A Numerologist Explains the Deep, Hidden Significance of the '1989 (Taylor's Version)' Release Date

Taylor Swift on stage

Taylor Swift is majorly famous. So famous that even people who don’t pay too much attention to her know a handful of her key details: her love of cats, her most popular albums and who she’s currently dating (which at the moment seems to be Kansas City Chief’s tight end, Travis Kelce).

But one of the most well-known things about Swift is her love of numbers. She is obsessed with the number 13 and her upcoming re-recorded album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), is titled after her birth year. In a conversation with Paul McCartney for Rolling Stone in 2020, she said that “numbers kind of rule [her] whole world.” She takes it as a sign when she sees her favorite numbers pop up in her life. With Swift’s love for numerology, it’s no surprise that not only does 1989 mean something significant to her, but her release date for the album does too.

“What's cute about her, she loves the numbers,” numerologist Glynis McCants tells Parade. “She knows there are patterns. Example: the day you're born.”

McCants has studied numerology for over 21 years and can pinpoint someone’s personality and goals in life (even if they’re compatible with their partner) down to a T. And with that, she also can tell that 1989 (Taylor’s Version)’s release date of October 27, 2023 predicts some meaningful things for Swift.

So Swifties, buckle up, because Taylor Swift numerology is coming in hot. And it confirms that you’re not crazy for looking so closely into why Swift chooses the things she does.

Related: It’s the Year Taylor Swift Was Born—and Here Are 13 Other Historical Milestones From 1989

What Does 1989 Mean, According to Numerology?

Numerology is all about seeing meaning in numbers and their patterns, including someone’s meaningful life path number. It’s not arbitrary; you have to use math to figure out your own life path number, similar to how you can find out your zodiac sign. Also similar to a zodiac sign, someone’s life path number can tell a numerologist a lot about them and what they value. Outside of life path numbers, other aspects of numerology include angel numbers and even figuring out what a calendar date can mean for a specific person or event. 

As for the number 1989, McCants says that Swift’s birth year alone tells why she’s so universally liked.

“The year she was born, when you break it down, it's the number nine,” she says, referring to the fact that 1 + 9 + 8 + 9 equals 27, and then 2 + 7 equals 9. “The nine is The Humanitarian and it's the one who feels called to touch everybody. So, [for] example, you know some people are famous and maybe they get the young crowd, but the old crowd doesn't like them. Taylor touches everybody because of that nine energy.”

McCants, author of Love by the Numbers: How to Find Great Love or Reignite the Love You Have Through the Power of Numerology, says that it’s important for Swift to keep acknowledging 1989 and its nine energy. “It means even if it's subconscious, she knows it's part of her power to touch as many lives as she possibly can,” she says. “[That power] is coming from that number.”

Along with this “we’re all in this together” attitude that’s associated with nine, it also shows why Swift is inherently a justice-seeker and gets upset when she sees wrong happening around her, McCants explains—like when she stands up for the LGBTQ+ community. 

“She will defend anyone's right to be who they are,” McCants emphasizes. “That is coming from nine energy and that's from her birthdate.”

And for someone who is so into numerology and seeing her favorite numbers show up in the real world, Swift definitely would have noticed and connected with the fact that Kelce was also born in 1989, according to McCants. 

Related: This Could Be You—Here's Exactly What It Means to Have 'Life Path Number 7'

So, What’s So Special About October 27, 2023, Taylor Swift’s ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)' Release Date?

So now that we know what Swift’s birth year, 1989, means for her in general, is there a significance to 1989 (Taylor’s Version)'s release date? We’re so glad you asked, because yes, yes there is. 

McCants points out that the release date of 1989’s re-recording—October 27, 2023—has the numbers 1, 9 and 8 in it.

That first number, AKA the attitude number, is derived from the month’s number, which in this case is 10 (October). 1 + 0 is 1. Then you get the number 9 by adding the numbers of the day together: 2 + 7 = 9. Lastly, you can find the number 8 by adding up all of the numbers in the numerical date—1 + 0 + 2 + 7 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 3—which is 17, and then adding 1 + 7 together to get a single number, giving you 8.

“So look what she just did again: 1 9 8 is like [1989]!” McCants says as she figures it out on the spot for Parade. “She has picked a launch date that is matching those numbers she believes in.”

So, not only does her launch date for 1989 (Taylor’s Version) give her a number similar to the year 1989, but McCants says that 1 9 8 is a coveted number when it comes to dates because it “promotes tremendous success.” She says that part of her work includes trying to find dates that add up to a number like 1 9 8 for important events.

And with 1 9 8 at the beginning of the year (and album title) 1989, it shows that Swift is "playing with the numbers,” according to McCants. “I tell you, [the re-release is] gonna be massive because of the date she picked.”

To make things even more interesting, the first time Swift dropped 1989, the date also had the same numbers. Swift released the album 1989 on October 27, 2014. It’s the same date as the re-recorded album, so the month and day number are the same. But 2014 also adds up to 7 (like 2023), which means that all together (1 + 0 + 2 + 7 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 4), the 2014 release of 1989 had a 1 9 8 date as well. 

“Taylor Swift picked the exact same date energy (including the same world year number) to launch her album 1989 and the new 1989 version as well,” McCants shares. “That is incredibly powerful.” 

Related: Every Taylor Swift Album, Ranked

Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Release Date Is Destined for Success, Numerologist Says

Those were a lot of numbers, but the underlying message here is that Swift not only is a numbers whiz who looks at reoccurring numbers in her life, but also chooses new dates that hold those same patterns. And in doing so, she chose release dates for both versions of 1989 that would lead to success. 

“That energy promotes great success,” McCants says. “Eight is about money, having security. Nine means all are welcome. Like she'd want everyone to buy it, right? And then the one means shooting to number one.” 

Even McCants admits that Swift is “good at this” and “knows some of her dates very well.” “That's powerful what she just did,” McCants shares.

People may criticize Swifties for being too in the weeds when they add numbers up or find hidden meanings or Easter eggs in Swift’s numbers. But it’s pretty clear that a lot of what they find is purposefully crafted by Swift herself. McCants says that she’s not only doing it on purpose, but she’s picking numbers and dates that hold meaning to her possibly without even realizing how powerful they actually are. Swift calling herself a mastermind isn’t really that far off the mark at all.

Next up, read on about why Taylor Swift is so obsessed with the number 13 and what it all means!