Always searching for answers and explanations? Constantly wondering whether the universe has some greater plan in store for you? You’ve probably tried a variety of mystical methods to figure it all out — whether it may be tarot cards, palm reading, or astrology.
If this all sounds right up your alley, you’re going to love the concept of ‘life path numbers’. The concept is a key part of ‘numerology’, or, the belief that numbers hold the key and, if we understand them, we can learn more about ourselves and the world around us. It’s often thought to be an off-shoot of astrology and it dates all the way back to around 8 BC.
Whether you believe in the mystical power of numbers or not, it’s always fun to try out a new method of understanding what is (ultimately, probably) impossible to understand. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the unknown world of numerology and life path numbers.
What is a life path number?
A life path number is a unique number that is calculated from your date of birth. Similar to your astrological Sun sign for all you astrology girls, it is thought that your life path number can indicate who you really are at your essence and what your true purpose is. Deep stuff, we know!
“Life path numbers indicate what transitions, changes and patterns that you’ll likely live through in your life,” Sade Jackson, the Astrology Vixen, a London-based astrologer, tells us. “Think of it as the undercurrent of the bigger plot line of your life’s journey. It’s subtle, but when you look closer with the naked eye, you can’t deny the consistent themes.”
How to calculate your life path number
The life path number is calculated through a somewhat complex formula. Your number is basically a sum of your date of birth, combining the day, the month, and the year. However, it’s a little bit more complicated — the only possible life path number are the single digits (1-9) and the Master Numbers, 11, 22, and 33.
In order to calculate your life path number, you first have to reduce your birth date into single digits or Master Numbers. “Keep adding the numbers together until you finally end up with a single digit,” says Jackson. “However, if it totals to either 11, 22, or 33, then you don’t reduce the number.”
For example, if your birthday was February 10, 1993:
You would have to reduce the day and the year. The month is already a single digit, 2.
Reduce the day by adding the two digits (1+0) and you are left with 1.
Reduce the year by adding all four digits (1+9+9+3) and you are left with 22. This is a Master Number so you can stop there.
Therefore, you’re left with 2 (from February), 1 (from the day), and 22 (from the year).
Now, add these three numbers together and you get 25. Next, you guessed it, we need to reduce that number. So, 2+5=7. In this case, your life path number would be 7.