Numbers - There's more to them than you think!

So, the sun’s interesting isn’t it? I don’t mean the fictional newspaper. I mean the actual glowing ball of fire in the sky. We all love it when it comes out and doesn’t it make everything look so much better?​

Someone said to me recently ‘wouldn’t this country be amazing if we just had the weather?’. I found myself vigorously nodding. Visions formed in my head of cafe culture, picnics, outdoor sports - all the things we could do! Then I started to think a bit deeper about it. Actually, I think we are all the better for the balance we have. Hot and cold - wet and dry (maybe the balance is slightly tipped in favour of the wet and cold!). I feel that I appreciate the sunny days more when I have the balance.

Isn’t that true of life too?

This idea of balance in our lives hit home even more at Inspiral Group recently. Matt and I run the Inspiral Group in Cambridge; a spiritual and holistic networking community (every third Weds of the month - for the curious!). We recently hosted a speaker called Richard Abbot - a well respected Numerologist. Numerology is the science of numbers and how they can affect our lives. Richard told us that everyone and everything has a number - or even a set of numbers (I can hear you all saying ‘I’m not a number I’m a free man!’).

Your primary life path number is derived from your date of birth but you can also work out the number associated with you name. Even place names have them!

Each number has a set of characteristics that you should try and live by and also a set of behaviours that we should try and avoid - if we do that, the theory is that our lives will balance out and be the best they can be. The numbers are 1 through to 9 and also 11 & 22.

I thought it might be fun to show you all how to calculate your numbers and see if the result you get resonates with you. Right, maths time.
Take your date of birth, and write it down in this format:
Birth Date: 4 May 1977

4 = 4
May = 5
1977 = (1 + 9 + 7 + 7) = 24 = (2 + 4) = 6

Then add the totals from each above group
(4 + 5 + 6) = 15 = (1 + 5) = 6

If you get a two digit answer then simply add those two digits together and repeat as many times as necessary until you get a single digit. Unless your answer comes back as an 11 or a 22 (more on that below).

So this example person (not my date of birth by the way - I’m much younger than that - ahem) is a life path 6.

Note that the year in the above calculation is reduced to a single number before it is added to the other numbers from the Month and Day.

So, we now have a number! What does that mean though? Well here’s a little summary:

1. The leader. With a strong sense of independence, you do not like relying on other people, especially if you feel they are holding you back. Often, you may feel like it is better to go it alone. As a Life Path 1, be careful and don't try to control everything and everyone around you as you plow headlong towards your goals. In life it is still beneficial to maintain a balance.

2. The diplomat. As a Life Path 2 you will find yourself attracted to a life of building and nurturing relationships. You bring unity and compassion to the world with your big heart and have a tendency to bring out the good in people in your life. One thing to be aware of as a Life Path 2, since you thrive on giving and helping, you can become resentful when someone else’s generosity is not returned in the capacity that you give.

3. The communicator. People with a Life Path 3 are often artistic. You find ways of creating the most beautiful things in this world such as art, music, literature, etc. You breathe life into culture, and make it seem so simple because of your natural gift for expression. All Life Path 3's tend to enjoy life and all that they can get out of it. The extraverted 3's love being in the spotlight and showing off their talent. On the other hand, introverted 3's lean more toward solitary creative pursuits that can garner them a following without being in the spotlight, such as an artist or writer.

4. The worker. The life of a Life Path 4 is one of work and discipline to feel stable. You do not like taking short-cuts and often feel that the best way to do anything is through dedication and perseverance. The daily rituals of a 4 are often well defined, but may sometimes lead to feelings of being stuck in a rut.

5. The flexible one. The Life Path 5 loves to have variety in life. Anything new is exciting. Whether it is traveling to a place you've never been, or meeting new people, you are always looking for that next experience and adventure. For the Life Path 5 a career that requires you to be in a certain place at a certain time everyday will not be the best situation. Instead you should consider a career that provides a unique daily experience.

6. The harmoniser. The Life Path 6 looks for ways to make harmony with everything you encounter. Whether it is art, music, or relationships, no other Life Path can make things coalesce as naturally as you can. Don't let your innate ability to lead go to your head, this can lead to you trying to control every situation, and that is not what being a 6 is about. Learn to balance 'leading and nurturing’.

7. Seeker of knowledge. As a Life Path 7 you are always looking for the answers. Whether the question is big or small, doesn't matter, it’s the glory of finding the answer that drives you. However, because of your desire to process things and stay in your own head, it can take a long time for someone else to get to know you. This can make relationships difficult to flourish and maintain.

8. The powerhouse. As a Life Path 8 you are alive to make an impact on the world through your drive and ambition. You are a person of authority, and material wealth. You will often master the art of being successful in the career of your choosing. You will typically have an issue with authority, whether in the form of a boss, police, government official, landlord, etc. which can get you into trouble.

9. The idealiser. You have great compassion and idealism. You are a utopian, and will spend your life trying to realise some aspect of your utopian dream, sacrificing money, time, and energy for a better world. You are imaginative and creative, especially at harmoniously arranging the beauty already potential in the environment. These abilities can lead you into such fields as interior decorating, landscape art, and photography.

11. The healer. You know you’re different, you don’t need other people to tell you that. As a Life Path 11, life is filled with mysterious connections and experiences that just seem to "Pop Up". You’re more intuitive, or sensitive, than other people you know. You may have found that your life sways from one intense situation to another. Although this can be draining at times, know that it provides you with a greater depth of experiences so you can grow faster. You are considered the "Wounded Healer", someone who helps themselves by helping others.

22. The master builder. The Life Path 22 is one of the most powerful and influential paths in numerology. Your own abilities may seem overwhelming at times, and difficult to manage, but learning to harness your gifts will allow you greater control over your destiny, and in some cases, the destiny of others. If you embrace the catalyst that you can be, the impact you can potentially have on others is enormous. If you allow fear of your power to stifle you, it can spread like a weed and prevent you from reaching your true potential. The Dali Lama is an example of a Master 22!

I hope that was a fun exercise. Loads more information online if you want to find out more about your number. Don’t forget that unlike astrology, numerology does not aim to describe your personality so much as give you a set of values that you should try to live by (or avoid!) to be the best you can be.

By the way, in case you were wondering - where I live is a number 8. Energetically speaking the number eight resonates with the vibrations of riches, wealth, abundance and prosperity. Hasn't come my way yet...!