The Meaning of Having It All

In the Water Tiger year the Horse is encouraged and lifted. It’s been awhile since your Fire has been strengthened so forgive yourself if it makes your legs shaky, almost like a newborn in your perspective. Go gently with yourself despite your urgency to prove that you are back. I doubt you are sure what that means but you will find out soon. Still recovering from the three year onslaught of Water ending with with a coup de grâce of Ox, you were the first to feel the quickening of Fire, maybe as far back as November. Believe it.

For the Horse, 2022 carries that psychedelic feeling of coming out of illness: colors seem more vivid, nature is a fascinating miracle, curious smells are everywhere, everything is new. It’s like falling in love with the world again. even as it is now. Especially as it is now. You can feel how much the world needs you.

The long term outcome of the Horse’s good luck this year will depend on how their relationship with Water has evolved over the last three years. Your work is not finished when yang Water is the Heavenly Stem of the year. Water to a Horse might be the potential disappointment that’s always on your mind these days. What if the Water is just trying to help or teach you? What have you learned about maintaining the relationships you want over the last three years? Just because Wood and Fire are strong now doesn’t mean you can forget all about Water. Stay in touch with all of those difficult emotions. Don’t forget how loss, or potential loss, may have clarified your values.

A secret the Horse keeps is that they crave alliance with Water. This is a mysterious attraction, frightening but irresistible. The Horse wants to bring their light to the dark and make a marriage. The Horse that learns to do this can sustain themselves through almost any difficulty. So my question to you is: have you figured out yet that your relationship to the darkness and your emotions is a partnership as much as a clash? Have you learned the alchemy of sustaining yourself in relationship? Or are you still afraid and ready to bolt? Gentle now for your own heart’s sake.

The Horse’s element is Fire and it’s been years since Fire has been as strong as it will be in 2022. When Wood and Fire are strong, that means you are too. You’re due for a big burst of forward energy in 2022. This is good news for the Horse in terms of planning and execution. You’ve got big aspirations, ambitions and ideas about turning things around quickly and this year you can do that. Your luck with career is strong. It will be easy for the Horse to get attention for their work.

And yet, as a Horse, you can expect to experience the usual tensions between personal and public. Why is there always this gap between who you want to be in your private life vs. how you want to present yourself to the rest of the world?

In June, Horses may be swept away by their exposure or at a low point of not wanting to be seen. Take time to get out of the limelight and rest in the shade. You’re probably going to be talking more than you want to, so guard your privacy if it matters to you. Your behavior is going to be observed and noted. Be careful of overexposure and burnout. June is the peak time for mistakes so be open to feedback about your pace.

Because you can move things forward quite far this year, I suggest you focus on things that you want for the long term. It would be easy to just bask in the light and let the cards fall where they may. Are you sure you want to do that again? Whatever you choose to do, do it acknowledging the potential outcome. In the short term, the Horse might get away with almost anything this year, but maybe away is the operative word here. I mean, if you want to get away, then do.

In 2022 it will be easier to ignore the things that are not going well because there will be so many things that are. That is to say, what needs attention is relationship and how you maintain it when other aspects of life feel more happy and satisfying. Both personal or business relationships will ask for your support this year. How you see that in relation to experiencing career success is your choice.

In the context of authority, stay in compliance with rules and regulations to avoid legal issues. This year, mostly what you need to do is give attention to things that aren’t “fun” or “going well”. Perhaps you feel like you’d like to be done with that but given that Water will always be your challenge, the solution is in relationship rather than resistance.

If the Horse is in your day pillar, consider making your most intimate relationship your highest priority in 2022. If that sounds tedious to you, all the more reason to do it. Either you or your partner may be in a frame of mind to look outside of your partnership for intimacy, emotional or otherwise. Start communicating now (and continue!) to mitigate potential flare ups in February, March and December.

There is enough time in the year to enjoy what is easy and apply effort to what is not. Soak up the recognition, you’ve worked for it. Because you have been waiting so long and trying to be a patient Horse it may be difficult to keep your foot light on the accelerator. We all tend to be seduced by what feels satisfying at any given moment unless we’re aware of that choice. Go ahead and harvest the low hanging fruit of public success. If you want personal success, cultivate relationship. If you’re afraid of missing out on something by being a caring and attentive partner, know that you won’t.

In March it may be that despite your best efforts, your significant other is feeling used up. A close friend or partner may disappear in search of companionship if you constantly make yourself unavailable. And if you do, that’s a choice too. I suggest Horses take time off of work in March to focus on relationship, however, know also that giving attention to relationship might mean ending it. If that’s what needs to happen, then let it. Horses might think there is only one partner for them and if it’s not this one, it’s no one. That’s just short sighted. There can be more than one satisfying relationship for a Horse.

Overall, it’s a year to be patient with others and remember that your ideas about swiftness are demanding for everyone. If you’re a Horse who is still concerned that if you don’t win every race you’ll be forever rejected, the Water Tiger’s burst of Fire might harden that conviction. This year will tend to support any illusions you might have about success being a solo enterprise. Don’t go with that flow. If it is possible to have it all, the Horse can do it in 2022 if they are willing to put in the effort where it’s needed. Everything else will take care of itself. That’s the kind of luck you have.

Summary: Apportion efforts to support long term goals.

Amulet: Pig
Rather than thinking of an amulet as something to use, or something to protect you, cultivate the idea of a partnership with the energy of the Pig. Be flexible and ready to take care of maintenance in domestic matters. Support your support system.

February: Driven by ambition, aspiration. Balance aggression with kindness.
March: Prioritize relationship over work even if it feels like the worst possible time.
June: Peak of Fire. Keep reminding yourself what you want in the long term.
July: Others who support you may want to share your fame. Why not?
October: Count up the blessings of the year. Celebrate accomplishments.