Thomas Canfield
On February 17, we will be entering the Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse. This is a year that comes around every 60 years, and the last time we had a Fire Horse was in 1966. It is a year of intense action, great speed, and powerful endurance. Probably the best symbol of 1966 was the Batman TV series, which was considered to be the most “camp” show in the history of television. Even today, the jet-propelled Batmobile is considered an icon of swift transportation. When actor Adam West met Pope Paul VI, the Pope had to concede, “My car is not as impressive as your car.”
In 2026, we may see a similar driving energy, especially among individuals. The great power of the year may come from individual actions that will benefit the whole. On February 17, there will be a Solar Eclipse, though the annular eclipse will only be visible in Antarctica and points in the Southern Hemisphere.It will appear as a Ring of Fire in the sky. In the chart set for Washington D.C., the eclipse is just below the Ascendant at 28 Aquarius. It could stand for hidden potential waiting to manifest itself. Eclipses usually represent crisis or emphasis in a chart. Appearing at the end of Aquarius, the Solar Eclipse may represent the climax of Aquarian energy that has been building since the Winter Solstice. The eclipse is squaring Uranus in the Third House. It could stand for a public revulsion against AI, as more people question whether Artificial Intelligence is really a boon to mankind. Using Koch Houses in the eclipse chart, the First House is extended to 39 degrees, leaving Pisces intercepted in that house. It may be a time of personal lessons to be learned. Venus is conjunct the North Node, and it could be an appraising of the values we love and want to express. Adding to the festivity of Chinese New Year is that it will be falling on Mardi Gras, the great carnival event before the start of Lent. Mardi Gras has been a time of self-expression with wild costumes and parades. This year, it could be more sensual and gratifying with Venus in Pisces. Venus is squaring the Midheaven at 12 Sagittarius, and people may be more concerned with having fun than in preserving their reputation. (Watch for a record number of women flashing for beads at Mardi Gras.)
Mercury in Pisces may add to thoughts of creativity and artistic skill. Mercury is trine Jupiter in Cancer, and any ideas brought up at this time may be popular and profitable. Jupiter is in the Fifth House of Entertainment, and some images regarding the Fire Horse and Mardi Gras may gain fame and exposure after the event. Mercury in Pisces may bring greater inspiration to individuals, and ideas that were considered to be silly may be regarded as enlightened. Mercury is also squaring the Midheaven, and original concepts may challenge old styles of business and expression.
At the other end of the First House, Saturn and Neptune conjunct at Zero Aries serve as a bookend to the Solar Eclipse. Both outer planets are entering Aries to stay. In a sense, they could represent the repentance that one feels after Mardi Gras. Saturn and Neptune could stand for the season of Lent, in which things have to be given up for the sake of religion. During Lent, there is contemplation of the sinful nature of humanity, which symbolically receives redemption in the Spring/Easter season. Saturn and Neptune might represent a terrific hangover and a regret about having too much fun. Mars and Pluto in Aquarius are in the Twelfth House, and there might be a lot of unseen actions for the festivities. What happens at Mardi Gras usually does not stay at Mardi Gras, and though the actions may be hidden, the repercussions may be felt afterwards. Pluto is sextile Saturn and Neptune, and any secret sins might be exposed later on.
Looking back to the previous Fire Horse year in 1966, although it was a time of action, people started to realize that things were going wrong. In 1965, a half-million American troops were committed to fighting in Vietnam. By 1966, people were realizing we were not winning the war. Young men started to drop out and head to Canada rather than be caught up in the Vietnam quagmire. Other young people started dropping out and getting involved in the drug craze, leading to the Summer of Love in 1967 when young people swarmed into Greenwich Village and Haight-Ashbury. Although Civil Rights had been passed, the Great Society programs were not working effectively, leading to social unrest and urban rioting. There was a realization that something had to be done, but no one was sure which direction to take.
The 2026 Fire Horse year might be more individualistic rather than a group activity. The majority of bodies are in the First House, meaning that personal expression will have a stronger influence. More people may be awakening to the realization that things are going wrong, and we need to stand up to those who are deliberately leading others down a wrong path. Rather than “wars and rumors of war”, we are facing “concepts of war” with crazy ideas being thrown around with wars against Greenland, Canada, Venezuela, and Nigeria. Just as a peace movement started in 1966, we might see another peace movement rising up. The greatest peaceniks may not be the crowds with the signs, but the individuals with some authority to not only speak out but to act in a sensible manner. Change may be coming through individual revelation, especially with Saturn and Neptune entering Aries. Neptune last entered Aries at the beginning of the Civil War, the timeline in “Gone with the Wind” when Rhett Butler gave his wise speech that all the South had was “Slaves, cotton, and arrogance.” We could be seeing a similar shattering of arrogance, and Saturn could make it more intense. Saturn was last in Aries during the Gingrich revolution of demonizing Democrats and not allowing any cooperation between the parties in Congress. There was also an attitude of “Get Bill Clinton” no matter what the charge. A reversal of attitudes might take place with Saturn and Neptune together in Aries. There might be a new sense of cooperation in Congress, and the attitude might not be “Get Donald Trump” as much as it is “Block Donald Trump.” Saturn could stand for the kind of resistance and restriction that Trump has hated, and there could be new individuals coming together to make it happen.
A little scientific note: Astronomers are very interested in the star Betelgeuse, which is a red giant on the shoulder of Orion. Betelgeuse is showing signs of collapsing, which could lead to a supernova. The Earth is far enough away from any danger. However, a supernova of Betelgeuse could light up the night sky as bright as the Moon. The light could be bright enough to cast shadows on the ground like a Full Moon does. A supernova of Betelgeuse could fit in with the year of the Fire Horse, filling the world with wonderment and new energy. Do not be surprised if the red light distracts people from upheavals and mundane complaints.
