Year 2024:

Strength Does Not Suffer Illusion and the USA Cannot Survive the Truth

A bit on Numerology

Numerology is an ancient divinatory practice that spans many centuries and cultures. There are several different systems and schools of thought under the umbrella of numerology and countless lenses to understand and work within those systems. 

 For the purposes of this little writing piece today I will disclose my working definition of numerology as:

nu·mer·ol·o·gy

 The study of numbers through the lens of archetypal meanings and occult interpretation, grounded in the natural law and order of the universe.

 Numbers (order) are an inherent part of the universe. Humans and other animals are born with an innate sense of numerosity that is an intrinsic part of us. As we grow older in society we learn the cultural systems of numbers, counting and mathematics to function in the world, but even without numerical systems a sense of numbers still exists within us. Studying the patterns, qualities and archetypes of numbers beyond just their numerical value is a valuable way to learn about ourselves and the world.   

Possibly the oldest mathematical tool to human kind, the Ishango Bone was discovered in the Congo and is believed to be from the Paleolithic Era

There is much more that could be said about the innate quality of numbers as the basis of numerology. For now I will leave you with this charming article about various animals' mathematical abilities: here, where research suggests it is likely almost every animal has a sense of numbers to varying degrees of complexity.

In numerology, the universal year number is a way to understand the overarching themes that will present during that time frame. To find the universal year number you simply add up all the digits of the year in question and if the number is a double digit, reduce it by adding both digits until it is a single digit. 

The universal year number for 2024 is 8 (2+0+2+4=8).

There is also the personal year in numerology which is a way to understand the themes that will present for you specifically during the year. The overarching influence of the universal year can be layered with the energetics of your personal year number to understand the bigger picture of the energy of the year both collectively and on an individual level. 

To find your personal year number add the month and date of your birthday to the universal year that was determined above. 

For example, my birthday is January 17th, so to find my personal year number for 2024 I add 

1+1+7 = 9+8(the universal year) = 17(reduced 1+7= 8)

So, my personal year number for 2024 also happens to be an 8 which is the same as the universal year we are currently experiencing. I have been feeling out this whole 8 vibe on a personal and collective level for the past 8 months so I'm going to get into it a bit!

**(if you want to be even more numerologically informed you can get even more granular and determine your personal month and even day numbers. We also all have an entire numerology birth chart that can reveal much wisdom if you feel so inclined to explore.) **

About 8 & Strength

8 is a symbol of symmetry, flow, and infinity. In numerology the number 8 is often associated with finances and material success. I would take it a step further to say 8 is all about values. More specifically an 8 year is a time of extreme honesty in service of integrating one's true values. To experience the full intensity of life giving circulation associated with 8 there must first be bravery and strength to clear the path for the waters of truth to run. When you are able to align and unify your internal values in service of your true nature, the external world will respond and arrange to this alignment. This is why I believe the 8 is so often associated with material success.

Strength Card Depictions by Leonora Carrington, “Pixie” Pamela Coleman Smith, and Lady Frieda Harris

In tarot numerology the 8 corresponds to the strength card in the Major Arcana. An angelic woman gently opens the mouth of a wild lion. They are looped together with a wreath of flowers indicating their unity. The 8th card of the majors calls us to integrate truth into physical reality through embodied honesty. The task at hand is soul retrieval of sorts. This card asks us to go deep into the essential nature of who we are (the lion) and bring the buried parts of us into the light of consciousness (woman in the sun). Even if we are afraid of what emerges from this process we have touched what is real and so our trajectory is forever changed in service of truth. 

** For the sake of honesty and acknowledging multiplicity I must say there are differing opinions in tarot about strength corresponding to the 8th position in the majors. In older tarot decks the Justice card would often correspond to number 8 and strength would often be in position number 11. Im not going to get into this discrepancy at length. For the purposes of this piece i’m sticking with strength as number 8 because I believe the infinity symbolism often associated with the strength archetype is best served in the 8th position**

The 7th tarot card in the majors that comes right before the strength card is the Chariot. In the words of Rachel Pollock in 78 Degrees of Wisdom 

“By making strength number 8 we set it against the Chariot, as a different kind of power, not the ego's will but the inner strength to confront yourself calmly and without fear.  The mysteries have been brought out because we have found the strength to face them. The lion signifies all the feelings, fears, desires, and confusion suppressed by the ego in its attempt to control life. The charioteer drew upon his inner feelings as a source of energy where he consciously decided it should go. Strength allows the inner passions to emerge, as the first step in going beyond the ego.”

Chariot Card Depictions by Leonora Carrington, “Pixie” Pamela Coleman Smith, and Lady Frieda Harris

Indeed, once we have allowed our passions to see the light of day it is difficult to stuff them back into darkness, lucky or unlucky for us. The Chariot (7) to Strength (8)  is the transition from the one who uses logical reasoning and sheer will power to achieve greatness —> to the one who is strong enough to redefine success in accordance with one's true nature and values at the forefront instead of societal ideals.  

 8 & Strength Universal Year 2024

8 is a symmetrical number, made up precisely of two 4s who are known for their solid build. Similarly, the strength card is a consciously balanced dynamic. The woman and the beast entertain a playful tension, but no one is overtly dominating the other.

The strength year calls us to align internal values with external reality to the best of our ability. 

In many ways I believe the numbers support us on this balancing endeavor. This year I crave: show don't tell, words match actions, direct communication, ideas made manifest, justice = served, and boundaries in practice from both myself and others.

Yet, the reality of this world is that balance and symmetry are often slow moving. The systems we currently operate within run on extreme imbalance, dishonesty, illusion and fear.  It is uncomfortable and often isolating/depressing when your values deeply and fundamentally clash with society's dominant culture and infrastructure. Strength asks us to hold true to what's true even if that means swimming upstream. While the strength year supports us in our efforts to bring the world into alignment, it is also a time that reveals extremely painful injustice and incongruence. 

 When we choose to accept the mission of the strength year, not only must we go within and find our truth, but we also must learn to embody that truth in a world that wants truth swept under the rug, and people to be weak, not strong. 

To be clear when I say strong I am referring to the realms of politics, character, and spirit. Unfortunately we currently live in a freaky Friday world where many things simply function ass backwards.

Have you ever noticed how the people who are supposed to be the most successful in this culture are, upon further inspection, often shells of human beings with no distinguishable values or backbone?

Aligning with the systemic powers that be within US society may get you “power” in the colonial sense but this requires deep self negation and the cost is essentially your whole soul.

Political Scientist Karl Deutsch once defined power as:

“the ability not to have to learn anything”

Indeed we can see how being “powerful” in a society that runs on oppression and exploitation affords some the privilege to be severely out of touch with reality.

Something I like about the strength card and 8 energy in general is that you need to accept the mission at hand in order to experience the true meaning of strength. This card represents a controlled and conscious integration process unlike, say, the tower card which represents a rather violent and involuntary integration of truth thrust upon us from the powers that be. 

When strength calls, we do have the option to cover our ears. We can actually see that playing out very literally in the world right now as DNC attendees cover their ears when they hear the names of child Martyrs slain in Gaza with US made weapons spoken by pro Palestinian protesters. 

Kamala Harris' campaign offers liberals the illusion of being “strong” without having to think critically or sacrifice any comfort. Her campaigns main promise is to protect us from a conservative monster while she herself pledges to continue genocide fully uninterrupted. Her campaign also promises to continue destroying the climate and to terrorize the families of asylum seekers even more so than conservatives, among many other fully unacceptable anti-humanity policies. Liberalism is a psyop of strength. Conservatism is a false hero that promises strength but delivers demonic fear fueled violence. I swear true strength is the United States end.

Ignoring the call of strength comes at a price. In doing so, one must insulate themselves from reality, bury their head in the sand and learn to become a liar. Denying strength is abandoning oneself and others. This kind of weakness chips away at the soul. 

Strength does not suffer illusions and to ride in her car neither can you!

What is becoming abundantly clear is that the USA cannot survive the truth. In some ways this makes our mission gloriously simple. The more of us who can hold firm in reality in order to challenge what is being sold to us as “normal,” the more the countercurrent grows strong. This is how a paradigm shift is born. Please God give us the strength to sit in the discomfort of incongruence so that we can grow strong.

The Green Lion Devouring the Sun circa 1700 detail from Alchemical Manuscript