Clarity as core to everything
- The International
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
With mysticism on the rise and uncertainty in the air, Ophelia Wu examines why cultivating clarity may be the only true anchor in the year ahead.
Photographs: Various
Text: Ophelia Wu
If the buzzword for 2025 was “authenticity”, then for 2026 it will be “clarity”. It makes sense. When everyone is searching for who they truly are and striving to live an authentic life (whatever that means), things are bound to get chaotic and messy before the anchor lands solidly. The constant questioning and exploration of the self brings up many sides and aspects of us, whether we’re aware of them or not. The natural next step is clarity. Clarity is core to everything. In philosophy, religion, relationships, careers, and even what we wear every day, clarity is the guiding light that elevates our ability to navigate life.
2026: The year ahead
I’m not an astrologer or feng shui master, but like many curious souls, I like to explore what the coming year may hold. In Chinese metaphysics, 2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse and the start of the 9th period of the Three Cycles and Nine Periods system, a 20-year phase within a much larger 180-year energy cycle. This period is governed by the fire element, suggesting that things will move and change extremely fast, often in explosive and unpredictable ways.
In Western astrology, we are also witnessing the end of major planetary cycles, as Saturn, Neptune, and other planets complete decade-long journeys through one sign and move into the next. Numerology marks 2026 as a Year of 1, a powerful universal year symbolising global resets and new innovations. Across different schools of spirituality and mystical systems, the message is consistent: we are entering a period of rapid change, growth, and spiritual awakening.
These cosmic and numerological cycles mirror the growing human desire for guidance and understanding, which helps explain why mysticism is gaining popularity today. What was once a hush-hush or niche practice, even dismissed in the past as “witchcraft”, is now being rediscovered and embraced, even entering mainstream culture. Consider Christian Dior, who was famously superstitious and fascinated by astrology and tarot. These elements have long influenced his designs and remain present in runway shows today.
The hunt for an answer
We are seeing a significant rise in the mystic trend: tarot readings, shamanic rituals, singing bowls, astrology, and reverence for nature and animals across many cultures. Why now? The world we live in is becoming more chaotic by the day, and people no longer know where to seek comfort or an anchor. In ancient times, it was the church or other religions that provided this sense of guidance. Their power lay in offering holiness, forgiveness, and a greater force beyond our control. Believing that this force “had your back” gave people a sense of security and perspective. Today, many turn to mysticism for a similar purpose— the reassurance that the universe is watching over them.
I used to read tarot cards for others, and most seekers weren’t looking for miraculous solutions (although some did). They wanted understanding, perspective, and clarity about their current situation. They sought validation and guidance, and reassurance that they could navigate their path. I always told them to take it with a pinch of salt, even with what I picked up and told them.
Tarot and astrology often appear mystical, but they are largely systems of symbolism. Signs, houses, and cards represent emotions, themes, and patterns in life. A skilled reader taps into your energy, interprets what is happening, and provides insight. The cards themselves guide the reader, revealing your current state of mind and energy. True practitioners do not even need the tools to understand your energy. However, tapping into someone else’s energy is not trivial. It can entangle yours with theirs, affecting natural paths and karmic trajectories.
Good readers or spiritual guides operate with integrity, offer honest feedback and constructive suggestions to support your growth, but they do not solve your problems. What they provide is clarity — a perspective from which you can make your own decisions.
In times of uncertainty, it is natural to want answers more than ever. Everyone wants to know why and how to resolve difficulties. The popularity of these practices reflects both demand and supply: people want to learn these skills out of curiosity, personal growth, or the hope of answers. Some discover the power of this “ability” and may use it to build a business. But not everyone is genuine. Some do it for ego, control, or to feel superior. Seeking answers and solutions is also a form of control: we are too afraid to have faith in life and the universe, and we want to know what is going to happen and how to tackle it step by step. This is controlling, and it comes from the reluctance to surrender, because to surrender and let life unfold is scary, the space of uncertainty and change is unpleasant.
By all means, read astrology updates, explore tarot, or engage with whatever mystical practice draws you. But the clarity that genuinely matters is knowing why you are pursuing it and understanding how honourable the healer or reader truly is. This is a very delicate and potentially dangerous realm: there are no certificates, no proof, and no universal benchmark. It is also not a case of “the higher the price, the better.”
Many genuine practitioners are often reluctant to go public and never advertise themselves. For them, this work is not about making money; it is a beautiful encounter that the spirits bring them to, allowing them to offer guidance or support at a particular point in someone’s life. A reader or healer’s energy and intention matter enormously. If they are not clear and pure, they can directly entangle yours, and instead of gaining the clarity you seek, you may find yourself caught in an even messier web of energy that does not belong to you or to them.
The danger is even greater when ego-driven individuals take online courses, learn a few techniques, and start offering readings to others. They may do it to feel superior, inflate their status, or make money, without fully understanding the responsibility of handling someone else’s energy. The more commercialised or performative it becomes, the lower the likelihood that it is being approached with pure intentions. Understanding this distinction is essential: clarity is not just about seeking answers, it is about discerning intention, integrity, and energy.
Clarity in practice
This is why clarity is central. When your mind is messy and your compass is lost, you instinctively seek guidance to illuminate the path. With clarity, these practices become side notes. You simply know life will work out, even when it temporarily feels uncertain. My spiritual and Buddhist practice has shown me that navigating life elegantly, or resisting being swayed by chaos, depends on clarity. It does not require Plato-level contemplation. You just need to be clear on three things:
Embrace change as the only constant – see it as a guide, an opportunity, not a threat; it shapes growth and perspective.
Know and honour your own path – clarity comes from understanding what truly matters to you, not what others expect, or society thinks.
Detach from outcomes – trust the process and let life unfold while staying aligned with your values.
Once these are understood, life’s unpredictability loses its power to unsettle you. Mystic trends, rituals, and readings can serve as tools or reflections, but clarity is the anchor that truly matters.
Think of clarity like standing in a thick fog. You may want to rush, deploying all the knowledge you have about geography to measure the wind and know exactly when it will lift and in which direction. But the hardest and most necessary thing is to do nothing: to trust, believe, and know that the fog will clear in its own time. Clarity is not about finding immediate solutions. It is about cultivating a calm mind, a steady perspective, and a grounded soul. Whether you consult astrology, tarot, or other mystical guidance, the more clarity you have, the sharper your true compass.
