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With astrologers forecasting some broad-scale upheaval and change for 2023, you might be looking for a sign that all this change will be for the better. Good news: The numerological symbolism of 2023 could very well be that sign. According to numerology, a system that ascribes meaning to numbers based on patterns and ancient context, the year 2023 could carry with it an aura of discovery, intuition, and compassion as we search for new ways to understand ourselves and the world around us.
Experts in This Article
California-based numerologist, astrologer, and tarot reader
hereditary astrologer and numerologist
numerologist and author of Numerology
What is the meaning of the year 2023 in numerology?
In numerology, the meaning of a number is typically derived from the sum of its digits (added together until you arrive at a single digit). In the case of 2023, that would be 2+0+2+3, which equals 7. As a result, 7 is considered the universal year number for 2023 and reflects the energy that the year carries on a collective scale.
While each single digit or base number (1-9) in numerology contains multitudes and can be interpreted in various ways (much like each of the 12 signs in astrology), the number 7 is generally associated with the search for deeper meaning, according to Kamlesh Trivedi, hereditary astrologer, numerologist and an expert at astrology app Nebula. “The number 7 is special because it is connected with the planet Ketu in Vedic astrology—a “shadow planet” now considered synonymous with the moon’s south node—and Neptune in Western astrology,” he says. “Both are deeply connected with spiritual enlightenment and intuition.”
“7 [which is the ‘universal year number’ of 2023] is a number of both spirituality and science.” —Jasmine Wolfe, numerologist
Given the nebulous nature of these themes, the number 7 can often leave you with more questions than answers (at least at first), says numerologist Jasmine Wolfe. “It’s a number of both spirituality and science since both modalities seek to answer the large and looming questions of the universe.”
Consider how the number 7 has shown up in the world at large—seven oceans, seven continents, seven chakras, seven colors of the rainbow—and it’s easy to see how it’s become associated in numerology with the deeper meaning or pattern of things, says Trivedi. “The number 7 also cannot be obtained by multiplying two smaller numbers together, giving it its designation as the mystic number, too,” he adds.
In turn, 2023, as a “7 year,” carries with it unique potential. Coupled with the astrological shifts on the horizon, this 7 energy could make 2023 a year for personal and collective progress. “7 is the number of elevation,” says numerologist Remington Donovan, author of Numerology: A Beginner’s Guide to the Spiritual Meaning of Numbers. “This is a year for makeovers and upgrades on all levels—the possibilities are endless.”
By the end of the year, we could better understand the path to our next breakthrough, with the arrival of the unique date 12/31/23 (or 123123). The meaning of 123123 heralds a fresh start, while also pairing the fated 7 energy of 2023 with the more powerful and intentional 8 energy of 2024.
What collective themes can we expect to surface in 2023?
Innovation and discovery are certainly on the numerology forecast, and it’s possible that both could come through both traditional and eccentric means, given the mysticism of 2023 as a 7 year. In that realm, “technology and the internet may play an even larger role in our lives, as people embrace new digital tools and inventions like electric vehicles,” says Trivedi. By the same token, people may also develop a greater appreciation for nature, he adds, and tether their inventions directly to nature as the 7 energy of the year makes us all more aware of the big picture.
Similarly, the spiritual vibe of 2023 could also make it a priority to spend more time reconnecting with nature on a personal level, says Wolfe. “Giving yourself the time for contemplation in nature will help you know what kinds of questions you need to be asking and give you the space to explore what those answers might look like,” she says.
“Personal attributes like forgiveness and mercy will appear more often in 2023.” —Kamlesh Trivedi, numerologist and hereditary astrologer at Nebula
The resulting energy could be one of collective curiosity and open-mindedness to new ideas, which bodes well for a society so deeply scarred by polarization. This isn’t to say that 2023 will bring some sort of universal harmony or alignment. But certainly, there will be an air of compassion and peace, says Trivedi, “and personal attributes like forgiveness and mercy will appear more often.”
Donovan goes so far as to call the number 7 the “emotional healer,” which carries with it a “sweet, gentle, caring energy field that goes into a situation and makes everything better, nicer, and brighter.” After all, the seventh house in astrology reflects the realm of one-on-one relationships, ruled by the fairness-oriented sign of Libra (which is, in turn, ruled by the love planet of Venus). As a result, Donovan sees the number 7 as being about helping and uplifting both yourself and others at the same time: “It’s as if you’re giving flowers to everyone but you are also the bouquet.”
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