How to Do Numerology

Co-authored by Camber Hill

Last Updated: February 12, 2023 References

Numerology is the belief that certain numbers have mystical significance in your life. You can calculate numbers like your life path number and your name number, and then investigate interpretations of these numbers. Explore the numerological traditions of various cultures to learn about the significance they attribute to different numbers.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Figuring Out Your Life Path Number

1
Sum the digits of your birth month to get a single digit.^{[1]
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Camber Hill
Life Coach
Expert Interview. 16 June 2020.} For example, if you were born in December, that’s the 12th month of the year. So you would add together the digits 1 and 2 to get 3. If you were born in November, which is the 11th month, you would add together 1 and 1 to get 2.^{[2]
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- If you were born on a month with only one digit, just use that digit. For example, if you were born in March, which is the 3rd month of the year, just use the number 3.
2
Reduce the digits of your birthday.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Camber Hill
Life Coach
Expert Interview. 16 June 2020.} For instance, if you were born on the 14th of the month, you would add together 1 and 4 to get 5. If your birth date is already a single digit, you don’t have to do anything to reduce it further.
- It may help to keep track of all these numbers on a piece of paper.
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3
Reduce the year of your birth to a single number.^{[4]
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Camber Hill
Life Coach
Expert Interview. 16 June 2020.} First, add together all the digits. If you were born in 1957, add together 1+9+5+7=22. Then add together the digits of that number: 2+2=4. Sometimes this only takes one step. For example, if you were born in 2001, add together 2+0+0+1=3.^{[5]
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- The goal is to reduce your birth month, birth day, and birth year into 3 single-digit numbers so that you can add them together.
4
Add the single-digit reductions of your birth, day, and year.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Camber Hill
Life Coach
Expert Interview. 16 June 2020.} For example, let’s say you were born on December 14, 1957. You would add together 3+5+4=12. Then you would add together 1+2=3.^{[7]
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- This might only take one step, like if you were born on December 2, 2001. Then you would add together 3+2+3=8.
5
Do not reduce the numbers 11, 22, or 33 in your final step. If the sum of your birth, day, and year digits is 11, 22, or 33, you shouldn’t reduce the number any further. 11, 22, and 33 numbers are considered “master numbers” in numerology, which means they have special significance, and you should keep them as they are.^{[8]
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- For instance, if your birthday is March 5, 2001, you would get 3+5+3=11, and you wouldn’t reduce 11 into 1+1=2. Just leave it as is.
6
Interpret your life path number as an outline of your life. Numerologists believe that the life path number predicts the course of one’s life. It can hint at the challenges and victories ahead of you. Because it is based on your birth date, it holds constant throughout your life, acting as a steady guide.^{[9]
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- You can look up interpretations of your life path number online.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Calculating Your Name Number

1
Assign a number 1-9 to each letter of the alphabet. Write down the letters of the alphabet in order, and then assign them numbers 1-9 in order. For example, A=1, B=2, C=3…. all the way to I=9, and then start again at J=1. The numbers can be summarized like this:^{[10]
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- 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
- Keep this list handy so you can check the letters of your name.
2
Write out your full name and assign a number to each letter. On a piece of paper, write out your full name, including your first, middle, and last names. Then match each letter to its number in the alphabet, using the list you wrote.^{[11]
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- For example, if your name is Abe Smith, you would write “Abe” as 1, 2, 5 and Smith as 1, 4, 9, 2, 8.
3
Sum the digits of your names and reduce to a single-digit number. Add together the digits that you assigned to each letter of the name. You will get a multi-digit number. Reduce this to a one-digit number by adding together the digits, and keep on doing this, until you reach a single digit. This single digit is your name number.^{[12]
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- In the example of Abe Smith, you would add together all the digits and get a total of 32. Reduce this to a single digit by splitting into 3+2=5. Abe Smith’s name number is 5.
- For another example, if all the letters of your name added up to 88, you would reduce it by saying 88=16, and then 1+6=7. That would be your name number.
4
Learn more about your personality from your name number. Numerologists link different name numbers to different personality traits. For example, they consider 1 to be leaders and 2 to be peacemakers. Because people sometimes change their names, your name number can change throughout your life, just like your personality can grow and evolve.^{[13]
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- The name number is not a rigid definition of your personality, but just an indication of traits you might have.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Interpreting Your Number’s Significance

1
Interpret 1 as action and initiative. Numerologists believe that the number 1 symbolizes independence, leadership, and forward motion. At its best, 1 is highly capable, active, and initiates progress. On bad days, 1 can be lonely, bossy, or self-important.^{[14]
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- Number 1 can mean great independence, but sometimes you have to learn to ask for help.
2
Link 2 to sensitivity and balance. Numerologists consider the number 2 to stand in for compassion and kindness. 2 is sensitive, empathic, and good at mediating, but can feel unacknowledged and have trouble sticking up for themselves.^{[15]
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- Number 2 is patient, nurturing, and a natural peacemaker.
3
Connect 3 with art and communication. Numerologists consider people connected with the number 3 to be skillful and expressive, easily able to communicate and transmit their ideas through art. 3’s are charming, imaginative, and inspiring.^{[16]
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- Number 3’s can be a bit moody, and often need moments of quiet to recharge.
4
Consider 4 to be dependable and hardworking. Number 4s are loyal and persistent. They are interested in all things practical and concrete. They are excellent providers and good at logical problem-solving. However, they can sometimes be rigid and unimaginative, and need help from other numbers to loosen up.^{[17]
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- Number 4s are often workaholics, and need help from other numbers to loosen up, relax, and notice the small, beautiful things in life.
5
Embrace adventure with number 5. In numerology, 5 corresponds to zest, zeal, and a love for adventure. Number 5 is restless, funny, and eager to explore. They are full of joy, playful, and vivacious. However, they feel restless if they have to stay in one place for a while.^{[18]
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- Number 5s love to travel, but often need help seeing the good in their own day-to-day life.
6
Heal and nurture with number 6. Similar to number 2, number 6 is kind and empathic. 6 takes on a caretaking role, looking after friends, families, and lovers. They are known for exceptional tenderness.^{[19]
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- While 6 is so focused on everybody else’s needs, they need help remembering to look after themselves as well.^{[20]
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7
Analyze with number 7. Numerologists consider people with a life number of 7 to be highly intellectual, logical, and curious. Number 7s love facts and logic, and often have no time for small talk, which can make social situations difficult.^{[21]
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- Number 7s are excellent detectives, astute observers, and natural skeptics.
8
Emphasize career with number 8. People interpret number 8 as strongly linked with finance and career. Number 8s are ambitious strivers and excel at business. At their best, number 8s are effective leaders and generous with their money.^{[22]
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- At their worst, number 8s can be domineering, so they need help from other numbers to keep them in check.
9
See the big picture with number 9. Number 9s are old souls who aren’t caught up in day-to-day minutia, pettiness, or gossip. They are clear-headed and wise, and focus on what’s really important to them. They often excel at fighting injustice, and are great long-range planners. They are giving and spiritually aware.^{[23]
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- Number 9s are sometimes so focused on the big picture of helping others that they neglect their own wellbeing. They need help from their friends to notice the small things in life.
10
Link master number 11 with number 2. In numerology, the numbers 11, 22, and 33 are considered master numbers, which means they are very powerful. Number 11 is linked to number 2, because 1+1=2. That means that 11 amplifies all the characteristics of number 2. Number 11 is intuitive, healing, and aware.^{[24]
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- Number 11 often links to spiritual faith.
11
Connect master number 22 with number 4. 22 amplifies the traits of number 4: 22 is even more hardworking and persistent, and capable of building great things. 22s are industrious and dependable. They make excellent architects and designers.^{[25]
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- 22 is often considered the Master Builder.
12
Link master number 33 to number 6. 33 relates to 6 because 3+3=6. Like number 6, 33 is healing and nurturing; however, 33 is an even more powerful number, known for its exemplary kindness and humanitarian zeal.^{[26]
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- 33 is sometimes considered the most powerful of the master numbers.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Exploring Different Numerology Traditions

1
Explore Pythagorean, or Western numerology. Many scholars have explored ideas about lucky numbers over the years, and Pythagoras, the ancient Greek mathematician, was one of them. It is a Pythagorean tradition to calculate your “name number” by assigning each letter of the alphabet a digit 1-9.^{[27]
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- If you’re interested, you can learn more about Pythagorean numerology by checking out a book from the library or searching online.
2
Investigate Gematria, Jewish mystical numerology. The Jewish tradition of Kabbalah, or mysticism, has long been interested in numerology. They have developed a system of “gematria” which assigns a number to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this way, numbers gain special significance if they correspond to a special word, and words gain significance if they correspond to a special number.^{[28]
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- For example, Jewish tradition values the number 18, because its corresponding letters spell out the word for “life” in Hebrew.
3
Learn about Chaldean numerology. The ancient Babylonians invented a system of numerology centuries ago. Like the Pythagorean system, it assigns each letter in the alphabet to a number, but in this case it is just the numbers 1-8 instead of 1-9. You also use the name you’re known as to find your name number, and not your full name on your birth certificate.
- For example, if your birth name is Jennifer, but you go by Jenny, you would use “Jenny” to calculate your name number in the Chaldean tradition.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What is a life path number?

Camber Hill
Numerology Specialist
Camber Hill is a numerologist, author, speaker, and the owner of Camber Hill Coaching based in Long Beach, California. For over 37 years, Camber has coached entrepreneurs, creatives, business executives, and professional sports figures. He has also inspired creatives in the entertainment industry such as professional directors, writers, actors, and top radio personalities. Camber’s unique use of numerology allows him to understand the under-current which drives his clients to create long-term solutions and measurable results. His work has been featured in the History Channel's "The Human Calculator," The Los Angeles Times, Palm Springs Life Magazine, and California radio programs. He is also a member of The International Coaching Federations and is a board member of the ICF Orange County's Board of Directors. Additionally, Camber is distinguished as a certified business owner by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Camber Hill

Numerology Specialist

Expert Answer

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Your life path number, which is calculated from your birthdate, is a number in numerology that can tell you a lot of information about your core identity and help you figure out more information about your personality and where you may be headed in life. It can help you become more in touch with yourself.