appropriate timing – just as a plant reaches its full height as a result of a natural process with countless co-factors, the Big Dipper pours out a world of ever-spiraling cycles of change. Wind also means Wood, so the hexagram suggests a plant pushing upward through the Earth – rising up from obscure lowliness into prominent power and influence. Fire Horse may be the qi-image that gave birth to the Chinese idea of dragons. Horses are native to Mongolia but not to China. Witnessing herds of galloping horses with mounted warriors in the far north must have looked like dragons roaming the hills. The key for Fire Horse is to accept the favor of Taiyi with gratitude and humility – watch out for vanity and taking things for granted – and recognize that “more rice for us” means we are in full view of others and our conduct has greater consequences, so we must step with greater care as we mount the rising winds.
A look at the most recent Yang-Fire Horse Year, courtesy of Recollection Road: Flashback to 1966 – A Timeline of Life in America.
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