I was playing I Declare War with a friend over the weekend, and getting my butt kicked. The problem was that when we came to a card war, the card I played to win it was the number 4. It happened so many times that I jokingly pointed it out, but after a while my friend began to notice too how often the suits of 4 were showing up in my hand.
The number 4 has kept popping up for me ever since. I have an astrology app on my phone that I haven’t opened in weeks. I went to read my horoscope, and what do I find waiting for me:
Even when I was simply playing videogames, 4 found its way in there as well. This was the tag for one of the opponents I faced tonight:
Yes, it could all be coincidence, a result of random luck on a Saturday night making me more aware of the number 4 in general. But where’s the fun in that? Besides, I genuinely believe that numbers carry special meaning, and that the universe communicates with us in all sorts of mystical ways I was too quick to dismiss in my arrogant youth. I’d always considered 3 to be my number though, mostly because with my two brothers, that made three of us (that’s not even accurate anymore, as I have another brother and a sister now).
Although I believe that numbers carry meaning, I have no idea what they are. Numerology.com describes 4 as such:
When strength and efficiency are needed, it’s number 4 to the rescue. The 4 in Numerology is a no-nonsense number with a heads-down approach to life and work. It is extremely dependable and lends a great amount of stability to a person or situation. The 4 is dedicated to advancing, but in a more conservative way than a progressive one. It sticks to what is tried-and-true instead of attempting methods that are new. Even more than the number 13 in western cultures, the number 4 is considered very unlucky in some Asian countries. There’s even a name for the fear of the number 4: tetraphobia. But in reality the Numerology number 4 carries a wise and rational energy that can bring us a sense of security and consistency. It has a strict definition of right and wrong and tends to see things as black and white with no grey in between. The number 4 leads with its head, not its heart, and uses this mental strength to build a life of service and contentment.
I suppose this describes me fairly well. I crave stability- I’d be perfectly content living in the same place with the same partner for the rest of my life. I sometimes have a hard time thinking outside of the box, and while I wouldn’t describe myself as conservative, I can see that I’m attached to old styles of doing things. I try to be dependable for the people around me.
I even see myself in the weaknesses of the 4. I do have a self-righteous, know-it-all approach to the world that I’ve been trying to soften over the years. I’ve opened myself up to new experiences, especially over the last year, and I’m proud of that. There are definitely ways I can continue to improve in that area though.
The description of 4 from thesecretoftarot.com also resonates with me:
A closer look at the number 4 numerology encourages you to focus on the important things in your life. You need to start thinking about creating a solid foundation for your future. Creating the kind of life you envision for yourself and your loved ones is not an easy task. It calls for adequate preparation on your part. You must focus on the details that should go into making things work in your favor. Don’t just push forward for the sake of it. Numerology number 4 is a sign of smart goals. Set goals that are specific measurable, time-bound, realistic, and achievable.
Even if it’s all just coincidence, reading about 4 comes at the right moment in my life where I need to dedicate myself to the goals I hope to achieve. I’ve written before that 2020 was the year that shattered my understanding of the world, and 2021 was the year that I sifted through the rubble to discover what was still important to me. I want 2022 to be the year that I re-build the foundation of my life so that I can move forward and achieve what I want. I think the number 4 is the perfect symbol for that goal.
