꩜ the power of setting intentions 𖦹 using numerology and tarot ꩜
the inputs and outputs of this month's intention-setting exercise
Seven days down of my personal month 7 and I’m here to share my intentions. By intentions, I mean my focuses and priorities for the month, which I create and then try to attach some actionable goals to.
In my world, a new month means a new number to guide me as I intention-set and a new tarot archetype to contemplate. I consider my life a constant experiment, comprised of many mini-experiments. A couple of my ongoing experiments include: (1) analyzing the cycles of my life through the lens of numerology, and (2) studying the Tarot archetypes and using them tools to encourage the embodiment of their qualities and reflect on a periods of time (e.g., this month is my Chariot month).
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In Archetypal Tarot, Greer wrote, “Question everything I say and accept nothing until it brings you results you can perceive.” I believe very strongly that part of the role of a spiritual seeker, studying and learning esoteric1 modalities, is to question them. One should apply the theories to their life and reflect on whether they brought results or ease. One must be careful not to have blind faith.
At the same time, there’s something to be said about encouraging messages. I have an essay sitting in my drafts called “always believe encouraging messages” about the messages on a card for people with 18 birthdays (me). I read its messages on the 18th of every month, and think of every time I see the number 18, because they give me a boost. They provide me with encouragement.
(The card says that my intuitive and authentic nature is soothing, which makes me an oasis in the middle of the desert of modern living. UMM! It also says my gift of communication gives me tremendous capacity to connect with people in positions of power which will enable me to make a different and have access to prosperity. Talk about encouraging!)
It turns out, to do almost anything, you need to believe in your ability to do it, at least enough to start. And it helps if you believe there are subtle energies working in your favor, too. So why not believe the encouraging messages? I believe that esoteric modalities — numerology and tarot and astrology and human design, etc.— can be used as powerful tools of encouragement, at the least, and at the most, something extremely helpful in connecting with yourself and figuring out how you might lead a more satisfying life.
I support. I engage. I am encouraged.
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Every month, I practice setting intentions informed by my “studies” (what I would call them when I still worked full-time as a lawyer but kept a notebook where I would take notes on tarot, astrology, numerology, energy things).
I also set intentions at the new moon, the lunar period associated with planting seeds and setting intentions. I revisit them at the beginning of the new month. I love any excuse to re-center and tinker my intentions and plans (Virgo rising). Arguably too much time tinkering… but it feels important!
We create ourselves, consciously choosing what we focus our energy on. If we don’t check in with ourselves regularly, we run the risk of spending our energy on things that don’t really matter to us.
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I've been looking forward to this month because my numerology directive aligns with what I really want to be doing: being a studious little hermit.
A few weeks ago, I returned home from a month-long trip with many different segments, friends to spend time with, and things to witness and experience. I realized very early on that traveling with friends means sharing my energy, much more than I’ve grown used to. You see, I’ve been spending a lot of time alone, hoarding my energy for myself, channeling it into my writing and my studies. I knew I had to de-prioritize my normal habits and be exactly where I was. (Not to mention I was traveling to places I had never been; it felt foolish to try to steal away time to be on my laptop.)
I put on pause my plans to keep up with my Substack publishing schedule or work on my other computer-based projects. My intentions were to be present in the moment, fully witness the new places I was traveling through, be a good travel companion, shoot film, and record bits of what I was witnessing to compost later.
This month, my intentions are very different. I’m grounding back at home and numerology and tarot support my plans to be a hardworking, spiritual hermit.
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INPUTS:
my 7 personal month: stillness, solitude, wisdom
In numerology, we calculate numbers using one’s name and birth date that are said to represent their life path, mission in life, personality, motivations, talents, and karmic lessons. There’s also a concept of cyclical time: each month, year, and day has a number associated with it. There are Universal numbers that apply to everyone and personal numbers that are calculated based on one’s birthday.2
June is a personal month 7 for me. ꩜
Seven is the spiritual number. It has spiritual connotations in a variety of cultures: there are 7 chakras; there were 7 classical planets; God rested on the 7th day.
The themes of the 7 are introspection and inner development. The 7 asks us to prioritize silence, stillness, and solitude. We might be drawn to spend less time in social settings and more time with ourselves, whether that time is spent in research and learning, or in quiet contemplation (studying ourselves).
A 7-ruled time is perfect for meditation and study. With more silence and stillness, we can access our intuition and maybe even connect with the divine. Slowing down can help us gain clarity on what we really want out of life, whether right now or big picture. They say that the more inner work you do during this time, the more outer success you will have in the months to come.
my 1 personal year: independence, individuality, beginnings
More important than the personal month number is the number of your personal year. While I would love to fully hermit, focusing only on learning and contemplation, I must also weigh my bigger picture goals and the fact this is my 1 personal year.
The 1 is about independence and individuality. The 1 is the first year in a new 9-year cycle, and it’s time of new beginnings and taking action towards your goals. This energy can give us courage to make changes and to do things in our own way, rather than the way others would or the way something “should” be done.
They say that in a 1 personal year, your confidence is boosted, your aura is magnetic, and people are drawn to you. (Encouraging messages.)
What I love about getting inspired by the numerology cycles is the balance between the themes of all the numbers, when taken as a whole. Each number speaks to an important aspect of the human experience, one that can be placed on the back-burner when we are focusing on others. Following the cycles of the numbers that makes me feel like I’m attaining more balance between all these themes of life.
Here are high-level themes associated with each of the numbers:
1: individuality, independence, individuality, starting new things energy
2: connection, emotions, cooperation, harmony, balance
3: joy, creativity, communication, social energy
4: discipline, hard work, laying foundations, structure
5: change, communication, adventure, freedom, flexibility
6: harmony, balance, relationships, duty to others
7: spirituality, intuition, introspection, intellectual pursuits
8: power, confidence, achievement, abundance, karma
9: completions, endings, reflection
If you’re interested in knowing more about your personal timing according to numerology, send me a message. I’m opening my books for numerology readings this month!
the Chariot (7) as my card of the month
The Tarot archetype associated with my month is the Chariot, card number 7.3
The Chariot is about ambition. It’s a card that speaks to willpower, directing our energy, summoning our strength to work towards our goals. My friend Jordan describes the Chariot’s power as a “controlled movement fueled by a deep knowledge.”
This archetype knows where it’s going and it’s ready to take the steps to get there. It curbs its impulses, practices discipline, and seeks self-mastery.
Chariot energy is supportive to the themes of my 7 month and 1 year. In order to spend more time in silence, in research, in contemplation, I will need to have self-control and self-discipline. In order to take initiative, be independent, and take action in my 1 year, I must direct my energy and summon my strength.
I let the archetype inspire my Yesterday I decided I need to cut out social media consumption for the rest of this month and give myself more time for the things that I’m focusing on, inspired by the Chariot’s focused and directed energy.
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OUTPUT:
intentions, concrete goals, and guidance
With the above in mind, I set my intentions for the month. I like to create mindful and informed intentions, in alignment with my values in life, and also some concrete goals and guidance to ensure I’m living in alignment with the intentions.
prioritizing solitude
default of no to a social plan, “finals week energy” — I used to get in flow studying for law school finals and had no problem putting my social life on the hold to stay focused. I plan embody that energy except for instead of studying for finals I’m writing, creating, and composting my life.
spend more time in quiet reflection and meditation
at least 4 times a week, meditate for 20 minutes (or longer) — my normal is a 10 min of a youtube video of soft music that fades out at the end.
writing practice at least 5 times a week — letting myself be alone with the blank page (more than just while doing morning pages).
focus on reading and research, rather than socializing IRL or digitally
reading these books, in this order (likely will not get to all):
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (for book club)
Your Soul’s Plan by Robert Schwartz (recommended by good friend and loyal reader — finally we will be able to discuss!! <3)
Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss (have read, want to revisit my notes and re-read some parts)
materials from my Buddhism class in Spanish
The Awakened Brain by Lisa Miller
no scrolling! deleting social media, and only downloading after I have posted a Substack and want to share it there, or want to share another thing I’ve created (exciting things in the works!) — to free this time up for reading and research
sharing more on metaphysical / spiritual topics
posting on Substack at least 2x per week
finish essays on the following:
tarot and Archetypal Tarot
Santa Maria (cannabis) and spirituality
the power of prayer
working with your dreams
finish 2 projects I have been working on that are related to the 7 themes
using some of my reading / study time to read / study in Spanish
7 days of Spanish-only — speaking, reading, writing
keep focusing on physical health
some form of movement (beyond walking) every day
going to yoga at the Buddhist center at least twice
WORDS FOR THE MONTH: focus, determination, inner wisdom, spiritual growth.
Thank you for reading!
“Esoteric means ‘within’ and refers to things that are obscure, enigmatic, or mysterious and, thus, things that are incomprehensible to the rational, scientific mind.” Mary K. Greer, Archetypal Tarot.
To calculate your personal month, first calculate your personal year (a stronger energy, more important to know anyways) by: reducing down the current year (2+0+2+5 = 9) and adding the month and date of your bday (e.g., 1+1+8 for January 18).
For example, I'm in a personal 1 year (2+0+2+5+1+1+8 = 19 which reduces down further 1 + 9 = 10 until you get a single digit number 10 = 1).
To calculate personal month number for June: 1 (my personal year) + 6 (June) = 7.
I learned the method of determining which Tarot archetype applies to month from the book Archetypal Tarot by Mary K. Greer. There are also archetypes that apply to us all universally, but I’m talking about a calculation that gives you an archetype for your month that’s specific to you.