What Is Your Life-Path Number?

Much like astrology, numerology holds that your birthday says something essential about your personality. More broadly, adherents of numerology believe that numbers, and the associations between them, are mystical and meaningful. Some people believe they can be used to predict the future; others consider numbers largely symbolic.

Skeptics argue that numerology is a pseudoscience, and that numbers, in and of themselves, can’t confer meaning beyond their actual numerical value. Investigations into claims of numerological ability have found no evidence of genuine psychic ability. Still, the practice has many modern-day fans — including some gamblers, who use it to choose lucky numbers at roulette tables and the like.

One popular concept in numerology is the “life-path number,” which purports to reveal essential truths about your personality, outlook, and challenges in life.

How do I calculate my life-path number?

Basically, take your date of birth’s numerical value, add all those digits together by category (year, month, day), and keep adding each of those digits together until you finally end up with a single digit.

For example: Say your birthday is July 3, 1995, or 7/3/1995. First, you’ll reduce the year to a single digit by adding its digits together. 1+9+9+5 = 24, and 2+4 = 6. In this case, both the month and the day are already single digits, so we can now add each value together: 6 (for the year) + 3 (for the day) + 7 (for the month) = 16. Finally, add those digits together, as needed, until you get a single digit: 1+6 = 7.

Another example, using the birthday December 26, 1989. That’s 12/26/1989, so 1+9+8+9 = 27, and 2+7 = 9. The day, 26, reduces to 8 (2+6), and the month, 12, reduces to 3 (1+2). So, 9+8+3 = 20. Finally, 2+0 = 2, so this person’s life-path number is 2.

This is pretty straightforward so far, but I’m sorry to say there is one complication: If, during the calculation process, one of your groups totals 11 or 22, you do not reduce those values to a single digit until the final reduction. That’s because 11 and 22 are “master numbers,” according to numerology, which have their own special meanings. So if you were born in November, for instance, you have a master number built in. Someone born on November 2, 1960, would calculate their number as follows: 1+9+6+0 = 16, which reduces to 7 (1+6). Therefore, 7+2+11 (which does not reduce!) = 20, and 2+0 = 2.

Following this formula is important. According to numerology.com, “Those who blindly add numbers randomly without understanding the integrated nature of the whole are like spiders who have lost touch with the brilliant architecture of their web.”

Got your life-path number figured out? Now you can simply plug that number in below and find out everything that might ever happen to you. (Almost.)

What does my life path number mean?

You can find a great number of characteristics and predictions tied to each life-path number on the internet, but here are some of the most common traits ascribed to each one.

1

Strengths: Ones are natural-born leaders, ambitious, and usually successful in the professional realm. Charming, diplomatic, and always interesting to be around.

Challenges: Ones are caring to the point that they may be overprotective and domineering. May also be prone to anger issues.

2

Strengths: These people are deeply kind, caring, and empathetic. They’re often artists, though their skill for diffusing tense situations may also make them skilled as politicians.

Challenges: Deep sensitivity and conflict aversion can make 2s overly dependent in their personal relationships. They may have a hard time standing up for their needs.

3

Strengths: Threes love attention and generally come by it easily. They can achieve a great many things and are likely precocious as children. Always high energy.

Challenges: Just as easily as threes start big, exciting projects, they often abandon them. Threes likely find it difficult to focus/commit and may become too focused on others’ perceptions of them.

4

Strengths: This is generally a very principled, reliable person, which makes them a desirable friend and co-worker. People generally know what to expect from a four.

Challenges: This type can become rigid, too fixated on rules and norms. Fours may find themselves easily frustrated by people who create their own guidelines or stray too far outside the box.

5

Strengths: Fives are inquisitive and intellectual, often making for great journalists and educators. Strong communication skills with a childlike sense of wonder for simple pleasures.

Challenges: Fives may indulge a little too much in their favorite hobbies/vices, like shopping or partying. May also come off a bit superficial and noncommittal in relationships.

6

Strengths: This type is likely to be an impassioned speaker and activist, whether professionally or personally, on behalf of one’s loved ones. Their curiosity and compassion make them great lawyers, speakers, and therapists.

Challenges: Sixes may have a hard time with consistency, especially when it comes to taking care of themselves (sort of the “Mark Ruffalo eating cold pizza in Spotlight” type).

7

Strengths: Deeply creative with a strong and vivid imagination, sevens thrive in the internal world. They’re able to entertain themselves endlessly and are rarely bored.

Challenges: Unsurprisingly, this type can be a bit shy and may have a hard time connecting with other people. They may also have a hard time relaxing, moving constantly between work and constructive hobby.

8

Strengths: Eights are good with money, aware of its omnipresence from a very young age. They’re ambitious and willing to work hard to be self-sufficient and comfortable.

Challenges: This type’s skill with money means they might be susceptible to grifters, whether professionally or personally. They’re also at risk of becoming workaholics.

9

Strengths: Nines are idealistic and deeply principled, unwilling to compromise their values in favor of convenience. They tend to be stylish, agreeable, and generous.

Challenges: This type risks codependency in personal relationships and may have trouble enjoying the present rather than focusing so heavily on their dreams for the future.