* “Don’t grieve, anything you lose comes round in another form.” (Rumi)
The planet that rules this year: Ketu
Keywords & planetary energy: introspection, soul-searching, self-reflection, solitude, self-exploration, spirituality, foreign matters, hidden talents, research, suddenness, dissatisfaction, karmic events, past experiences, secrets, dreams, ego dissolution, intuition, creative imagination, illusion, self-deception, self-victimization, self-destruction, subconscious mind, detachment, separation, death, loss, blockages, reduction, detoxification, transformation, liberation, rebirth
What can you expect in a Personal Year 7?
From spending most of your Personal Year 6 (ruled by Venus) in being more of service to others, the Universe will shift the focus entirely back to you. A Personal Year 7, ruled by Ketu, will influence you to journey more inwards, rather than outwards. It is all about exploring your soul, delving deep into the core of your being, and growing your inner world while releasing some parts of yourself, including your ego and those things that no longer serve you in the outer world. The year will highlight common themes and matters in relation to the behavioral qualities, planetary energies, and signification of Ketu, like the ones mentioned above. But the energies that may dominate the year more prominently will be in the area of self-examination, self-discovery, self-realization, reimagination, spiritual awakening, ego death, detachment, loss, renunciation, and reduction of all kinds. In addition, your ability to improve your psychological well-being (due to past experiences and sudden, unforeseen karmic events) will also come forth, so you can bring about forgiveness, acceptance, renewal, and transformation.
A Personal Year 7 is quite a self-focused time in which you will be spiritually guided and provided with opportunities to connect not only with your higher self but also with the Divine energy, God, something bigger than yourself. You will spend more time alone, mostly in a contemplative, soul-searching mode, as you search for answers within yourself about your journey so far. You can say that it’s quite a nostalgic period because you will make a few trips down memory lane and reflect on your past experiences, including your mistakes, and how everything led to this point in time. Feelings of dissatisfaction about your persona, accomplishments, and all the choices and decisions you have made could come up now. You may question your path and feel uncertain about your direction. This may trigger a bunch of mixed emotions and feelings, including a sense of confusion, failure, and regret. Your mood might swing from time to time and in many directions. Certain doubts about your belief system, personal philosophies, ideologies, values, family traditions, and perhaps religious views could also occupy your mind. As such, here are some questions that you may ask yourself during this introspective period:
What have I been doing with my life? Have I accomplished everything I wanted or do I desire more? Am I happy with the things I have? What is the reason for my existence? What is my purpose? What do I want in terms of my career? Am I on the right path? Am I happy where I am and who I’m with, or should I go in an entirely new and different direction? And if so, then where should I go next? Am I content with who I am, including my personality, talents, and skills? Do I like the way I look? Or should I change something about my appearance? Are the beliefs and dreams that I have still in alignment with where I want to go and how I want to grow in life?
These are all questions that could come up as you wander your mind and reevaluate yourself and your life’s path. To get some of your questions answered, you may want to listen carefully to your intuition. Better yet, pay attention to the signs and symbols all around you, and especially your dreams as they will be extremely vivid, and can help you uncover their hidden meanings just like in your Personal Year 2 (ruled by the Moon). But if that doesn’t work, and you’re completely at a loss and can’t see where you’re headed, then the ultimate thing you can do is to go within. Take a break from everything that you are doing, silence your mind, and surrender yourself to the ultimate source. In other words, let go and let God! Once you decide to do this, the answers will slowly come to you. Because if there is any year within your nine-year cycle – besides your Personal Year 3 (ruled by Jupiter) – in which you can (re) establish a relationship with not only your higher self but with the creator of creators, a bigger power than yourself, then this is it.
Apart from the self-analysis about your journey so far, you can also spend a lot of time thinking and dreaming about people from your past. Sudden flashbacks can occur and you may even ask yourself why certain relationships never worked out. You might also ponder on the people that you currently surround yourself with as you try to figure out whether they still fit in your long-term plans and, thus, your future. Interestingly, you may get the chance to reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a while. This sudden blast from your past could be an old flame, colleague, family member, or childhood friend. Just keep in mind that this renewed connection may not entirely fructify as you had hoped unless it concerns a relationship that was built on a strong and solid foundation. Only then can you re-establish and further grow the bond between you and that other person.
Certain lifelong ambitions, hopes, dreams, and wishes you’ve had for a while (and that you could not accomplish so far) can also become a focal point. So much so that it can become an obsession that you may find hard to let go of, initially. But at one point, you may be pushed by the Universe to give up on these aspirations and desires, especially if you could not fulfill them in your Personal Year 6 (ruled by Venus) or the previous years. So if you have a long-life career goal that you still cannot bring to fruition, you might have to give it up now. Or if you could not make any decisive decisions about your relationships last year, then this time around, you may have to cut ties with some people or they could decide that it is time to move on. What you have to understand is that the energetic vibration of the number 7, i.e., Ketu, strongly signifies suddenness, detachment, losses, endings, breakups, separation, upheavals, and (self-) destruction with transformation, renewal, and change as a result. Whenever its karmic numerological cycle has arrived, which is in this case a Personal Year 7, you may experience sudden events and situations in relation to these aforementioned significations. Its energy usually takes away those things that you no longer need. It detaches and separates you (whether emotionally or physically) from people who no longer add any value to your soul’s purpose. So if you have a dream, desire, or aspiration that you can’t seem to let go of, understand that it is time to give it all up. If you have a bad habit that you’ve been meaning to break, know that this year’s energy may force you to do that as well. And if there is a person or a place of living you held so dearly, know that they too may disappear for good. It could also be something else that might have been bothering you for many years and has now reached its culmination point. Or perhaps you might realize that the only way for you to even reach your full potential and live your best life is to move away from a certain person who is dragging you down and preventing you from growing.
Whatever the case may be, whatever you struggled with, or whomever you were attached to over the past years, the Universe may now show you, in your Personal Year 7, that their due date has arrived. It is time to let go! However, sometimes this could come as a shock or surprise, which can be hard to digest and process, especially when it all happens without a warning. In some cases, you might even refuse to believe the reality of the situation and live in denial for a while. But if you are aware of the energies, conscious of your surroundings, and in tune with your intuition, then you already know what or who needs to leave. So, what are those fears, phobias, habits, and addictions that you need to let go of? Is it time to give up on some of your old career dreams and ambitions? What values and/or beliefs do you have that you no longer relate to? What or who are you so attached to when you know they’re no good?
In case you are not in tune with yourself, your environment, your intuition, and the Universe, then now is a perfect time to get in alignment and identify the whys behind the things you crave or do. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Why do I do the things I do? Why do I consume so much? Why do I eat the things I eat? Why do I smoke, drink, and eat unhealthily? Why do I shop so much? Why do I buy all these material things? Why do I need to be on social media all the time? Why do I crave attention? Why do I feel the need to watch the news every single day? Why am I in that type of job or career? Why do I crave that specific position or job title? Why am I with that person? Why do I surround myself with those people every single day? Why am I attached to them? Why do I still live in this city or country?
Once you have identified the reason and motivation behind your actions, you will better understand what needs to dissolve before you can progress to the next phase. Sometimes, you may even be required to sacrifice something that’s dear to your heart, but you will find that when you’re able to do so, your future self will thank you enormously.
Endings and losses can happen in various ways and in different areas; from letting go of an old mindset and resigning from a job that’s draining your soul to losing one unexpectedly. Ending a career that you’ve outgrown or closing a business and losing your reputation (as a result) could happen now. Additionally, you might come to a shocking realization that nothing in life lasts forever, including your relationships – be it friendships, familial, business partnerships, marriage, or love affairs. As such, you could experience a sudden divorce or break-up in the romantic sphere. Or you might have to sever ties with colleagues, associates, acquaintances, companions, employees, or long-time friends. Perhaps you realize that you no longer resonate with any of your friends and therefore you may decide to distance yourself from them. It could also be the other way around, and hence some friends might suddenly cut off all communication with you and vanish like a ghost in the night. Alternatively, you could change your place of residence, detox your entire social circle, part ways with anything and everyone you’ve ever known, and start a new chapter in a different part of town, city, or country. You may even decide to renounce your citizenship/nationality. On a different note, there is a possibility of losing something of monetary value, which could be as simple as clothes (through donation) or a car (due to a sudden breakdown) to something even bigger than that, such as a salary reduction (due to insufficient hours of work), decline in revenue (if you’re a business owner) or you might lose a purse/wallet (through theft). Certain self-destructing behaviors and addictions (e.g. alcohol and drug abuse, excessive social media posting, smoking, impulsive shopping, gambling, unhealthy eating habits) can also end now, whether by force or through your own effort. When it comes to your appearance; you might suddenly feel dissatisfied with the way you look, which could trigger you to let go of ‘the old you’. As such, you could take drastic steps to change your physical appearance through, for example, fitness, dieting, fasting, a new hairstyle or hair color, a new wardrobe style, or even cosmetic procedures. On a more serious note, if you’ve been suffering from any health-related issues, something that’s been weighing you down and needs attention, you might get this resolved through either medical or surgical treatment.
Out of all the years within your nine-year cycle, you can consider a Personal Year 7 as quite a transformative period because the events that may take place and the situations you will find yourself in may not only change and transform your mind, body, and soul but also your entire life from the inside out. You could experience at least one or two major changes and perhaps a few smaller ones in your direct environment that may drastically change your path and direction. You can also consider this year as a period of detoxification because you may make a clean slate. But this fresh new start will only come after you release yourself from all the toxicity, toxins, and toxic influences; from the products you use, the type of food you eat, the lifestyle you live, and the career you’re in, to the people in your day-to-day (whether that be in your work, school, or home environment). When you look at things from a spiritual context, it is worth noting that these unforeseen events, changes, and transformations, whether you experience them as negative or positive, are often related to your past life karma. Everything that happens now is meant to happen. It is all fated. Though it may affect you deeply, understand that it is all for a very good reason and, ultimately, for your highest good. On a different level, the idea of transformation also signifies death, literally or figuratively. In a figurative sense, a certain aspect of yourself might die; i.e., your ego may break down, and you may see yourself in a different light. In a more literal and physical sense, you could experience or hear of the sudden passing of someone very close to you (e.g., a relative) or in your wider social circle. When an unexpected death or any of the aforementioned examples of losses and endings occur, understand that it is the Universe’s way of teaching you that any loss of something or separation from someone is part of your experience here on earth. These people and things were just attachments that needed to leave so you could further develop and grow your soul. The more you hold on to attachments, the more they will slow down your spiritual (inner) growth. And it is only through release and acceptance of it you can find relief, make peace with the past, and create space for something new to enter your life. Or, in the words of Rumi; *“Don’t grieve, anything you lose comes round in another form.”
Considering the theme of spirituality, this year will also teach you that the more you focus on materialism and chasing material things, the more they will hold you back from experiencing the spiritual side of life. Hence, it is not a good time for big purchases, financial investments, career promotions, or moving forward with any of your materialistic pursuits, not even romantic commitments. So, if you feel more drawn to the material side of life, you may need to take a break, reconsider how you approach things, and keep your ambitious goals and desire for recognition on the back burner for a while. Additionally, if you can’t seem to get a hold of your impulsive and compulsive buying habits, then suddenly you may find yourself in a situation in which you may be forced to re-strategize the way you spend and save money. The reason you might experience this sense of retraction and reduction in your life is because of Ketu’s energy, the opposite of Rahu. With Rahu (which you already experienced in your Personal Year 4), there is a tendency to live more in your head than in your body, thus focusing on materialism and chasing goals was quite the focus. Ketu, on the contrary, can make you live more in your body than in your head. It has the tendency to separate your conscious mind from the material world and take you more into the subconscious world. It wants you to focus on minimalism instead of materialism. Its foggy energy affects your ability to think logically and make conscious decisions, especially from a materialistic perspective. You could feel a bit more confused than normal and even forgetful at times. Therefore, it is not a good period to push forward with your personal agenda and aspirations, as they may not work out in the way you had expected. Neither is it advisable to either accumulate stuff you do not need or keep on pushing for things to happen your way because you will set yourself up for disappointment. For instance, if you want to expand an existing business or launch a new one, know that things may not go as planned; you might lose more money instead of gaining anything. Or, if, for example, you meet a new love interest and want to take things further; it is best to practice some patience and wait until the following year, even if you feel a very strong sense of déjà vu. Alternatively, if you go ahead with a big item purchase, for example, a car or a house, then there is a big chance that you may regret your decision later. So, always think before you spend your money on frivolous things because this heavy energy can influence your psyche so much that your decision-making skills may not be up to par. Any decision you make without giving it a second thought (especially when it pertains to material desire or goal) could lead to serious regret, remorse, and even frustration. You may find that the more you try to keep up with the Joneses, the more you will suffer. The more desires you have, the more they will become an obsession and attachment, and thus the more difficult they become to achieve, as sudden obstacles will be put in your way. And when things don’t fall into place, it can lead to a negative display of emotion, such as anger, agitation, anxiety, depression, and sorrow. If, however, you still feel you do not have enough or you are dissatisfied with what you already have, then you may need to reassess what you need more of and why. To figure this out, you have to slow down and relax. Go with the flow, and let things unfold naturally and organically. This will help you cope with the negative side of Ketu’s energy. You may also want to step away from the limelight for a while. Refrain from drawing too much attention to yourself, as this might backfire, especially if you’ve got something brewing in the lab that is not yet ready to be exposed to the world – be it a new product, book, documentary, independent film, or website. Whatever you may work on now, try to avoid going public with any of your ventures to help prevent potential setbacks. You can keep a low profile by going on a digital detox, disconnecting from social media, and attending fewer social gatherings and events. This will help you keep your focus while you work on yourself, your projects, plans, and strategies behind the scenes.
Not only will you experience your subconscious mind in a state of high activity and intensity, but this year’s energy could also make your brain create certain illusions, and sometimes even delusions. You might feel as if you’re in la-la land. In other words, you could be out of touch with reality, imagine stuff, and thus not see things for what they truly are. On the brighter side, it is a perfect time to engage more in healthy escapism activities and hobbies to help you cope with the illusive, imaginative, and spaced-out energy in a more relaxed manner. For example, you could visit fantasy-themed amusement parks with family and friends or journey to aviation and space museums. You can also watch more Sci-Fi, investigation, animated, and adventure-based movies or documentaries on all things related to aerospace, the cosmos, and paranormal activity. Alternatively, if you are a creative person (e.g. visual artist, painter, writer, musician, painter), then your imagination can get illuminated, so much so, that you could suddenly gain fresh ideas for new projects such as a new song, painting, book, or animated movie. In case you are a student, then tapping into the energetic vibration of the number 7 could help you concentrate better on your studies, or if you’re learning a new skill such as a foreign language or a musical instrument, then expect to see significant progress. It is also an excellent time to advance yourself in the spiritual (or religious) department, especially if you’re very much in tune with your inner self, the Universe, and your surroundings. You can elevate your consciousness to a higher level by implementing various spiritual practices into your day-to-day; e.g., meditation, yoga, Qigong, forest bathing, sacred fire ceremonies, incense burning, and different energetic cleansing rituals and cultural ceremonies. A sudden interest in metaphysical studies, such as astrology and numerology, could also happen now. Or you might delve deep into subjects like astronomy, ancient mythology, theology, and even the world of psychology. Whatever new areas you explore now and activities you engage in may help you gain more clarity and new insights about yourself and the world around you. You could even meet people with similar interests who may help you see things from a different perspective. In case you are a research-oriented person by nature, i.e., you enjoy researching and investigating things as a hobby or you have to do a lot of research for your work, then now you could gain tremendous results pertaining to your projects.
Throughout this soul-searching period, you may travel to your place of birth (if you haven’t been there in a while) or a faraway, exotic country that intuitively feels like you’ve been there before, like in a past life. While overseas, you might visit spiritual sites and religious places of worship, such as temples, ashrams, shrines, churches, mosques, and synagogues. In case you can’t travel abroad, then you might go on a retreat nearby and visit areas you’ve never been to before. If not that, then you could explore a taste of foreign cultures by watching travel programs, listening to world music, or trying out diverse international cuisines. Interestingly, the new people you meet this time around (e.g., at work, school, parties, online networks, or while traveling) may feel very familiar, as if you’ve met them before. This sense of familiarity and energetic pull towards your new acquaintances usually means that you share a strong karmic connection with them, which can be positive or negative. It is therefore important to be extremely careful of who you trust and who you allow into your space, as not everyone will have your best interest at heart. There is a possibility of meeting deceitful figures with selfish intentions, but when you are guided by your intuition and listen to your inner voice, you will recognize and unmask them. Then again, it could also be you who may act sneaky and manipulative. Nonetheless, those genuine people you befriend now and feel naturally, energetically, and spiritually drawn to will stay with you for many years to come.
At times, you may feel a sense of disassociation and disconnection from the people around you and the environment you find yourself in. You could feel like a stranger in a strange land wherever you are or whomever you’re with, whether you are in a group, with your romantic partner, friends, family, or colleagues. You might even think or feel you’re alone, like in solitary confinement, even though you are not. Understand that just because you feel a sense of loneliness doesn’t always mean you are alone. But if you are alone most of the time and find it hard to deal with, then see it as an opportunity to learn to be on your own. Only when you learn to enjoy your own company and build a better relationship with yourself, you will never feel alone wherever you are. In fact, when you spend some quality time with yourself, you may even appreciate the essence of being in the present more than ever, as being in solitude can help you gain more creative inspiration, self-awareness, and inner peace. Thus, it is a perfect year to do some inner work and concentrate more on cultivating long-term inner happiness and contentment, rather than looking for outside sources to satisfy your ego and gain temporary bliss. It is also a favorable time to practice self-acceptance, come to terms with life’s challenges and your past mistakes, and accept these experiences as lessons to help move you forward into a better and brighter future. Once you heal the relationship with yourself and forgive others for anything that may have happened, you can move on peacefully. So, whatever happens, or whatever you have been through, do not blame yourself or others for your current circumstances or anything that may have happened in the past. Avoid victimizing yourself at all costs. Because with Ketu’s energy influencing your Personal Year 7, there is a high probability that some unresolved issues and emotional pain from the past may come to the surface, even though you thought you had dealt with them already. And throwing a pity party won’t help solve your problems. Instead, it would make things worse. Now, if you cannot do the inner work by yourself or suffer from perhaps depression, blockages, or any form of emotional trauma, the Universe may provide you with the opportunity to seek professional help. So, if you’ve always wanted to try past life regression therapy or Reiki (energy healing), you may use this time to book a session with a specialized practitioner to help you identify the root cause of your feelings, analyze your mental processes, balance your emotions and face your fears, so you can heal from old subconscious patterns and cope with your current situation in a more holistic manner.
Even though you may be more contemplative than ever, travel more internally, and perhaps act more secretive as well, do not forget about your daily responsibilities that take place in your external world. It is okay to feel the need to have more privacy, and not over-share your whereabouts with the entire world. Just try to avoid too much isolation and withdrawal, and remain cordial to those around you. After all, life still goes on, and these translucent energies you feel and the emotions you experience are all just temporary. They, too, will eventually pass, just like everything else. It’s all a phase! But these same energies are also preparing you for your Personal Year 8 (ruled by Saturn), and the years beyond. So use this time carefully to discover whether or not you are on the right path. Find out what you like and dislike, who you enjoy being in your life, and who you want out of it. Explore your hidden talents (through your hobbies and interests), improve your personality, work on your weaknesses, and polish your skills without distraction. Also, understand that in order for you to find your true direction and purpose, it is important for you to differentiate your wants from your needs by separating your ego from your soul. So, if, for example, you crave that luxury car, perfect relationship, or fancy-sounding job title, ask yourself; is this my ego or my soul talking? Is this what my ego wants, or it is what my soul needs? Just because your ego wants something doesn’t mean it is good for your soul. Identify the difference. Once you’ve identified the difference and discovered who you are, what you want, where you want to go, and who you want to become, you can then implement the changes in the following year (a time of harvest), and work towards building a better future that is more fulfilling and in true alignment with your soul. By the end of this year, you may even feel magically reborn and renewed again, especially when you’ve found your new path and direction.
Ultimately, in a Personal Year 7, the Universe will teach you the lesson and essence of acceptance as you let go of certain aspects of your past self and liberate your present self from situations that have completed their cycle. You may come to understand that things don’t always go as you please or wish. Sometimes things need to fall apart drastically, suddenly, and painfully, before renewal can take place and a positive transformation can emerge. The more you resist change, the more you will suffer not only now, but in the years to come. But the more you go with the flow and accept the impermanence of life and sudden changes, including the negative ones, the more you will feel liberated. In addition, the sooner you let go, the easier you can reconcile your past, and develop, and grow yourself more personally, psychologically, and spiritually.
Side Note: The examples mentioned for each Personal Year are merely examples based on my personal experience and observational research, and might not apply to your personal situation entirely. However, if you relate to some events, then they could have happened in a previous cycle already, or you might go through some of them right now. And if you do not relate to any of the events pertaining to your present cycle, then they may have yet to be manifested in the future. It is all possible. But keep in mind that in order to understand your Personal Year, you should know the meaning of the planets in Astrology. Simply because each year is influenced by a certain planet. Once you have a basic understanding of the astrological significations of the planets and their association with the numbers in numerology, it will be easier for you to see how the energies may play out in your own life. In addition, having some self-awareness about your own behavioral pattern can also help you work better with the energies instead of fighting against them.