Call in your luck day: 2026 Year of the Horse best dates and times to go back to work for promotions and raises

Who doesn’t want a promotion and a raise? After the long Lunar New Year break, many of us want to choose an auspicious date and time to return to work, in hopes of a smoother year ahead. For the 2026 Year of the Horse, POPBEE invited metaphysics expert MasterCloud to share a ranking of the most auspicious dates and times for returning to work. Choose one based on your Chinese zodiac sign to help your career go more smoothly, reduce obstacles, and bring promotions and prosperity your way.

• Related reading: Bring a little more luck and ease into your life: a lucky-color guide for all 12 zodiac signs, with shades to bring into your everyday essentials

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 형섭 (@by.seop)

No. 1 auspicious date and time to return to work in the Year of the Horse

Auspicious date: Thursday, February 26, 2026 (the seventh day of the Lunar New Year)

Auspicious time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Lucky work outfit: White clothing with small gold or silver accents

Qi Men Dun Jia reading: The “Tai Yin Star” meets the “Traveling Horse Star.”

Returning to work on this day is especially auspicious. Career prospects are strong, and it can bring greater authority and influence, helping with promotions and raises. Your relationships will flourish, making it particularly favorable for those who travel frequently for work or are looking to expand into international markets. It can also help businesses thrive and support expansion into different markets.

Back-to-work tip: This date clashes with those born in the Year of the Ox. Wearing white clothing with small gold or silver accents can help counteract the effect. For all other zodiac signs, the same combination can boost career prospects, set the year off to a strong start, and give your Year of the Horse an added advantage.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 형섭 (@by.seop)

No. 2 auspicious date and time to return to work in the Year of the Snake

Auspicious date: Friday, February 20, 2026 (the fourth day of the Lunar New Year)

Auspicious time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Lucky work outfit: Red clothing

Qi Men Dun Jia reading: “Liu He” meets the “Open Door.”

Returning to work on this day can strengthen your career prospects, help work go smoothly, and bring positive relationships with colleagues and clients. It is an especially auspicious choice for sales professionals, those working toward sales targets, and anyone who makes a living through their speaking skills. It is also particularly favorable for business owners and the self-employed, with steady improvement in support from employees to help drive growth and expansion.

Back-to-work tip: This date clashes with those born in the Year of the Goat. Wearing red clothing with small gold or silver accents can help counteract the effect. For other zodiac signs, red can also boost career prospects, set the year off to a good start, and bring good fortune in the Year of the Horse.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 형섭 (@by.seop)

No. 3 auspicious date and time to return to work in the Year of the Snake

Auspicious date: Monday, February 23, 2025 (the seventh day of the Lunar New Year)

Auspicious time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Lucky work outfit: Blue clothing

Qi Men Dun Jia reading: The “Tian Fu Star” meets the “Rest Door.”

Returning to work on this day can help keep the entire year running smoothly, especially by attracting helpful mentors and supporters. It is particularly favorable for employees, office workers, and those in creative fields, offering support for promotions and making it easier to earn the appreciation of supervisors and bosses. It is also especially beneficial for business owners, the self-employed, and freelancers.

Back-to-work tip: This date clashes with those born in the Year of the Rat. Wearing blue can help counteract the effect. For other zodiac signs, blue can also strengthen career prospects, set the year off to a good start, and give the Year of the Snake an added advantage.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 형섭 (@by.seop)

What if you can’t return to work on the auspicious date and time?

What if your company’s reopening date and time does not align with the auspicious dates and times MasterCloud recommends, or you’re a freelancer who doesn’t need to return to an office? No need to worry. MasterCloud suggests turning on your computer, opening a document, or sending an email during the selected auspicious time. This will symbolically mark the start of work.

Good-luck tips for your first day back at work

1. Carry a $100 red envelope in your work bag to symbolize abundance in the coming year and the hope that everything will go your way.
2. It is also auspicious for bosses to give employees red envelopes when work resumes as a gesture of goodwill. They symbolize surplus and profit, while the festive atmosphere can help bring prosperity to the business.
3. On the first workday after Lunar New Year, avoid black coffee and ginkgo nuts, lest you work hard all year with nothing to show for it.
4. Before work, during the designated auspicious time, wipe down your desk and drawers with water infused with pomelo leaves. This clears away the bad energy from the previous year, leaving your work prospects auspicious.

Metaphysics expert MasterCloud

Metaphysics expert MasterCloud has practiced Taoist arts since childhood and is a master of Qi Men Dun Jia and feng shui, as well as a high-ranking Taoist ritual master. She serves as a feng shui and strategic-planning consultant for international brands and financial institutions, including JIMMY CHOO, Vivienne Westwood, Michael Kors, BOUCHERON, BALLY, BVLGARI, FRED, Blackstone, UBS, and Tai Fung Bank. She has published more than 10 books on Qi Men Dun Jia and has received honors including the 2009 Top 10 International I Ching and Feng Shui Masters Award, the 2008 Top 10 I Ching and Feng Shui Planning Figures Award, and the 2020 Hong Kong Most Outstanding Enterprise Service Award. She has also served as a visiting professor of feng shui at Beijing Union University.
IG: master_cloud_
Facebook: MasterCloud

Join Popbee Circle and subscribe to the POPBEE newsletter for the latest updates, along with early access to exclusive perks and special offers. Beyond this story, these recent reports are also worth a read: