Some people believe numbers are symbolic, whereas others think they can reveal patterns or help make predictions. Many people use numerology to gain a better understanding of the world. But it can also help you to find out more about your inner self. This article gives an overview of numerology and the five core numbers. Find out how to calculate your life path number and what this might mean for your future career.
How Does Numerology Work?
There are five core numerological concepts. These numbers form the foundations of your numerology chart. Numerology uses numbers 1–9, plus the master numbers: 11, 22 and 33. Having a master number is not considered good or bad. Rather, it is different from a non-master number. Your numbers can help you choose a career direction. Career numerology should be a fun addition to other career planning methods, for example, career exploration.
Life Path Number
The life path number is considered the most important numerology concept. It identifies a person’s traits, vision for the future and probable setbacks. This information can help you to gain a better understanding of your primary purpose in life. The other core numbers offer further insight if you scrutinize them further. They can reveal more about your inner personality, values and future goals. The life path number is a single-digit value representing your date of birth. The only exception is if the answer to your calculation is one of the master numbers noted above. If you were born on July 18th, 2000, you need to break this down into separate values for the month, day and year:
July is the seventh month, so the number for this is 7 Your day of birth is 18 Your birth year reduces down to a single digit by adding each of the numbers together (2 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 2)
The digits are then added together. Here is an example calculation for a person with the birth date 07/18/2000 (July 18, 2000): 7 + 1 + 8 + 2 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 18 = 1 + 8 = 9 Your date of birth may mean that you end up with a double digit at this stage. If so, add the numbers together until you arrive at a single digit answer. For example: 2 + 1 + 8 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 7 = 36 3 + 6 = 9
Birthday Number
A birthday number is a single-digit number that represents the day you were born. If you were born on the 8th day of the month, your birth number is 8. If you were born on the 16th day of the month, you would need to add the two digits together to reveal your birth number: 1 + 6 = 7 If you were born on the 11th or 22nd day of the month, the digits should not be added together. This is because 11 and 22 are master numbers. If you were born on the 29th day of the month, the digits should be added together but not reduced any further because they create a master number (11).
Expression Number
The expression number offers insight into opportunities, drivers and life goals. It also reveals the abilities and limitations you were born with. Having this information in mind can be helpful when choosing a career path. Once you have identified your strengths, find out which jobs would best match your skills. Understanding your weaknesses will help you plan how to address them. To work out your expression number, write out your full birth name. If you are married or have otherwise changed your name since birth, you must use your given name at birth. Next, you will need to use the chart below to assign a numerical value to each of the letters. AMANDA JAYNE BAKER A = 1, M = 4, A = 1, N = 5, D = 4, A = 1 J = 1, A = 1, Y = 7, N = 5, E = 5 B = 2, A = 1, K = 2, E = 5, R = 9 Add all the numbers together – in this example, the total is 54. A double-digit number will need to be added together: 5 + 4 = 9 Amanda Jayne Baker’s expression number is 9.
Heart Desire Number
This number is sometimes known as the soul urge number. It is based on the vowels in your full name at birth (A, E, I, O and U). It can help to reveal your future dreams and goals, as well as your key drivers and motivation. It is a useful number when considering lifestyle, friendship and career choices. Here is a calculation for Amanda Jayne Baker: A = 1, A = 1, A = 1, A = 1, E = 5, A = 1, E = 5 The total is 15. These numbers should be added together, as 15 is not a master number. 1 + 5 = 6
Personality Number
This number tells you more about other people’s first impressions of you. It is based on the consonants in your full birth name. The letter Y can be either a vowel or a consonant depending on where it is placed within the name. For Amanda Jayne Barker, the calculation is as follows. Note that in this case, the ‘y’ in Jayne is treated as a vowel as it is found between a vowel and a consonant. M = 4, N = 5, D = 4, J = 1, N = 5, B = 2, K = 2, R = 9 The total is 32. These numbers should be added together to create a single digit as 32 is not a master number. 3 + 2 = 5 Amanda Jayne Barker’s personality number is 5. This information can be combined to help you understand which careers you would suit. It should be used alongside other methods when planning your career direction.
Careers by Life Path Number
Each of the life path numbers is associated with specific characteristics. Finding out your life path number can be a helpful starting point for career planning. Once you have identified your number, you can find out more about the people and environments you will work well with.
Life Path Number 1
Characteristics: Considered natural leaders, they are ambitious and well equipped to succeed in business. Passionate, creative and diplomatic, they are successful entrepreneurs. They are confident in their abilities and unafraid to take risks. They are caring towards the people close to them. Challenges: Can be overbearing, intimidating or overprotective. Their desire to lead people can be viewed as controlling. They are often unwilling to accept instruction from others. They prefer to be the boss, not a subordinate. Potential Careers:
Inventor Freelancer Entrepreneur Teacher Politician
Life Path Number 2
Characteristics: Kind and considerate, many would describe themselves as a people person. They like to keep the peace and get along with everybody. They enjoy harmonious work environments. Sociable and considerate, they want to work collaboratively in a team. They are effective negotiators and can mediate in difficult situations. Challenges: They can be oversensitive. Their avoidance of conflict can cause problems within their working relationships. They find it difficult to stand up for themselves, often allowing other people’s needs to come before their own. Potential Careers:
Team administrator Sales representative Counselor Childcare provider Nurse Mediator Librarian
These people thrive on being the center of attention. They have high energy levels and are perceived as childlike. They tend to be high achieving. Friendly and charming, their enthusiasm means they are suited to careers in the arts and entertainment industry. Challenges: They can lose their focus as fast as they find it. They often begin a project but do not finish it. They find it hard to commit and tend to focus too much on other people’s perceptions of them. Potential Careers:
Journalist Actor Singer Dancer Graphic designer Public relations/advertising executive
Life Path Number 4
Characteristics: Intelligent, down to earth and conscientious. These people enjoy structured routines, security and a stable job role. They are happy to take and follow instructions from others, as long as these are justified, clear and methodical. They have critical thinking skills and thrive in environments that allow open communication. Challenges: Their love of routine means they struggle when plans are changed midway through a task or project. They are risk-averse and can miss out on opportunities due to the limitations they place on themselves. Potential Careers:
Proofreader Copy writer Editor Lawyer Engineer or mechanic
Life Path Number 5
Characteristics: These people are fearless, energetic and not afraid to take risks. They enjoy their own space and independence. They do not enjoy taking instruction from others or having to stick to a rigid routine. Spontaneous and energetic, they are fiercely determined once they have identified their goal. Challenges: They are prone to getting bored easily. They also have the potential to become workaholics once they are fixated on a project. They can be viewed as vain and inconsiderate, and their spontaneity can be mistaken for recklessness. Potential Careers:
Tour guide Travel representative Teacher Coach Marketing executive Photographer
Life Path Number 6
Characteristics: Known for nurturing others, these people are often described as motherly. They enjoy playing an active role in the community and finding meaning in their actions. They are warm, generous and willing to go the extra mile to help others. Calm in a crisis, they are kind, level-headed and responsible. Challenges: Being generous can sometimes backfire when others take advantage. These people like to receive recognition and praise for their actions. When they do not, resentment builds and can give the impression of being a martyr. To avoid burnout, they need to prioritize self-care instead of only focusing on the needs of others. Potential Careers:
Life coach Childcare practitioner Engineer Chef Environmentalist Not-for-profit worker Support worker
Life Path Number 7
Characteristics: These people are spiritual and have an interest in the unexplained. They have a philosophical mindset and are keen to find out the truth about things. They have effective research, analytical and problem-solving skills. Highly intelligent, they find it easy to convert theory into practice. Often described as lone wolves, they are sensitive and work best in calm surroundings. They enjoy their own space and while they do not shy away from social situations, they are able to identify when they are ready to move away from them. Challenges: They can be difficult to read and hard to get to know. Their lone-wolf persona can sometimes be mistaken for selfishness. They can sometimes come across as being condescending and out of touch with the real world. Potential Careers:
Data analyst Scientist Surgeon Researcher Police detective Writer
Life Path Number 8
Characteristics: These people are often referred to as the boss. Powerful and commanding, they have effective management skills. They can resolve conflict and put plans into action. With their ambitious nature and motivation to lead others, they have the potential to become successful and wealthy. They are mentally resilient and well respected. Challenges: They can be unwilling to accept guidance from other people. Their drive to succeed can be overpowering and make them appear controlling. They may struggle to cooperate with people who do not share their goals and values. Potential Careers:
Politician Finance professional Lawyer Entrepreneur Teacher Social worker
Life Path Number 9
Characteristics: They are driven by their desire to make a difference. They are good Samaritans – kind, compassionate and emotionally intelligent. They want to help other people wherever they can, and can see how their contribution will affect the bigger picture. Their personality means they can perform well as a manager or subordinate. They do not enjoy strict routines. Challenges: Their kind and helpful nature can lead to others taking advantage of them. Their need for validation can see them becoming a martyr if they are not recognized for their good deeds. At times, they can be indecisive and moody. Potential Careers:
Nurse Law Teacher Creative designer Photographer Politician
Master Numbers
Master Number 9
Characteristics: These people are looking for a fulfilling career. They are happiest in a job role where they can make a difference to the lives of others. They have effective communication skills coupled with mediation skills. This means they have transferable skills to succeed in a broad spectrum of job roles. They have natural healing skills and are not motivated by success and wealth – they just want to earn enough to pursue the hobbies and interests they find meaningful. They enjoy their independence and need their own space at times. Once they identify their calling, they will remain loyal. Challenges: Their fear of failure can mean they are over critical of themselves. They are self-conscious and prone to stress and anxiety. They can be plagued with self-doubt. Potential Careers:
Artist Creative writer Musician Doctor Teacher Therapist Counselor Pastoral roles
Master Number 22
Characteristics: These people have the tenacity to get to where they want to be. Of all the life path numbers, they have the highest potential for success. Making a positive difference is more important to them than financial gain. Their systematic approach and boundless energy mean they are well equipped to lead by example and motivate others. Challenges: Their potential for success can be a burden if they are unable to find a career path that meets their other needs. Their practical approach means they can appear inflexible. Their strong determination to get to where they want to be can be mistaken for being controlling or manipulative. Potential Careers:
Builder Engineer Designer Architect Media/communications Teaching Politics
Master Number 33
Characteristics: Not many people have a life path number of 33. Their interests lie in providing a service to others and helping those less fortunate. They are willing to listen and help wherever they can. Their compassion for others means they are keen to nurture people in need. They are sensitive, responsible and selfless in their actions. They have many talents and are likely to have creative abilities. Challenges: They are often described as perfectionists. They have high moral standards and expect others to have the same values, which can be detrimental to working relationships. They are often perceived as being controlling. Potential Careers:
Counsellor Lecturer Teacher Charity worker Nurse or doctor
Final Thoughts
Numerology is a fun way to learn about your personality, strengths and weaknesses. It is not scientific, so you should always use your results in conjunction with other career planning methods. If nothing else, career numerology will give you the opportunity to consider your character traits and personality type. It will also encourage you to think about what you are good at and what you might find challenging in a career.
