“If you listen quietly enough life will whisper its secrets to you” ―
At its most basic level numerology is the study of the numbers that make up the universe in order to gain a deeper understanding of the universe, and what is happening within it.
Numerology has been practiced throughout history and across the globe. The earliest evidence for numerology comes from Ancient Babylon around 3,000 years ago, and there is evidence that it was also practiced in a variety of forms by the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, and Japanese.
One of the most famous numerologists of the ancient world was Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician, and philosopher that lived in the 6th century BC. Following the philosophy of Plato, he believed that the universe was constructed according to a geometric plan, which is why the same patterns appear repeatedly in the seeming chaos of nature. As such, he believed that numbers are the basic building blocks of the universe and that, like human DNA, they carry information about the universe.
Thus Pythagoras and other numerologists believe that in order to understand something, you need to know its numbers, and a variety of methods for determining the numbers of people, places, and concepts have been developed. Numbers are usually calculated from dates, or from names, with letters being given numerical values to allow for a number to be assigned.
In ancient times numerology was primarily used to understand the will of the gods and the hidden meaning of religious texts. Jewish numerologists in particular used numerology to make associations between different parts of the Old Testament that share the same number, and to unlock the hidden meaning of verses. But the idea that individuals have numbers that reveal information about them also appears to have emerged early. The ancient Greeks certainly referred to individuals having a number.
The most popular method for determining the numbers relating to people today is based on the numerological practices of Pythagoras and his followers, tested and further developed in the 20th century by the Californian Institute for Numerical Research.
Your numbers and how to calculate them
Each individual is said to have a series of numbers that reveal information about them, their personality and destiny. The numbers provide information similar to that provided by the natal chart in astrology.
While there are dozens of different numbers relating to an individual that can be calculated, when starting out with personal numerology, there are four core numbers to consider:
1.) Life Path Number
This is the most important number in an individual’s numerological chart, as it basically outlines how a person’s life will play out, the opportunities, challenges, and lessons experienced during this lifetime.
Your Life Path Number is determined from your date of birth. It is calculated by converting each of the units of your birthday (day, month and year) to a single digit number, or one of the three master numbers (11, 22 or 33), and then adding these three numbers together to produce a final single digit number or master number. For example, if you were born on January 25 in the year 1901:
The month of January is the first month so you get the number 1.
For the day you add 2+5, giving 7.
For the year you add 1+9+0+1 which would give you 11 for the year. Usually, if you reach a double-digit number you would add the numbers again (1+1 giving 2), but we don’t do this in the case of 11, 22 or 33 because they are master numbers and therefore an exception.
You then add you three number together, 1+7+11, which gives 19. You then need to reduce this further to either a single-digit number or a master number, so we all 1+9 to get 10, and then 1+0 to get 1.
While 0 is a meaningful number in numerology, you will never have a Life Path Number 0, nor indeed will any of your personal numbers be 0. In essence 0 means both everything and nothing, all potential and all possibilities, but with everything possible, nothing is certain. As such, 0 makes little sense as the number of an individual.
2.) Expression Number
This number reveals information about your natural strengths and weaknesses that were given to you at your time of birth and will hold influence throughout your life.
Your Expression Number is calculated from your name at birth, which represents your inheritance and personal history up to your birth, and thus your innate, rather than developed, skills. To calculate the number, write out your full name given to you at birth and assign each letter a numerical value according to the numerological table for English (see below). Assign a single digit number or master number to each of your names by adding the value for each of the letters, and then add the resulting numbers to get a final value.
Take, for example, Anne Jane Smith. Anne (1-5-5-5) will reduce to 7, Jane (1-1-5-5) to 3 and Smith (1-4-9-2-8) to 6, which together will give a final number of 7.
1 – A, J, S
2 – B, K, T
3 – C, L, U
4 – D, M, V
5 – E, N, W
6 – F, O, X
7 – G, P, Y
8 – H, Q, Z
9 – I, R
3.) Personality Number
This reveals the first impression people get of you, and what you are projecting into the world. It is calculated in the same way as you Expression Number, but using only the consonants in your name at birth.
4.) Heart’s Desire Number
This reveals the underlying reasons behind your actions and what motivates you in life. Like the Expression and Personality Numbers, it is calculated from your name at birth, but using only the vowels in your name.
Meaning of the Individual Numbers
There is a significant amount of literature available on the meaning of the individual numbers, with more detailed interpretation depending on where in your numerological chart they appear; you can and should spend time researching the meaning of your individual numbers. Nevertheless, below is an outline guide for the single digit numbers from 1-9 and the Master Numbers to get you started. For more detailed information on all Numerology numbers, visit Numerology Sign’s numbers section.
Numbers 1-9
1 – Unity, beginnings, and creativity as well as mental and physical activity. It expresses leadership and a spotlight type individuality. It indicates being organized, ambitious, and a tendency to go over the top.
2 – A dualist number with traits such as yielding, receptiveness, accepting, forgiving and stability. It is a sign of devotion to truth and simplicity and often indicates a follower who is supportive, but sometimes overly subservient.
3 – Representing the trinity, three is a number of activity, harmony, and pleasure. Versatile and social, it is a sign of optimism, and the power to bring light into the lives of others.
4 – This number represents matter and reflects the 4 seasons, the 4 elements, 4 directions, 4 sides of a cube. It is a symbol of stability and determination, and perhaps rigidity.
5 – The number of the senses and the stars, it is a sign of restlessness, liveliness, and adventurousness. An impatient soul with a quick wit and a quick temper.
6 – A symbol of nurturing warmth and domestic harmony, it is a sign of support, harmony, and responsibility.
7 – A holy number reflecting the 7 days of creation, 7 pillars of wisdom and 7 chakras, it is a symbol of strength and psychic ability.
8 – A number of material matters and practicality, it relates to wealth in the material realm, but also the eightfold path from materialism to Nirvana.
9 – A number of achievement and completion, it represents broad vision and achievement.
Master Numbers
These numbers are considered to carry more potential than other numbers and to be highly charged.
11 – Represents instinct and is the most intuitive of all the numbers. It represents connection to the subconscious and gut feeling.
22 – Is a pragmatic number of doing and represents lofty goals brought down to earth and made into something real.
33 – A combination of 11 and 22, this represents a more altruistic side of life, doing things for the greater good rather than personal gain.
Author: Christine Hirlehey
To learn more about numerology and your numbers, visit Numerology Sign’s here.
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This is really interesting. I would like to look more closely at this.
Thanks for sharing valuable information. Looking for more content on such topics.
Happy you found it useful! 🙂 I will keep the insights flowing.
Xx,
Antasha