With the Spring Equinox, a new Solar Year has begun. It’s a logical start to the year—perhaps even more natural than the calendar New Year—because both nature and the Sun are entering a new cycle.

This time of year was once celebrated as the New Year by ancient Lithuanians and many other cultures. Meanwhile, the ancient Persian tradition, based on the Avesta, follows a 32-year cycle connected to Saturn, where each year is represented by one of 32 animal totems. Why animals? Because they help humans align with the energy of the times without losing their essence.

According to the Avesta, this is the Year of the Lynx. So what energy does it bring?

The Lynx Totem

The lynx is, first and foremost, a master of secrecy. A brilliant huntress, she embodies a captivating blend of power, mystery, surprise, grace, sweetness, and playfulness. She seems to appear from nowhere and vanish just as suddenly—no one ever quite knows where. She is the unseen observer, watching from the shadows.

There are stories of hunters tracking the lynx, following her pawprints through the forest, only to realize she has circled around and now stands silently behind them, poised for a leap. Or perhaps she slips away, disappearing into the thicket. You’ll see her only if she wants to be seen—which is rare.

She is a magical creature, as if able to walk between realities. One moment sluggish, the next playful and full of life. Those who love and understand cats will likely resonate with her most. And yet, she’s not quite a cat, nor a tiger or cheetah—she is something more enigmatic, more elusive.

She loves her freedom and avoids showing herself. Her inner world remains a mystery. With strong legs for grounding and powerful leaps, ears like antennas tuned to cosmic frequencies 🙂 she doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. She doesn’t care how she appears or what others think of her. She lives in her reality, and within it, she is complete. Inventive, creative, observant—after all, to hunt well, one must study the habits of others.

The Year of the Lynx in the Avesta Tradition

In the Avesta, the lynx is associated with a year full of surprises. A time that favours eccentric individuals—those who make unexpected decisions, take sharp turns, respond quickly, and seize opportunities in a flash, often catching others off guard with their unconventional moves (which, frankly, we’re already witnessing in global politics).

It’s a year of rapid transformation, dramatic twists, and shocks—some may be swept off their feet, others may suddenly see things as they truly are. This is a favourable time for creators, original thinkers, and inventive souls who act swiftly and intuitively. A year for secretive types, those capable of sudden leaps.

Gagarin flew into space during a Lynx year. Khrushchev famously pounded his shoe on the table at the UN. Yeltsin seized power by climbing onto a tank. Each event—abrupt, unexpected, a leap. Not just in Russia—these years often coincide with rapid leadership changes worldwide.

The Second Totem: The Nightingale

What makes this year even more special is the presence of a second totem—the nightingale. Her song dispels darkness, inspires the soul, opens the heart, and awakens the most beautiful human qualities.

So different, these two totems—yet what do they share? Both are elusive, playful, and creative. Together, they balance each other. The lynx brings strength, originality, courage, self-sufficiency, and a spark of wild playfulness. The nightingale brings inspiration, idealism, bliss, and a touch of the divine.

In Summary

This year promises to be just like that—magical, full of mystery and creativity, sudden twists and bold moves, eccentric and strange behaviours that may at times seem absurd (but only to those unaware of the bigger picture), followed by laughter, humour, and light-hearted play. And this cycle may repeat again and again—from attack to play, from watching to leaping.

So, let us learn from the lynx how to blend strength with strategy, lightness with play, and creativity with surprise. Let us practice seeing with a non-dual gaze, creating and protecting our own reality with self-sufficiency. We’ll need all of that this year.

And that is what I wish for all of us.