From Shedding Skin to Wild Freedom: Navigating the Shift from Snake to Horse Energy
There's something profoundly beautiful about the way nature reminds us that transformation isn't just possible—it's inevitable. As we move from the Year of the Snake into the Year of the Horse, we're not just flipping a calendar page. We're crossing a threshold that asks us to honour what's been shed and step boldly into what's calling us forward.
And honestly? This transition feels deeply personal to me this year in ways I never expected.
The Year of the Snake: A Year 9 of Deep Transformation
In numerology, the number 9 represents completion, endings, and the clearing away of what no longer serves. It's the final chapter before a new cycle begins. The Year of the Snake carried this energy with fierce intention—asking us to look inward, to peel back layers, and to let go of illusions we've been clinging to.
The snake doesn't simply grow; it sheds. And shedding isn't comfortable. It's raw. It's vulnerable. It's the process of releasing an old skin that no longer fits, even when we're not entirely sure what lies beneath.
This past year asked us to:
Face uncomfortable truths about ourselves, our relationships, and the paths we've been walking
Release illusions—stories we've told ourselves about who we need to be or what success should look like
Grieve endings with presence and compassion, understanding that grief is part of the healing process
Complete karmic cycles, clearing out energetic and emotional patterns that have run their course
Detox emotionally, allowing ourselves to feel everything without rushing to fix or numb it
The snake moves slowly, deliberately, close to the ground. It doesn't rush transformation. It honours the process. And that's what this year has been about—honouring the slow, necessary work of letting go.
My Own Snake Year: Endings That Changed Everything
For me, this Year of the Snake brought seismic shifts I didn't see coming—or maybe I did, somewhere deep down, but wasn't ready to admit.
After nine years, I made the decision to close the doors of my salon. Nine years. A full numerological cycle. It's wild to me how the timing aligned so perfectly with this Year 9 energy. That salon was my pride, my identity in so many ways, and letting it go felt like shedding the biggest skin yet. There was grief in that—deep, heavy grief—but also this quiet knowing that it was time. That chapter had completed itself, and I couldn't keep forcing it to continue just because it felt safe or familiar.
And then, as if the universe wanted to make sure I truly understood what "endings" meant, I lost my last grandparent. The last of that generation in my family. It hit differently than I expected. It wasn't just about losing one person—it was the closing of an entire era. The keepers of stories, of roots, of where I come from. Gone. It left me sitting with a strange mix of gratitude and emptiness, realising I'm now part of the generation that holds the memories.
The snake asked me to grieve it all—the business, the identity tied to it, the generation that shaped me. To sit with the discomfort of not knowing what comes next. To let myself feel lost without rushing to find myself again.
And somehow, in all that shedding, something else began to stir.
The Year of the Horse: A Year 1 of Bold New Beginnings
Now, as we gallop into the Year of the Horse, the energy shifts dramatically. In numerology, the number 1 is all about new beginnings, fresh starts, and stepping into alignment with your true desires. It's the spark of creation, the courage to lead, the liberation that comes from finally knowing what you want and moving towards it with vitality.
The horse doesn't tiptoe. It runs. It moves with purpose, freedom, and unbridled passion. After a year of shedding and releasing, the horse invites us to:
Embrace forward momentum with confidence and clarity
Align with our deepest desires, not what we think we should want, but what genuinely lights us up
Step into new beginnings with courage, even if the path isn't entirely clear yet
Reclaim our vitality and freedom, choosing liberation over obligation
Lead ourselves boldly into uncharted territory, trusting our instincts
Where the snake asked us to go inward, the horse invites us to move outward and onward. It's time to harness the clarity gained through all that shedding and channel it into action, creation, and expansion.
Bridging the Two: What I'm Taking Forward
Here's what I've come to understand as I stand at this threshold between snake and horse energy: the shedding wasn't about losing myself—it was about finding what was always underneath.
Closing the salon didn't end my passion for connection, growth, and helping others thrive. It refined it. It stripped away the parts that no longer aligned and revealed what truly matters to me: mindset, personal development, and creating spaces where people can grow and change their limiting beliefs
Losing my last grandparent reminded me that legacy matters. That the work we do, the values we hold, the way we show up for others—it all ripples forward. I want to build something that honours that. Something that helps people feel seen, supported, and inspired in a way that lasts.
So as I step into this Year of the Horse, I'm not running aimlessly. I'm running towards something. Something that feels aligned, purposeful, and deeply personal. I'm ready to reinvent my goals, my passions, and my path. Ready to start something new that merges everything I've learned with everything I'm becoming.
The snake taught me to let go. The horse is teaching me to leap forward.
What About You?
Maybe your Year of the Snake looked nothing like mine. Maybe your endings were quieter, or louder, or messier. Maybe you're still in the thick of shedding, unsure of what's on the other side.
That's okay. The beauty of this transition is that we don't have to have it all figured out to step into horse energy. We just have to be willing to move. To trust that the shedding we've done has prepared us for what's ahead.
So ask yourself:
What did the snake help you release?
What truths did you uncover in the shedding?
What's stirring in you now that wants to gallop forward?
What new beginning is calling your name, even if it scares you?
The Year of the Horse is here, and it's asking us to run—not away from what we've been through, but towards what we're becoming.
Let's honour the snake's wisdom. Let's embrace the horse's freedom.
And let's see where this wild, beautiful ride takes us.
What are you ready to leave behind? And what are you ready to chase? I'd love to hear your reflections as we step into this new year together.
