Knowing Your Numbers: Nine
In my Knowing Your Numbers series, those who are new to numerology get to see how spiritual numbers work and manifest in our world; those who are familiar with numerology will get a nice refresher, with extras! In this post, we’ll be going over the last number in the standard numerological cycle, nine.
9 represents the terminal point of our spiritual cycles, at which point it would behoove us to look back, release, then embrace the approaching unknown ahead. Though we may start once again, bringing us back into 1 energy, we may find our experience to be truly different once the 9 stage is complete. In this way, nines help us cope specifically with being faced with the unknowable, such as transitions from being incarnate to back to our original state. For this reason, 9 is considered the custodian of the secrets of death. It also takes the rules and contracts that we set or refined through 8 energy and holds us to it, just enough to see our original objective through. That which does not work, falls away; that which remains can come with us into the next stage.
When in an adverse or aggravated expression, 9 energy can become needlessly destructive, even self-destructive. Its bearers can become vacuums of negative energy to the point of generating chaos, which only fuels the needless suffering that they would otherwise be in a prime position to bring to a halt. If the 9 is not remediated, those who carry this energy can drift between states of perpetual agitation, fear, or pessimism or, being unable to accept the unknown, seek to dominate everything they touch. Nines can produce megalomania and martyr complexes, which losses may only serve to solidify rather than dispel.
Manifestations in Numerology
Life Path: LP-9s tend to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, even if said world is one of their own making, but must learn to set it down long enough to heal, to rest, and to show those who occupy it that their own burdens need not be so heavy. The LP-9 is often challenged to leave a legacy for their bloodline, or their incarnation successfully disrupts adverse patterns within it. If they achieve their destiny, the entire bloodline directly benefits, thus allowing a new generation to move past the old shackles or patterns and pull the line in a new direction.
Expression: As an Expression Number, 9 ensures that the bearer’s destiny can be achieved through spiritual development. They will often be in a position to succeed by virtue of their raw and unobscured connection to Spirit and occult knowledge, but more so than any other number aside from the Master Numbers. If they choose to eschew spiritual or religious practice but still opt to develop deeper connection and compassion for others, their hearts and willingness to hold space for others still allows for the thorough fulfillment of their destiny. They also have the power to marshal spiritual resources more effortlessly than others in the pursuit of mundane achievement, including speech power.
Personality: People who have Personality Number 9 may be perceived as sages or, more often, ahead of their time. These are the folks most likely to be called an “old soul,” which only becomes more apparent with age. Whether they possess the profound, enlightenment-inducing quietude that others see in them is highly dependent on their other numbers. They may regularly be placed in positions where they’re asked to act as some sort of “guru,” wunderkind or prophet - if they’re not, however, and they don’t step out of that role, they may very much lead others astray. Like Personality Number 2, 9 tends to generate exceptional levels of magnetism, and those who have it can produce a cult-like following - for good or for ill (see: the Beatles as a group, Paul McCartney individually).
Birthday: Like with 8, folks with a Birthday Number of 9 are often surrounded by a host of spirits or people. To others, it may seem that there’s always something special or odd (flip a coin) happening around them, but it’s the cumulative effect of having That Many Energies being in their general aura. Being born into 9 energy gives them bonus resiliency, and they can roll with life’s punches, ebbs and flows with greater ease. As with nines in general, those who have it can amass a large network of support when they're in alignment with whatever they're supposed to be doing.
Things to Take Advantage Of
A natural gift for legacy-building and teaching - if the 9 is an LP, this often literally triggers a chain reaction leading to the achievement of destiny. Nines often produce our world’s sages, the ones who come down from their mountains to impart wisdom (if honed correctly) from other dimensions and spirits. If they choose to make use of this, they become excellent mediums, diviners, and oracles. As they age, they should take full advantage of their ability to serve as a riverman for others, guiding them along the flow of their paths. Like other folks towards the end of the number spectrum, 9 folks should also take advantage of their long vision and compassion, diving straight into humanitarian and compassion-based affairs. They will often discover that if they make repeated investments in the correct community for them, their community will - in times of need - take very good care of them. Truly, this is the number of the seasoned elder, no matter the person’s actual age or season of life.
Things to Be Mindful Of
First and foremost: avoid romanticizing the struggle.
Because 9s tend to bear a lot of hard-earned wisdom, they must devote time to healing from old wounds, especially the “lesson” wounds from wisdom-granting hardship and suffering. For this reason, holding onto bitterness, negativity and regret create more challenge and difficulty than with any other number. The 9-bearer must let go in order to attain enough peace of mind to move easily onto the next cycle, whatever that must be, no matter how it may appear to others. Refusal to do this generates notable difficulties for those who have 9 somewhere in their numbers. They can also develop a habit of dropping the wrong things or bringing endings to their endeavors too soon, only to find no satisfaction in their next project. Despite being associated with finality and transformation, folks who bear the number 9 may find themselves unable to bear settling down or bringing about conclusions. Truly, whether they don’t let go/let go too much is highly dependent on their other numbers, which will pull them in one direction or another when the 9 is in an adverse state.
9 folks are also strongly encouraged to look towards the Divine, which will find ways to reconnect with them more often than not, unless their negativity or cynicism completely obscures the mystic vision which they so often possess. Nines tend to produce our strongest spiritualists and mediums; if that ability awakens and there’s little to no support, the difficulties of their path (especially if LP-9) are too great, or they’re plagued by overwhelming negativity or negative spirits, 9 people run a very high risk of losing their grip on this dimension.
