Carving a New Path in ‘Year One’: Fire, Focus, and …..Fresh Paint?

We’re at Year 1 in the new 9-Year Cycle

I’m no expert, but I love learning about ‘stuff like this’ – in Numerology, time moves in repeating nine-year cycles. The last cycle was 2017-2025. Year One just started over, this year – 2026.

2025 should have ended feeling like you were wrapping up projects, ideas, maybe even relationships. I know it did for me. I had a lot of heavy stuff happen in my life starting in mid-2023, one catalyst led to another, 2024-2025 was hard. By late 2025, it finally sunk in that I was no longer with a husband I’d been with for decades; sadly, we were divorced first, and he subsequently passed away. Also, I had moved to another state; I was learning to live life in new ways.

They say “Year Ones” arrive with a noticeable energetic shift – I’m definitely feeling it. After years of processing, reflecting, and releasing, many people feel a renewed sense of motivation and reinvention, and beginning anew. New Beginnings, if you will. Or don’t think of it as having to become someone new, just ACT on who you already know you are – say that five times fast! The trick now is to set clear intentions before taking action, that it will feel slow at first. But trust that the momentum will build. We’ve got eight more years in this cycle to write our story after all. The experts say to ask yourself questions like these:

• What do I actually want now?
• Who am I…really?
• In what ways have I been living on autopilot?
• What version of myself is ready to lead?
• What new beginnings am I ready to create now?

Year of the Fire Horse

At the same time, in Chinse astrology, Feb 17 began the year of the FIRE Horse. Most of us have heard of the different animals (12) that represent each sign in Chinese astrology, but most don’t know how the other elements work with the animals – I know I didn’t. The elements are Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth, each of these five have both a yin and yang version (so 10 elements) . I happen to be born in the year of the Yin Metal Ox! The SAME elements only coincide with the same animal every 60 years. So the last time it was Year of the Fire Horse was 60 years ago – The Fire Horse happens to be quite powerful! Experts say the Fire Horse year can be expected to bring intense, fast-paced change on both personal and global levels.

The year of the Fire Horse represents Forward Motion, Strength returning to the body, Momentum building beneath our feet, Opportunities meeting readiness. Moving with purpose, direction and fire.  I don’t know about you, but I like this! To find your Animal/Element/Balance Sign, Google this phrase: in Chinese astrology what year, element and either yin or yang is xxxx (enter your birth year). Keep in mind that Chinese astrological years start from Feb 17, so if your birthday is before Feb 16, you'll need to search the year prior to your own.

New Beginning in Color

For 2026, the Pantone Color of the Year is “Cloud Dancer”. I’ve been following Pantone’s year colors for a couple of decades; ever since I was a sales rep for a company in the printing industry. Plus, the world of “color” just fascinates me. I love COLOR. My favorite color is Teal – can you tell? My website is covered in it! Over the years of Pantone’s color choices, I really liked some, and some were ‘meh’. They even had TWO colors back in 2016! (Click here to see the last 25 years of colors, all in one Forbes article).

To me, the 2026 color feels quiet, peaceful. But guess what? The Year One and Fire Horse elements continue…….Pantone’s Vice President (Laurie Pressman) said the color “is similar to a blank canvas, and signifies our desire for a fresh start……opens up space for creativity…”. And Pantone’s Executive Director (Leatrice Eiseman) said about the new color, “At this time of transformation, when we are reimagining our future and our place in the world, Cloud Dancer is a discrete white hue offering a promise of clarity. The cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, making it harder to hear the voices of our inner selves. A conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences.”

All I can say is Wow, I can feel that 2026 will be truly transforming for me in so many ways. How about you? How are you feeling?

 

Kerri Marvel
Website Designer, SEO Doer, Blog Writer, Website Care Plan Administrator