A Timely Pivot for Jan 7 (You Inspired This!)

Dear Subscriber First Name,

I know you’re used to my never-monthly newsletters—but here I am again, just two short weeks later! As I prepared for our Jan 7 Self-Discovery Session, something interesting happened: several of you—completely unprompted—mentioned the energetic shift in the Chinese Zodiac, from the Year of the Snake to the incoming Year of the Wood Horse. It struck me how aligned this transition is with what so many of us have been navigating lately.

We’ve been processing a lot—old ideas, beliefs, identities, and relationships that no longer fit. It’s as if the collective “old skin” is ready to shed, yet parts of us still cling to what’s familiar. Your reflections inspired me to pause, reexamine my workshop calendar, and pivot the Jan 7 session into a full exploration of Letting Go.

In this new session, we’ll move through a powerful release exercise, reflect on what’s still being held, and make space for what wants to move in with clarity, momentum, and forward motion as the Horse energy approaches.

Along with the updated session theme, here’s what else is arriving this month:

a beautifully written article by Aadrika Sominder on the new-year energy shift;
a lovely meditation by Sarah Blondin about coming home to yourself;
and a cooling (yes, in December!) Nori Roll recipe—vibrant, nourishing, and wonderfully supportive for the nervous system during this season of transition.

Wishing you a beautiful holiday season. I can’t wait to begin the new year with you! Let’s shed what’s ready to fall away and step into 2026 a little lighter, clearer, and more open.

Much love,
Tara

Stillness Sessions create space for listening to what’s quietly shifting.

I Would Like to Give You Permission, is an offering by Sarah Blondin, on Insight Timer. It provides gentle support for a season of release. If you’re noticing old thoughts, patterns, or ways of being quietly falling away, I invite you to listen to this tender meditation—creating space to soften, pause, and let what’s falling … fall.

SELF-DISCOVERY SESSIONS.
Here’s what’s ahead:

January 7, 2026 - NEW TOPIC: “Letting Go”
January 14, 2026 - “Working with your Guides through Automatic Writing”
January 21, 2026 - “Yin Yoga + Guided Meditation”
January 28, 2026 - “Intuitive Guidance: Oracle Cards & Journaling”
February 4, 2026 - “Working with Polarities and Squares Processing Techniques”
February 11, 2026 - “Putting it All Together” + Cacao Ceremony
All sessions are held from 6:30 - 8:00 PM in The Studio (suite #204) down the hall from my Albany office: 10 McKown Rd, Albany, NY 12203.

If 2025 was about understanding who you are, 2026 is about becoming who you’re meant to be

Originally published in Hindustan Times on December 1, 2025
Written by Aadrika Sominder

As 2025 comes to an end, astrologers are preparing for one of the most dynamic transitions in the Lunar calendar. The Year of the Snake is giving way to the fast-paced Year of the Horse. If this year has felt especially tough — filled with unexpected challenges and moments of uncertainty — the Year of the Horse might just be your chance to reclaim the narrative.

A look back at the Year of the Snake

The Year of the Snake, which ruled 2025, was a time marked by wisdom, patience and internal growth. In the Lunar zodiac, the Snake is a symbol of intelligence, transformation and intuition — a creature that sheds its skin to renew itself.

This period often manifests as a period of reflection and recalibration. People may have felt drawn to simplify their routines, clear out physical and emotional clutter, and reassess what truly matters. Relationships, work commitments, and personal boundaries likely came under quiet but meaningful review.

Snake years tend to bring a slower pace and a focus on clarity rather than action. But it’s not about stagnation but about deliberate progress — the kind that happens beneath the surface before visible change begins.

Recent Snake years include 1989, 2001, 2013 and 2025, with the next one set to return in 2037.

The energetic rise of the Horse

With 2026 ushering in the Year of the Horse, the mood of the zodiac shifts dramatically. The Horse represents energy, independence and forward momentum. It's a sign known for confidence, ambition and a love for freedom.

Where the Snake’s lessons centered on patience and insight, the Horse thrives on motion and expression. It encourages people to act on long-gestating ideas, start new projects, and take bold leaps without overthinking every detail.

Astrologers say the year ahead will likely inspire decisive movement — whether in careers, relationships, or creative pursuits. It’s a time for risk-taking, reconnection, and courage, as people feel an urge to step into the spotlight after a year of quiet preparation.

In practical terms, 2026 could feel faster and more social, with opportunities unfolding more quickly. Horse years are known for their dynamism and drive — an outward-facing energy that rewards initiative and action.

Past Horse years — including 1990, 2002, and 2014 — have often been linked with breakthrough moments and collective shifts toward progress.

The close of one cycle, and the start of another

Readers must also note that this transition marks the end of a nine-year cycle in the Lunar zodiac — a symbolic point of completion and renewal. After a year of shedding and introspection, the cosmos now invites motion, growth, and alignment.

If 2025 was about understanding who you are, 2026 is about becoming who you’re meant to be. The year is expected to bring clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of direction — a time when delayed opportunities finally begin to take form.

As we move from the introspective Snake to the free-spirited Horse, the message is simple: shed what no longer serves, embrace movement, and let momentum guide you into your next chapter.

Nori Wraps with Lemon-Tahini Sauce

Recipe adapted from “Eating Clean” by Amie Valpone

These no-cook, build-your-own wraps are full of cooling veggies, calming fats, and umami flavor. Sea veggies like nori are rich in iodine and trace minerals that support brain and nerve function, while the creamy sauce and colorful fillings make it fun and nourishing.

These wraps offer what your nervous system craves—simplicity, grounding, and full of life-force energy. Enjoy!

Prep time: 10 min | Total time: 35 min | Servings: 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Wraps:

4–6 nori sheets (toasted)
1 cup cooked & cooled jasmine rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cucumber, julienned
1 small carrot, julienned or shredded
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 cup purple cabbage, shredded
Handful of sprouts or microgreens
Optional add-ins: tofu strips, cooked shrimp or chicken, smoked salmon, or tempeh

Lemon-Tahini Sauce:

1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/4 cup mellow white miso
2 tsp unsweetened rice vinegar
2 tsp maple syrup
2 garlic clove, minced
2 c water, more or less to your desired consistency

Directions

Mix all sauce ingredients in a high-speed blender until creamy. Add small amounts of water until it reaches the desired dipping consistency.
Lay one nori sheet shiny-side down. Spread a thin line of rice (or base) horizontally across the bottom third.
Add a little of each veggie and optional protein on top of the rice. Be careful not to overfill.
Roll tightly like a burrito, tucking in the sides if desired, and seal the edge with a bit of water.
Slice in half or serve whole with dipping sauce.

Nourishing Notes

Tahini is rich in magnesium and calcium—key for calming the nervous system.
Seaweed (nori) provides iodine and trace minerals to support thyroid and brain function.
Colorful raw veggies are hydrating and rich in antioxidants that reduce nervous system inflammation.

Nutrition (per 2-wrap serving):

If you have any questions about anything written here or if you simply want to reach out, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm always happy to connect and continue the dialogue.

If you know someone who might benefit from the insights shared in this newsletter, please feel free to forward it along. The more we can spread these messages of balance, compassion, and shared humanity, the better.

And of course, if you'd like to book a holistic counseling session or register for any upcoming events, you can do so through my website.

I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Much love,

Tara