There's been a lot of buzz around the Chinese New Year lately because we're getting ready to move from one cycle to the next.

So many of my clients and friends have said, "Bring me all the horses. 2026 is the year of the horse. I'm ready for some movement."

And while, yes, I get it – the Chinese New Year hasn't actually happened yet. We're still technically in the Year of the Wood Snake until mid-February.

What does that even mean?? Well…

The Year of the Wood Snake: Release and Renewal

The Year of the Wood Snake was about release. Like a snake sheds its skin, we've been letting go of what isn't serving us. This might have looked like:

• Needing to get clear on where you're going before you commit
• Letting go of plans that made sense in the past but don't fit anymore
• Doing the unglamorous work of strengthening your foundation
• Making progress that nobody else can see (and sometimes you can't either)

For most of 2025, we may have needed to tap more deeply into patience and reflection. This year also brought a message to resist urgency and forced movement. And for some of us that might have felt like a whole lot of nothing was happening.

But things were happening – under the surface.

The Year of the Fire Horse: Movement and Momentum

The Year of the Fire Horse is about movement. Fire Horse energy brings:

• Actually moving forward instead of just thinking about it
• Trusting yourself enough to go your own direction
• Being seen and taking action in the world
• Taking risks that would've felt too big six months ago
• A faster pace

And if you've been feeling like you haven't seen the kind of change you hoped for in 2025, you may be really excited about the Horse energy moving in.

No matter what you experienced over the last 12 months, transitions like the Chinese New Year can lend themselves as natural check-in points.

Where Are You Right Now?

So outside of what the calendar says – where do you feel like you are right now?

Stage A: Still Shedding (Snake Energy)

You're still in it. Still recalibrating, releasing, figuring out what no longer fits. You might feel like everyone else is ready to gallop forward while you're still figuring out what needs to be left behind.

This stage can feel frustrating, especially when the world around you seems to be moving faster. But if you're still here, just remember: You're not behind – you're doing what needs doing. 

The shedding process doesn't follow a calendar and forcing yourself into movement before you're ready often means you carry the old skin with you into the new cycle.

What this stage needs: Space to complete the release without pressure.

One practice to support you: The Completion Inventory. Take 10 minutes to write down everything you've already released this past year – the habits, relationships, beliefs, plans, or roles you've let go of. Often we don't realize how much we've already shed until we see it on paper. 

This isn't about what you still need to release; it's about acknowledging what you've already done. You might be closer to movement than you think.
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Stage B: The In-Between (Limbo)

You've let go of a lot, but you're waiting for momentum to show up. You're in that uncomfortable space between what was and what's next. You've done the shedding work, but the movement hasn't arrived yet. It feels like limbo.

This is often the hardest stage because you've done the hard work of releasing, but you can't see the payoff yet. 

You're not actively shedding anymore, but you're also not moving forward in any visible way. You're just... waiting. And waiting can feel excruciating when you're eager for change.

But the in-between is not wasted time. This is where integration happens. This is where your system recalibrates after all that release. And here's what people often miss: after all that shedding, you might have actually changed more than you think. Which means what mattered before might not matter the same way anymore.

What this stage needs: Clarity on what actually matters now that you've released so much.
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One practice to support you: The Values Check-In. You've shed a lot, and that changes things. Set aside 10 minutes and ask yourself: "Now that I've let go of all that – what actually matters to me right now?" Write down 3-5 values or intentions that feel true for who you are today, not who you were a year ago. What roles are you embracing more right now? This isn't about what you think should matter or what mattered before. It's about getting clear on what matters now. When momentum does arrive, you want to make sure you're moving toward something that aligns with who you've become, not who you used to be.

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Stage C: Ready to Ride (Horse Energy)

You've shed what needed to go and you're prepared for movement. You can feel the readiness in your body. You're not forcing it or faking it – you genuinely feel equipped for what's next. You've got your saddle and you're looking for the horse to arrive.

This stage feels exciting, but it can also bring its own kind of frustration. You're ready, but the timing might not be entirely in your control. The Year of the Horse (February 17, 2026) hasn't officially started yet, and even when it does, external circumstances might not immediately align with your internal readiness.

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But here's what matters: you've done the work. You've released what needed to go, you've integrated the changes, and you're positioned for movement. That readiness is valuable, even if the gallop hasn't started yet.

What this stage needs: Patience to let the momentum build naturally without forcing it prematurely.
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One practice to support you: The Micro-Movement Practice. While you're waiting for the big movement to show up, practice moving in small ways. Send the email. Make the call. Post the thing. Take the small risk. Movement begets movement, and often the big momentum we're waiting for arrives because we've been practicing movement at a smaller scale. You're not waiting passively – you're staying warm, staying ready, and staying in motion so that when the larger opportunity arrives, your system already knows how to move.

There's No Right Place to Be

Whether you're at A, B, or C – you're exactly where you need to be. Your transition doesn't have to match the calendar. The Chinese New Year might officially shift from Snake to Horse in mid-February, but your personal transition operates on its own timeline.

The Year of the Snake made space for us to explore the idea of release. The Year of the Horse will make room for us to move with intentional action. But the transition between the two? That's where the real transformation happens.

So take a moment. Check in with yourself. Notice where you actually are – not where you think you should be, not where you hope to be soon, but where you are right now.

That awareness is the first step.

Where are you? Send me an email – A, B, or C?

Wherever you are in this transition, you don't have to navigate it alone. I work with clients through 1:1 sessions, half-day intensives, small groups, and larger group programs – so there's something for every stage and every budget. 

Reach out here and let's talk about what could support you right now.

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