Hitting the ground running/the greyhounds fast out of the traps… Yet both metaphors are outdated — new versions of everything needed.

New interpretations called for. Repeating the old feels empty, pointless, irrelevant.

New breath. Presence. The past firmly put behind us except for occasional reference and gratitude and celebration of good experiences and memories.

An impulse to pre-empt, to jump the gun (another antiquated phrase); eg year of the Fire Horse predictions published long before 17th February. A fear of being left behind underpins this. Not wanting to be caught out, deemed too slow off the mark.

Slowing down the mind; grounding; presence; meditation: these all counteract the urge to speed up (horses only speed up when fleeing a threat, or out of exuberance: mostly they are steady and leisurely).

Energies easily scattered. Discipline, focus, attention needed to come back to what’s in front of one.

Individual ideas are key — what have I learnt from within? What is my unique contribution? A start…

Social connections, old connections rekindled: we’re beginning to live in tune with inner resonance rather than our minds, if we’re sensitive/aware enough.

Telepathy becomes more obvious; “I was just thinking about you!” becomes a common exclamation.

Ideas start to bubble up; creativity starts to surface and stir again after the dormant, quiet winter months.

A need for compassion, not competition and strife. Not “Each for himself” but “How can I understand my partner/friend/colleague better?” “What’s it like to be in their shoes?”

Hard to stay still — even if you try, changes will occur around you, forcing a response from you… so you may as well step into the river.

Adaptation and flexibility. No man is an island. We begin to realise on a deeper level just how interconnected we are.

Time is needed for introspection or contemplation, daydreaming or meditation, as well as making outer connections and moves.

Everything must start from within — from the Yin. The Yang activities, doing, will have more chance of follow-through and success.

Go gently with the wind.

With love

Saffron

31st January 2026