Fire and Ice: A Walk for Peace at the Turning of the Year

Fire and Ice: A Walk for Peace at the Turning of the Year

Rev. Kat Carroll

What are we anticipating as the Buddhist monks arrive in Washington, DC?
And what else is unfolding at roughly the same moment in time?

If all goes as planned, the monks will complete their long walk for peace and unity with an arrival in the nation’s capital on February 13. Just four days later, on February 17, the Chinese New Year begins, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse and the start of the 15-day Spring Festival,  a period traditionally associated with renewal, momentum, and new beginnings.

In symbolic terms, the monks’ arrival coincides with a broader energetic shift… from the Year of the Snake, often associated with shedding, exposure, and the release of what no longer serves, into the Year of the Fire Horse, a cycle traditionally linked with momentum, courage, and boldly moving forward. Fire Horse energy is powerful and fast-moving; it initiates change, but can just as easily become unbalanced if driven by force alone. Against this backdrop, the monks’ steady, disciplined walk offers a living counterbalance — grounding movement in restraint, intention, compassion and peace.

From October through February, they will have walked more than 2,300 miles entirely on foot, not to demand attention, but to demonstrate peace and unity through action. Whether their arrival at the White House results in formal recognition remains to be seen. Yet the question itself is worth holding: What does a society choose to honor — speed and power, or perseverance guided by compassion? In that sense, the monks’ journey already stands as its own quiet testament.

The Buddhist monks do not simply walk for peace and unity; they embody it with every step they take. Their journey is a living testament, reminding us to move steadily toward our purpose, to remain compassionate in the face of hardship, and to ensure that no man (or dog), is left behind.

The timing also allows space for rest, recovery, and reunion after such an arduous journey. Aloka, the beloved dog adopted along the way, and Phra Ajarnh Maha Dam Phommasan, who lost his leg following a serious auto accident, are expected to be reunited with the group.

Aloka, now released from medical care, is recuperating and completing the remainder of the journey in the van — a temporary concession for a spirited companion accustomed to walking alongside the monks.

Attention will then turn to what may be shared — both by Bhikkhu Pannakara, the spiritual leader and primary spokesperson for the Walk for Peace, and by national leadership, should an opportunity for dialogue arise.

In a time marked by acceleration and change, the monks’ presence offers a steady counterbalance. They remind us that meaningful transformation is guided not by force or haste, but by coherence, unity, and love lived out — step by deliberate step.

Would you walk a mile in their shoes —
or bare feet?

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