An Alignment Check

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This afternoon while relaxing on the couch my mind got to thinking about my activities/projects so far this year and how aligned or otherwise, they were in Astrology with the Chinese year 2026, the Horse. I was nudged to check this out with AI – a novice attempt for me.

I hope that what follows below  might spark your interest in checking your alignment with the Horse Energy  of 2026/27.

The main themes for me in 2026  to date are

  • The launch of my latest book – 28th May 2026-

(Note: I did not enter the title of my book into the AI Query)

  • Planning to Walk the beginning section of the French Camino over the Pyrenes – because in all the Caminos I have done to date – I have not attempting the start section in France over the Pyrenes and into Spain.
  • Redesigning my website
  • Refining in business offering in Seminars, Retreats and Coaching to the Retirement Phase of Life.

The results presented were as follows:

The Horse is traditionally associated with movement, independence, adventure, visibility, personal freedom, communication, and taking decisive action. The year favours momentum over hesitation and experience over theory.

The alignments revealed –

  1. Launching Your Latest Book

Fits strongly with Horse energy as the Horse is associated with:

  • Public visibility
  • Sharing ideas widely
  • Personal expression
  • Inspiring others through experience

Publishing a book is not only the completion of a creative cycle but also the beginning of a journey for the ideas themselves. Horse years often favour projects that “travel” beyond the creator, reaching new audiences and creating movement in people’s thinking.

Theme: Taking your accumulated wisdom and sending it out into the world.

  1. Walking the French Camino Through the Pyrenees

This may be one of the most literal expressions of Horse symbolism.

Horse energy is strongly connected to:

  • Travel
  • Pilgrimage
  • Exploration
  • Freedom
  • Physical movement
  • Personal transformation through experience

The Camino is not simply a walk; it is a journey of meaning. The Horse archetype values learning through direct experience rather than remaining stationary.

Theme: Forward movement, both physical and spiritual.

  1. Changing House

Horse years frequently coincide with shifts in environment. The Horse dislikes stagnation and often seeks:

  • New horizons
  • Fresh perspectives
  • Greater freedom
  • Better alignment between lifestyle and purpose

A house move can symbolize shedding an old chapter and creating a base that better supports the next phase of life.

Theme: Creating space for the future rather than maintaining the past.

  1. Redesigning Your Website

This is another strong Horse alignment – socially oriented and connected with:

  • Communication
  • Visibility
  • Outreach
  • Personal branding
  • Expanding influence

A website redesign is essentially creating a more effective vehicle for connecting with people and sharing your message.

Theme: Refining how your purpose is presented to the world.

  1. Delivering Seminars and Retreats

This is perhaps one of the strongest resonances. Horse energy thrives in:

  • Teaching
  • Speaking
  • Leading groups
  • Inspiring others
  • Bringing people together around a shared experience

Retreats and seminars create movement in other people’s lives, which is very much a Horse quality. The Horse is less concerned with abstract knowledge and more interested in helping people take action.

Theme: Guiding others into new territory.

  1. Coaching People Through Retirement and the Next Life Phase

This is particularly interesting because it combines Horse energy with the wisdom of maturity.

Retirement is often misunderstood as an ending. The Horse archetype would frame it differently:

  • A new journey rather than a conclusion
  • Freedom rather than withdrawal
  • Exploration rather than limitation
  • Purpose beyond conventional work

Your focus appears to be helping people navigate a major life transition with intention and meaning. That aligns well with the Horse’s role as a guide into new landscapes.

Theme: Helping others ride into their next chapter rather than retire from life.

The Bigger Pattern

When I step back and look at everything together, I see a common thread:

Activity Underlying Theme
Book launch Sharing wisdom
Camino pilgrimage Personal journey
House move New foundation
Website redesign Renewed visibility
Seminars & retreats Leadership and influence
Retirement coaching Guiding transitions

The common denominator is movement toward a new stage of life while helping others do the same.

That is remarkably consistent with Horse symbolism.

The Horse is not primarily about accumulation; it is about progression. Your projects are less about building something static and more about:

  • Expanding reach
  • Deepening purpose
  • Embracing freedom
  • Traveling physically and psychologically
  • Guiding others through transition

In that sense, what you’ve described feels less like a collection of separate projects and more like a coherent shift into a role of guide, teacher, traveller, and mentor.

From a symbolic perspective, the strongest Horse message in your year so far appears to be:

“Move forward with purpose, share what you know, and help others navigate the journey into their own next chapter.”

 

09/06/2026

 

Where I usually find inspirations for new book ideas?

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Where do you usually find inspirations for new ideas?

Let me begin by saying that my life purpose is deeply important to me. A few years ago, I felt a growing sense of frustration because I knew I was not fully aligned with that purpose. Although I was successfully running training programmes, coaching, and supporting clients, I sensed that something was still missing.

Through meditation and reflection, I gained the clarity to redirect the focus of my work toward the retirement phase of life — or what I prefer to call the Third Act. During this time, I was also given the image of the “3Cs” in meditation. This became the first inspiration for writing about retirement and developing a personal growth model centred around three essential elements for living authentically in retirement and aligning more fully with the True Self.

Walking Camino has been a regular and meaningful part of my life since 2014. While walking the Camino in 2022 and listening to the quiet whispers of nature along the trails, the ideas behind my self-development model began to deepen and take root. The 3Cs — Conscious Presence (present moment awareness), Connections (the relationships in our lives), and Contribution (the legacy we leave behind) — became the foundation of this work. During that particular Camino journey, I received great clarity and direction for my second book, Power of W: Women Thriving in Their Third Act.

Since then, and especially with my third book, On Camino Once More: 7 Keys to Embrace the Freedom of Joy, I have moved into even greater alignment with my True Self. The lessons and insights I have received on Camino have naturally found their way into the pages of this book. As an added blessing, I have now developed programmes, seminars, and a coaching practice specifically focused on supporting clients as they transition successfully into this significant and transformative stage of life.

To conclude, meditation and walking Camino remain my most trusted practices for inspiration, clarity, and creative insight.

Ann McGarry 24 May 2026

 

Vulnerability is not a Weakness

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Being authentic is at the heart of vulnerability and is an act of courage. We put ourselves out there to connect, to love, to be creative… without any guarantees of the response, the outcome.

True relationships are built on authenticity. It is easier to build defensive walls rather than removing these barriers and allowing ourselves to be seen. It takes to brave heart to up and in doing so we can embrace the freedom of joy.

Hope you enjoy this short clip

https://youtu.be/4BBE4sO4U1A?si=P4Zmh7DXA-obHy7e

The Plus+ of Caminos

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 Caminos present many benefits from walking their trails. For me I have received greatly from them – inspiration for my books has been just one of the gifts.

Mental Clarity and Disconnection from the routine of our daily hectic lifestyle is possibly up there as one of the top 5 bonuses. Walking the trails in nature we can gain another perspective of our life and an opportunity to reset.

Our physical wellbeing improves with the added benefits of a more toned and trimmer  body.

Reflection for me is one of the greatest benefits. The way opens us up providing time and space while walking the varied terrains for self- discovery.

Social Connection is available sharing the way with strangers. Later it may deepen into friendships as stories are exchanged.

Experiencing the cultural in the towns and its people is an added bonus.

 

My latest gift from my Caminos will be launching of my 3rd book “On Camino Once More – 7 Keys to Embrace the Freedom of Joy” in Galway Ireland 28th May 2026 .

 

Let the Camino open you up and work its magic on you – Join my 5 Day Retreat in Finisterre, Galicia  Sept 2026.

 

Buen Camino!