Wisdom from the I Ching for 2026 and the First Lunar Month

This new year of the Fire Horse comes galloping in, full speed, on February 17, 2026.

Horses represent movement, restlessness, boldness, and travel, while the Fire element is characterized by brightness, directness, expressiveness, and charisma.

Generally speaking, Fire Horse years tend to signify rapid changes, intensified emotions, polarization, and exposure.

Things can come to a head, and conflicts can ignite rather quickly.

The Fire Horse is a very dynamic force that dislikes feeling constrained.

The hexagram for the year is #46 Ascending. Its trigrams are Earth over Wind. The image is that of a tree or plant growing up through the soil.

In other words, a gradual ascent through rooted effort.

Energetically, this means that rooted moves will gain lift. The “rootedness” is key here for progress to be made.

A rise or growth is possible, but only if it is grounded. If you have no root, you risk burning out. Hexagram #46 also speaks of “approaching the wise or great man,” which has implications of seeking higher principles, teacher-student transmissions, and stepwise approaches, with the emphasis on a good base for proper growth.

The year's energy pattern favors consistent daily practice rather than fast technique-gathering without a solid root.

Just like a sprouting plant, that which starts poorly (bad roots) cannot grow healthy or properly.

The first Lunar month also starts on February 17, and is represented by the Metal Tiger with Hexagram 11 “Peacefulness.” This hexagram is Earth trigram over Heaven trigram and signifies harmony. The two realms are in balance, flowing, and communicating.

So the implication for the first month (moon), when combined with the year, is that the first month can establish the balance that sets the year’s ascent.

If one brings their inner and outer life into balance early, growth becomes possible.

But what could this mean for those seeking to cultivate?

This is a year of growth. Seek to strengthen that which gives root. In cultivation terms, this is a year that favors the idea of stabilizing the foundation. Meaning, working on the necessary elements on which everything else is built or depends. That which is above rests upon what is beneath. What does not have a solid foundation cannot be stable.

Focusing on gathering vitality, reducing unnecessary expenditure, and allowing practice to permeate your daily life in quiet ways is better than seeking intensity, speedy outcomes, or spreading out your energy by trying to do too much, too fast.

Earth over Wind signifies that that which is changing (keep in mind the year’s image for Hexagram #46 of the plant growing through the soil) is just beneath our perception. But just like that tiny plant, over time, that which has taken root will begin to rise.

So if your practice feels slow, repetitive, ordinary, or even like nothing seems to be happening despite your dedication, that is actually in alignment with this year’s condition.

Keep in mind that just because you can’t yet see it doesn’t mean that nothing is occurring.

The first month with Hexagram #11 Peacefulness suggests that the year starts from a place of equilibrium, not conflict. If used wisely, the upward ascent stabilizes.

This is a great time to establish consistent routines, refine schedules, and reduce unnecessary excess. The goal is not to intensify practice, but to allow what has taken root to begin circulating naturally between body, breath, and mind. It will require steady and consistent effort for that tiny plant to push through the Earth.

For cultivators, this can look like gathering Jing, consolidating Qi, and reducing leakage.

And in general, rooted movements rise. Flashy, rootless movements will burn out.

—Suzy N.

Note that these are generalizations and may be adjusted according to each individual’s Bazi (Chinese Birth Chart).