Why are you tired but can't seem to slow down?
Your body is exhausted,
But your mind is still going.
You go to bed tired,
But suddenly you're thinking about tomorrow.
Replaying a conversation from yesterday,
Worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet.
Maybe you're more impatient than usual.
Things that normally wouldn't bother you are getting under your skin.
You're checking your phone more often.
You're reacting faster.
You're trying to keep up with everything,
But somehow.
.
.
You're falling further behind.
What if the problem isn't that you're doing life wrong?
What if you're trying to match the speed of a year that is already moving too fast?
2026 is the year of the fire horse,
And fire is an extraordinary energy.
It brings movement,
Visibility,
Passion,
Courage,
Creativity,
Transformation.
It transforms what it touches,
But when you keep feeding it,
Eventually,
It burns out of control.
And many of us have been feeding the fire without realizing it.
More work,
More news,
More scrolling,
More commitments,
More worrying,
More rushing,
More,
I have to take care of this right now.
And perhaps the medicine for this year isn't crossing things from your list.
Perhaps the medicine is learning when to stop adding wood to the fire.
That's why I wrote,
The Medicine of Fire.
Balancing the heart,
Mind,
And energy during fire years.
This isn't a book asking you to fear the fire horse of 2026 or the fire goat of 2027.
It's about learning to use its fire without letting it consume you.
You see?
We don't want to extinguish fire.
We need fire.
We need its passion.
We need its creativity.
We need its courage.
We need the part of us that is ready to change.
We simply need to learn how to tend the flame.
And here's something important.
The fire cycle doesn't end when 2026 ends.
It continues through the fire goat year of 2027 into 2028.
So if you've been wondering.
Why does everything feel so intense?
Why am I exhausted but still wired?
Or even.
How do I get through this season without burning myself out?
Don't fight the fire.
Learn how to tend it.
You see.
A balanced fire will never burn you out.
It lights your way forward.
Here is an excerpt from the book.
Chapter 4 protecting your physical heart.
In Chinese medicine,
The heart is more than a physical organ.
It is considered the center of consciousness,
Emotional balance,
And spiritual awareness.
The heart governs circulation,
But it also houses what ancient texts call the Shen.
Our spirit.
Clarity.
And inner presence.
When the heart is balanced,
We feel steady and connected.
Our thoughts are clear.
Our emotions are manageable.
And we experience a natural sense of joy.
When the heart is under stress,
However,
The entire system feels the effect.
Because fire is the element associated with the heart,
Fire years naturally draw attention to this part of the body.
The same energy that inspires creativity and movement can also increase nervous system stimulation and place greater demands on the cardiovascular system.
This does not mean that everyone will experience heart problems during a fire cycle.
What it means is that the heart deserves extra care and attention during these years.
The heart in Chinese medicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine views the body as an interconnected system where physical organs,
Emotions,
And energy are closely linked.
In this system,
The heart is considered the emperor or empress of the body.
Just as an empress governs the well-being of a kingdom,
The heart oversees the harmony of the body and mind.
When the heart is healthy,
Calm,
And balanced,
The entire system tends to function more smoothly.
The heart regulates the circulation of blood.
But it also governs mental clarity,
Emotional stability,
And our ability to experience joy.
In Chinese medicine,
Each organ is associated with a particular emotion.
And the emotion connected to the heart is joy.
When the heart's energy is healthy.
Joy flows naturally through our lives.
We feel connected to others,
Open to experience,
And able to appreciate the simple pleasures of daily life.
But when fire becomes excessive,
That same emotional energy can become unstable.
Joy can turn into agitation.
Excitement can transform into restlessness.
Emotional reactions may feel exaggerated or difficult to regulate.
This is why protecting the heart during fire years involves caring for both physical and emotional balance.
The role of the Shen.
One of the most beautiful ideas in Chinese medicine is the concept of the Shen.
Often translated as the spirit or consciousness that resides in the heart.
The Shen reflects the clarity of our mind,
The steadiness of our emotions,
And the brightness in our eyes when we feel truly alive.
Practitioners of Chinese medicine often say that when the Shen is balanced,
A person appears calm,
Present,
And emotionally centered.
Their thoughts are clear,
Their sleep is restful,
And their interactions with others feel natural and warm.
But when the heart becomes overstimulated,
Something that can occur during intense fire cycles,
The shin can become unsettled.
This disturbance may show up as anxiety,
Racing Thoughts difficulty sleeping,
Emotional agitation.
A sense of being mentally scattered.
In modern language,
We might describe this as the nervous system becoming overstimulated.
In traditional Chinese medicine,
It is described as the Shen being disturbed by excessive fire.
The solutions offered by these ancient traditions often mirror what modern wellness practices recommend today.
Calming the mind,
Slowing the pace of life.
And creating environments that support emotional balance.
But this is easier said than done.
Signs the heart needs support.
During fire years,
Paying attention to the body's signals becomes especially important.
Some signs that the heart and nervous system may need additional care include feeling easily overwhelmed,
Restlessness or irritability,
Difficulty relaxing,
Trouble falling asleep.
Racing Thoughts.
Feeling emotionally reactive.
These signals are not necessarily signs of illness.
Often,
They are simply reminders that the body needs cooling,
Grounding,
And rest.
However,
It won't hurt you to pay a visit to your doctor or a Chinese practitioner,
Such as an acupuncturist.
Ancient medical traditions teach that balance is rarely restored through dramatic changes.
Instead,
It is supported through consistent daily habits that calm the system and protect the heart.
Simple ways to support the heart.
Protecting the heart during fire years does not require complicated routines.
Often,
The most effective practices are the simplest ones.
Slow breathing helps regulate the nervous system and allows the heart rhythm to settle.
Gentle physical movement,
Such as walking,
Stretching,
Or light exercise,
Supports circulation and releases accumulated tension.
Hydration plays a quiet but key role as well.
Water cools the body and balances excessive heat,
Both physically and energetically.
Avoid hot tubs when you feel unbalanced.
Equally important is the way we care for our emotional life.
The heart responds not only to physical strain,
But also to emotional stress.
Moments of frustration,
Worry,
Or overwhelm can place additional pressure on the system.
There are many practices that calm the mind,
Such as meditation,
Journaling,
Time in nature,
Tai chi,
Qigong.
Or quiet reflection,
Which create the conditions for the heart to return to balance.
Easy breathing practice to calm the heart.
Take three slow,
Deep breaths.
Inhaling gently through your nose.
And exhaling through your mouth.
Allow each exhale to be slightly longer than the inhale.
Letting the body soften as the breath leaves.
On the third breath,
Inhale slowly and hold the breath for a few moments.
As long as it feels comfortable.
Before releasing it gently through the mouth.
Repeat this cycle three times whenever you need to calm your mind.
Or settle your heart.
You may practice this with your eyes open or closed as many times as you like.
Closing your eyes often helps bring your attention inward.
Making it easier to focus on the rhythm of your breath and the quieting of your body.
Please make a point to see a physician if you experience any heart issues.
Nourishing the heart with joy.
The most important spiritual medicine for the heart is something that cannot be prescribed in a bottle.
It is joy.
In Chinese medicine,
Joy is considered the natural expression of balanced heart energy.
It does not refer to constant excitement or happiness,
But to a deeper sense of contentment and connection.
Laughter,
Meaningful conversation,
Creativity,
Music,
And time spent with people we love all nourish the heart in ways that modern science is only beginning to fully understand.
Joy is the main emotion your soul wanted to experience when deciding to incarnate into a lifetime.
During fire years,
Allowing space for these moments becomes especially important.
When life moves quickly,
Joy can easily be pushed aside by responsibilities and stress.
Make a point to walk away from work when you said you would.
Leave the cleaning and laundry for another time,
When there is an opportunity for joy.
Remember that the heart thrives on connection,
Warmth,
And presence.
Fire energy does not exist to harm us.
Its role is to ignite life,
To bring warmth,
Enthusiasm,
And courage.
But just as a fireplace needs proper tending to keep the flame steady,
Our hearts require attention during times when the fire burns stronger.
I cannot express enough how important it is for you to make time and space for joy in your life.
I know it is not always easy for some of you to feel joy or to move from disappointment or anger directly into joy.
Sometimes that leap feels too far.
But there is a gentle bridge available to you.
It's gratitude.
When you pause and acknowledge even the smallest things you are grateful for,
Something begins to soften within you.
And from that softened place,
Joy becomes more accessible.
Take a moment now and write down at least five activities that bring you joy.
For me,
It is traveling to new places,
Visiting museums,
Walking along the beach,
Listening to funny comedians,
And spending time in botanical gardens.
These moments reconnect me with myself.
And I will be honest with you,
I schedule them.
Otherwise,
They don't happen.
Like many women,
I can become so focused on work that I forget to pause,
To drink water,
To eat,
To breathe deeply.
However,
I learned years ago that joy is not something we wait for.
It is something we choose,
Protect,
And intentionally welcome into our lives.
When we care for the heart,
We create the conditions for fire energy to express itself in its healthiest form.
Vitality,
Inspiration,
And emotional warmth.
Write down the moments that bring you joy and schedule your next one.
The heart meridian Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that the body follows a daily energetic rhythm.
Each organ system has a two-hour period during the day when its energy is naturally strongest.
This pattern is known as the Chinese Organ Clock and it reflects the idea that the human body moves in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
According to this system,
The heart meridian reaches its peak between 11 a.
M.
And 1 p.
M.
This timing mirrors the movement of the sun.
Around midday,
The sun reaches its highest point in the sky when light and heat are at their strongest.
In the same way,
The fire energy within the body also reaches its natural peak during these hours.
When the heart energy is balanced,
This part of the day can feel uplifting and productive.
Many people experience a natural increase in clarity,
Vitality,
And social connection around midday.
Communication may flow more easily,
Decisions can feel clearer,
And the mind is often alert.
But when the heart is already overstimulated,
Something that can happen more easily during fire years,
This same period can feel different.
Some people may experience restlessness,
Irritability,
Anxiety,
Or a sense of internal pressure as the nervous system struggles to regulate the intensity.
For this reason,
Midday can be an ideal moment to pause and care for the heart.
A few minutes of slow breathing,
A short walk,
Or stepping away from screens can help calm the nervous system and restore balance.
Drinking water,
Eating a nourishing meal,
Or simply taking a moment of quiet reflection can also support the heart during this naturally active period of the day.
Because the traditional organ clock was developed long before modern time zones existed.
These hours followed the local rhythm of the sun rather than a universal clock.
In other words,
The heart meridian's peak occurs around midday wherever you live.
Someone in New York and someone in California will both experience this energetic peak during their own local 11 a.
M.
To 1 p.
M.
Period.
The connection between the heart and the sun.
Also offers an important insight about balance.
When the fire element is already strong?
During intense emotional periods or during fire years,
Excessive heat,
Stress,
Or stimulation around midday can place additional pressure on the heart and nervous system.
This does not mean people should avoid the sun completely,
But it can be helpful to avoid excessive heat,
Intense exertion,
Or stressful interactions during these hours if the body is already feeling overstimulated.
Instead,
Midday can become a moment to slow the pace.
Eating calmly,
Stepping into the shade,
Taking a few slow breaths,
Or simply pausing before continuing the day can help prevent emotional and physical exhaustion later in the afternoon.
Many traditional cultures instinctively recognized this rhythm.
In warmer regions of the world,
The middle of the day was often treated as a natural pause.
A time to rest briefly before resuming activity.
People take Siesta in Spain,
Reposo in Italy,
And Sesta in Portugal.
When we begin to observe these rhythms in our own lives,
We may notice that the body responds positively to even small adjustments.
During fire years especially.
Listening to the body's natural cycles can become a powerful way to maintain balance.
When we respect these rhythms,
The heart does not have to struggle to keep up with the pace of life.
Instead,
It can continue doing what it was designed to do,
Circulating warmth,
Vitality,
And clarity throughout the entire body.
When the heart and nervous system become overstimulated,
The effects are often felt emotionally.
Restlessness,
Anxiety,
And heightened reactions can appear even in people who normally feel calm and grounded.
This is Ana Barreto.
You just listened to an excerpt from my book,
The Medicine of Fire.
Please learn how to tan your fire in the fire years.
