~first~, while reading the chapters about your 3 Essence and 7 Personal Year, they may have struck you as having entirely opposite traits (and they do). However, although their characteristics are polar opposites, the combination is considered rather promising. The upbeat, playful, extroverted 3 and the serious, thoughtful, introverted 7 can make an unusual but well-balanced team.

Generally, the events and circumstances you encounter this year (delivered by your contemplative 7) will motivate you to be more serious than usual, and prompt you to improve yourself. It is a period for inner growth and self- knowledge.

Pairing the serious 7 with your creative, playful, outgoing state of mind (the influence of your 3 Essence) can inspire lucrative ideas and intellectual or spiritual breakthroughs. It also creates a more upbeat, optimistic outlook than is typical of the 7.

The key to a successful year is balance. If you focus only on the imaginative, playful traits of the 3, you could find yourself happily muddling along, but with little in the way of accomplishment and true satisfaction. Focusing on the deeper, knowledge-driven aspects of the year could be somewhat of a struggle, however.

The opposite issue can also dominate. It is not uncommon for someone with a 7 Personal Year/3 Essence to deny the "spiritual" side this combination offers. When that happens, instead of accessing the positive aspects of the insightful 7, some people become alienated and withdrawn. If you feel yourself leaning in this direction, focus on your creative, playful side and have some fun. (Although it is more likely that your charismatic 3 will overshadow your philosophical 7.) 

Interestingly, personal relationships and romance usually thrive under this combination. Your knowledge and insight can add depth to a period in your life when you are also more charismatic and inspiring. The same qualities can also create conflict if both numbers allow their negative sides to take control - for instance the cynical and impersonal side of the 7 and superficial, careless side of the 3. This can result in true feelings being hidden behind cynicism and sarcasm, the domain of an unhappy 7.

The area where the 3 and 7 are most profoundly different has to do with depth - depth of feeling, commitment, and inner knowledge. A miserable, angry 7 backed by the callous, shallow mindset of a 3, can be devastating. Therefore, balance will be key in all matters whether personal or professional. You can offset this potential by making time for study, reading, or another endeavor that feeds the mind. Self-reflection, contemplation, and approaching life seriously are the ingredients for a successful 7 year. Then you can give your open, imaginative 3 some rein. With the proper balance, this can be a wonderful combination.