Numerology: How to Calculate Your Chart & Interpret Your Life Path Number

Numerology is based on the philosophy that the universe is constructed according to a divine geometric plan, which is why the same numerical patterns appear repeatedly in the seeming chaos of nature, and maths holds as a universal truth.

Philosophers from ancient Babylon, Greece, Rome, Egypt, China, India, and Japan all recognized independently the importance of numbers as the building blocks of the universe. As such, numbers are like the DNA of the universe, and like human DNA, carry information.

Numerology is all about deciphering this numerical information to better understand the world in which we live, and ourselves.

In modern western Numerology all things have a number, this includes people, locations, dates, ideas, and more. Understanding these numbers can help us to understand the fundament nature of those things.

Each person also has a series of numbers associated with them that reveals information about their personality and destiny, like an astrological chart.

There are dozens of different numbers that Numerologists have developed over the years for individuals, but there are four core numbers.

What is a Numerologist?

Numerologists are Numerology specialists that can put together a Numerology chart for your based on your name, birth date, and other personal details to help you get a clear picture of the forces that are having the greatest influence on your life. Many people will choose to consult a Numerologist when they are struggling to identify their life purpose.

Your Numerology chart has four core numbers: Life Path Number, Expression Number, Personality Number, and Heart's Desire Number.

In the following sections we will take a look at each of these numbers, what they mean, and the basic methods for calculating them within Numerology. While the calculations below are simple, when doing Numerology readings, professional numerologists may use more nuanced techniques.

Key Numerology Numbers in your Numerology Chart

Life Path Number

The Life Path Number is the most important number in a person’s numerology chart. It basically outlines how a person’s life will play out, what they will experience, and what their main opportunities and challenges will be.

The Life Path Number in Numerology is often compared to a person's sun sign in terms of identifying habitual behaviors and emotional triggers that often cause certain outcomes.

Life Path Numbers are also sometimes called the Career Path Number because they give a good indication of suitable careers. But there is no separate Numerology calculation specifically for careers.

Your Life Path Number is calculated from your date of birth. You convert each of the units of your birthday (day, month, and year) into single-digit numbers, or one of the three master numbers (11, 22, 33), and then add these three numbers to get a final single digit or master number.

For example, what if my birth date is May 15th, 1980, or 15/05/1980. We have 1+5=6 for the day, 5 for the month, and 1+9+8+0=22 for the year. Usually, if you reach a double-digit number, you would add the numbers again (2+2 giving 4), but we don’t do this in the case of 11, 22, or 33 because they are master numbers and therefore an exception.

I then need to add these three digits, 5+6+22, which gives 33, which again would usually reduce to 6, but because this is a master number, we keep it, so, my Life Path Number is 33.

Some numerologists will also assign you a Psychic Number based on your date of birth. A derivative of the Life Path Number, this number can indicate the things that affect your decision making most on a day-to-day basis. If you have a double-digit number birth date, it is advised to assess each single digit number individually, and then combine them for an additional layer of interpretation.

Expression Number

The Expression Number reveals information about your natural strengths and weaknesses, which are with you from the time of your birth and have an influence throughout your life.

Your Expression Number is determined in Numerology from your name at birth, which represents your inheritance and personal history up until your birth, and therefore your innate characteristics. Like with your Life Path Number, you calculate a single-digit number or master number for each part of your name and then combine these to get a final number. You do this by assigning each letter in your name a numerical value – the numerical value of English letters is given below.

Take, for example, Jane Marie Hunt. Jane (1+1+5+5) will reduce to 3, Marie (4+1+9+9+5) to 1, and Hunt (8+3+5+2) to 9, which together will give a final number of 4.

Chart showing the number value of different letters in the English alphabet

Personality Number

The Personality Number reveals what you are projecting into the world, which is extremely important to how others perceive you. It is calculated in the same way as your Expression Number but using only the consonants in your name at birth.

So, for Jane Marie Hunt. Jane (1+5) will reduce to 6, Marie (4+9) to 4, and Hunt (8+5+2) will reduce to 6, giving an overall number (6+4+6) of 7.

Heart’s Desire Number

The Heart’s Desire Number 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.

So again, for Jane Marie Hunt. Jane (1+5) will reduce to 6, Marie (1+9+5) to 6, and Hunt, which is 3, which together will give a final number of 5.

Note: While 0 is a meaningful number within Numerology, you will never have a personal number that is 0, because in essence 0 means nothing and everything, all potential and all possibilities, so it makes little sense as a personal number.

Lucky Number

Some people believe that the four core numbers in your numerology chart are also your lucky numbers, and that it is usually a good sign when they show up at significant moments. For example, if you are considering renting an apartment, if it has the same number as one of your lucky numbers, this is generally a good omen.

Numbers of Locations and Events

Numerologists believe that all things have associated numbers, including locations and events based on their date of birth (or foundation or occurance), longitude and latitude, the name of the place, and other elements. These numbers can help you determine if you are compatible with a certain location or opportunity.

For example, if you are considering moving into a new place and your life path number is 6 and the number of the location is also 6, this is probably a good sign that you will feel comfortable and thrive here.

However, if you are considering an opportunity that is an 8, while you are a 6, you will probably find it more difficult to make things work just because your energy is out of sync, so you aren't a natural fit.

Separating Numerology and Angel Numbers

Many people confuse numerology, which is understanding the fundamental numbers that define people, events, places, and so forth, and seeing repeating number patterns. These are different experiences, but they go hand in hand as they rely on the belief in numbers as part of the fundamental DNA of the universe.

Followers of Angel Numbers believe that seeing the same number combinations repeatedly over a short period of time is a sign from the spiritual plane.

Many believe that whatever exists in the spiritual plane cannot always communicate with us directly because we have put up so many boundaries between ourselves and the spiritual. But these forces can nudge us to notice things in the world around us. Therefore, by nudging us repeatedly to see the same numbers, the spiritual plane can send us messages.

Our intuition, while it may not be able to put a label on these nudges, recognizes that something unusual is going on and prompts us to feel like there is something more to the numbers that we are seeing.

These numbers may appear when we are asking the universe for guidance, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Many people believe that the number will always appear when the problem that we are facing is at the front of our minds in some way. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to what is happening around us and what we were thinking and feeling when the number appeared to help us interpret it.

Interpreting Angel Numbers

Angel numbers can show up as a single digit that you see repeatedly, or a group of three or four numbers that you see again and again in the same sequence. Longer sequences tend to be unusual as our minds don’t hold on to them as patterns in the same way.

Interpreters of Angel Numbers focus on the meanings of each of the cardinal digits, 0-9, and also the three master numbers, 11, 22, and 33. When these numbers appear in isolation, their meaning is forceful.

When you are looking at a combination of numbers, you need to understand how they relate to decipher their meaning. Generally speaking, focus on the center digit as the core meaning, and the outer digits as modifiers. So, for example, with the number 857, 5 is the core of the message, and 8 and 7 add nuance.

When interpreting a number, its cardinal sum can also be significant. For example, the cardinal sum of 857 is 2, since 8+5+7 is 20, and 2+0 is 2.

Some readers suggest that numbers preceding the central number point towards causes, while numbers following can indicate effects. The cumulative cardinal number may suggest actions to take going forward.

Repeating numbers such as 8888 are an intensification of the core number, in this case, 8.

Numerology Number Meanings

The meanings of the different numbers in Numerology are complex and depend on what the number relates to. There is a lot of information available to help you understand your specific numbers better once you have calculated them. Below is a quick cheat sheet for the general meanings of the individual numbers to get you started.

1 – Unity, beginnings, and creativity. It expresses leadership and individuality. It indicates being organized, ambitious, and a tendency to go over the top.

2 – A dualist number with traits such as acceptance, forgiveness, and stability. It is a sign of devotion to truth and simplicity and often indicates a supportive follower.

3 – Representing the Trinity, three is a number of harmony. Versatile and social, it is a sign of optimism, and the power to bring light into the lives of others.

4 – A reflection of the 4 seasons, the 4 elements, 4 directions, 4 sides of a cube. It is a symbol of stability and determination.

5 – The number of the senses and the stars, 5 is a sign of restlessness, liveliness, and adventurousness. An impatient soul with a quick wit and a quick temper.

6 – Symbolising nurturing warmth and domestic harmony, it is a sign of community 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 – Relates to material matters and practicality, it is linked to wealth in the material realm.

9 – A number of achievements and completion, and represents broad vision and success.

0 – A number that represents all that is and all that could be and all possible realities.

11 – The most intuitive of all the numbers, it represents instinct and connection to the subconscious.

22 – A symbol of lofty goals made material through pragmatism and hard work.

33 – Representing the more altruistic side of life, doing things for the greater good.

Angel Number Meanings

The meanings of numbers in the context of Angel Numbers is a little bit different since instead of revealing something fundamental about you, it is more a message of a push in a certain direction.

Below are outline meanings if the core numbers in the context of Angel messages.

Number 1

This is the number of action and control. It reminds us that we shape our own lives, and that we are responsible for the state of our lives.

The number one represents the creative forces of the universe. But we are all contributors to that creation through our actions and thoughts.

1 will often appear when we need to stop feeling helpless and take charge of a situation.

Number 2

This is the number of harmony, equilibrium and balance. It shows us how different elements come together to be more than the sum of their parts when they work together.

The number 2 is also linked to relationships and reminds us that no one is alone or does anything alone. It can shine a light on important relationships in our lives.

2 appears when we need to pay more attention to our connections.

Number 3

This number represents the complete person in terms of mind, body, and spirit, and the balance that we need between the different elements to thrive.

The number three is also the number of communication. It points to how we project ourselves and also how we interpret the information that we receive.

3 can suggest that we have a blind spot, or that we are not giving of the energy that we imagine and need to rebalance.

Number 4

This is the number of foundations and refers to the fundamental things in our lives on which everything else is built.

The number 4 often illuminates problems in our foundations that are setting us up for problems, or things that we consider cornerstones of ourselves that are no longer serving us.

4 usually indicates major change, but it will only happen when we self-reflect deeply and decide to make important changes.

Number 5

This is the number of freedom, independence, and adventure.

The number five can be a simple indication of an adventure on the horizon, but it can also be a warning that our freedom is inhibited in some way.

5 can tell us that we are letting things like fear and insecurity curb our opportunities.

Number 6

This is the number of the material, and is often linked to things like profession and finances. But the number is more closely linked with the things we need to feel safe and secure, and therefore have the freedom to thrive.

The number six often suggests that everything is not right in our material world and that it is causing other issues, though we probably haven’t made the connection.

6 suggests that now is the time to focus on the material, and not to feel “guilty” for wanting security.

Number 7

This is the number of the esoteric and usually refers to learning, any type of learning but often spiritual. It is always a sign that we need to pay attention to our internal world.

The number seven suggests that we have opportunities to grow and transform if we are willing to take them. It may also suggest that something important is hidden from our knowledge.

7 usually suggests that we focus on our inner world, our intentions, our attitudes, and our personal growth.

Number 8

This is the number of consequences and is a reminder of the fundamental nature of cause and effect. All things have a cost!

The number seven often shows us that problems that we are facing now are the result of our own actions. This is not meant as a reprimand, but rather to empower us to take charge.

8 tells us that our problems are of our own creation and are ours to solve.

Number 9

This is the number of endings and things coming to completion. But all endings are also beginning. They clear away what we no longer need so that we can move forward.

The number nine can warn us that something is coming to an end. While we may be sad about this, it tells us that there is something better on the other side.

9 tells us that change is inevitable, and not to fight it, because this change will take us forward.

Number 0

This numeral represents infinite possibility, all possible worlds, and the void. Our individual world is ours to create, but we will be stuck in a circle unless we choose a path forward.

The numeral zero tells us not to be limited in our beliefs about what is possible, but also that we need to make choices and stick to them to make things happen.

0 is a good omen that reminds us that our future is in our hands.

Master Number 11

This is the Master Visionary number and represents our ability to shape the world as we want through our choices, actions, and attitudes. When we are in control of ourselves, we are in control of our world.

The number eleven forms a gateway, and also suggests that we must pass a point of no return to move forward. It represents risk and reward.

11 appears to empower us to take control of ourselves, and in doing so, take control of our world.

Master Number 22

This is the Master Builder and reminds us that bricks are nothing without mortar. Pay attention to the connecting tissue that exists between the elements of our life.

The number twenty-two suggests that we take action by pulling on connections rather than trying to bulldoze through walls. This is where the real power lies.

22 reminds us that nothing exists in isolation and that working in one area can have a huge impact on another.

Master Number 33

This is the Master Teacher and suggests that we are on the cusp of a major transformation. New learning and new experiences are about to change us, or it already has, but we have not yet recognized it.

The number thirty-three suggests that now is the time to throw off imposter syndrome and embrace our talent and knowledge. Also, remember that knowledge is one of the elements that grows when it is shared.

33 reminds us that there is no limit to what we can learn, and that sharing knowledge increases its value.