How to calculate your life path number: a worked example

Start with your full birth date

To calculate the life path number in our report, you need your complete birth day, month and year. Your name, birth time and city do not enter this calculation. Check the date first: a copied digit can change the sum.

We use one specific numerology method: add all the date’s digits together, then reduce the total. We do not reduce the day, month and year separately. The arithmetic can be checked; its interpretation is symbolic and does not establish abilities, destiny or future events.

Follow every step of the sum

Take 14 February 1980 as an example. Write out each digit so you can check your work. Keep the zeros when writing the date; each adds zero to the total.

• Example date: 14/02/1980, in day/month/year order.
• First sum: 1 + 4 + 0 + 2 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 0 = 25.
• Reduction: 2 + 5 = 7.
• Result using our method: life path 7.

When we keep 11, 22 and 33

In this method, reduction stops when the total is 11, 22 or 33, or reaches one of those values during reduction. For example, 12 September 1992 gives 1 + 2 + 0 + 9 + 1 + 9 + 9 + 2 = 33. The result stays at 33 rather than continuing to 6.

Another calculator may reduce each part of the date first or use a different rule for these numbers. Compare the steps before assuming you made a mistake. Keep one method throughout the exercise.

Use the result as a starting point

The life path number and expression number are different calculations. The first uses your date; the second uses supported letters in the name you provide. Neither should be confused with our five-point matrix, which follows a different reduction rule.

After calculating, choose a question that matters to you: something to learn, a habit to revisit or a project to return to. Note a real example and a possible action. The numbers manual helps you read the report; the next-chapter quiz can help make that action more specific.