Honoring Release 🐍 and Inviting Momentum🐴 with the Chinese New Year

As the Chinese New Year approaches, we step out of the Year of the Snake and prepare to enter the Year of the Horse. The Snake year invites us to slow down, face the truth, and shed what no longer serves us. The Horse, by contrast, brings forward movement, encouraging strength, confidence, and bold, aligned action.

As you set intentions for the new calendar year, remember that you still have time. The transition into the Year of the Horse occurs in mid-February, providing an opportunity to continue releasing, resetting, and preparing, so you can ultimately rise.

🐍 The Year of the Snake 

The Year of the Snake is associated with:

• Shedding old identities and patterns
• Endings and completion of cycles
• Grief that leads to wisdom
• Detox emotionally, mentally, and energetically
• Lifting the veil on truth

This past year may have helped you:

• Recognize coping mechanisms that no longer serve you
• Release perfectionism, self-criticism, or people-pleasing
• Set firmer boundaries
• Get honest about what feels aligned—and what doesn’t

Before rushing forward, it’s important to honor what you’ve already released.

🐍 Honoring the Release: Letting Go with Intention

Before rushing forward, it’s important to honor and fully integrate what you’ve already released.  

Practices for emotional and mental release:

Reflective journaling with no judgment

• What feels heavy or draining in my life right now?
• What patterns or beliefs am I ready to outgrow?
• What have I already released that deserves acknowledgment?

Boundary check-ins 

Notice where you feel overextended. Releasing what doesn't serve you might look like saying no, setting aside intentional relaxation time in your calendar, or creating space from relationships that deplete your energy. 

Nervous system regulation

Change can activate stress responses. Gentle practices such as daily movement, breathwork, stretching, affirmations, or intentional rest can help transitions feel smoother and support a sense of safety in the body.

Physical clearing of spaces

Decluttering a space, cleaning, simplifying routines, and providing your body with the necessary nourishment helps reinforce emotional clarity and promote detoxification. 

🐴 The Year of the Horse 

The Year of the Horse is associated with movement, freedom, alignment, and new beginnings. After a season of shedding, this energy supports taking aligned steps forward—without rushing or burnout.

The Horse represents: 

• New beginnings

• Alignment and freedom

• Power and passion

• Return to truth

• Opportunity and flow

To prepare for this next chapter, begin asking:

• What do I want to move toward—not just away from?

• Where do I feel most like myself?

• What does aligned action look like for me?

🐎 Grounded Forward Movement

Practices to prepare your mind and energy for the new year:

Set intentions, not pressure 

Instead of asking What should I do? try asking: 

• How do I want to feel this year?
• What supports my mental and emotional well-being? 
• What changes can I make to increase my energy, strength, and confidence? 

Rebuild self-trust

The horse thrives on confidence. You might start small by keeping promises to yourself, honoring your needs, and choosing consistency over intensity. 

Create supportive routines

Simple things such as implementing movement you enjoy, grounding, reflection journaling, can help build momentum, consistency, and peace in everyday life. 

Choose aligned actions

Often, your nervous system recognizes alignment before your mind does. When an action is aligned, there may still be discomfort, but it is accompanied by a sense of inner steadiness or truth beneath it. 

Aligned actions feel:  

• Grounded rather than frantic

• Energizing rather than depleting

• Clear, even if the step is small

• Connected to your values, not external expectations

✨ Creating Space for What’s Next

As you step out of the Year of the Snake and into the Year of the Horse, allow yourself a moment to pause. You don’t need to rush into change. Reflection is part of the movement.

We invite you to journal on the questions below or take a few minutes in peace to reflect on these to help you prepare for the time of transition, to strengthen who you are and want to become

• What have I outgrown in this past season?
• What am I ready to release with compassion?
• What feels lighter or clearer now that I’ve let go?
• What do I want to invite into this next chapter? 
• What is one small, aligned step I can take as I move forward?

After writing or reflecting, take note of how your body feels. If there’s no immediate clarity, that’s okay. Awareness itself is movement.

The Snake has already done its work—clearing the path.
The Horse will meet you with momentum when you’re ready.

From my heart to yours — May you feel comfort and strength in the shifts of the New Year.

Christina | Golden Heart Wellness

💌 Don’t forget: We have availability as soon as January to get your in-depth Hair analysis done.  

Link to Book: https://ghw.practicebetter.io/#/65a707a4a73ebff6df550568/bookings

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