Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Riding the Fire Horse

Riding the Fire Horse

Last updated on: February 23, 2026 at 8:44 pm by Keith Giles

0 Comments

Riding the Fire Horse 2026-02-23T20:44:25+00:00 Keith Giles

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

IMAGE: Keith Giles

There are moments in life when the practical questions—leases, storage units, timelines, logistics—begin to feel like spiritual questions in disguise.

My wife Wendy and I have been circling one of those moments lately.

We’ve been asking ourselves: Do we stay in El Paso a few more months? Extend the lease? Put everything in storage? Crash with a friend here? Try Portland? Vancouver, Washington? Dare to whisper Southern California again?

We’ve been talking. Planning. Yes, even praying.

Because sometimes the decision about where you live is really a decision about who you’re becoming.

Unexpected Confirmation

This week, I stumbled across a post on Instagram about the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac cycle.

As I read it aloud to Wendy in the kitchen, somewhere between the second and third line, we both felt it…that sudden tightening in the chest, the water in the eyes…the feeling that something bigger than coincidence had just whispered in our ears.

The post wasn’t just mystical fluff. It felt like a direct confirmation.

Here’s what jumped out at us:

Don’t play it safe.

Don’t stay where you’ve outgrown.

Fire will burn you out of stagnant situations. Leave before you’re forced out.

Don’t ignore your instincts. When your gut says move, move. When it says run, sprint.

Don’t dim yourself for comfort. Yours or anyone else’s.

Don’t wait for permission. The Horse doesn’t ask. Neither should you.

It felt like the Universe was giving us an answer, or at least permission.

Permission to admit that maybe we’ve outgrown something.
Permission to stop tip-toeing.
Permission to dream out loud.

Facing Our Fears

There’s a particular kind of fear that shows up when life starts nudging you forward.

It whispers: Be reasonable. Be safe. Don’t risk what you have.

But faith doesn’t negotiate with fear. It doesn’t ask what’s convenient. It asks what’s true.

Faith burns away what’s dead. It forces movement. It exposes stagnation.

Because, if you stay too long in a place you’ve outgrown—physically, emotionally, spiritually—the fire will eventually make the decision for you.

Better to leave before you’re pushed.

Better to choose courage than wait for crisis.

Perfect Timing

I was also reminded a few weeks ago that we’re conditioned to think that transformation begins on January 1st, or New Years Day.

But that date is a human invention based on our artificial world system.

Those are just lines on a calendar that serve an economic system.

But, Nature keeps a different clock.

The real New Year begins in the Spring.

It’s when animals wake from hibernation.
When branches that looked dead reveal new buds.
When birds rebuild their nests.
When frozen ground softens and life presses upward, reaching for the sunlight again.

Renewal doesn’t begin in the dark of winter. It begins when something dormant stirs.

And, I have to say, I believe something is stirring.

March is when we will pack up our things.

April is when we will point our faces toward the West and begin again.

Your Big Step

There are seasons for rest. Seasons for healing. Seasons for retreat.

But there are also seasons for expansion.

For stepping fully into who you are without apology.

For trusting your instincts.

For refusing to wait for external validation before you act on internal clarity.

If the Year of the Fire Horse teaches us anything, it’s this: Waiting for permission is just another way of hiding.

So, maybe you’ve felt it too? That low hum beneath the surface of your life.

The quiet sense that something is ending.

Or beginning.

Or both.

Maybe you’ve outgrown something.

Maybe you’re ready to move—literally or metaphorically.

Maybe what looks like disruption is actually deliverance.

One way or the other, we are all approaching the season of renewal.

The timing feels perfect.

In March, we will pack up.

In April, we will travel toward whatever future is opening up before us.

And like the branches of a great tree stretching into open sky, we will rise, and stretch, and bloom.

Do you feel like it’s time for something new?

Don’t wait.

Quantum Theology: Volume One brings together an extraordinary and diverse group of scientists, mathematicians, theologians, mystics, authors, and cultural commentators to explore one of the most provocative conversations of our time: What happens when Quantum Physics and Theology begin to overlap?

Edited and curated by author Keith Giles, this book explores the intersection between science and faith.

My book, “The Quantum Gospel of Mary and the Lost Gospel of Truth” is now available on Amazon.

The book from Keith Giles, “The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas” is available now on Amazon. Order HERE>

Keith Giles is the best-selling author of the Jesus Un series. He has been interviewed on CNN with Anderson Cooper, Coast to Coast Radio with George Noory, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and John Fugelsang’s “Tell Me Everything.” He co-hosts The Heretic Happy Hour Podcast and his solo podcast, Second Cup With Keith which are both available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Podbean or wherever you find great podcasts.

Previous Post

February 20, 2026

INNER CIRCLE: The Quantum Reality of Christ

Next Post

February 27, 2026 INNER CIRCLE: Our Solidarity with Christ

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Googled: “In psychology and everyday language, intelligence is the capacity to learn, understand, reason, think ..."

Herm

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"It's so weird to me how anyone thinks that getting basic income is in any ..."

Scott Santens

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"Sounds very much like what Pope Leo wrote in Magnifica Humanitas - a lot of ..."

ffeineandsugar

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"As it is written in the canonical Gospels:But as many as received Him, to them ..."

Herm

INNER CIRCLE: God’s Transcending Love

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Biblicism Christian Politics Cosmic Christ Deconstruction Discipleship Dispensationalism Divine Unity Ekklesia End Time Stuff Eschatology Evergreen Following Jesus Gender General Christian Topics Gnostics God's Love Gospel of Judas Gospel of Mary Gospel of Philip Gospel of the Kingdom Gospel of Thomas Gospel of Truth Hell Historical Jesus Inner Circle Investigative Reporting Islam LGBTQ Issues Marriage Mental/Emotional Health Mystery Non-Duality Philosophy Podcast Poetry Politics Poverty Preemptive Love Prophecy Psychology Quantum Theology Racism Reconstruction Satire Sex Technology Theology Uncategorized Universalism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many people did Jesus feed with five loaves and two fish?

Select your answer to see how you score.

About 7000 About 100 About 5000 men About 12

Books by This Author Books by Keith Giles

See All Titles »