Life Path Number: How to Calculate It and What It Means

Your life path number is the main number in numerology. It comes from your full date of birth.

Numerology is a belief system rather than science, but it's a fun way to think about personality.

How to calculate it

• Write your date of birth as numbers, e.g. 14 07 1988.
• Reduce the day, month and year separately: day 1+4 = 5; month 0+7 = 7; year 1+9+8+8 = 26, then 2+6 = 8.
• Add them: 5+7+8 = 20, then 2+0 = 2. Life path number 2.
• If you get 11, 22 or 33 along the way, stop: those are master numbers.

What each number means

• 1, The Leader: Life path number 1
• 2, The Peacemaker: Life path number 2
• 3, The Communicator: Life path number 3
• 4, The Builder: Life path number 4
• 5, The Adventurer: Life path number 5
• 6, The Nurturer: Life path number 6
• 7, The Seeker: Life path number 7
• 8, The Achiever: Life path number 8
• 9, The Humanitarian: Life path number 9
• 11, The Intuitive (master number): Life path number 11
• 22, The Master Builder (master number): Life path number 22
• 33, The Master Teacher (master number): Life path number 33

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my life path number?

Reduce your birth day, month and year to single digits, add them, and reduce again (keeping 11, 22 and 33).

What are master numbers?

11, 22 and 33. They aren't reduced further.

What is a good example of life path numbers: how to work yours out?

"Write your date of birth as numbers, e.g. 14 07 1988." is one of 16 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.

Can I copy these messages word for word?

Yes. Everything on this page is free to copy, print and read out - no permission or credit needed. Changing one detail so it fits the person is all we would suggest.

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