The Year of the Horse.

“Year of the Horse” digital drawing by me.

Lunar new year doesn’t usually hold significance to me. But this year, in so many ways, has been different. 

It’s my limited understanding that the lunar year incorporates both the sun and the moon to determine the marking of a “year”. If what I’ve found is also correct, the different zodiac signs stem from an ancient proverb that today prompt reflection and introspection. 

So while I didn’t grow up with this celebration there are a few things I can absolutely get behind and appreciate. For example: 

“The horse” to me, probably obviously, is deeply symbolic. Of my spirit, my strength, my curiosity…of *me* in every sense of the word. And this year, again so different in many ways, is also symbolic in my personal growth because I’ve started the new decade of entering my 30’s. 

Like an ancient clock that always ticks, a primitive call to the human experience, 30 feels completely different to me. 

It didn’t start on the dot of my birthday, I’ll admit that, but a few months before turning 30, a slow nudge was forming. A shift. A new beginning. A sense that something was being lost, but much more would be gained. 

I just, simply, have been feeling….older. Nurtured and fed, watered and rooted in one place for long enough to grow. 

And so back to more of getting behind Lunar new year, beyond the obvious symbolism and meaning, the coming Lunar new year had me reflecting on this: “time” is both manufactured and an undeniable truth. 

People invented the Roman calendar, the lunar calendar, the “day”, week, month, year. It’s not a fundamental truth that today is 2026, or I am 30 years old. There are different perspectives that morph those dates, change those landmarks. 

“Lunar New Year” digital drawing by me.

But, time still goes on. Whether it’s held in western or eastern context, time itself does exist and does persist. 

My body knew I was turning 30 months before the “date”. 

Maybe because for my body, for my own internal clock, 30 was already happening. 

Maybe because the year of the horse’s pre-destined promise of “energy, ambition and significant transformation” was decided for me. 

Or maybe because “feeling 30” just means thriving and growing and getting to actually enjoy the life I got to build in my 20’s. 

I may never know the answer, but I do know that I believe in wild things. Wilder things even than a year feeling written in the stars. The things that are mystical, magical, and not for our understanding are constantly being placed before us to consider the options to decide between them blindly. 

Luckily, I have many horses in my life…so maybe I’ll continue to be lucky and have them guide me through it all.