A Wintry Death — Mystic Minded, Issue 02
Welcome to the second issue of the Mystic Minded!
Pour yourself a cup of tea and settle in. Let this zine accompany you softly through the final chapter of 2025.
Inside this issue:
Mood of the Month: A wintry death and journal prompts.
Astro x Health: Rest and Hair.
Herbal Spotlight: He shou wu.
Rituals & Recommendations: Goma latte recipe.
Horoscopes: December 2025 forecasts at the end of this issue.
MOOD OF THE MONTH
Winter has settled into Hanoi. The air is crisp and hazy. Not long ago we were still in summer — and yet here we are, already inside another season.
The other morning I sat by the window and let the breeze touch my face.
It felt like something I’d forgotten how to do.
We live as if life is always accelerating. Winter reminds us we can slow it down — that nothing essential is lost when we stop rushing.
This is the season of reflection and rest.
Winter is often likened to Saturn — the keeper of time and the teacher of resilience. Before we can push forward, Saturn asks us to strip back. To choose carefully what we carry into the next cycle.
As the year closes, December becomes a natural threshold — a place for endings before beginnings. For letting things fall away so there is space for what’s still becoming.
Winter turns us inward.
Toward what matters.
Toward what is essential.
Key Dates
4 Dec: Full Moon in Taurus
5 Dec: Jupiter enters Gemini
6 Dec: Mercury enters Scorpio
7 Dec: Mars enters Sagittarius
15 Dec: Sun enters Sagittarius
20 Dec: New Moon in Sagittarius
20 Dec: Venus enters Sagittarius
29 Dec: Mercury enters Sagittarius
For more on how these transits may affect your sign, see the horoscopes at the end.
A wintry death.
This snake year many of us have met death in one form or another: through grief, transition, illness, or quiet internal endings. Parts of ourselves we’ve outgrown. Dreams that changed shape. Seasons of life that quietly closed.
Death is the constant shedding that keeps us moving forward.
Death shows us what matters.
When we contemplate the inevitability of death, much of the noise drops away. The roles, expectations, and borrowed dreams dissipate. What remains is simpler — how we want to spend our time, who we want to love more fully, what we can no longer postpone.
Nature does this every year without drama. Winter retreats. The trees let go. Life slows to preserve what must be carried through the dark months — so spring can come without strain.
Before the new year invites more goals, more plans, more becoming — it quietly asks for release.
Journal Prompts
What did this year quietly teach me about myself?
What ended for me this year — a role, relationship, belief, identity, or dream?
What am I ready to lay down so I don’t carry it into the next season?
When did I feel most aligned with who I truly am?
If my life were a winter garden, what truly deserves space in the coming year?
ASTRO x HEALTH
To rest is to tell your nervous system:
I am safe enough to pause.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is associated with the Water element, and with it the kidneys and bladder — the guardians of our deepest reserves: life essence, stability, and creative vitality.
When this system is nourished, we feel grounded and steady from the inside out.
Yet we live in a culture devoted to motion, achievement, and ceaseless becoming — so even stillness often arrives wrapped in guilt.
Winter reminds us that depletion cannot be cured by doing more. Not with supplements, increased effort, or another round of self-optimisation.
The medicine of this season is simpler — and far more potent.
Rest.
Laying on the earth.
Closing your eyes.
Letting your mind drift away to a quieter place.
When the Water element is not honoured, we lean on caffeine and stimulants to move past our natural limits. Patience thins and fatigue settles in. It’s tempting to bypass this season, reaching for the promise of spring before the soil has been tended. But winter cannot be rushed. It prepares the ground where future visions take root.
Each body carries its own rhythm. Some of us need more (or less) rest than others. Learning what your body asks for, rather than obeying a culture of depletion, becomes an act of sovereignty.
And your body is always speaking.
One of the most visible messengers is our hair.
Across ancient cultures, hair was revered as an extension of vitality, intuition, and personal power — believed to hold memory and energey. To cut our hair was once reserved for rites of mourning, transformation, or rebirth. Even today, after heartbreak or life upheaval, many of us feel the instinct to change our hair — a physical gesture marking an inner turning point.
In Taoism, it is said that the ‘kidneys govern bones and generates marrow, and its magnificence is hair’. Hair becomes a reflection of the Water element itself.
When our reserves are nourished, hair grows thick, lustrous, and strong. When we are depleted — especially through prolonged stress or overthinking that creates heat in the head — dryness, thinning, or premature greying can appear.
Most of us have witnessed this firsthand: during periods of grief, exhaustion, or illness, when the hairbrush suddenly fills more than usual.
Since living in Vietnam, I’ve fallen in love with the ritual of herbal hair washing. Warm water infused with plants. Slow scalp massage, activating the intersecting meridians.
Yes — we can wash our own hair.
But being tended reminds the body that its safe to be nurtured.
These small acts of care restore what modern life quietly erodes.
Traditional herbal hair washes here often include pomelo peel, lemongrass, mugwort, or Hà thủ ô.
And this brings us to this month’s herbal spotlight…
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT
He Shou Wu is a cherished tonic of the Water element, steeped in centuries of use and folklore. Its name translates to “Mr. He’s Black Hair,” drawn from an old story of a weary, ageing man who encountered a twisting vine in the mountains. After drinking its decoction daily, his vitality returned — his hair darkened and his strength renewed. He later fathered many children and lived well into old age.
He Shou Wu (Hà thủ ô)
Taste: Bitter, Sweet
Energetics: Warm
Category: Tonic herbs for blood deficiency
Native to Central and South China, Thailand, and Vietnam, He Shou Wu is traditionally used to replenish what has been depleted — nourishing the kidneys, blood, and life essence. It supports fatigue from overwork or stress, nervous exhaustion, memory and fertility challenges, and premature greying — conditions that often arise when our reserves are drawn too thin.
Its nature is gently warming, making it especially supportive in winter and for those who feel cold, depleted, or worn down. In Vietnam, it is known as Hà Thủ Ô, often prepared with black beans as soups or tonics that strengthen the body from the inside out.
In my own life, this herb came through my grandmother’s care. After months of travel and stress left my hair thinning, she prepared a simple decoction. Over time, shedding eased, thickness returned, and even Milan’s premature greying darkened.
RITUALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Black sesame seeds are a classic winter food, known for strengthening bones and essence — especially the spine, our literal axis of support.
Black is the color of winter: the void, the fertile dark where new life prepares itself.
This drink has become one of my favourite cold-season rituals — rich, grounding, quietly comforting.
Goma Latte
RECIPE
Black Sesame Paste
1 cup toasted black sesame seeds
½ tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
Blend into a thick paste.
Latte
1½ cups milk of choice
2 tbsp black sesame paste
Pinch of sea salt
Optional: add powdered He Shou Wu for deeper nourishment.
Warm milk gently, whisk in paste until dissolved, sweeten to taste, and remove before boiling. Serve warm, topped with a sprinkle of sesame.
A cup of winter medicine.
More tips for tending the water element:
Sleep in, sleep early and take naps.
Let your mind wander without filling the space.
Listen to an album from start to finish, ideally laying down.
Drink bone broths and seaweed soup.
Sit by a body of water, until time seems to stop.
Read a physical book, something whimsical
Eat a meal without any screens, taste fully.
Have a movie marathon with friends.
Create something with your hands.
Bake something warming with spices.
Horoscopes
Horoscopes
December 2025
Read for your Rising and Moon Sign.
♈ Aries
The full moon on 4 December lights up your second house, bringing clarity around how you earn, receive, and cultivate value in your life. You may suddenly see a new pathway for income, or finally understand what you need to feel secure. This month also highlights communication in your closest relationships — let the people you love know how you feel. Share your affection openly; it will be received well.
December awakens a deeper part of your mind. You may crave long, meaningful conversations, feel drawn to psychology or the occult, or find yourself wanting to understand the hidden motivations within yourself and others. Mid to late December, your curiosity grows even stronger. If there’s something you’ve wanted to study, this is the time to explore it. Travel during this period would also be deeply inspiring, especially if it exposes you to new philosophies or cultures. As you enter the new year, consider what you’d like to learn. You can create your own curriculum or take classes that light you up. Follow your curiosity; it’s guiding you somewhere meaningful.
♉ Taurus
The full moon on December 4 shines in your first house—a beautiful moment to celebrate yourself and everything you’ve moved through this year! Conversations with your partner feel easier now too. You’re able to explore deeper emotional terrain together, understanding each other in new ways. Jupiter re-entering Gemini returns your focus to your voice, your values, and your earning potential. If you have money-making ideas, follow them while Jupiter blesses this part of your chart through next year.
Around 20 December, the Sagittarius new moon brings a powerful moment for transformation and healing. Create a ritual or a simple list of what you’re ready to release — patterns, wounds, or stories that are complete. This will help you enter the new year clearer and more grounded. Late December is an invitation to discover more about your inner world — your mind, your spirit, your true desires. Books on the occult, mysticism, or psychology may feel especially aligned.
♊ Gemini
The first week of December activates your dream world. Pay attention — your dreams may be vivid, symbolic, or carrying messages from your subconscious. Keep a journal by your bed. You may also find sleep slightly restless around the full moon, simply because your inner world is awake and alert. Spiritual practices or rituals feel especially potent this week. Jupiter returns to your sign on 5 December, blessing your first house and filling you with momentum. You’re supported in making changes, initiating new cycles, and stepping into a more expansive version of yourself. This energy stays with you into next year — use it well.
Relationships thrive under this transit. Mid to late December feels like a renewal — almost as if you’re entering a new chapter with the people closest to you. If you’re single, this could be a time when someone new comes in. For those in business, promising partnerships are also possible. As the year closes, relationships become a major focus. You’ll learn a lot about yourself through others, so spend time with people who uplift you.
♋ Cancer
The full moon in Taurus lights up your 11th house in the first week of December. A dream or long-term intention may come to fruition — it's a beautiful time to celebrate. Reconnect with friends before the holiday rush. Share stories from the year, reflect on what changed you, and speak your hopes for the new cycle.
Mid-December brings your health back into focus and you may feel inspired to shape some New Year intentions around your wellbeing. This is wise — you’re preparing for a big year in 2026. Late December is perfect for refreshing your routines and your space. You may feel the urge to tidy, organise, or release belongings from the past. Clearing physical items will help clear emotional and energetic space as well. Set yourself up for a grounded, spacious new year.
♌ Leo
The first week of December is a powerful moment for your career! Something you’ve been working toward may reach completion, or you could receive recognition for your efforts. It’s a beautiful way to close the year. Celebrate all that you’ve achieved.
Toward the end of December, your creative fire reignites. You’ll feel more inspired to make art, play, or pursue a passion project. Set intentions for what you’d like to bring to life over the next six months. Give yourself rest as well. Create a list of the things that bring you joy and delight—something to return to in the new year. When you allow yourself fun, pleasure, and play, your radiance naturally expands. This is how Leo energy leads: through warmth, creativity, and a heart that shines.
♍ Virgo
The early December full moon lights up your 9th house. You may be finishing a course or integrating teachings that have shaped you over the last six months. When you reflect, you’ll notice how much your worldview has shifted. Your beliefs, philosophies, and perspectives are evolving. It’s also a meaningful time to connect with your father and may bring healing if there is something unresolved in this relationship.
The second half of December draws you inward, into the warmth of home. Time with family — especially your mother—feels nourishing. You may feel inspired to beautify your space, decorate for the holidays, or consider changes or renovations for the months ahead. The fourth house also rules inner contentment, and December fills you with a quiet sense of happiness. Let gratitude be your anchor as you enter the new year.
♎ Libra
The first week of December brings a powerful moment of release: shedding old energies, beliefs, or patterns that have kept you from living the life you truly dream of. Insights may arrive suddenly, illuminating what’s ready to heal and transforming the way you see yourself. Create a ritual if you feel called — light a candle, speak aloud what you’re letting go of, or write down the transformations that shaped you this year. Honour the version of you that’s emerging as you prepare for the new year.
By mid-December, your energy becomes lighter and more social. You may feel ready for a short trip or inspired to connect with siblings. Your mind is sharp, witty, and expressive — you might even find yourself stealing the show at the Christmas dinner table. As you approach the new year, follow your curiosity. Read books, listen to podcasts, or gather ideas that help you step into 2026 with a fresh, inspired perspective.
♏ Scorpio
The full moon on 4 December may bring unexpected clarity around relationship — whether through closure, completion, or a moment of celebration. This lunation helps you see yourself and others with more honesty. It softens the places where you hold control, inviting deeper trust and stability in your connections. By mid-December, the new moon in Sagittarius activates your second house, turning your attention to finances, work, and self-worth. You may have new ideas about how to earn, save, or build your foundations.
More importantly, this new moon reconnects you with your core values. What truly matters to you? What are you ready to live by? Create a list of your key values and reflect on how to align your life, work, and relationships with them. This is the beginning of a more sovereign and aligned chapter.
♐ Sagittarius
If the past weeks have brought stress about health, routines, or daily responsibilities, the first week of December brings clarity. You may receive news, results, or a solution that helps you understand what needs to shift. Any lingering issues with conflict or paperwork from the last six months may also resolve around this time.
By mid-December, the new moon in Sagittarius gifts you a fresh personal cycle—a reset of energy, clarity, and direction. You’ll feel more like yourself again: hopeful, open, inspired. Consider any changes you want to make to your appearance, habits, or wellbeing. Set time aside around the 20th for reflection, journaling, or meditation. The intentions you plant now will guide your 2026.
♑ Capricorn
If you've been pouring energy into a creative project, early December brings a moment of joy and celebration. Let yourself have fun — spend time with friends, welcome romance, and soak in the sweetness of life. You work hard, Capricorn, and with your season approaching, this is your chance to breathe before a powerful new cycle begins.
Toward the end of the month, the new moon falls in your 12th house, calling you inward. You may crave solitude, rest, or gentle reflection. Your dreams may speak more loudly. Emotions from the subconscious may rise—not to overwhelm you, but to clear the path. Let whatever needs to surface come through with compassion. This inner clearing prepares you to enter 2026 with the strength, focus, and resilience that define your Capricorn nature.
♒ Aquarius
The first week of December brings attention to home, family, and your inner world. The full moon may highlight a relationship with your mother or illuminate something about what makes you feel safe, rooted, and at peace. You may feel called to rest, nest, or spend quality time with the people closest to you. Creativity flows easily this month too and there’s a sense of joy and curiosity in the air.
By mid-December, new dreams and visions begin forming. This is a powerful time to reassess your long-term goals—especially the ones you set at the beginning of 2025. What still resonates? What needs to evolve? You’re also entering a beautifully social period. New friends, networks, and communities may appear—people who share your ideas, philosophies, and worldview. This is your time to expand your world.
♓ Pisces
The full moon in the first week of December lights up your third house of communication. You may be taking a short trip or feeling called to connect with siblings. This is also an expressive, inspired time — perfect for writing, posting, sharing, or using your voice.
By mid-December, your focus shifts to your career and long-term direction. New ideas may surface around your work or the next steps you want to take. You may feel motivated to begin a project or set intentions for the new year. Remember to pace yourself as you move toward the end of the month. Saturn is direct in your first house, bringing discipline and structure—gifts that support your growth but can sometimes feel heavy. Use this energy wisely, but also give yourself rest. You’re building something meaningful, and it deserves both devotion and gentleness.
♡ Share this issue with someone who might need a little light this month ♡
