January 2005
The Year of the Mystic

Hello friends.

Although New Year's Eve feels like light years away, it was only a few short weeks ago. There seemed to be nothing subtle about the introduction of 2005 - January was full of drama and surprises. Yet there is something special about the turn of a new calendar year; it ushers in new energy for growth in very specific ways.

There are universal influences around us in many forms that affect us by means of vibrations - the sun, stars, moon, and planets. So too do numbers influence us vibrationally. Just like planets, every number has a vibration that affects our energy field. We have many personal numbers that influence our lives - our birthdays, social security number, telephone number, address etc. However, there is one number that all of us using the western calendar share; therefore we are all influenced by it as a group. You guessed it - that number is our year, and we are collectively influenced by its vibrational energy.

So what does this mean for us in 2005? Let us take the numbers in the year 2-0-0-5 and add them together. In numerology, unless working with a master number, you often reduce a multi-digit number to one digit by adding the components. Therefore 2+0+0+5=7. 2005 is a 7 year.

The number 7 has long been considered a magic number and associated with mysticism. But why? The number 7 is a bridge number, integrating heaven and earth. 7 can be broken down into the numbers 3 and 4 (3+4=7). 3 is the number of divinity: the holy trinity, body-mind-spirit, the Divine feminine. 4 is an earthly number, with rich associations of the material plane.

The essence of the number 7 can best be summed up in the following quote from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin:

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings having a human experience.

Wow! What does this mean for us? Who right now isn't thinking about their purpose, the deeper meaning of existence? For many, that could be defined by our work, our contribution to society, or what we wish to leave behind when we are gone. But is that the core of our existence? Certainly it drives us, for life without a contribution to this planet will feel empty. Why did you incarnate at all? You specifically - not people as a whole, (for who could begin to perceive that). What are you here to learn?

Think about your life for a moment and evaluate all of the wisdom you have gained; your experiences, the wounds you have healed, karmic patterns you have broken. How have you made yours and others lives better through your deeds, actions, words? Perhaps evaluating your growth can give you a clue as to what you are here to explore in this lifetime. For your life's purpose is more, much more than what you do for a living.

As always, when seeking answers to life's mysteries, I turn to the tarot for guidance. The number 7 card in the tarot is called the Chariot. That card, so rich in symbolism gives us some clues as to how to navigate a 7 year.

There is a myriad of symbolism on the Chariot card, so for the purposes of this article, I will keep the description brief. The Chariot, also referred to as "Victory" depicts a blond male, decorated with a star pointed crown and moon plates on his shoulders, standing in the middle of a chariot (seemingly unmoving) pulled by two sphinxes -one white, one black. His left hand seems to be pulling an invisible rein.

The sphinxes in this card often represent our emotions and baser instincts. The charioteer seems to be guiding them using his mental force, his will. The victory in this card is not winning a battle or defeating an enemy. This card depicts the victory achieved when using your will to overcome immature emotions and instincts that no longer serve you - such as negative attitudes, emotional sensitivity, anger, depression, and physical/psychological dependencies such as alcoholism, overeating, and drug addiction.

The lesson of this card is summed up so beautifully in the Bhagavad-Gita:

The Self is the rider in the Chariot of the body, of which the senses are the horses, and the mind the reins.

This year will challenge you to stay focused and directed while you may feel pulled in several directions at once. You will be challenged to maintain control while others try to ask more of you than you are willing to give. If you are unconscious of this energy, you can find yourself in temper flare ups, and defensive situations - but if you are conscious of your lessons - you will be victorious. Remember, you may not always be able to control your life's circumstance, but you can control how to react to them.

Are you in the driver's seat of your life, or do you feel that your life is racing ahead out of control? Do you feel you are being pulled in several directions at once? Are other people influencing their will over yours?

So how do you center yourself while others are competing for your energy? First remind yourself of who you are and what's important to you. Look at every aspect of your life, including how you treat your body. If you feel your actions serve your higher purpose, then you are using your energies wisely. But perhaps there are areas where you could look at your behavior objectively and see if you are responding out of habit or emotions, rather than serving your highest good.

Do you do things for people just to please them, while neglecting your own needs? Do you get irritable with your coworkers just because they disagree with your politics? Do you snap at your loved ones instead of holding your tongue, even though you know you will hurt their feelings? Do you really need to eat chocolate after every meal?

I am asking a lot of questions here, but in essence, that is what the number 7 is about - uncovering layers of self until you reach your soul's truth.

If you find yourself in negative habit mode, find a positive thought, affirmation, or activity (or food) to replace your negative one. Oftentimes we create negative compulsions because we have buried our power and creativity. Now is the time to nurture and resurrect your creative spirit in even the smallest ways. For instance, I know several people that smoke who are frustrated artists. Perhaps instead of reaching for a cigarette next time, they could take those five minutes of smoking time to sing, or draw, or write instead.

On a mundane level, there is often a lot of traveling during a Chariot year, and it is not uncommon to change jobs or residences. If you feel the urge to do this, this is a great time, so long as you are moving towards your destiny, instead of running away from a perceived difficult situation. Also, pay extra attention on the roads while driving, as not everyone will be as centered as you!

One thing is certain, this is going to be a truly exciting year - full of opportunities and challenges. The Universe truly wants you to succeed, and you have all the tools within yourself to do so. So get centered. Get ready. It's going to be one heck of a wild ride! Enjoy it.

Kari

return to Newsletters