Abendroth Blutjager's Guide to Harry Potter: Attempt at Numerology Reading for Severus Snape, part 4

This post (and the next) will be devoted to Essences of the Name, since it's such a detailed portion of the reading. Be warned: this is a very long post! It covers the first twenty years of Severus's life....

Again, I'm assuming his full name is Severus Tobias Snape. This time I'm also going to assume he was born on January 9, 1960, since this is the most-likely date.

Things do get a little confusing when we start talking about Severus's personal year vs. the school year. Since he was born in January but each school year starts in September, we have to be careful what events we associate with each personal year. For example, the events of "Snape's Worst Memory" happened during O.W.L.s, which is at the end of 5th year at Hogwarts. For Severus, his 5th year at school starts during 1975, a personal year 5, but the O.W.L.s and the Levicorpus! incident happen in late spring or early summer 1976, during the first half of a personal year 6.

Using the grid to convert the letters to numbers, and following the instructions for completing the Essences worksheet (http://www.astrology-numerology.com/num-esswrkst.html), we get the following info (number readings from http://www.astrology-numerology.com/num-essences.html):

Essences of the Name =

1960/61:PY8:AGE0-1:S-T-S:1-2-1:4->4: "During this number 4 Essence the events and opportunities coming your way will emphasize a more serious tone. This is a time to buckle down and put the affairs of your life in order. Your attention is apt to be drawn to more practical interests such as dealing with financial matters and your work. The development of opportunities in your life now requires a practical and realistic view along with a lot of hard work, effort, determination and discipline. In many ways you are apt to feel a sense of restriction in your life for a while and you may face some setbacks as the pace of progress slows somewhat. This is a building time and the building is sometimes painfully slow." Some of this doesn't apply, since he's just a baby, but there might have been some setbacks, depending on his parents' relationship, his father's attitude toward the wizarding world, etc... things we really don't know, though we suspect Tobias Snape was not an easy man to live with.
1961/62:PY9:AGE1-2:E-T-E:5-2-5:12->3: "The Essence of the number 3 is a very special time when you feel and experience the joy of living to its utmost. This is a very enjoyable time in your life. You are apt to be making a lot of new friends and renewing old friendships. This is a time for love affairs and expanding the social circle; many activities and good times. You are likely to travel a good bit during this Essence.
The other factor that is associated with the Essence of 3 is that of expression. This is a very good time for you to be interested in the development of creative work, particularly works that involve words...singing, acting, writing. This should be a busy time advancing your talents with classes or study, or for starting or expanding business ventures involving creative endeavors.
Optimism is the operative word for this cycle. This is a very pleasant period, but you must beware of a tendency now to scatter your energies." I'm trying to think of this in terms of early development, since he's still just a baby. Perhaps the Snapes moved into a new home, or perhaps baby Severus was making great progress in learning language and other skills...maybe he discovered early-on that he was magical? It's a personal year 9 for Severus, so it might have marked the end of something bad in his life, hence the happiness he feels.
1962/63:PY1:AGE2-3:E-O-N:5-6-5:16->7: \ "During the essence of the number 7, many of the events in your life now will often involve study, a sense of isolation, and an inwardly focused attitude toward yourself. A time of looking for an understanding of fundamentals and pursuing new interests has arrived. You are likely to find yourself withdrawing for a time of reflection and perhaps even meditation, hopefully comfortable with a chance for repose." I have a feeling his fundamental wizarding studies started as soon as he could hold a wand. He might have had time and opportunity to reflect and meditate, but I doubt he had much time for repose during these early years.
1963/64:PY2:AGE3-4:E-O-N:5-6-5:16->7:
1964/65:PY3:AGE4-5:E-O-N:5-6-5:16->7:
1965/66:PY4:AGE5-6:E-O-N:5-6-5:16->7: /-> "Since the 7 essence is to be with you for a while, look forward to a time of internality and spiritual growth. You may grow away from others and become much more introspective." Severus doesn't seem to have had much of a social life to begin with. If the later glimpse we saw of him spending time alone in his room and shooting down flies is any indication, his earlier years might have been spent in a similar fashion.
1966/67:PY5:AGE6-7:V-O-A:4-6-1:11->2: "The Essence of the number 2 is a cycle when everything seems to be consolidating and this is decidedly a period of growth. But often the growth is not without reversals, and there is much emphasis on cooperation and patience. You may find yourself developing relationships, or trying very hard to develop a good relationship. You will likely find yourself working with and hopefully helping others. Conversely, you can['t] expect to get much help from others now. This is apt to be a period of slow development, delays, roadblocks, and obstacles, and the period can be one of great frustration for you in certain ways. There can be a lot of emotions associated with the 2 Essence, and you may become much more sensitive now. Lowered energy and vitality may be experienced throughout the cycle. Confrontations are difficult now, but often necessary." This could refer to Severus trying to gain a healthy relationship with his father, or this is a time of major confrontations with his father...perhaps Severus stands up to his father to protect his mom. Another possibility could be an outside relationship; is this when Severus meets Lily Evans? Since he's a half-blood, he might have attended a Muggle school for some basic education, and he might have met Lily there. If so, they might have become friends and studied together. Either way, this would be a very emotional time for Severus.
1967/68:PY6:AGE7-8:V-O-P:4-6-7:17->8: "The number 8 essence suggests that the trend of events will be pointed toward getting ahead in a material sense and basically taking care of business. This essence normally marks a period when the business and professional reputation is enhanced and ripens. You are apt to reap financial gain now, building or expanding current ventures. Common sense and good judgments will help you achieve goals and make some real progress. This is apt to be a period when you work very hard." I can definitely see Severus trying to improve his reputation, since he'd previously been so reclusive.
1968/69:PY7:AGE8-9:V-B-P:4-2-7:13->4: \
1969/70:PY8:AGE9-10:V-B-P:4-2-7:13->4: / Here are two more years of seriousness, hard work, setbacks, and slow devolopment. He probably knows about Hogwarts by now, and perhaps his studies have increased as he awaits an acceptance letter.
1970/71:PY9:AGE10-11:E-I-P:5-9-7:21->3: \ Again this is a time for optimism and joy, being social, traveling, etc. (the Hogwarts acceptance letter arrives either at the end of this year...)
1971/72:PY1:AGE11-12:E-I-P:5-9-7:21->3: (...or quite early this year.) Severus attends his first year at Hogwarts (starts Sept. 1st) on a personal year 1.
1972/73:PY2:AGE12-13:E-I-P:5-9-7:21->3: (Second year at Hogwarts starts Sept. 1st)
1973/74:PY3:AGE13-14:E-I-P:5-9-7:21->3: /-> "This long period may allow a significant creative development in a positive and happy time of your life." This series of 3's is marked by ending in a personal year 3: "Since you are enjoying this three Essence along with a 3 personal year, you may have a great deal of difficulty maintaining your sense of self-discipline. Having too much fun can be a long term mistake. Likewise, this is probably to be a very restless time for you as you may be on the go a great deal." Not only is it a personal year 3 and a 3 essence, but it's also the start of his 3rd year at Hogwarts. So, what happens to Severus's self-discipline during this time? Did he do something to one of the Mauraders (or to someone else), and did this action spawn the feud between himself and the Mauraders?
1974/75:PY4:AGE14-15:E-I-E:5-9-5:19->1: "The Essence of the number 1 signals a time when you are developing new ideas and enlarging on projects that have been around for a while. This will be a period that will bring the opportunity for marked increase in your personal status and recognition. This Essence is often an opportunity to turn a life-long avocation into a money-making vocation. Many new friends and business associations are likely now. Your status in the world may grow, and you may get some recognition for your achievements. One thing may lead to another and you may find many alterations in your life during this essence." (4th year at Hogwarts starts Sept.1st, 1974)
1975/76:PY5:AGE15-16:R-I-E:9-9-5:23->5: \ "With the Essence of the number 5 you will find that the events and opportunities coming your way will emphasize freedom and change. Your experiences during this cycle will be sudden, unusual, and unexpected, and you are apt to be dealing with constantly changing circumstances and activities. The ventures in your life now will stress progress, new ideas, and probably new friends. Travel is very likely. There should be a caution here to avoid tendencies to go off in every direction and scatter your forces. Choose your opportunities carefully and thoughtfully. Freedom is great, but be sure to use it in constructive ways that help others and yourself." Travel comes not only in the form of taking the Hogwarts Express: his 5th year (starting Sept. 1st, 1975) will include Apparation lessons (though the actually lessons might not start until early next period). This is also a personal year 5: "This may be a period when you are too free-wheeling and unrestrained. Constant change is not always constant growth and development. Try to maintain a balanced and thoughtful approach to problems and opportunities. Control self-centered interests." Perhaps Snape wasn't particularly constructive in his freedom during this year. This might lead to the events that occur during the first half of the next 12 month period.
1976/77:PY6:AGE16-17:R-I-E:9-9-5:23->5: Apparation lessons might actually start here...it would be personal year 6 but during Hogwarts year 5. O.W.L.s definitely happen during this period, so this is when the events of "Snape's Worst Memory" occur. Like Harry, Severus can take Apparation lessons, but he's still 16 and cannot get his apparation license yet. (Hogwarts year 6 starts Sept. 1st, 1976) Since Snape tells Dumbledore that Sirius was capable of murder by the age of 16, and we think Sirius and Severus are basically the same age, Sirius's prank to let the transformed Remus kill Severus (and James's rescue of Severus) might have happened during the second half of this period.
1977/78:PY7:AGE17-18:R-I-E:9-9-5:23->5: It's possible that the "werewolf prank" happened during the first half of this period...it would be personal year 7 but still Hogwarts year 6. (Hogwarts year 7 starts Sept. 1st, 1977) Snape probably got his Apparation License during this period.
1978/79:PY8:AGE18-19:R-I-E:9-9-5:23->5: /-> Severus has the 5 essence for 4 consecutive personal years: "A long period of 5 Essence suggests that it is apt to be a very free-wheeling period. Unless some self-discipline is exercised, most of the energy is likely to be scattered with little accomplishment. If this scattering occurs, there may be feelings of deep frustration." We've seen a glimpse of how James and the other Mauraders usually treated Severus, how Lily treated Severus on one occasion, and how Severus responded to Lily's offer to defend him, but how did Severus usually treat people? How was Severus's self-discipline? Did he feel like he was spinning his wheels (so to speak) while he waited for graduation? He graduates this year, so perhaps the frustration will end with the receipt of his diploma....
1979/80:PY9:AGE19-20:R-A-S:9-1-1:11->2: This is the "fateful" year that Severus applies for the DADA position but never gets to sit the interview. He is caught spying on Trelawney, gets kicked out of the Hog's Head, and reports his findings to Voldemort. Refer to the quote about the 2 essence...setbacks and slow growth, indeed! He's working with/for Voldemort and trying to help him, but his information is incomplete, so though Voldemort might be quite pleased with Severus, Severus's personal growth has been severely hampered. Notice the numbers from the letters are 911...I'm not sure about elsewhere, but in the US it's the number for an emergency. It can be said this is a period of emotional (and perhaps spiritual) crisis. This also happens to be a personal year 9, the end of a cycle, so let's see how the next cycle begins....