The Alchemy of the Gallop: How to Channel the Fire Horse Energy Without Losing Your Saddle
We have now crossed the threshold into the Year of the Fire Horse. Get ready for a high-speed year impulsed by the explosive energy of a wild gallop. Here's how I'll re-use the previous year's grounding energy to transform the momentum into a sustainable canter rather than an uncontrolled blaze.
As the lunar cycle turns, we have officially crossed the threshold into a rare and high-octane period.
Let me explain: we have just stepped into the year of the Fire Horse, which is what is called a "Double Fire" event. In Chinese culture, the Horse is naturally associated with fire, and it turns out that 2026 is further governed by the Fire element itself. This specific combination occurs only once every 60 years, and its arrival signals a dramatic shift in collective speed.
2025 was a masterclass in “becoming” rather than just “doing”
To harness this momentum, I believe we must look back at the "shedding" we have just completed to find our seat in the saddle.
The Prequel: Lessons from the Wood Snake's Stillness
To understand how to ride the Horse, I must reflect on the strategic stillness of the Wood Snake year of 2025. For me, this was a masterclass in "becoming" rather than just "doing." While the world often demands constant motion, the Snake demands transformation. I spent my year shedding the old skin—discarding habits and structures that no longer served my path.
In my own journey this past year—through my martial arts practice, my coaching, and my personal life—I treated the Wood Snake as a prequel. I dimmed the external noise to focus on my own self-transformation. I studied with a beginner's mind, increasing both the depth and breadth of my knowledge. I experimented with new structures, "watering the innovation" within myself with the same dedication I give to the founders and high-performers I mentor and coach.
To be victorious, the General must be aware of when to press, when to yield and when to retreat.
I followed the wisdom often attributed to Bruce Lee, a philosophy I've lived through my many years of training: "Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, add what is specifically your own".
By shedding the habits and projects that no longer served my path, I cleared the ground. I reconnected with old friends and met "new" souls who instantly felt like family. This was the "Wood" element at work—flexible, creative, and nurturing.
And wood fuels fire.
My intention for this new cycle is to hit the ground at a canter speed. In horsemanship, a canter is a three-beat gait—it is controlled, rhythmic, and sustainable. Any lower pace might allow the Horse's attention to scatter; any faster too soon might lead to a loss of control.
But when the rhythm is set? That is when I'll start galloping and looking for that beautiful moment called the "phase of suspension," where all four legs are off the ground simultaneously for a split second. In this very moment, in this tiny leap, we fly. That is the feeling I want to take with me: I want to ride, I want to leap forward. A leap of faith; a leap of joy.
The General and the Soldiers
In the Fire Horse year, projects that felt stuck will suddenly accelerate. The urge for freedom and autonomy will be palpable. However, there is a psychological risk here: fire naturally flares upwards. This dynamic often manifests as what we call in Taoist meditation the "Restless Horse"—a state of mental agitation, impulsive desires, and scattered thoughts. If our internal focus is stirring too aggressively, that energy disperses, leading straight to the "short fuse" of burnout. So, to navigate this high-speed year, enter the Yi — the stabilising, grounding force.
In internal martial arts and Taoist health, we have a fundamental principle: Yi (Intention) drives Qi (Energy). Think of it this way: The Yi is the General, and the Qi consists of the Soldiers. If the General is indecisive or absent, the Soldiers scatter and lose the battle. If the General is too aggressive, he exhausts his troops. To be victorious, the General must be aware of when to press, when to yield and when to retreat.
We, too, must learn to negotiate this year so we can store energy during this period of extreme activity.
The Power of the Horse Stance
This transition demands a grounded approach to counter the restless mind. To maintain stability, I return to a fundamental concept shared by many Eastern traditional martial arts I train in: the Ma Bu (馬步, mǎbù, horse stance) in Chinese, or the kiba-dachi (騎馬立ち, horse-riding stance) in Japanese.
I am [...] redirecting that powerful energy into productive channels
When I practice Ma Bu with my students, I often remind them that it is more than a static physical drill; it is a dynamic tool for resilience and transformation. It acts as an anchor. Just as a rider reins in a galloping horse to keep it on the path, the intense focus required by a grounded stance "tethers" the restless mind. It transforms the chaotic fire of anxiety into focused, usable energy.
By rooting ourselves, we resist being "uprooted" by the volatility of the year. In traditional training, this is the "first essential path." Through persistent practice—often cited as 100 days to build an initial foundation—it replaces clumsiness with agility and weakness with strength. If I hit this year at a canter speed—that rhythmic, sustainable three-beat gait—I am prepared for the moments of the true gallop.
The Art of Riding the Fire
Ultimately, your Intention acts as the "rider" of the energy. In Wing Chun, with Chi Sau (黏手, sticky hands) and in Tai Chi, with Push Hands (推手, tuī shǒu), we learn the art of taking advantage of the opponent's energy by feeling, redirecting and re-using it to win.
Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, add what is specifically your own.
I am taking these beautiful concepts to embrace that shift in gears brought by the Fire Horse. I am yielding to the increase in pace and redirecting that powerful energy into productive channels. This is a way to leverage the potential cultivated during the Snake year to nourish my success without consuming me.
The snake cleared the path; the horse now moves me forward.
To all my friends, students, clients and partners, I wish you "Ma Dou Sing Gung" (馬到成功, "Success the moment the horse arrives"). May your journey be swift, grounded, and filled with the joy of the gallop.
A significant part of my work at Dragon Within involves transformational coaching and change management. From startup hustlers to high-performers to anyone embracing a transition in their life. Working with such a.
If you feel the "Double Fire" beginning to flare and want to ensure your energy is directed with intention rather than scattered to the winds, let's talk.
I am opening a limited number of spots for Mindful Transition coaching sessions to help people navigate this high-speed year with clarity and strength.
