Personal Year 4
“I Build…”
“A house must be built on solid foundations if it is to last. The same principle applies to man, otherwise he too will sink back into the soft ground and becomes swallowed up by the world of illusion.”
Keywords: Building, Stability, Security, Authority, Order, Boundaries, Foundation, Form, Restriction
Ideal For: Creating firm boundaries, practical matters, taking care of resources, establishing stability and security, exercising authority, making renovations (internally or externally), following routine
Crystal Companions: Smoky Quartz, Obsidian, Petrified Wood
Tarot Card Archetype: The Emperor
Secondary Archetype: Death
Power Cards: The 4 4s
The first 3 years of the 9 year cycle are a bit more ambiguous. It’s hard to know, so early on, where we’re headed and how our visions will unfold. When we arrive at the 4-Year though, we get to see with more clarity as things begin to actually take shape. This, of course, will require a bit more discipline and pragmaticism! In other words, it’s getting “real” now, and with that, we need to apply a steady dose of earthly practicality!
The number 4 is one of order, form and structure. Consider: The 4 elements, the 4 seasons, The cardinal directions, the structure of a cube, the sturdiness of a table, the corners in a room etc. A Personal Year 4 is also about building a firm foundation. It is a 12 month period where finding your place in the world begins by creating strong roots around not just yourself, but your ideas, relationships, and anything else you wish to see flourish. Just be careful that you’re building not only strong, but smart. Just like 4 walls can keep us safe and protected, they can also keep us trapped and restricted. You want to build in such a way that you don’t end up boxing yourself too tightly!
With a Personal Year 4, there are no shortcuts. You need to start at the bottom and work your way up. You may find that this manifests in very literal ways, for example, on the home front. This could look like spending time doing renovations, paying off bills, getting on top of debt, organizing your closets, moving somewhere more suitable or settling down. These are all very practical resonances of what a Year 4 can entail.
For many, this year may have you craving the stability of ritual and routine. Getting into good habits and practices may be beneficial, financially as well as emotionally. And speaking more along the lines of personal development, a Year 4, while certainly very Earth-based, can still plant itself in the spiritual realm. Making an effort to ground, or engaging in a regular practice of any mode of healing, could become critical time spent over the next 12 months.
Most of all, just remember that anything meaningful which you wish to build upon this year will require quality flooring (figurative or literally speaking). Take the time to ensure you’re putting in the work and creating a sense of security, so regardless of where you focus, you’ll be well supported through the process.
Conscious Ways to Integrate the Number 4
Go through your favorite tarot deck and select one card to represent a strong sense of authority that you would like to embody for the rest of the year. Use this as an anchor and source of support as you navigate the next 12 months.
Contemplate the symbolic significance of a square.
We explore The Emperor and Death in more detail in our 78 Connections series. Read more about how these two cards connect - it’s connection #70.
You can find the word “author” within “authority” - consider how you may write your own story this year, by your own definitions.
Read: Seven Steps in Practical Occultism by Paul Foster Case.
Examine how control or conversely passivity show up in your life.
Consider the concept of a beaver dam as it relates to a Year 4.
Get comfortable with saying “no”.
Simplify your life! This may look like using a planner, decluttering your home, organizing your cupboards, setting a schedule, removing routines that aren’t working etc.
Carry a small pouch with associated crystals: Smoky Quartz, Obsidian, Petrified Wood.
Pay attention to when 4 shows up in sequence, in a reading or other synchronistic ways.
Embrace the energy of The Emperor with our Musickal Meditation.
In 2024, we are collectively in a Year 8. This is the year of Strength and carries the theme of generation (power, effort, results). A Year 4 in a Year 8 could be summed up with the following affirmation: “I generate stability as I secure my foundation this year”. Read more about our collective Year 8.
Want to know more about 2024 has in store for you? Explore our offerings to get personalized insight into your year ahead!
Primary Archetype: The Emperor
The Emperor is quite a powerful figure to have in your corner this year. Some view this archetype as a tyrant or a dictator, but if you explore the higher attributes, you’ll find The Emperor is actually an effective and sturdy leader, a visionary, and the voice of reason. They are an individual who, even when chaos ensues, maintains control. This is the kind of energy that is available to you this year should you opt to embrace it.
Do not be afraid to apply discipline, to clearly state your needs, to say “no” when necessary, and rise up to assert your boundaries. Whether you’re an actual boss or simply the boss of your own life, The Emperor reminds you to remain firm. Others do not need to see or understand your vision, so long as that vision has passed your own integrity-check. What you build this year, with the proper attention/intention, will inevitably grow. Be specific and certain as to where you place this unwavering focus, and watch as your dreams literally take shape.
Secondary Archetype: Death
Some secondary archetypes seem to incorporate themselves more seamlessly into personal years than others. In this case, we must consider what Death brings to the table, as it’s not necessarily a card that speaks to structure and stability. In fact, it’s more in line with change and transformation. So, this year, it may be opportune to ask yourself this: Is there something I continually work to build that is not reaping the benefits I’d hoped? Would I be better to start fresh with something new, and build back up? Just because you’ve been pouring effort into one thing, doesn’t mean you must continue on. Sometimes even with the perfect foundation, you can’t always achieve the results you desired. As we build up our forms, we have to be just as ok with letting things go. What are you clinging to? Sometimes it makes more sense to go back to square one than to continue to build on sand.
Power Cards
There are also numbered suit cards in each deck which can represent the year ahead. With them, we may be able to uncover some more practical insights and messages to help guide us. Read about the 4 4s below!
4 of Wands: The 4 of Wands is a reminder that working to achieve our goals doesn’t have to feel like work at all. In the best cases, it can actually feel like play! In all the building this year, try to find the joy. That joy-feeling could be an excellent indicator that what you’re working toward, is truly in alignment with where you’re headed.
4 of Cups: It can be all too easy to lose sight of what we have right in front of us. The 4 of Cups encourages you to look up every now and then. If you’re finding that you’re getting lost in routine or the little details of life, make an effort to find the magick again. Even though a Year 4 tends to be focused on the practical, that doesn’t mean it needs to be dull! Look to the 4 of Wands for guidance.
4 of Swords: Sometimes knowing how to proceed on our goals can attained through thoughtful reflection and rest. In this regard, this year may not be all about constant action and movement. In many ways, knowing when to take a time-out will very much have its place. Learn to strike a balance between activity and rest.
4 of Pentacles: A Personal Year 4 isn’t necessarily a time to indulge and take undue risks. For this reason, the 4 of Pentacles is a perfect depiction of being conservative and wise, especially where matters of resources are concerned. There is no need to “go big” this year. Calculated risks and deliberate movements will get you further than exaggerated gestures. Remember, there is a way to both achieve your goals and live within your means.