Human beings have been looking for ways to find meaning in their existence for centuries through a myriad of practices, beliefs, and ideologies. One of the oldest and most insightful practices is numerology.
Numerology allows a person to explore themselves and where they fit into the universe around them. And yet, despite its ability to draw cosmic meaning and promote personal clarity, not many are aware of numerology, let alone how to incorporate it into their lives.
This article will focus on the mystical study of numerology and what it can do for your personal journey of self-exploration. Here, you’ll find an in-depth description of numerology, how it works, its origins, and more. By the end, you’ll have a firm grasp of the numerological teachings and how I can help you interpret the signs of the universe.
Table of Contents
What is Numerology?
The teachings of numerology have been around for centuries, but if this is the first time you’re hearing about it, you’ll want a clear definition of what this term means before we delve into its complexities.
Numerology is an ancient, mystical art and study that utilizes the power of numbers to reveal cosmic meaning as well as provide guidance and purpose for an individual.
The teachings revolve around the idea that everything in creation is dependent on the powerful properties of numbers, particularly when depicted in patterns or if the same sequence frequently reoccurs. Understanding the meaning behind these numbers can provide invaluable insight into a person’s personality, future events, or even theirs or another’s a higher purpose.
If you’re the type of person who has noticed specific numbers seem to constantly pop up in your daily life or that a number or numerical sequence seems connected to positive or negative events, then numerology would be highly beneficial for you. Its teachings could help you determine why these numbers reoccur, what they mean in relation to the events, and how to use these numbers’ energy to your advantage.
How Does Numerology Work?
The practice of numerology is based on the metaphysical concept that numbers contain certain character traits and frequencies.
These traits determine an individual’s personality, behavioral patterns, strengths/weaknesses, likes/dislikes, future events (such as upcoming career opportunities), higher purpose in life, etc. They are also said to indicate the issues or lessons you are destined to face during a given lifetime.
The actual practice of interpreting the meaning behind numbers is incredibly complicated and requires training and guidance from a numerologist master. Many beginners will start with their birth date and birth name or a person’s life path number (LPN) before attempting to accurately read and interpret numbers in their daily life.
In order to properly interpret numbers, a numerologist will use the numbers to determine how each number relates to the others on a more complex level. They look at things like what type of information is emphasized by certain numbers, which ones are most compatible with another, and so forth.
The goal is to reduce all of the numbers in a sequence until you come to the “root number,” which is a single digit the numerologist can use for interpretation. It is this technique of properly reducing numerical sequences, like a birth date, into one root number that makes numerology so difficult as there is a great deal of room for misinterpretation and error. Of course, with enough practice, mastering this skill can open a whole new world of meaning for any practicing numerologist.
Where Does Numerology Come From?
The study of numerology has a deep origin, and its practices have been used to some degree by global civilizations for centuries, each adding their own cultural elements to their techniques and interpretations.
For example, there is legitimate evidence of numerology dating back to 625–539 BC in Babylon, where Chaldean numerology originated. However, numerology is believed to predate to at least 500 BC in Ancient Greece, thanks to one renowned Greek mathematician and philosopher.
Modern or Western numerology practices and techniques are derived from those established by Pythagoras and his vastly influential theories. In his time, Pythagoras was able to discover that a direct relationship between numbers and music notes exists. He tested this theory by using the numbers found in an individual’s birth date and pairing it with the vibrations of musical notes that correspond with those numbers. The resulting sounds allowed him to interpret aspects of the individual’s personality.
Despite the fact that numerology’s foundations were set in Ancient Greece and have been used in nations worldwide, including Egypt, Rome, China, and Japan, for centuries, it didn’t obtain its official name (or at least it was never recorded) until 1907.
Of course, the lack of a recorded name didn’t stop numerologists from harnessing the power of numbers to help them interpret their lives, the lives of those around them, and the universe.
How Can I Find My Numerology Number?
As we mentioned previously, numerology is a complex study and art that takes time, research, and practice to master. That being said, everyone has to start somewhere, and one of the most common beginner lessons is how to find your numerology number.
A person’s numerology number is often referred to as their life path number and is often taught first for its significance. This number is based on the numbers within a person’s date of birth and will reveal invaluable insight about their very nature and future, such as their life goals, relationship compatibility with partners or family members, deepest values, and the experiences and challenges they’re destined to face.
To find your numerology or life path number, you must first look at all of the digits that make up your birth date. You will then strategically reduce these numbers until you are left with one final digit. This singular number is referred to as the “root number” and will be your life path or numerology number. You would then use this digit to help interpret characteristics about yourself and your life.
Life path numbers can range from 1 to 9, in addition to the master numbers 11, 22, 33 (which we’ll discuss in detail later). In order to obtain this single number, write all of the digits in your birthday on a piece of paper. For this example, we’ll use the birthday of October 16th, 1996.
Your first number will be the month that you are born. In this example, October is the 10th month of the year, but because it has two digits, you’ll add 1+0 to have a single digit of 1. If your birth month is a single digit already, this is the number you’ll use (ex., if you’re born in April, your number is 4).
Now, you’ll repeat this process of your day of birth, which is 16 in this example (1+6=7). Your birth year will follow the same concept but requires an additional reduction than the previous sections. To fully reduce your birth year, you’ll start by adding all of the digits (1+9+9+6= 25). You’ll then be left with a double-digit you need to reduce further by adding the two numbers it’s comprised of (2+5=7).
Now that you have all of the digits in your birthdate reduced, you’ll add them together (1+7+7=15). If you’re left with a double-digit, you’ll reduce it further for your life path number (1+5=6). Alternatively, if you want to skip all of that reduction, you can add every digit in your birthdate and go from there (ex. 1+0+1+6+1+9+9+6=33à 3+3=6).
Interpreting Your Life Path Number
The sum of all the digits in the example birthdate above is 33 for a life path number of 6. Sometimes, you’ll find your life path number is paired with the double-digit it was derived from (ex.15/6). Regardless, it is the single digit of 6 here that you will use to interpret yourself.
For this individual, the life path number of 6 means that they are extremely altruistic, responsible, and decisive. They focus much of their time and purpose on helping or caring for others, especially those who are less fortunate or don’t have the ability to help themselves.
Much of their self-worth resides in feeling useful and improving the lives of those around them. However, this often leads to their greatest struggle of feeling overburdened by helping others before themselves. These opinionated people will stand up for their beliefs and for others but can sometimes find their generosity is their downfall.
Another challenge these individuals face is ensuring the help they offer is actually wanted. They can sometimes come off as overbearing or even bossy if they believe a person must act a certain way to improve themselves despite that individual not wanting to change.
Which Is The Powerful Number in Numerology?
We briefly mentioned the concept of master numbers while detailing how to find your own life path number. If you were wondering what these numbers are and what they mean, here’s where you’ll find answers.
The most powerful numbers in numerology are 11, 22, and 33 and are more commonly referred to as the “master numbers.” Of these three numbers, it is believed that 22 is the most powerful.
Master numbers are deemed the most powerful because they contain repeating digits consisting of the numbers 1, 2, and 3, which represent the Triangle of Enlightenment. Therefore, they are highly spiritual numbers that carry the greatest power and potential for success.
Of these numbers, 22 is deemed the most powerful because it holds all of the power of the number 4 (its final reduction or root number), can turn the most ambitious dreams into reality (referred to as the master-builder) and break down life barriers. It is also believed that the strength of a life path led by 22 increases with age as opposed to others that weaken.
Apart from your master numbers, the strongest number in numerology is usually agreed upon to be 9 since its multitudes always reduce to 9, and the most powerful number in the universe is 1 as it represents rebirth or the start of something. Follow the link to find out some of the best numerology calculators out there.
Final Thoughts
Numerology can be an extensive study to grasp, but its most basic teaching is to utilize the power of numbers to interpret the world around you and find personal enlightenment. If you’re just getting started, we recommend finding a knowledgeable mentor and using what you’ve learned here to find your life path number. These will help you insurmountably in your journey and will provide a solid foundation for everything else numerology can teach you.
