Number Nine and the Nine Life Path

Number nine is the hermit in the tarot. This soul walks with his lantern providing light to those who have lost their way. A light shared to all sincere seekers-a wise elder who has successfully gone through the previous eight lessons.
Number nine is the bookend to number one; Each book must have a beginning and end, Alpha and Omega. Number nine closes chapters in the great book of eternity. Everything created must, at some point, come to an end.
In Hinduism, there are three major Gods, Brahma, the creator, Vishnu the sustainer, and Lord Shiva, the destroyer. Number nine is associated with Lord Shiva.
Number nine is an uncoiled serpent. When Arron and Moses went to Egypt to plea with Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, a great transmutation occurred, rods of wood transmuted into snakes. This serpent rest at the base of our spine; when raised, it can change us from man's children to God's children.
Number nine in its aspect of a serpent stands on its tail. This tail symbolic of a tornado or hurricane. It brings balance when the scales of life has tipped towards darkness. When multiplied, number 666 vibrates to compound number 18, reduced to number 9, the beast. In Chinese mythology, it's known as the great dragon.
In scripture, 27 bible verses speak about serpents. In essence, the snake sheds its skins leaving behind the old to embrace the new, a cleansing of sorts. Each person must shed their material consciousness for a spiritual one, or as scripture says, don't put new wine in an old bag.
Number nine is a gate closer; this vibration is a blessing. For twenty-seven years, a nation at war now knows peace; number nine closed the war gate, 2 plus 7 = 9. A wife in an abusive relationship gains the courage to leave after nine years; number nine closed the abusive gate. After eighteen years of hard work, the number nine closed the door of not being recognized for an excellent job.
The number nine life path is one of the most difficult ones to master. It will require a willingness to give without wanting or expecting something in return. An openness, embracing humanity regardless of sex, creed, nationality, or station in life. A life filled with love and acceptance. It is a self-sacrificing path.
At times life path number nine may not feel self-worth giving wholeheartedly without getting something in return, to put others before oneself is a hard thing to do. It may want to gather unto itself material gains to feel satisfied on a personal level. It's hard for number nine to understand that un-selfish service to humanity is the greatest reward.
The nine life paths can achieve success. Its most significant rewards come from a smile of gratitude brought about by your selfless acts of kindness and service.