This Lunar New Year, astrologers are paying close attention to one of the most intense combinations in Chinese metaphysics: the Year of the Fire Horse.
According to Master Kevin Chan of KC BaZi, this is not a year designed for comfort or caution. Instead, it is a cycle that tests resilience, exposes weaknesses and accelerates change – for individuals, organisations and societies.
Unlike gentler years that allow time for reflection and gradual growth, the Fire Horse brings speed, visibility and pressure. It does not guarantee crisis, but it does demand preparedness.
Those who have invested in adaptability and substance may find opportunities opening quickly. Those relying on appearances or old structures may discover that cracks can no longer be hidden.
Chan points to historical observations recorded during the Song Dynasty, where such cycles coincided with moments of stress on real-world systems – food supply, infrastructure, governance and public livelihood.
"These periods are rarely random," he explains. "They tend to reveal structural weaknesses that were already present."
In recent years, early warning signs have already surfaced: repeated typhoons, seasonal earthquakes and an increase in fire-related incidents worldwide. These are not predictions of disaster, but signals of mounting pressure.
"Whether that pressure results in breakdowns or breakthroughs depends largely on preparation," he says.
The analogy Chan uses is preventive maintenance. When infrastructure upkeep is delayed or budgets quietly trimmed, systems often fail at the worst possible moment. On a larger scale, inefficiencies compound.
Those who invested early in maintenance, governance and adaptability are better positioned to absorb shocks, while those who prioritised short-term savings or surface-level polish may struggle when pressure reveals what was hidden.
The Horse is already associated with movement, visibility and independence. When paired with the Fire element, these traits are amplified. Fire brings exposure. It lights up everything – strengths and flaws alike.
"In a fire cycle, there's nowhere to hide," explains Chan. "There’s also very little patience for those who stay on the sidelines."
Opportunities favour those who are prepared to step forward and be seen. For some, this intensity can feel immense, especially if they are used to gradual progress and long adjustment periods.
Chan likens it to a young bird pushed out of the nest before it feels fully ready to fly. Learning happens mid-air. The key is not perfection, but momentum.
Importantly, this is not a year for solo heroics. Collaboration becomes the smartest strategy. Moving fast often means working with people who already have the skills that one lacks. Alignment creates speed; ego slows it down, he says.
Fire rewards presence, decisiveness and visible contribution.
On a global scale, the Fire Horse year highlights stress points that have been building up for some time.
One major theme is energy security. As electric vehicle adoption rises and AI-driven data centres expand rapidly, demand for electricity is growing faster than what many national power grids were designed to handle.
Much of today’s infrastructure is decades old. Without careful regulation, investment and upgrades, unmanaged demand growth could strain or even cripple systems that are already operating near their limits.
Geopolitical tensions add another layer of vulnerability. Global logistics remain heavily dependent on maritime routes and critical chokepoints. Recent disruptions, such as those affecting major shipping canals, have shown how a single incident can ripple across supply chains worldwide.
For businesses, this environment favours transparency, agility and integrity. Fire energy exposes weaknesses quickly. Vague promises, glossy narratives and distant five-year visions lose their persuasive power. Employees and consumers alike are more concerned with tangible value and stability in the present.
"Trust is built through delivery, not declarations," Chan notes.
In this climate, calmness itself becomes a competitive advantage. Those who can remain composed and clear-headed under pressure are better equipped to lead and adapt.
If the pandemic years were defined by pause and reflection, the Fire Horse year represents the opposite. It is a period of forced movement and rapid decision-making.
Chan describes it as sunlight focused through a magnifying glass. Standing still is no longer an option. Growth becomes compulsory.
When constraints suddenly loosen, freedom can feel less like liberation and more like disorientation. Possibilities multiply, but so does uncertainty. There is often a stark realisation of how unequipped one feels, coupled with the awareness that there is no time left to slowly catch up.
The recent surge in AI use offers a real-world example. Some individuals leapfrogged ahead not because they were the most prepared, but because they acted quickly.
Speed, in this cycle, often outweighs perfection.
"Humanity has lived through many demanding cycles before. What makes this one different is speed," he says.
Information travels instantly, often unfiltered and there's little time to process before the next wave arrives.
From a broad BaZi perspective, certain animal signs may find the Fire Horse energy easier to navigate.
Rabbits and Roosters tend to show strong adaptability. Dogs and Goats progress better through partnerships and external support.
Rats and Tigers may face steeper challenges, as their usual strengths are not as readily activated. Oxen and Horses often find themselves naturally pulled into leadership roles, whether they seek them or not.
However, Chan cautions against over-reliance on zodiac generalisations. A full BaZi chart considers multiple layers – year, month, day, hour and luck pillars – which together shape how an individual experiences a given cycle. Labels matter far less than awareness and skill.
The year rewards flexibility, emotional regulation and clear processing, not panic or constant comparison. Opportunity still exists for those who can move decisively without losing composure.
Productivity is rarely the problem; the real challenge is discernment. Not all work deserves equal effort, and being busy does not always mean progress.
"Don't just be a highly efficient workhorse. Rather, become a strategic contributor," he says.
Long-haul travel, chronic overtime and accumulated strain carry real costs. The Fire Horse year does not reward burnout; it rewards alignment between effort, energy and direction.
The Fire Horse year also unfolds within a larger feng shui transition known as Period 9 (2024 - 2044).
Each period marks a shift in which economic attention and opportunity concentrate.
Period 7 (1984 - 2004) favoured sound and broadcasting, producing global music icons and entertainment empires. Period 8 (2004 - 2024) elevated Earth energy — property, land and construction.
Period 9 signals a move into an attention-driven economy.
Visibility becomes currency. Influence, branding and the ability to hold attention matter more than owning physical assets alone.
Those who can place themselves credibly and consistently in front of an audience gain disproportionate advantage, says Chan.
"This does not mean substance no longer matters. On the contrary, Fire exposes emptiness quickly. Attention must be earned ethically and sustained through real value."
Ultimately, the Year of the Fire Horse does not reward comfort or waiting. It rewards boldness, adaptability and the willingness to move before certainty arrives.
"You don’t need to know everything immediately. But you do need to move to progress, because in a year defined by speed and exposure, standing still may be the riskiest choice of all," he concludes.
Galloping with speed and preparedness
The Year of the Fire Horse tests resilience, exposes weaknesses and accelerates change – for individuals, organisations and societies, says Chan. Photo: StarGraphics
Collaboration becomes the smartest strategy for 2026. Moving fast often means working with people who already have the skills we need, says Chan. Photo: Freepik
The surge in AI use is a real-world example of individuals leapfrogging forward because they acted and adapted quickly. Photo: Freepik
Electric vehicle use and data centres continue to expand, increasing the demand for electricity, so the infrastructure needs to be able to handle this. Photo: Freepik
2026 is a year to focus on becoming a strategic contributor. Photo: Freepik
The demand for electricity is growing faster than what many national power grids were designed to handle, cautions Chan. Photo: Freepik
You don’t need to know everything immediately. But you do need to move to progress, because in a year defined by speed and exposure, standing still may be the riskiest choice of all, says Chan.
'The Year of the Fire Horse rewards boldness, adaptability and the willingness to move before certainty arrives,' says Chan.
On a global scale, the Fire Horse year highlights stress points that have been building up for some time, like energy security and geopolitical tension. Photo: Freepik
In classical Chinese metaphysical texts, Fire Horse cycles are often associated with periods of heightened intensity, says Chan. Photo: Freepik
The Chinese compass or Luopan is used in Feng Shui (geomancy) to harmonise environments. Photo: Freepik
Despite its intensity, Chan emphasises that 2026 is still 'just another year': 'Humanity has lived through many demanding cycles before. What makes this one different is speed.'
In a fire cycle, there's nowhere to hide. There’s also very little patience for those who stay on the sidelines, says Chan.
