animal medicine
The Scorching Year Of The Yang Fire Horse
Today is the first day of the 2026 Chinese Lunar New Year, and with it the Fire Horse year begins, setting a faster and more intense pace for the months ahead.
The Year of the Fire Horse brings a powerful mix of independence, urgency, and honesty. The Horse is known for its need for freedom, movement, and self direction. When combined with the Fire element, those qualities become stronger and harder to ignore.
This year will push us to stop waiting, or hesitating, or pretending that situations are fine when they are not.
Unlike the cautious Metal Horse or the steady Earth Horse, the Fire Horse is not about careful delay. It favors action. It rewards people who are willing to make decisions and take responsibility for the direction of their lives.
This makes 2026 a year that supports bold changes, clear boundaries, and personal independence.
In many cultures, the Horse symbolizes travel, progress, and the drive to move forward. It is associated with vitality and the desire to explore new territory, both physically and emotionally.
This year invites you to look honestly at where you feel restricted and where you have outgrown your current circumstances. It encourages you to take steps toward a life that feels more honest and more self-directed.
In The Grace Of Divine Time
I usually see them poised in stillness upon the bare branches of the winter trees. But today, most of my sightings were of them circling in flight overhead, crossing back and forth over the road.
Sometimes they appeared to be pursuing their prey, other times leading their young, or simply enjoying the freedom of gliding through the sky beneath the beautiful morning sun. This occurred in several places along my journey, spanning a range of miles beyond the one roost and eagle family I’ve been witnessing.
Before, during, and after my way was bedazzled with this abundance of bald eagle beauty, my thoughts had been steeped in the topic of time. I sensed the eagles crossed my path to affirm and guide me in my contemplation of eternal time.
I also sensed they came as signs of a shift in my life. They were reminding me that what has been waiting in my life – energy that has been paused, stuck or still, resting, gathering, or incubating – is beginning to move on the horizon of visibility, and gradually gaining momentum.
When I arrived home, waiting in my mailbox was a pamphlet with the printed words: The Times Are Racing. Well, message received loud and clear! It’s time to express my appreciation of time.
What Horses Teach Us About Freedom And Personal Power
Nature is a great place to go when we need to think clearly, feel peaceful, and get back to a healthy balance. It is even better if this includes the opportunity to watch animals in their natural environment.
Animals also carry their own special spiritual wisdom that can add value to our lives if we pay attention.
When I watch horses move freely, it reminds me to honor my own path, trust my instincts, and move forward with grace.
In mythology, it is revered in many forms: as the ethereal Unicorn, the winged Pegasus born from Medusa’s blood, and Sleipnir, Odin’s magical eight-legged steed from Norse mythology.
Horses hold a deeply symbolic place in many cultures, often representing freedom, strength, spirit, and connection between realms. As we move into the Chinese Year of the Horse, these energies feels particularly relevant.
In many Indigenous traditions, especially among the Plains Nations of North America, the horse is seen not as an animal to be used as a tool, but as a “relative” and a sacred member of the Horse Nation.
Referred to by names such as the Lakota Šúŋkawakȟáŋ, meaning “Holy Dog” or “Mysterious Dog”, the horse is seen as a spiritual gift from the Great Spirit or the Thunder Beings.
The Mythical Mysteries Of Crows And Ravens
People have been fascinated by crows and ravens for thousands of years. There’s something about their glossy black feathers, their watchful eyes, and the way they seem to understand more than they let on that makes one wonder what they might know that we don’t.
Throughout history and across many cultures, these amazing birds have been seen as more than just animals. They are traditionally seen as messengers, guides, and keepers of spiritual wisdom.
Their stories are all about myth, religion, and folklore, and they give us a pretty interesting look at how different peoples saw the mysterious world around them. Even now, in our modern time of screens and certainty, many still feel a quiet sense of magic when one of these birds crosses their path.
In the ancient Greco-Roman world, birds were a big deal. They were thought to be divine messengers and living signs that connected the heavens and the earth.
The practice of interpreting their movements, known as augury, was very important spiritually and politically. It wasn’t just superstition; it was a big part of religious and community life.
Augurs, the trained soothsayers of ancient Rome, were responsible for “taking the auspices,” or reading the signs that the gods sent through bird behavior. From the way it flies to the sound it makes, every detail could mean something. Out of all the birds we saw, crows and ravens stood out in particular. People thought their appearance held weighty messages, partly because of their dark, striking plumage and partly because these birds seemed unusually intelligent and intentional in their actions.
The Sweet Nectar Of Romantic Relationships
The energy of the hummingbird brings immense wisdom to be shared with us. When he appears it is always such a treat, as I have learnt so much from this amazing bird, including about love and romantic relationships.
When the hummingbird comes into my life asking to be painted, my vision blurs. I can then only see my artwork clearly and the brush strokes needed to finish his painting. I have learned that sometimes our own vision needs to become blurred, so that what we are seeking can be shown to us.
I have also learned that the ‘narrowed vision’ of hummingbird is vital to the health and vitality of our relationships, especially those of a romantic nature. When we keep our focus firmly on the present moment and the feelings we share with our partner in this moment, rather than on the negative thoughts, concerns or expectations, we blur out the noise.
This allows for a breaking away from the old energy patterns and lack consciousness that too often govern the roles played out in our relationships. It allows for a simplicity to arise in the communion and communication with our partner.
The hummingbird gathers nectar from the flower through its power of focus and natural instincts. It trusts its own innate nature to choose the flowers that will nourish and feed it. Finding trust in our own feelings and intuition is important, so that our relationships are nourished and allowed to blossom from within.
The Manifesting Power Of Mindful Mornings
Mornings are special. The energy of the morning is different than at any other time. When the sunlight is still fresh and gentle, the world is calm and quiet, there is a magic to this time. There is a softness that invites clarity, a gentle nudge from the universe to begin again, to step into a new day with intention and grace.
The first few moments of our day help to set the tone for our experiences throughout. Becoming aware and attuned to this fresh universal energy can be as simple as creating a small morning routine.
Now, I realize not everyone loves the morning as much as I do. If this is the case for you, the idea of creating a morning routine may not sound appealing at all. Starting with small, quick steps can make all the difference here.
Your morning routine is meant to set you up for success. It is about doing things you like in the morning, that get you in the right frame of mind and heart.
Bringing a bit of mindfulness into your morning can set you up energetically to respond more effectively to your experiences throughout the day.
Below is a list of things you can do in the morning to create a personalized routine that works for you. You certainly don’t have to do all them! Just pick one or two to get started and build from there. While consistency is important, if something is not working for you, change it up and try something new. This routine should be fulfilling and meaningful to you.
The Endangered Spiritual Wisdom Of The Prairie Dog
In Native American wisdom tradition, when a prairie dog crosses our path, it brings a sacred message of retreat. During times of stress and overexertion, this wise little creature reminds us to pause and step back from the chaos of modern life to recharge.
Prairie dogs often appear when we find ourselves in situations we’d rather avoid, encouraging us to disengage and reset. It teaches us to choose our battles carefully and not expend energy where it isn’t needed.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or spiritually disconnected, the prairie dog may be offering you a compassionate wake-up call.
Like this gentle guardian of the grasslands, you are invited to retreat to your own sacred space of stillness and safety, where you can restore your strength and clarity.
In nature, when the prairie dog senses danger, it instinctively retreats into its burrow, which is equipped with multiple escape routes. It doesn’t flee in panic, but rather responds with grounded wisdom and preparation.
In this way, prairie dog medicine teaches us how vital it is to create our own safe haven in life. We all need a place of inner peace, ritual, and refuge.
Paradoxically, the prairie dog also symbolizes the importance of reconnecting. If we become too withdrawn from our loved ones or isolated from community and nature, this magical creature encourages us to reach outward toward laughter, kinship, and shared purpose. It reminds us that solitude and social connection are not opposites, but rather part of a sacred rhythm.