Around the 17th February we found ourselves in the energy of the Lunar New Year, a New Moon, eclipse, and the early stirrings of Spring. All of this was unfolding alongside a shift out of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Snake and into the Year of the Horse. And we also entered into numerological Year 1 which is all about fresh starts, new direction, and independence!

Year 1 is often called the Sunrise phase, signifying the early light of a new day, when something new is just beginning to take shape.

If you’re wondering what on earth all of this means, then let’s get into it. It is a lot happening all at once and if you love symbolism, themes, and a reason to feel hopeful then this is for you!

Trauma-informed Somatics can be about going slow, taking our time and being gentle with ourselves.

So while there is all this new energy around, that doesn’t mean we have to rush ahead or pelt forward all of a sudden. We can gently transition in Spring like the Spring flower buds unfurl into full bloom. 

There is a strong current of renewal here; Spring, the Year of the Horse, the start of a new 9 year cycle with numerological Year 1 and New Moon. But renewal doesn’t have to mean urgency, push, or being in a hurry.

In Chinese astrology, we’ve moved from the shedding energy of the Snake into the forward-moving spirit of the Horse. In numerology, after completing a 9-year cycle of endings and closure, Year 1 is often called the Sunrise phase, the first light of a new chapter.

I want to slow down a moment to be with this metaphor of a sunrise; the way it slowly arrives, colour starting to brush across the sky, gently casting light while the day takes its time to arrive. It doesn’t rush to happen all at once, it’s a gradual process, one you can sit and watch where Twilight turns to full Daylight. 

Gentle transitions into Spring - Nervous System Regulation needs Time

Spring is much like the slow sunrise. Seeds sown in winter don’t burst open overnight, they take time underground in the dark to be nourished, crack open, grow roots and shoots. 

New beginnings can be slow, steady, and embodied. When we look at transitions from a nervous system informed perspective, we know that too much too soon can risk being overwhelming for the system. Gradual, gentle, shifts with plenty of care built in can support the nervous system to move with the change into something new.

Expansion can feel most nourishing, and most sustainable, when it’s supported by regulation.

From a trauma-informed somatic perspective, we want to bring in a grounding quality to lay solid foundations from which to move forward. When we think about this new cycle of Year 1 and the Year of the Horse, which is all about forward momentum, new beginnings, and freedom, we can think about what it means to slow down the transition. As we’ve been reflecting on, newness doesn’t have to happen all at once, it can be a gradual, intentional process. 

So how does it feel for you, to allow the upcoming year to stretch out before you, with no pressure to instantly gallop off into the distance? What if you had time? What if you knew you could slow down?

"Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion" - bell hooks

Horses are deeply intuitive beings, and they’re excellent at co-regulating. They are herd animals, and their nervous systems sync up in groups. Another lesson we can take from the Year of the Horse is that our healing doesn’t have to be a solo project. In fact, finding supportive spaces where we can come together to heal can be life changing, life affirming and essential. 

My final invitation to you as we navigate this gentle, expansive time of transition is to reflect on the ways community care is present in your life. Or if it feels missing, how it can be added in more.

And if you want any extra support around navigating these transitions:

You can book a free call here to have an obligation free chat with me and see if 1-1 Somatic Therapy online feels like something you’d like to explore.

I also run group Reiki Training, Moon Circles, and Sound Baths. It’s always an honour to hold space for people to feel seen, heard, and valued, and I would love to see you along at one of my events or trainings!