Personal Year 9
“I Release…”
“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”
Keywords: Release, Consolidation, Refinement, Completion, Reflection, Endings, Wisdom, Culmination
Ideal For: Closing chapters, reflection on what’s been, tying up loose ends, sharing your wisdom
Crystal Companions: Kyanite, Malachite, Blue Topaz
Tarot Card Archetype: The Hermit
Secondary Archetype: The Moon
Power Cards: The 4 9s
Take a deep breath, because this 9 year cycle is now coming to a close. Those in a Year 9 may feel compelled to spend equal amounts of time reflecting back and planning forward. I often think of these 12 months as a period of decluttering and deep cleaning. This could be quite literal if you’ve been hanging onto objects that have run their course, but more likely it will entail cleaning up the greater parts of life i.e mindsets, relationships, patterns, and ways of being in the world.
Because your next personal year will be a Year 1, you must be absolutely critical in what you allow to come forward. That toxic relationship? Say goodbye. The habits or mentalities that are bringing you down? Make peace and part ways. I recognize that the ridding of things is not as simple as a wave and a walk-in another direction. This process of removal will take getting really honest, being really clear, and making some potentially difficult decisions.
Of course, gaining this clarity is key, because as you end the year, the goal will be wrapping up projects or loose ends. So, if there is something that has been lingering that you don’t want to see hanging out for the next 9 years, bring it to a close now!
Year 9s can be heavy, but they can also be deeply satisfying, like a sturdy sign of relief. It may be helpful to liken this year to the energy of moving house. What are you taking with you? What are you donating to charity? And, what are you chucking in the trash? You can only carry so much now - let it be the stuff that will really empower and inspire you for years to come.
As you wrap up this cycle, take some time to really recognize how far you’ve come and how much you’ve learned! The wisdom you’ve gained cannot be understated. While you reflect on your own journey, you may also be called to light the way for others on theirs. If that’s the case, step up to be a mentor or guide to those needing support. You have many insights to share - don’t underestimate just how helpful it would be to pass those learnings on!
Conscious Ways to Integrate the Number 9
Select one small habit that you tend to do daily (which no longer serves a purpose) and take steps to remove it.
Contemplate a large body of ice melting and how it relates to a Year 9.
Make a list of 9 things you’ve learned in the last 9 years.
Offer your wisdom to others as a a guide, mentor and/or friend.
Visualize yourself on the top of a mountain. Notice what lays out on the horizon before you and conversely, what falls behind.
Consider the greatest teachers you’ve had through your life and what makes them special.
Read: The Untethered Soul or The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer.
Think back to your last Year 1. What themes emerged that year that persisted through this cycle? Reflect on the way any themes have evolved these last 9 years and how you’ve grown through them.
The Hermit and The Moon are the tarot archetypes associated with a Year 9. We explore these in more detail in our 78 Connections series. Read more about how your Year-9 cards connect.
Carry a small pouch with associated crystals: Kyanite, Malachite, Blue Topaz.
Pay attention to when 9 shows up in sequence, in a reading or in other synchronistic ways.
Embrace the energy of The Hermit with our Musickal Meditation.
In 2025, we are collectively in a Year 9. This is the year of The Hermit and carries the theme of release. A Personal Year 9 in a Universal Year 9 could be summed up with the following affirmation: “I release any and all voices that are not my own and trust the wisdom I have within”. Read more about our collective Year 9.
Want to know more about 2025 has in store for you? Explore our offerings and get personalized insight into your year ahead!
Primary Archetype: The Hermit
Year 9s are all about getting really clear about what is going to make the cut as you embark on a new cycle. And, The Hermit is a clue that all the insight you require regarding this process of refinement, will ultimately come from within. A Year 9 means getting in touch with your personal truth, and being okay with saying “this isn’t working for me”.
The Hermit is also a reminder that these journeys, through your 9 year cycle and otherwise, are yours and yours alone. While input from others can be appreciated, they shouldn’t be the final word. Only you can say what the focus should be, where you are headed and how you’re going to get there.
Trust this guide above all. You have been with yourself every step of the way thus far, so it should go without saying that you have more clarity about your life than anyone else. Lean on that when things get challenging or become unclear. Whether the answer is immediately available to you or you need to do a bit more digging, somewhere within you, you know. You know what needs to stay behind, you know what needs to come forward and you know the best way to make that happen.
Secondary Archetype: The Moon
The Moon depicts a journey and an evolution. Much like the personal year cycle, we begin as the crayfish making our way out of the water, ready to embark. There are ups and downs, and even though you’re nearing the end of this particular chapter, you’re encouraged to pay homage to humble beginnings, all the learnings along the way and the place you began. While we grow so much through the years, our earliest memories (collective and personal) never leave us. They continue to inform our path, our personalities and even our soul for the entirety of the journey. Do no forget these pieces. They live on in us, revealing themselves through inner whispers, visions and dreams. As you navigate the year, know that wisdom can be found both in the conscious and unconscious aspects of your being. Don’t be afraid to go deeply into the dark - the light is never too far from sight.
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 9s below!
9 of Wands: The 9 of Wands typically features an individual who clings to a single wand, seemingly for dear life, while a stack of 8 stand behind them. This begs the question: what are you holding onto despite the fact that it may not be serving you in the way it should? The 9 of Wands says “let go”! If it’s meant for you, it will be yours, no clinging required.
9 of Cups: The 9 of Cups is a reminder that through the process of reflection and refinement, there is still much possibility for joy and play. In addition, there is a sense here that the wishes you make in a 9 year, have the ability to take shape during your next 9 year cycle. So, set some intentions before the new cycle even begins (but also, be careful what you wish for!)
9 of Swords: What is keeping you up at night? What is a source of anxiety and fear? It’s time to examine the mentalities that are causing strife internally and seek resolution. Also know that every once in awhile, we all need a good cry. As you come to the end of another cycle, use tears as a way to purge and heal.
9 of Pentacles: Similar to the Hermit, the 9 of Pentacles is a reminder that while you may have companionship as you travel, ultimately this journey is yours. You may find that you are needing to trust, more and more, your own instincts above anyone else's. Focus on you, your growth, your independence and what it means to live a meaningful life by your own definitions.