February 15th, 2026

This year, the Fire Horse begins, beckoning our inner fire to rise and take action in whatever way is most accessible to us. Meaning, we will burn brightly, and it is up to us to hone and tame our inner flame so that we do not end up consumed by passion and heated desire. I have felt the effects of the Horse year since December 2025; it has burned its way through my life, trampling my fears with its hooves, demanding an audience with the inner child inside me who is too afraid to rise and act.

            I see now that when I find myself frozen or afraid, it is my little girl inside that is panicking, not me. But in previous years, I found it hard to distinguish between her and my voice, because they were the same—it was not true. It was simply an illusion set to flame this January and burned to ash. I am not her then. I am me now.

            Over the course of my twenties, I spent my time developing and honing my skills: reading, creative writing, literary theory, and philosophy critiques, as well as my connection to the ethereal realm and my own intuition.

            I have come to know the latter as my spiritual connection, and what I predict for the Fire Horse year is that we will all come to a reckoning with our spirits. How this happens is up to us; we choose whether the path before us will be hot and dangerous or life-changing and illuminating. The same way we choose to build a bonfire, made for our friends and loved ones to view upon in a beach setting for ambience and metaphorical value, or to discover a flame has been lit and is ravaging the forest around us. At the same time, we were busy camping outside in the woods and looking at the stars, not paying heed to the fire we started only moments before.

            The themes prevalent this year are: calculated risk and intentional action.

            Life is not slowing down to meet us; life is encouraging us to speed up and meet it.

            The present is revealing itself as a gift, granting us a vehicle to inspire ourselves and others to see the beauty of spirit within us and all around this world, to see the flame igniting.

            The flame is there in the rising sun.

            The flame is there in the songs we sing.

            The flame is there in the stove that cooks our food.

            The flame is there in our self-care and beauty routines.

            The flame is there in the energy we use to work out and create intentional movements.

            The flame is there in the connection between our loved ones and us.

            The flame is there in youth.

            The flame is there, taking chances and risks

            The flame is there in creativity.

            The flame is there in this society; we are constantly building and destroying together.

            The flame is there in the spirit of advocacy.

            The flame is there in our voices, whether we speak, sing, write, yell, bless, or curse ourselves and others.

            Our spirits are the most natural thing in the world; they are the memory of a connection between humanity that is more ancient and true than the collection of illusions constantly swimming around us. Like bees, we are connected. Neuroscience and spirituality converge in this age, revealing this to be true. We are a hive mind. Our energy affects ourselves and the world around us. Everything is made of energy, and everything we see and perceive is a projection of our inner realities. It is a scary thought that we have lived separately from each other and our spirits for ages. It is terrifying to see the world washed in new colors, sounds, tastes, and smells. Something old is resurfacing to show its face to us once more, something long stolen and forgotten in the Western world: our true selves. I hope you find your alignment this year and feel the peace of living a balanced life full of love and joy.

            When the world’s foundation shakes, I hope you remember you can always tune into the energy of love to anchor yourself again.

            To the beauty we continue to grow into,

            Nicole Asbjorn

            P.S. If you have a challenging time connecting to your spirit, remember the highest spiritual act you can enact is childlike play.