the expansiveness of life, love, and grief.
exploring the universal 9 year
january 1, 2025 marked the beginning of the universal 9 year and is the final year in the 9-year cycle that began on january 1, 2017. universal 9 years are liminal spaces, powerful transition points and portals to new worlds, experiences, and states of being. the universal 9 year is a catalyst that provides momentum to break free of the confines of the past so that we may continue to expand into the future of our own creation.
the last universal 9 year was 2016, and this year undoubtedly shook our foundations and paved the way for the cycle that we’ve been in since 2017. there are many patterns that are repeating, but there are also many cycles being broken. since 2016, we’ve experienced many collective transformations that have stretched our capacity, tested our will, and revealed to us who we truly are. where were you in 2016 and how does it compare to where you are today? what have been the defining themes of this 9-year cycle for you? how has each year of this cycle informed the next? as we close this cycle, where are we headed?
NOTE: this post is intended to be a resource and reference, and it’s encouraged that you take your time with it and come back to it as much as you need, take notes, leave comments for discussion, etc. it’s information-dense because it is my goal to support us throughout this time in the ways possible. if you’d like to read about the personal year themes within 2025 and how to work with me, just scroll down :)
the number 9 is special. its core function is to return you to yourself, to be a true mirror by showing you who you are on the other side of life and on the other side of release and surrender of what it is you’re clinging to. 9 + any number will reduce to that number, signifying its potency in redirecting your focus to what’s in front of you. 9 exists to amplify and empower what already exists within you. 9 can see you because 9 is you. 9 is everyone. 9 is a co-collaborative experience between all numbers in the numerical journey.
in the natural world, 9 is represented by fungi — our powerful earth medicine that assists in decomposition and ensures that what is broken down can be utilized by others. this function in a mental-emotional-energetic sense is no different. 9 decomposes and breaks down the macro to the micro so that it can be integrated by every other number. 9 does not just recycle energy, but it makes sure that nothing goes to waste and that nothing has a chance to accumulate without deconstruction. if fungi did not exist in their function, dead matter would accumulate everywhere, elements of the ecosystem would collapse, and a series of chain events would lead to ruin. where would we be if fungi did not exist?
we’d not be here because the decomposition of dead matter is also what sustains life. the sensitivity it takes to understand and accept that what lies in front of you is no longer living but it can be used to spark new life … this is 9. 9 is a reminder that composting also leads to fertility. 9 is both the initiator and the destroyer, the catalyst and the inhibitor, bridging the delicate balance between life and death and the fullness of each.
as we navigate this year, 9 will continue to remind us that it’s important that we learn to honor death and grieve. grief is central to the experience of 9 because it’s important to process and feel the gravity of love, loss, and change. when we bypass our grief, it doesn’t cease to exist. instead, it can turn destructive, and we instead live in paralyzing fear of an unknown that we refuse to approach. grief is an opening, a mountain, a pathway, a river, a storm … it’s many things, but at the core of it, grief is what allows us to travel through time and space, collecting and recollecting memory, transforming our worldview, and growing our capacity to understand and experience life in all its seasons.
collectively, we haven’t grieved. we haven’t reckoned with the loss of millions of lives through this pandemic. we haven’t accepted fully that there is nothing to go back to, not in the ways we think. there is no return to a past utopia because it never existed. there is only what we can make of our future through our acceptance of the present moments we find ourselves in and the acceptance that we are the creators, the artists, the way makers, the parents, the guides, the ancestors, the descendants, the teachers, the friends, the lovers, the ones responsible for bringing our dreams to life. we’re not going to be handed our future on a silver platter. it comes from our willingness to imagine, dream, love, hope, and our bravery to act, respond, and be.
it’s okay to grieve the future you were once so hopeful about. it’s okay to grieve all that you’ve lost. it’s okay to grieve for a world that has been forever changed. what will this grief inspire in you? how will this grief open your heart, body, mind, and soul to the possibilities and potentials that lie before you? how can grief support you in becoming more and more human through the ebbs and flows of every emotion and feeling? what can grief inspire from deep deep sorrow to incredible openness to life? how can grief embolden you with a deepened awareness of what's finite while reminding you of the expansiveness of loving?
throughout this 9 year, these questions and more will emerge to inspire us to go deeper and far beyond the edges of the known. 9, much like its astrological representation in the 9H, is about having experiences that impact our faith. we’ll go where we’ve never gone and become what we’ve never been before, and we’ll need one another. 9’s journey is not all sunshine and rainbows. at times, it’s heavy, dark, scary, confusing, and overwhelming because that is also the nature of change, loss, and death. sending love to the heartbroken, the lonely, the scared, those questioning if they want to stay, the confused, and the vulnerable.
this is a time where everyone is needed. there is no one insignificant. everyone operates at the liminal spaces differently. death doulas and threshold keepers, this is your time. artists and creators, this is your time. 9 years are the perfect time to bring something new to life when all we know is changing, dissolving, and dying. lovers in all of your varieties, this is your time. healers, fighters, revolutionary thinkers, organizers, teachers, friends, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, librarians, archivists, fashionistas, craftspeople, writers, journalists, information sharers, fact checkers, comedians, and everyone who gives a fuck—it’s your time.
everyone has their role, their medicine, their gift, their perspective, and their unique essence that they add to the collective mix. embracing your medicine and collaborating where it's meant to be is the key while navigating this year.
9. mars. aries. scorpio. boundaries. death. loss. protection. severance. drive. autonomy. transition. thresholds. surrender. compassion. empathy. grief. love. grace. endings. completion. passage. preservation. passion. initiation. neptune. sacrifice. synthesis. dissolution. absolution. disintegration. decomposition. compost. fungi. earthworms. vultures. acid. scavengers. microglia. mold. coyotes. raccoons. crows. hawks. hyenas. eagles. condors. beetles. nonagon. doorway. portal. faith. radicalism. idealism. service. humanity. release. emancipation. liberation.
past reflections to support this year.
returning to belonging ·· universal 7 + you ·· the webs we weave ·· the karmic lesson numbers + their gifts & strengths ·· 9 says let go in order to receive ·· tender hearts still beat ··
learning & connecting through the 9-year cycle.
each 9-year cycle, i connect with an elder/ancestor as a guide for the year whose life path mirrors the universal year.
2017 · Audre Lorde (life path 1)
2018 · Alice Walker (life path 11)
2019 · Nina Simone (life path 3)
2020 · Octavia Butler (life path 4)
2021 · Malcolm X (life path 5)
2022 · bell hooks (life path 33)
2023 · Toni Morrison (life path 7)
2024 · James Baldwin (life path 8)
2024 · Frantz Fanon (life path 8)
this year, call on everyone who supports you and shares in your visions for the future.
i have created a resource drive containing the works from each of these 9 individuals. in this drive, you will find their poems, essays, speeches, novels, and collected works.
i have also created a resource drive containing many books centering the topic of grief. from climate grief, loss of loved ones, to community care in times of loss, you’ll find something for you here.
tarot inspirations.
as a universal 9 year, 2025 is guided by doorway 9: the hermit and doorway 18: the moon.
doorway 9: the hermit
arriving at doorway 9, we’ve become empowered and shown our strength. we’ve faced many trials, tribulations, initiations, and experiences that have pulled strength from every orifice, and at the hermit, we retreat. the hermit is not about our outward displays of strength and instead directs us inward. at doorway 9, the hermit returns you to yourself to ask new questions, celebrate your victories, mourn your losses, and cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself. the hermit is often interpreted as a call towards solitude, and for many, that is true, but the hermit is never too isolated to remember the great interconnection we all share. guiding by the inner light of heart and spirit, the hermit helps us remember our individuality through solitude, while utilizing our light to inevitably guide others home to themselves and to each other.
the lungs as the hermit amplify themes of grief and transformation. in traditional Chinese medicine, the lungs are said to be connected to the emotional experiences of grief, sadness, and detachment. throughout this year, we’re encouraged to tend to our grief and hold space for the sacred exchange of humanity with one another. here, the medicine of usnea serves as a guide and supports us through some of the biggest transits of the year, including venus in sidereal pisces.
usnea, sometimes referred to as the “lungs of the forest” and “old man’s beard”, is a remedy for infections in the lungs, bronchial area, and respiratory tract. it helps alleviate coughs that are wet and irritable in nature due to its drying and cooling qualities. usnea can also be used to help treat urinary tract infections, candida, and other fungal infections in the vagina. as a gargle, it can be used for the treatment of pharyngitis and strep throat. as a lichen and venusian remedy, usnea reminds of the power of being interconnected, as lichens are composites of algae and fungi existing in a symbiotic relationship. this year is a reminder that we are a collaborative species and that we’re never truly alone. how will we show up this year, reminding ourselves that it all begins with self and one another?
doorway 18: the moon
following our journey with the star of inspiration, we traverse the depths of the inner world with the moon. at doorway 18, we are unsure of what’s next, but we’re encouraged to stay on our path, trusting in our intuition and deeper knowing. we confront and battle with our fears, subconscious desires, and repressed emotions, creating a pathway to deeper understanding, strength, and acceptance. the large intestine, also known as the colon, is an organ within the digestive tract that is responsible for absorbing water and salts, forming fecal matter to be expelled, and producing vitamins. at the large intestine, we’ve arrived to a space where we’re being asked to let go and flush out what is no longer useful to us.
the large intestine as the moon reminds us that the moon is one of the last initiations we face in the dark. the large intestine is the final place that we filter the useful from the useless, the good from the bad. everything that we’ve taken in by this point is now in a place of being utilized or being eliminated. when we are fearful of this process of letting go, the consequences are seen in things such as constipation, spastic colon, and even intestinal ulcers that leave us feeling as though something is “eating away at us”. when we are too quick in our decision to let go without the proper time to absorb what is useful, we experience a literal and proverbial diarrhea. here, the large intestine wants for us to face our fear and let go through surrendering to the inevitable.
the medicine of datura supports us through this journey. sacred datura helps us see beyond the present moment of fear, opening us to visionary states and dreams where we can transition into new states of being from the death-rebirth cycle without apprehension and fear. throughout this year, sacred datura is medicine for the liminal spaces, the thresholds, the portals, and the doorways. when we are no longer comforted by the trappings of the familiar and find ourselves ready for something else and something new, datura is there for us. how will our conscious embodiment pave the way for the future?
major sidereal transits of the year.
· venus in pisces: january 28 - may 31, 2025
· saturn in pisces: march 29, 2025 - february 23, 2028
· jupiter in gemini: may 14 - october 18, 2025 + december 5, 2025 - june 1, 2026
· lunar nodes in aquarius-leo: may 18, 2025 - december 5, 2026
· jupiter in cancer: october 18 - december 5, 2025
eclipses of the year.
· total lunar eclipse in leo: march 14, 2025
· partial solar eclipse in pisces: march 29, 2025
· total lunar eclipse in aquarius: september 7, 2025
· partial solar eclipse in virgo: september 21, 2025
the individual stories within the grand web.
every year, the universal year carries its own themes for the wider collective experience, and it is our personal years that help flesh out more context for how these years may look for us individually.
our personal years carry us from birthday to birthday. come december 31, we’ve all had a birthday and whatever personal year you’ve started on your most recent birthday will carry you into the new universal year. those born on january 1 will begin a new personal year on the same day as the new universal year.
it is normal and expected for most of us to experience two different personal year energies in one calendar year — one concluding and another beginning.
how to calculate your personal year
the personal year is calculated by adding the numerical value of your birth month + birth day + the year of your most recent birthday. using an example birth date of may 20, the personal year would be calculated as follows:
may 20, 2024
5 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 0 + 2 +4 = 15 = 1 + 5 = 6
a person born on may 20 started their personal 6 year on their 2024 birthday, which will last until may 19, 2025. they will begin their personal 7 year on their next birthday, may 20, 2025 which will last until may 19, 2026, etc.
to explore more your full numerology, check out the numerology self-study guide.
the universal 9 year is an invitation for us all to release to welcome. below, you will find musings for the personal years and themes that have the potential to be explored in the universal 9 year of 2025.
personal 1 year + universal 9
to release: imposter syndrome
to welcome: inner authority
those experiencing their personal 1 year in 2025 are invited to release imposter syndrome to welcome inner authority. this is the year to pour into yourself and surround yourself with those that speak life into you and affirm your brilliance. there’s only one you, which means that only you can provide what you do. there may be people on similar trajectories, but they’re still not you. you are needed in this world, and it’s time you know that and allow that knowing to fill your entire being. what is possible when you command your energy and bet on yourself? as new worlds are built, your vision is needed.
universal year equivalent: 2017
accompanying playlist: chamomile + 1 + coriander
personal 2 year + universal 9
to release: stagnant relationships
to welcome: expansive connections
those experiencing their personal 2 year in 2025 are invited to release stagnant relationships to welcome expansive connections. the wrong relationships can hinder vital growth and soul evolution, which impacts your ability to show up in fullness. this year is important to let go of those relationships that are holding you back—not just with people but with all things that are detrimental to your expansion and wellbeing. when you release the old, what blooms in the newly created space? what kinds of relationships do you desire? what do you want to be connected to as everything changes?
universal year equivalent: 2018
accompanying playlist: chicory + 2 + yarrow
personal 3 year + universal 9
to release: shame
to welcome: being seen
those experiencing their personal 3 year in 2025 are invited to release shame to welcome being seen. this year presents the opportunity to connect with the parts of yourself that you’ve hidden away because they contain the medicine you need now. embracing being seen for who you are helps dissolve the shame and internalized beliefs that you’re not good enough in the eyes of the old paradigm. what would you share with the world if you weren’t consumed by the fear of being perceived? what if everyone’s been waiting for you and ready to receive you with the gaze of appreciation and awe? what would you create?
universal year equivalent: 2019
accompanying playlist: orange + 3 + damiana
personal 4 year + universal 8
to release: self-neglect
to welcome: support
those experiencing their personal 4 year in 2025 are invited to release self-neglect to welcome support. it’s important to know the balance between supporting others and neglecting yourself through self-denial. it’s okay to have needs even while others are struggling and “have it worse”. what exactly do you gain when you deny yourself of the support you need to show up for those also in need of support? if everyone’s needs are unmet, what is accomplished? this year, overcome fears of being perceived as “irresponsible” or “incompetent” and ask for more help. what is possible when the weight of the burdens are shared rather than solely on your shoulders? how can you care for yourself through the act of allowing others to care for you?
universal year equivalent: 2020
accompanying playlist: hawthorn + 4 + nettle
personal 5 year + universal 9
to release: fear of failure
to welcome: experimentation
those experiencing their personal 5 year in 2025 are invited to release the fear of failure to welcome experimentation. this year is a threshold, crossroads, and liminal space between known and unknown. it’s okay to not have all the answers, but don’t allow this to deter you from remaining curious. if you don’t ask questions about what’s possible and test out your theories, how will you know? allow yourself to be open to the mystery and tap into the parts of yourself that try and are imaginative. as the old collapses, the future is open-ended and awaiting the magic of those still willing to test the boundaries of what is and what could be.
universal year equivalent: 2021
accompanying playlist: ginger + 5 + cinnamon
personal 6 year + universal 9
to release: self-pity
to welcome: self-empowerment
those experiencing their personal 6 year in 2025 are invited to release self-pity to welcome self-empowerment. this isn’t to say bypass the truth of your feelings and emotions, but it is to say, don’t forget how much you are capable of, even when you’re hurting. this year is an invitation to call your power back from all situations, people, etc. that have led you to believe that you’re hopeless, powerless, and insignificant. you are capable of so much, and it’s important to remind yourself of that. what is possible when you honor your strengths and abilities just as much as you tend to your wounds and sorrows? when you believe in yourself, what doorways open?
universal year equivalent: 2022
accompanying playlist: cacao + 6 + vanilla
personal 7 year + universal 9
to release: surface-level understanding
to welcome: deeper knowing
those experiencing their personal 7 year in 2025 are invited to release surface-level knowledge to welcome deeper knowing. this year is one where it’s time to trim the excess and become serious about what you do and don’t know. this is a time for asking questions, learning from those with knowledge, and expanding your skillsets and informational databases. what is possible when you are confident in sharing what you know and willing to be a student deeply engaged in learning for those things you don’t know or need to sharpen?
universal year equivalent: 2023
accompanying playlist: rosehips + 7 + tulsi
personal 8 year + universal 9
to release: indecision
to welcome: resolve
those experiencing their personal 8 year in 2025 are invited to release indecision to welcome resolve. this year encourages you to remember that making decisions is an exercise of your power and sovereignty. what undeniable signs and messages are you receiving? how much time and energy is wasted resisting the inevitable and is that a wise investment this year? when you find yourself moving in repetitive cycles, what helps you break free? tend to yourself and notice where you are leaking vital energy that could be used towards your goals, dreams, and directives.
universal year equivalent: 2024
accompanying playlist: vervain + 8 + burdock
personal 9 year + universal 9
to release: outdated ways of being
to welcome: new beginnings
those experiencing their personal 9 year in 2025 are invited to release all outdated ways of being to welcome new beginnings. this year is one to release all that doesn’t align with the future you desire to create. ending a cycle within the ending of another cycle is special, and this year encourages you to focus on what’s next and processing what has been. it’s a year of grieving, shedding, purging, and liberating. call on all of the supports you need. this year is the culmination of so much, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. what awaits on the other side of the 9?
universal year equivalent: 2016 + 2025
accompanying playlist: pulsatilla + 9 + datura
of course, these are generalized themes and more specificity is found when engaging with your whole chart, personal transits, and factoring in your own unique life experiences. the manifestations of these patterns are many and vary.
thank you for your support of my work. it’s been a beautiful 9 years all over the ‘net!