On 3 March 2026, the heavens stage a rare spectacle: a Crimson Moon on the fifteenth day of the new year, Chap Goh Meh, when the Lantern Festival is celebrated. 

The Crimson Moon isn’t a welcome sight, say classical texts, because it has preceded war, famine, plagues and calamitous leadership throughout history. 

And this one arrives with a total lunar eclipse that takes place between 7:33 pm and 8:02 pm Malaysian time (+8 hours GMT). It’s when the great outdoors isn’t so great, so stay in. 

The Moon is Yin Water, the feminine dimension of Water energy, which is of the emotions (including conception). An eclipse stirs up a cauldron of feelings, distorts perception, and clouds judgment; healing is diminished too. It affects men and women, since each of us is composed of Yin and Yang energies drawn from our parents. So, everyone then.

“In other words, global mood swings… sponsored by the Moon,” says Dato’ Joey Yap.

And because the Crimson Moon gets eclipsed, the explosive Crimson Horse Year misses a much-needed dose of cooling temperance.  

“But astrology is personal,” says Yap. How it all lands depends on the animal signs in your BaZi chart. Some animal signs are affected more than others, namely Snake, Monkey, Rooster, and Ox. If they’re in your chart, there’s a chance to raise self-awareness and understanding – indoors.

For the rest of us celebrating with lanterns, “Romance is better without apocalyptic lighting,” adds Yap.

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