The Threshold — Mystic Minded, Issue 03
Pour yourself a cup of tea and settle in as we welcome 2026!
Inside this issue:
Mood of the Year: Numerology and your personal year number.
Astro x Health: Moving through fear and stagnant water.
Herbal Spotlight: Cinnamon.
Rituals & Recommendations: Herbal cleansing for home.
MOOD OF THE YEAR
Welcome to 2026.
It’s officially here. And my—what a year 2025 was.
A year of endings. Of shedding.
In numerology, 2025 was a 9 year—the closing of a chapter, the final pages of a book. And now, we begin again.
A 1 year marks the start of a new 9-year cycle. I like to think of it as the beginning of the next part of the novel. There may be threads that continue, but you have changed. Something has been completed. An event, a mission, a version of yourself.
We are still technically in the Snake year until the Lunar New Year on February 17—more on that in the next issue. But knowing we’re moving into a more active collective phase, we can begin to gently rev our engines.
If 2025 felt intense, inward, or deeply transformative, the upcoming Horse year paired with a Numerology 1 year will help us move forward again. Momentum returns.
With these final weeks of the Snake, now is an excellent time to truly let go.
We hold onto so much—our past, our identities, our relationships. But we can consciously choose to release. With awareness, what we cling to slowly loosens its grip.
The Energy of Number 1
Number 1 is associated with the Sun—our source of life, the center everything revolves around.
This is a year to:
take initiative
be brave
begin
What is something that requires courage from you right now?
Something you’ve been meaning to do—but it scares you just enough to matter?
2 + 0 + 2 + 6 = 10 → 1
A 10 year reduces to 1, bringing initiation and new beginnings. But the presence of 0 is important. Zero represents the void, fertile soil, infinity—pure potential.
So while this year carries the energy of starting anew, it also holds limitless possibility. This is a powerful time to understand—and embody—the nature of manifestation: intention, alignment, and trust.
Personal Year Number
For the past 12 years, I’ve worked with Personal Year Numbers to understand the overarching theme of each year. While I love astrology for tracking transits—especially month by month—I’ve found numerology incredibly helpful and effective for understanding the bigger arc of the year.
Personal Year Numbers can help us know where to place our attention so we can move with more alignment rather than pushing against the current.
Since observing my own cycles, I’ve noticed how accurately each year reflects its theme—and how supportive it is to know when to act boldly, when to nurture, and when to rest or turn inward. Some years naturally ask for momentum and visibility; others are better suited to introspection or allowing life to unfold organically.
This perspective has helped me release unnecessary self-pressure. Not every year is meant for striving. Some are for integration, healing, or quiet preparation.
To find your Personal Year Number, add:
Your birth month + your birth day + 2 + 0 + 2 + 6, then reduce to a single digit (1–9).
Scroll down to your personal year number for guidance, themes, and journal prompts for the year ahead.
1 – New Beginnings
Theme: Initiation, courage, independence
This is the year to begin again. A Personal Year 1 invites you to step into a new way of being—taking chances, trying things you’ve been curious about, and trusting your instincts. You are planting seeds that will grow over the next nine years.
This is a year of self-focus and leadership. While relationships still matter, it’s important to honor your individuality and dreams. What you start now may take time to mature—patience is key.
Intention: I choose to lead my life consciously.
Journal prompts:
What feels ready to begin in my life—even if I don’t yet know the outcome?
Where am I being asked to trust myself more fully?
2 – Nurturing & Balance
Theme: Relationships, patience, intuition
After the bold initiation of a 1 year, a 2 year turns your attention toward connection. This is a time to nurture the seeds you’ve planted—through presence, cooperation, and emotional awareness.
You may feel more sensitive or intuitive, as 2 years are associated with the Moon. Relationships—both personal and professional—come into focus. Allow support to flow toward you rather than doing everything alone.
Intention: I allow growth to unfold gently.
Journal prompts:
Where am I being asked to practice patience rather than force?
How can I receive more support in my life?
3 – Creativity & Expression
Theme: Joy, communication, play
This is a vibrant, expressive year. Energy is high, creativity flows, and inspiration arrives quickly. You may feel pulled in many directions, so staying lightly focused is helpful—but joy is the compass.
This is a beautiful year for creative projects, social connections, travel, and self-expression. Let yourself be playful.
Intention: I let joy and creativity guide me.
Journal prompts:
What brings me genuine joy right now?
How can I express myself more freely and honestly?
4 – Foundations & Stability
Theme: Structure, discipline, grounding
A 4 year is about building something solid. It can feel slower or more demanding, but the work you do now creates lasting stability.
Think of this year as laying the foundation of a home. It may not be glamorous, but it’s essential. Consistency and commitment are your allies.
Intention: I build a life that can truly support me.
Journal prompts:
What structures or habits need strengthening in my life?
Where can I commit more fully to what truly matters?
5 – Change & Freedom
Theme: Expansion, adventure, movement
A 5 year brings change, travel, new experiences, and unexpected opportunities. You’ll likely feel a strong desire for freedom and expansion—both externally and internally.
This is a transitional year. Decisions made now can redirect your path. Stay adaptable and curious.
Intention: I welcome change as a teacher.
Journal prompts:
Where am I being invited to step outside my comfort zone?
What self-imposed limitations am I ready to release?
6 – Love & Responsibility
Theme: Relationships, home, heart-centered choices
A 6 year centers on love, family, and responsibility. Relationships may deepen—or be tested—as you’re asked to show up with more honesty and care.
This year is connected to Venus, bringing magnetism and the potential for harmony. Be mindful of where you place your attention, as your focus has strong creative power now.
Intention: I choose love in action.
Journal prompts:
What does love ask of me this year?
Where can I create more harmony in my relationships or home?
7 – Inner Work & Reflection
Theme: Introspection, spirituality, inner clarity
A 7 year invites you inward. This is a powerful time for reflection, study, healing, and spiritual growth. External momentum may slow—but inner understanding deepens.
Trust the quiet. Work behind the scenes. What you integrate now will support future outward expansion.
Intention: I attune to the deeper truth guiding my path.
Journal prompts:
What is being revealed to me in the quiet?
Where do I need to release the urge to rush?
8 – Power & Manifestation
Theme: Abundance, leadership, success
An 8 year asks you to step into your power. Career, finances, and material success often come into focus—but alignment matters more than ambition alone.
Define success on your terms. This year rewards clarity, effort, and self-belief. It can bring significant growth—so remember to rest and stay grounded.
Intention: I embody my power with integrity.
Journal prompts:
What does true success mean to me?
Where am I ready to claim more authority in my life?
9 – Completion & Release
Theme: Endings, forgiveness, integration
This marks the end of your personal 9-year cycle, even as the collective begins a brand-new one. This can feel paradoxical: while the world around you is moving forward, initiating, and accelerating, your work is to complete and let go.
If you’re in a 9 year during a Universal Year 1, you may feel slightly out of sync with the collective energy. There can be pressure to start something new before you’re ready—but this year is not about forcing beginnings.
This is a year of harvest and pruning. And it’s about making space for what’s coming next.
Intention: I release with grace.
Journal prompts:
What feels complete in my life?
What am I ready to forgive, release, or lovingly close?
A gentle reminder
Use your Personal Year Number as a guide, not a rule.
Above all, trust your intuition and what naturally arises for you.
Astrology plays a role.
Numerology offers perspective.
But energy, intention, and inner alignment matter most.
ASTRO x HEALTH
Moving through fear and stagnant water
At the beginning of a new year, it’s common to feel a subtle fear about the future—about taking action, making commitments, or stepping into the unknown. This kind of hesitation is deeply connected to the Water element.
In Taoism, fear is associated with the kidneys, which govern our sense of safety, trust, and our ability to move forward in life. When we feel unsupported or uncertain, our water can become stagnant or “frozen,” making action feel heavy or inaccessible.
During Capricorn season, themes of responsibility, structure, and long-term direction are emphasized. While Capricorn can support us in building stability, it can also amplify pressure—especially if we feel we must have everything figured out right away. This pressure can further contract the Water element.
The spine, which is also linked to Water, holds our past experiences and memories. Fear—especially about the future—can show up as stiffness, fatigue, or a sense of being stuck, both physically and emotionally.
Rather than pushing through fear, tend to the water element and it will naturally dissolve.
To support the Water element:
Sleep in, sleep early and take naps.
Practice gentle movement, especially forward folds and soft backbends like cobra, to encourage flow through the spine.
Drink bone broths and seaweed soup.
Sit by a body of water, until time seems to stop.
Rest in whichever form feels right. Ideally horizontally.
Take your time. Do things slowly.
Create simple structures or routines that help you feel supported (a Capricorn gift when used gently)
Keep warm. Especially your lower back where the kidneys are.
Courage doesn’t always look like bold action. Sometimes it’s about creating enough support to feel safe moving forward.
When the water softens and begins to flow again, clarity and movement return—naturally.
January Key Dates
3 Jan: Full Moon in Gemini
12 Jan: Venus moves into Capricorn
14 Jan: Sun moves into Capricorn
15 Jan: Mars moves into Capricorn
16 Jan: Mercury moves into Capricorn
17 Jan: Mercury conjunct Mars and New Moon in Capricorn
HERBAL SPOTLIGHT
About fifteen years ago, my family and I travelled to Sapa. What stayed with me most was the scent of forest herbs and the cinnamon tea we were served on arrival.
It was sweet, intensely aromatic, and unmistakably cinnamon. A kind of winter kiss. There was a fireplace nearby, the air damp with forest mist, the mountains wrapped in cloud. I imagine Sapa has changed since then—but I’m certain the cinnamon tea would still taste the same.
Cinnamon (Quế)
Taste: Pungent, sweet
Energetics: Hot, warming
Category: Herbs that warm the interior and expel cold
Vietnamese cinnamon, also known as cassia (Cinnamomum cassia), has a sweeter, spicier, and more fragrant flavour than Ceylon or “true” cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) known for its mild, sweet flavour and thin, papery quills.
Cinnamon has been revered for thousands of years—not only as medicine, but as a sacred and ceremonial plant.
In ancient Rome, it was burned on funeral pyres to mask the scent of death. The Egyptians used it in the embalming of mummies, both for its fragrance and its preservative qualities. Throughout the ancient world, cinnamon was valued as a medicine, preservative, and divine scent.
Much of it arrived through Arab trade routes, and its origins were deliberately kept secret—giving rise to fantastical myths about its source, including stories of mythical birds harvesting cinnamon bark from distant Asian lands.
Energetically, cinnamon is associated with prosperity, protection, and cleansing.
Cinnamon is a beautiful ally for the start of a new cycle. Its warming, pungent nature helps unblock meridians, move stagnation, and improve circulation—inviting both vitality and abundance to flow.
Its subtle sweetness brings more sweetness into life itself, encouraging us to notice pleasure and nourishment. Through its affinity with the Spleen, cinnamon also supports digestion and is well-known for helping to balance blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity.
It warms the body, ignites agni—our inner fire—and can be especially supportive if you’re feeling low in mood, appetite, or motivation. It’s a gentle way to stir life force and encourage movement without force.
For those in colder climates—or for anyone who tends toward yin, cold, or depletion—cinnamon can be deeply restorative. As with all warming herbs, it’s best used with awareness and moderation for those who tend toward heat or dryness.
A small amount, used with intention, can go a long way.
RITUALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Herbal Cleansing
As a herbalist, I feel close to happy tears almost every day witnessing how cohesively herbs are used in Vietnam. Recently, I’ve been obsessed with all the different whole plants used to cleanse spaces. I love finding ceramic herb burners tucked into cafés and family homes, holding simple cuttings of ginger, lemongrass, orange peel, or star anise. It feels both magical and completely mundane.
While certain dates in the lunar calendar are traditionally observed, cleansing is often used for new beginnings or whenever a space feels heavy — after illness, visitors, emotional periods, or as part of regular tending. Smoke and scent are practical tools — to refresh the air, protect the home, and restore a sense of balance.
Even though there is such a deep and ancient practice I can see modern new age trends seeping in with the younger generation - white sage sticks, palo santo and tarot cards are having their moment too. Growing up in Sydney with spirituality and herbal practices that were largely imported, it feels almost revolutionary and yet completely natural to witness local plants being used so intuitively. It’s a reminder that what we need is often already growing close to home.
Traditional Cleansing Herbs in Vietnam
Herbal cleansing here often involves aromatic, warming, and protective plants—used as smoke, baths, or steams. Some commonly used herbs include:
Oud / Agarwood (Trầm hương)
Cinnamon (Quế)
Star anise (Hoa hồi)
Lemongrass (Sả)
Pomelo peel (Vỏ bưởi)
Honey locust pods (Bồ kết)
Holy basil (Hương nhu)
Jasmine (Hoa nhài)
Sappanwood (Tô mộc, Caesalpinia sappan L.)
Patchouli (Hoắc hương)
These herbs are traditionally used to cleanse stagnant energy, strengthen boundaries, and restore balance—both energetically and emotionally.
You may choose to work with traditional incense, or with single herbs such as cinnamon. Personally, I’ve been loving working with whole herbs, there’s something grounding and honest about using the plant in its raw form.
Tips for Burning Whole Herbs
(i.e. Cinnamon Sticks)
If you choose to burn whole cinnamon sticks for cleansing or abundance, keep these gentle safety tips in mind:
Choose a safe surface
Always use a heat-resistant dish such as ceramic, metal, or a fireproof bowl. Avoid flammable surfaces like wood or paper.
Light with intention
Use a candle or lighter to ignite one end of the cinnamon stick. Once lit, allow it to gently smolder and release aromatic smoke.Ventilate the space
Ensure the room is well-ventilated. Open a window or allow fresh air to circulate so the smoke doesn’t become overwhelming.Stay present
Never leave burning herbs unattended. Watch the ember and extinguish fully when finished.
You may move the smoke around your space, doorway, or body with intention — inviting clarity, protection, and grounding to return.
Herbal cleansing doesn’t need to be complicated. When done with presence and respect, even the simplest plant can become a powerful ally.
