Numerology inspired Sussan Ley’s name change. What does it say about her leadership bid?

Sussan Ley might be thinking the stars have aligned for her as she bids to become the next Liberal Party leader.

Liberal Party elders have begun throwing their support behind her, while her opponent, Angus Taylor, is facing internal party sniping. But in a more literal sense, the member for Farrer may also be paying attention to the supernatural signs, too.

In 2015, Ley shared in an interview that she had added an extra “s” to her name — from Susan to Sussan — in her 20s, inspired by numerology, an ancient belief that numbers (and letters assigned to those numbers) have a mystical impact on our lives. 

“I read about this numerology theory that if you add the numbers that match the letters in your name you can change your personality,” she said.

It’s a part of her biography that has followed her ever since. In fact, even an anonymous shit sheet attacking Ley that has been shared among Liberal supporters this week draws attention to it. On a page about Liberal leadership candidates’ declared faiths, it reads that “Susssan Ley” [sic] believes in “numerology”.

But according to Australian numerologist, astrologer and psychic Tameera, an openness to something like numerology is a good thing. “It’s for people who want clarity, for the curious. My work is just about opening up different perspectives to life,” she told Crikey.

Tameera studied Ley’s name and biography. According to her reading, Ley originally had lots of sevens, eights, and nines in her name. These numbers are derived from significant parts of her life. For example, adding together the numbers of Ley’s birth date (December 14, 1961) leads to seven:  1+4+1+2+1+9+6+1 = 25; 2+5 = 7. 

The sevens indicate an analytical mind. Eights are ambitious and powerful. Nines are associated with public service. But, Tameera said, the eights and nines are somewhat at odds with each other.

“By changing her name to Sussan with a double S, she shifted her expression energy to a nine because the soul vibration is the same,” Tameera said. This change reflected a more compassionate, idealistic, and statesperson-like way of being, numerologically.

Numerological analysis also hints that this year could be an important one, with Tameera saying that 2025 is significant for nines like Ley: “It could be a big moment for her,” she said. 

Interestingly, Tameera said that Taylor’s numbers are very similar to Ley’s, both sharing sevens and nines. Taylor is “a really good talker” and has a “gift of the gab”, she said, but also mentioned that there are “two very distinct sides of him”. He, too, is in a “really big power space, and a space of new beginnings”, like Ley. 

The pair are so alike that Tameera suggested, if not for politics, they could be romantically compatible.

“So interesting between both of them. I could see them definitely having a good conversation in a room together, they could even be a couple in the future,” she said. 

Boasting a big client list, including high-flying corporate clients, Tameera said that numerology can help people take on big challenges — like political leadership battles.

“It’s about having the space of knowing what is going to be happening, or feeling in control. It’s like, well I can understand a bit more about myself and others. It gives a bit of peace and clarity.”

Can a numerologist be the leader of the opposition?

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