I’m not superstitious and have never been.

In my younger years, when I played soccer, I washed my uniform and everything else regardless of our performance in the tournament.

When my team plays, I don’t have to sit in one spot, watch the game a certain way, or wear a specific garment. I don’t believe my actions will change the tide or the cosmic balance.

And I definitely don’t believe in zodiacs.

After working with data for as long as I have, my brain is trained to find patterns, anomalies, and correlations.

This year, the Chinese zodiac has my attention.

When I was looking at my calendar a couple of weeks ago, and noticed the unusual number of religious holidays in one week. I began to look into it, which inspired me to write When the Moon Spoke to Everyone at Once.

The more I read, the more I realized this is a very unique year.

While I don’t believe in astrology, I found the historical evidence to be compelling enough to share.

The Chinese Zodiac

Chinese zodiac

The Chinese zodiac combines astronomy, timekeeping, and symbolic cosmology.

The Chinese lunisolar calendar has been used for fortune-telling, naming newborns, starting businesses, making big purchases, and so on.

In 1966, the birth rate in Japan dropped 25% due to superstition.
That’s insane to me.

The Fire Horse is emphasized because it is considered double fire. The horse is already considered fire. Culturally, it is considered to have revolutionary energy and is often viewed as a time of major transformation.

To me, that is no different than any other zodiac year. They are all ambiguous in a way that, in one way or another, it will be right.

But then, I decided to look back at some historical events in the year of the Fire Horse. My findings were interesting.

Fire Horse Pattern

Let’s start with the first two weeks of this Fire Horse year, shall we?

2026

Violence erupted in Mexico as a drug lord was killed. Businesses were torched, and multiple people were left dead.

The US and Israel launched attacks against Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei. A major ongoing conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan has emerged, leaving several dead.

Gunmen in Nigeria killed 15 people. This is in response to last week’s police attack in the state of Zamfara.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is only week 2 into the year of the Fire Horse.

1966
The Vietnam War was escalating. The civil rights movement was at a crossroads. The Black Panther was founded. In China, the Cultural Revolution began. In just about every continent, there was some kind of radical upheaval. Authority was being challenged from every direction.

The United States witnessed protest escalation as the civil rights movement gained momentum, combined with opposition to the Vietnam War.

1906
The Fire Horse year brought the San Francisco earthquake and fire. To date, it is one of the deadliest disasters in American history.

Massive labor strikes in North America, as laborers demanded better wages and shorter hours.

The Atlanta Race Massacre left about 25 to 30 people dead and scars for a lifetime.

In France, a mine disaster killed over 1,000 miners, one of the worst industrial tragedies in Europe.

1846
The Mexican-American War began, famine devastated Ireland (triggering mass emigration to America), and revolutionary movements were building across Europe that would explode in the Revolutions of 1848.

Another period of tectonic upheaval.

Ring of Fire and Fire Horse

The Year of the Fire Horse in 2026 is unprecedented. It is the only year ever to open with a Ring of Fire eclipse. This has never happened before, and it is likely to never happen again.

With the year beginning under an annular solar eclipse, on the same day as Ramadan and Lent’s eve is even more unique. The symbolism this year has no parallel in history.

Jing Gao, creator of the popular Chinese chili sauce Fly By Jing, has posted a TikTok video highlighting how unique this year is. Aside from the eclipse, Saturn and Neptune are conjunct in Aries in a few days, she calls it “super intense energy.”

Conclusion

Is zodiac a real thing?

For some, it is. For others, like me, I just like to look at historical events.

Whether you believe it or not, it does, however, make you wonder why a fire year ignites fire in the world?

Most say that Fire Horse years are a time to challenge authority and the systems in place.

What is this year holding for us all?