If you felt stuck, weighed down, or like it's time to leave the old behind, this episode is for you. We are stepping from the year of the snake, a year of shedding and inner work, into the year of the horse, a year of momentum and forward motion. Today I'm going to share simple reminders of what you might want to let go of so you can step into 2026 with clarity, freedom, and energy. Welcome to Roots of the Rise with me, Sarah Hope, where spiritual wisdom meets practical tools in short, bite-sized episodes. These are tasters, not deep dives, meant to spark curiosity, help you discover who you truly are, release what holds you back, and rise into your best self. I'm gonna start off today talking about the Chinese zodiac, but before I get into that, I just want to pause and say even if this isn't really your thing, you're not really on board with, I don't know, astrology or the zodiac or any of that, those things, still keep listening because there still might be some value in what I'm going to offer about how you might want to move into 2026. With that said, here we go. In the Chinese calendar, each year is associated with a different animal, and each animal carries its own energy, themes, and lessons. These animals rotate in a 12-year cycle, and people often look to these energies as a way to understand the rhythms of life, what to focus on, what to release, how to move forward. Some years are more introspective, some are more active, some call for reflection, while others invite bold action. I am bringing this up because sometimes themes appear in my mentoring work. I'll have a week where every single person comes in wanting to work on boundaries, or they are all talking about an old conflict with their parents, or they're all feeling dysregulated and exhausted. The past month or so, with increasing frequency and intensity, people have been coming in talking a lot about wanting to let go of old patterns, people, and pain. 2025 is the year of the snake. Snake energy is all about shedding, transformation, and inner work. It asks us to soften our grip, release what no longer serves us, and move past patterns that aren't useful anymore. As we approach the end of this year, this letting go becomes almost non-negotiable, which is why it's showing up so strongly within my sessions with people. And this is important because the more you surrender now, the more smoothly you can transition into 2026, the year of the horse, which is all about movement, momentum, and forward motion. Snake is about preparation, strategy, clearing the old. Horse is about action, freedom, running toward your vision. Think of a snake year as the underground work, the clearing, the quiet transformation. The horse year is about, you know, stepping into the sunlight, the wide open fields, the energy to take bold, confident steps. Now, let me pause here for a moment. If you heard that and you immediately started worrying that you haven't fully harnessed the snake energy, that you didn't do all the inner work you wanted to do this year, and now you're behind. Stop. Just stop. There are no rules for inner development. Off the top of my head, I can think of two years that were packed with snake-like energy for me personally, and they were not snake years in the Chinese calendar. They were rat and monkey, respectively. The point is, it doesn't really matter. Astrology, numerology, zodiac signs, these are all guidelines, not rules. They are lenses through which we can get curious about our lives, notice patterns, explore possibilities. They don't inhibit your growth or your process. If it's time for you to shed your current skin next year, that is perfectly on time and you will be able to do so without problem. This is just one way of looking at things. And if it resonates, as it does for me, which is why I'm sharing it, awesome. Take what feels useful from this episode and run with it. If it doesn't, that's fine too. Everything I'm about to set suggest for stepping into this new year transition consciously is always valuable, even if Snake horse doesn't feel applicable to you. So, regardless, I wanted to give you some practical ways to let go now to help Snake finish its work so you can fully embrace the horse's momentum. Let's start with some kind of miscellaneous places you might want to do some clearing. First one, tackle a closet. I know that sounds silly, but you know, closets are where we tend to dump stuff. It gets cluttered, it stays hidden. That's not what we want for this next year. So go into your closet, go through clothes you don't wear and get rid of them, donate them. If you're not really sure if that feels overwhelming for you, well then set yourself up for next year. A simple tip, I don't even know where I heard this, probably like a good housekeeping magazine back in the day. But anyway, a simple tip is to turn hangers around so that they are backwards. And then as you use the clothes, switch them to the regular way. And this will give you a real clear visual of what you wear and what you don't. In a month, let them go. If you haven't touched it yet, just let it go. Obviously, seasonal is an exception, but this at least gives you a metric where a year from now, if something is still facing the other way, that thing can go. Like, let's let's let go, let's release. All right, second thing you can do, also look at objects tied to the past, items that no longer bring joy. Here's Marie Kondo again, right? Hold, pick it up, hold it, look at it, and think, okay, wait, does this bring me joy? Decor, books, keepsakes, knickknacks, all of that stuff can be released if it is no longer part of the vibration of the vibration you want to carry as you move into this next year. You know, you may have loved them once or had great intentions to read that pile of books. I have a pile that I'm letting go of of parenting books, baby books that like I, you know, thought would be super applicable and that I was gonna read all of them. And now my kid is six and a half years old. I don't need books about working with his development at two years old. It's time to let go. All right, here's another one. Clutter. I mean, we all know this. This is not news, but let this be your inspiration to intentionally go through your house looking for expired, broken, or unused items. They're just taking up space. Let them go. Check the pantry, drawers, any place where just in case items linger, just in case is another form of scarcity mindset. Now, I'm not saying get rid of your backup batteries, but those ratty towels that you're keeping just in case the basement floods again, get rid of them. Get rid of them. Last one, energy check. Walk into a room and notice where you get a heavy ugh feeling. That's your energy guide. So if you walk into your living room and as you scan the rune, you're like happy, happy, happy, happy. And then you get to the bookshelf and you get that feeling of like, ugh, well, that's your indicator. Go to that bookshelf, clear it off. Get rid of what's no not longer, you know, serving you, the books you're not gonna read, the knickknacks that are just gathering dust. Clear it. Other places you want to clear things are. Here are some other places you want to clear. Uh, things like your inbox, mail, your email inbox, and subscriptions. Cancel newsletters or memberships you don't use. Delete old email addresses, unused apps, screenshots of projects you'll never complete, recipes you will never make. I can't tell you how uh like liberating it is. Every time a newsletter or something hits your inbox, if you don't read it, immediately click unsubscribe. Get rid of it. Relationships. You might want to take stock. Who do you want to put time and energy into? Who doesn't serve you anymore? This doesn't always require a conversation. It can be just an internal energetic shift. Horse energy needs space for reciprocity, respect, and emotional alignment. Give that clarity to yourself now as you move into the next year. You also want to look at roles and identities. Consider the roles you no longer need to play, the shoulds, like we talked about a couple weeks ago, the expectations, the old habits. Let them go so you can move forward freely. Make an agreement with yourself that you are only going to make conscious choices based in joy and alignment as you move forward. Also, check in with your emotions. Resentment, guilt, shame, blame, unspoken truths. These weigh you down. Carrying them will slow your 2026 momentum. If you need help releasing them, seek support now, mentors, guides, or healing practices. Snake energy is about letting go. Horse energy is about moving forward. These next couple of months, because technically the zodiac calendar doesn't switch over until the end of January. So think of December and January as the bridge from who you were to who you are becoming. It may feel chaotic, emotional, or confusing. That is normal. Transformation often is all of those things. But this is also really necessary work. The horse can't run if it's weighed down. As you consciously offload what no longer serves, you create space for clarity, focus, and forward motion. You might be surprised at how far and fast life can take you when you step into this new way of being. Life mirrors your inner clarity and willingness to move forward. Take this time to be present, intentional, and conscious. Prepare for the freedom, the energy, the opportunities 2026 can bring. The snake year has given you the tools, the awareness, and the clearing. Now is your moment to rise. So let's embrace this momentum, step into power, and make 2026 a year of movement, joy, and expansive possibility. Start now by shedding what you can to make room for what you want. Thank you so much for listening. If someone came to mind as you listen to this episode, please share it with them. That is how we grow this community of healing and rise together. And if this is work you want more of, or if you want support applying it to your life, today I am announcing finally the membership that I am offering that will open January 1st. You can learn more about it by listening to the other episode I post today. Have a wonderful weekend. And remember, know who you are, love who you've been, and be willing to do the work to become who you're meant to be. Just a quick reminder this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, and nothing shared here is meant to replace the guidance of a physician, therapist, or any other qualified provider. That said, I hope it inspires you to grow, heal, and seek the support you need to thrive.