The Year of the Fire Horse: the Middle Path

When you hear the words, “Fire Horse”, what images and words come to mind?

I’ve noticed lately that the mention of these words are like an instant, involuntary Rorschach test. You know - that old psychological test using a series of inkblots to gauge a person’s personality.

According to Chinese and Tibetan calendars, adding the element of Fire to the year of the Horse brings an exceptional intensity to the traditional symbols that the horse represents - freedom, speed, power, resilience, nobility, and independence.

Some of us respond with excitement and anticipation - envisioning new opportunities for growth, and our dreams finally being transformed into a reality, thanks to the amplification that the Fire element brings to the qualities of the Horse.  

Others of us react with dread and fear, putting a lid on creativity, closing down our emotional responses to avoid feeling triggered, reactive, and out of control. 

Which is it for you?

I believe it is both.

These opposite responses remind me of a powerful visual concept from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):  a Venn diagram, illustrating how to balance our thoughts and feelings when we are in the midst of turbulent times. The goal of DBT is not to suppress anything but to find the Middle Path, called Wise Mind.

During a year of powerful intensity such as the Year of the Fire Horse, we can notice when we are feeling highly reactive, impulsive and ruled by our feelings (Emotional Mind) or detached from feelings, super rational with hard lined, black and white thinking (Reasonable Mind). From that awareness we can bring in centered breathing and other calming practices to access our Intuition and a broader, more inclusive perspective, bringing us into Wise Mind.

Horses are able to move from Emotional Mind to Wise Mind fairly quickly because unlike humans, they do not have the thoughts that cascade after a strong emotional outburst that perpetuate the emotion. They quite naturally react in a big way to something frightening - by running or jumping - and just as quickly can bring themselves back into a Wise Mind State - feet standing still, grazing, head dropped, ears and tails relaxed. 

Being with horses invites us to be more like them, as we learn about ourselves, explore our stories, envision our journey forward. They bring us out of our busy minds and into our bodies where our intuition, presence and true wisdom lies.

If the energy of the Year of the Fire Horse feels sometimes overwhelming and other times exhilarating, know that you are not alone. 

Join us for one of our Herd Meditations to explore your Middle Path.