Follow The Signs: Making Sense of Those Repeating Numbers
When I was in college, I began seeing 11s everywhere. Most commonly, I would catch the time 11:11 or 1:11. At that point in my life, I wasn’t super connected to spirituality in very obvious ways. I was 19 years old, a bit disconnected, just trying to navigate life transitions.
The numbers happened so frequently though that one day I decided to Google 11:11 and that was when I found entire communities devoted to some kind of so-called “awakening”. It was described as a “key”, “portal”, “gateway” to higher consciousness. We were undergoing a shift, a leveling up, and those sensitive to these energies would see 11:11 as a sign that they were on the right path and a reminder of their true spiritual nature.
I was intrigued. And looking back, I can say that time in my life was pivotal in a lot of ways. A crossroads even, and the decisions I made then, very much link to where I am today.
Since then, the numbers are still a part of life, and I hear many others talk about the patterns that show up for them. Now, it’s not just 11:11. It’s 2s in sequence or 3s. Personally and lately I’ve been seeing a lot of 4s and 5s - but what does it all mean?
I want to share with you how I’ve come to interpret these patterns. I’ll take a general approach and then a more specific one, and lastly, I will share an exercise you can use to explore tarot as a means to get even clearer about what the numbers mean to you specifically.
First, let’s look at the basic energy behind each number in its singular state.
Keywords To Get Started
1: Beginnings, individuality, opportunity, purity, confidence, action.
2: Balance, partnerships, harmony, communication, receptivity.
3: Creativity, joy, social circles, fun, growth.
4: Structure, stability, order, organization, roots, home.
5: Change, instability, unpredictability, expansion.
6: Love, empathy, compassion, service.
7: Spirituality, dreams, magick, esoterism, faith.
8: Work, wealth, focus, motivation, effort.
9: Fulfillment, success, satisfaction, endings.
Now having a bit of basic information about the numbers in their singular form, what could they possibly mean as repeated observations in your life? If we relate the numbers back to tarot, specifically looking at the Major Arcana, we can come to see them as special visitors. Let’s compare.
Messengers From The Major Arcana
If you’re seeing 1 repeatedly, perhaps The Magician has a message for you. The Magician indicates a time where you have the ability to express your will freely; to make of your life what you want. You have all the tools and abilities at your disposal, it is now up to you to wield them in a way that will manifest accordingly. Have both faith and confidence in yourself at this time.
If you’re seeing 2 repeatedly, perhaps The High Priestess has a message for you. The High Priestess says your innate ability to intuit and communicate effectively is important to acknowledge at this time. Look both at what is being said and what isn’t. Ask yourself, does this feel right? Your gut will lead to you the best decisions possible at this time and ensure a proper balance is struck both taking into account your needs and the needs of those around you.
If you’re seeing 3 repeatedly, perhaps The Empress has a message for you. The Empress assures you that creativity isn’t just a gift, it is a birthright. What is it you’re dying to put out in the world? How can you express yourself more fully? What would bring you the most joy? The Empress speaks to abundance, not necessarily in material wealth, but in surrounding yourself with beautiful things which you love.
If you’re seeing 4 repeatedly, perhaps The Emperor has a message for you. The Emperor feels confident that a good structure starts with a solid base. Look inwardly as well as at your outward surroundings. Do you feel safe? Secure? Stable? Now is a time to get grounded and work on planting firm roots. The care you take through this process will ensure that what grows, grows strong.
If you’re seeing 5 repeatedly, perhaps The Hierophant has a message for you. The Hierophant stands by tradition, but also encourages you to question where you are, where you’re going, and why. It’s not easy to break away and make a change, especially when it goes against the grain. It can make you feel as if you’re being thrown to the wild, unsure of yourself and your ability to navigate. Have faith though that regardless of the weather or challenges ahead, if you follow in your heart what you know to be right, you’ll land safely on much better ground.
If you’re seeing 6 repeatedly, perhaps The Lovers has a message for you. The Lovers indicates that your close and intimate relationships may be of the most importance at this time. Have you been neglecting a certain someone? Is there something you can do to breathe more passion into an area of your life? Are you avoiding making an important choice - perhaps one where you’re being pulled between the head and the heart? Now is the time to get clear on partnerships, especially personal ones.
If you’re seeing 7 repeatedly, perhaps The Chariot has a message for you. The Chariot wants you to stay hyper-vigilant to your own goals, especially your spiritual and self-development ones. There are lots of factors that can steer you astray, so it’s important to remain clear on where you’re headed and why. You’re moving in the right direction - just keep going!
If you’re seeing 8 repeatedly, perhaps Strength has a message for you. Strength is a reminder that what you possess within is enough to see you through this chapter. Lean on your inner resolve and strong will. Brute force may not be required, but consistent effort and tireless pursuit will take you a long way. You will reap what you sow, so make sure what you’re putting out there is something you’d just as much like to receive.
If you’re seeing 9 repeatedly, perhaps The Hermit has a message for you. The Hermit says you’ve been through a fair bit and now it’s time to take stock, go within, reflect and rely on your own inner knowing. Consider everything that’s transpired, how far you’ve come and what you’ve learned along the journey. Now is the time to replenish, while being mindful of what you will continue to carry forward and what chapters have now come to an end.
An Exercise To Dig Deeper
But maybe you want to drill down even deeper. It’s one thing to know that you’re seeing 2 a lot and the basic message is something about balance relating to The High Priestess, but what does this mean to everyday life? To figure this out, isolate all the 2s from the Minor Arcana. You’ll end up 4 cards: the 2 of Pentacles, 2 of Swords, 2 of Wands, and 2 of Cups. Go ahead and shuffle those 4 cards while asking spirit to show you the one that is connected to the number sequence you’re seeing. Use the card that is drawn to further understand the meaning of the pattern and how it relates to your everyday life.
For example, if you pulled the 2 of Pentacles, we’re looking at Earth energy which may relate to finances, resources, physical health, or even career. Perhaps the message of balance relates to your finances and the reason you’re seeing this particular sequence is a reminder to make sure your budget is in the green, that you’re being mindful of where you’re money is going and that you’re being wise in the way you’re expending your personal energy. Are you feeling burned out? Are the to-do lists bumming you out? Just a few points for consideration…
So the next time you see those numbers, either ask spirit to show you more to use the tools and resources you have to get more specific with what they mean for you.
I hope that provided you some helpful insight and points to reflect on, or maybe even a new way to use the cards that you hadn’t considered! If you have success with this method or have any questions about it, let me know in the comments - I’d love to hear about it!
With love,
Julia