The Lunar New Year arrives each year between late January and mid-February, beginning with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. It is celebrated across many Asian cultures and is often referred to as Chinese New Year because it follows the Chinese zodiac cycle.

Each Lunar New Year carries two energetic influences:

• One represented by an animal from the Chinese zodiac
• One represented by one of the Five Elements in either its Yin or Yang form
  
  

Together, these qualities are believed to shape the tone and themes of the year ahead.
This year, February 17th marks the beginning of the Year of the Yang Fire Horse.

Understanding Yang Fire Horse Energy
Yang is the outward, active expression of energy. Fire, by nature, is already expressive, warm, and dynamic. When Fire energy is balanced, we experience joy, inspiration, clarity, and a strong sense of connection with others.
The Horse is traditionally associated with the Heart. It represents passion, independence, charisma, and forward movement.
When we combine Yang Fire with the Horse, we get a year charged with:

• Rapid momentum in pursuing passions
• A strong desire for meaningful community
• Bold expression and leadership
• Emotional intensity
• Significant and sometimes sudden change
  
  

This is very much a year to get in the saddle and hold the reins with intention.

When Fire Becomes Excessive
When Fire energy becomes imbalanced, it can show up as:

• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Mania or impulsivity
• Inflammation
• Nervous system overwhelm
  
  

Because this is such a potent energetic year, tending to ourselves becomes essential. We may feel driven to seize every opportunity or fiercely defend our values. While this passion can be powerful and productive, it also increases the risk of burnout.
A strong fire is not built all at once. It begins with small twigs, then larger branches, and only later can it sustain large logs. Fire is also communal — we gather around it, and each person takes a turn tending the flame.
Allow others to support you. Let someone else stoke the fire when needed. But don’t sit back entirely and expect to stay warm without participating. This is a year to engage wholeheartedly — with awareness.

Riding the Energy of the Year

The Yang Fire Horse does not whisper — it gallops.
The question is not whether there will be movement, but whether you will direct it or be carried by it.
To stay balanced during this dynamic year, consider:

• Brisk walks or regular movement
• Spending time with people who share your passions
• Prioritizing rest and nervous system care
• Creating space for meaningful connection
  
  

And as always, acupuncture is a powerful way to regulate the body, calm the spirit, and help you harness this energy without being consumed by it.
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Happy Lunar New Year.
I can’t wait to see what we create with it.

Spring may still feel like it's a ways off, but the Chinese calendar marks today as the first day of Spring. If you pay close attention, you can sense its beginnings. Maybe a bird lands on a tree branch that hasn't had any visitors all winter. Maybe patches of grass are starting to reveal themselves from under the snow. Maybe the air has a certain shift in how it wraps itself around you and you feel the beginnings of a bit of energy to go out and do the things that winter has kept you from. 

That new bit of energy is what Chinese medicine calls "wood." In Chinese Five Element theory, the world, and our bodies, can be observed through the interactions of five elements- Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Each of these elements correlates to seasons, organs, tissues, and bodily functions. These correlations allow us to understand the Chinese adage "As above, so below," meaning that what we see outside of us is reflected inside of us. 

Spring is ruled by wood. This is an element of growth, change, planning, and creation. Without room to properly express itself, wood can become angry and righteous. It is the power of a weed to grow through a cement sidewalk, or a dandelion to grow relentlessly in your yard. Wood asks us to move more, to reach out, to dream, and to act. In our bodies, wood rules our circulation and our tendons. It keeps us bending and stretching, and gets our blood moving out to our furthest reaches. 

The acupuncture point I always think of most when I consider the wood element is Liver 3. This point is found on the top of the foot in the space between your big toe and your second toe. It is used to improve circulation, reduce stagnation, and can be effective in treating body pain, headaches, dizziness, eye issues, anger and irritability, and helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. For a little spring self care, you can massage this area. You’ll know you’re in the right spot when it feels tender or slightly bruised with pressure.

Use this time to start thinking about where in your life you could use a growth spurt. Think about the tight parts of your body that could use a little extra movement. We are just entering the time of year full of the most potential energy- how will you use it?