What Is Numerology?

Have you ever found yourself stumbling upon similar numbers again and again? For instance, you may always catch the clock when it is 11:11, or you meet friends on recurring dates or find your lucky numbers in the most unexpected places.

You might feel surprised that these experiences are not always a coincidence. Neither are you alone. Many have experienced this numerical repetition and synchronicity for thousands of years. So why does it happen? The answers may lie in the mystical study of numerology! 

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What is Numerology?

Image of a clock with numbers and city silhouettes.

Numerology is all about numbers that hold spiritual and numerical values. 

Like astrology, numerology is a form of divination, dealing with the impact and connections of numbers with the universe. 

In simple words, it is a study of the spiritual effect of numbers that affects our individual and worldly life. From personality traits, destiny, life circumstances to events, one can uncover information about people and the world. 

Numerology can also help people understand their lives better, with the potential for predicting future outcomes. Each alphabet has an assigned number for values corresponding with our destiny and life path. Personal numerology is a part of the karmic imprint we bring with our life for spiritual growth. 

About The Numerology Portrait

A numerology portrait given after a numerology reading is a personalized guide to life. You may think of it as a mystic cheat sheet, just like an astrological natal chart. It reveals your strengths, weaknesses, and who you could become.

Picture of the astrological natal chart.However, it does not use the exact time, place, and day of your birth to give you values. A numerology portrait consists of six values instead; birth number, life path number, attitude number, the soul urge, personality value, and power numbers.

The former three — your birth number, life path number, and attitude number — are calculated from your actual birth date and the other three from the letters of your full birth name. 

While each of these values and positions holds significant meanings, life path number has the most significance. It describes the path you should take to find fulfillment in life. It reveals who you are at your core.

The followings values are assigned to alphabets according to modern numerology:

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

Calculating Your Values

  • Life Path Number: It shows who you are and who you might become if you live up to your full potential— just like your sun sign in astrology. To calculate it, you have to add your birthday date. For instance, if you were born on 2nd January 2001, your life path number would be a sum of all three values of the day (2), month (1), and year (2+0+0+1=3). Hence, you will add 2+ 1+ 3 to get a 6, which is your life path number. If your answer is a double number at the end, you will reduce it too by adding the two digits of it, unless it is a master number. 
  • Birthday Number: It is the key to your life and destiny. You will use the day of your birth, reducing it to a single-digit number if it is greater than 9.
  • Attitude Number: It defines your attitude and goals towards life. You will add the day and month of your birthday to get it. Reduce it to single-digit numbers.
  • Soul’s Urge Number: It reflects your desire, showing you your authentic inner self. You calculate your name letter values. However, you only use vowels. For example: if your name is Alex Wright, you would add values of AEI from the table above to derive this number in single digits from 1-9
  • Personality Number: It can help reason how and why you interact in specific ways. You use the consonants in your full birth name, adding their values to derive a single-digit value of 1-9 or a master number of 11 and 22. 
  • Destiny Number: It shows abilities, desires, and personal goals. You calculate it using your full birth name, adding all consonants and vowels in order. Break it down to single digits from 1-9 or master numbers.

Meanings of Numerical Values

As you have to break down your numbers to a single digit, below is a breakdown of what your core energies are from 1-9:

1: Leadership, innovation, independence.

2: Sensitivity, cooperation, balance.

3: Sharm, optimism, self-expression.

4: Organization, honesty, hard work.

5: Adventure, change freedom.

6: Responsibility, harmony, the parent figure.

7. Learning, observation, introverted.

8: Success, authority, strength.

9: Idealism, compassion, healing.

However, make sure you do not break down 11 or 22 when they show up in life path numbers. They are the master numbers. 11 refers to people with psychic abilities with the purpose of healing. On the other hand, people with 22 numbers have the highest levels of success and ambition. They are the master builders because they are born to transform the world! 

Origins of Numerology

Picture of Treatise on numerology by Pietro Bongo.Like multiple philosophies, the exact origins of numerology remain a mystery. The word itself was not in English until 1907. However, historical records show that numerological ideas have been around for centuries. They have appeared in the scripts of ancient Egypt and Babylon. Traces go to Rome, China, Greece, and Japan. It also seems to connect with Judaism: the kabbalistic studies of Jewish mysticism explore recurring numbers within the Old Testament. Many occultists relate the appearance of 11:11 with the tetragrammaton – the four-letter name for the God of Israel. 

Throughout history, numerology has evolved into several versions. Modern-day numerology is because of the ever-famous Greek Philosopher and Mathematician Pythagoras. His life records reveal his fascination with the mystical impact of numbers. He traveled to Egypt to study Chaldean numerology for twenty-two years. He believed that the universe ran on the power of numbers, and everything translated to a numerical form, usually in single digits. He assigned letters numerical values, which one can identify using the Pythagorean Number System.

The origins of numerology are in religion too. Many think 666 represents the beast, 888 represents Jesus, and then there is the Holy Trinity. Religious events last for specific days. In Chinese tradition, the number four brings bad luck. 

Many people unknowingly employ numerology to lead their lives: for instance, the idea of lucky and unlucky numbers. Most users today use it as a companion to astrology for self-discovery and predictions.

Types of Numerology

Image of white numbers in red background.

As numerology comes from various origins, there are variations of it. We use Pythagorean Numerology mainly today.

Gematria

Gematria is an ancient numerology form rooting back to Jewish mysticism and scripture interpretation. Each Hebrew letter had an assigned numerical value. Using those numbers, one could evaluate the meaning of the words. Scholars used gematria for drawing parallels between passages and developing connections between important scriptural concepts. 

Pythagorean Numerology

Modern numerology originates from the world of the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. Like Gematria, Pythagorean numerology has numbers of 1-9 assigned to the set of English alphabets. You will come across calculations like your desire number, personality number, destiny expression, and life path values.

Chaldean Numerology

This type is older than Pythagorean numerology, dating back to the times of Babylonian practices. It has eight numerals with some double numerals, with a higher difficulty level to master. However, it is more accurate than Pythagorean numerology. Furthermore, the main numbers we calculate with it are date of birth and name like Pythagorean numerology. However, you do not use the full birth name, but the one people call you. For instance, your name may be Robert Amos, but people may name you Bob. 

Kabbalah Numerology

Kabbalah is a hybrid of Gematria and Pythagorean numerology. People use to calculate personality traits with the same letter values but different meanings. It reveals more than 400 life path combinations. Hence, you have more variables to work around. 

The Takeaway

With our ultimate guide to numerology, you can unravel the mysteries of your life and universe. We recommend using it with astrology for meaningful derivations. You may consult a numerologist for accurate workings.