Numerology is the study of numbers as meaningful constructs related to human consciousness. Numbers shape our lives in many ways, starting with number values associated with the letters of words, especially our names. We have the numbers of our birthday, month and year. Most countries have a number range for citizens (in the United States this is the 9-digit Social Security Number or SSN). Most of us have a telephone number; When we drive a car, we have a license plate. Every word and every set of numbers can be traced back to a number between 1 and 9, and each of those numbers has a spiritual meaning.
It turns out that there are several number systems available for doing numerology work. The most common is the Pythagorean system. Almost as well known is the Chaldean system. A lesser known, but interesting system is the Gematria system, promoted by Marty Leeds. This article examines the calculations of two names using each of the three systems.
The number in your name
Each letter in your name is associated with a number, and each name in your full name contains a total numerical value of all the letters in the sections of your name. Finally, all the letters and all your names have a total value and that value is called your destination number. And yes, changing your name can change your destiny, more often for women than for men, as it is still more common for a woman to change her surname to that of her husband. Same-sex marriages create an interesting dynamic, as it can be very common to hyphenate both surnames, potentially changing the lottery number for both individuals.
In my case, I have a strange circumstance that has led to me having two names. I am adopted and my adopted first name and the name I live by is Philip Franklin Young. But in 2003, I found and met my birth mother and discovered that she had given me a name before my adoption; the name she gave me was Charles Edward Otto. Although no legal document exists and no Social Security number is assigned to that name, it still holds power as the name my birth mother chose for me.
Once I discovered numerology, before I knew the name my birth mother gave me, I worked out my destiny number using the Pythagorean system through Morris Goodman’s book Modern Numerology. Once I had my middle name, I ran it through the same system and book. Before I share the results and run both names through the other two systems, I want to explain the differences, which are most easily represented using tables.
Pythagorean Numerology
Chaldean numerology
Gematria Numerology
I’m not going to explain the philosophy behind the differences; those are completely separate articles. What I want you to see are the different calculations and how each system solves my two names and what I can make of both names through all three systems.
Pythagorean calculations
Chaldean calculations
Gematria calculations
Observations and interpretations
As you can see from the calculations, the number 3 appears four times out of the six totals. The other totals are 2 and 6. In Morris Goodman’s Modern Numerology (1968), the full name value of 3 expresses the destiny “to inspire and uplift others” (94). It is the song for the educator and communicator (I taught at colleges and universities for over 15 years). In Sonia Ducie’s Principles of Numerology (1998), 3 is the number “for expansion, progress, for protection and abundance” (58). And Faith Javane and Dusty Bunker’s Numerology and the Divine Triangle (1979) describes 3 as “you are very conscientious about duties. You are well aware of the law of the Trinity and know that inspiration and imagination will produce the best results when you use them to help others” (24).
All three interpretations above are based on the Pythagorean system. A site that interprets Chaldean numbers (https://astrologyfutureeye.com) says that 3 means that I am a “creative entertainer” and that I am “influenced by the planet Jupiter”, “a social person who is creative” , and my tarot card is “the Empress”. For Marty Leeds’ Gematria I could find information on Graham Hancock’s site (https://grahamhancock.com/leedsm1/), where he writes about the principle that 3 becomes 1, the Holy Trinity and the singularity of past/present/future.
Most interesting also are the Chaldean calculations for my Charles Edward Otto name, which yields 22 for all three names and the three total corresponding to all three totals appearing with my Philip Franklin Young name, which, in itself, is a very interesting and unexpected outcome. And, for even more fun, if you take my other two numbers, you can multiply 2 times 3 to get 6, or 2 times 6 to get 12, which reduces to 3. You can also add 2 three times and 3 twice to get to 6.
2 is a number related to relationships, which Goodman refers to as the “cooperative spirit” (93) and 6 is the “protector of home and hearth.” Even more fascinating is how these numbers intersect with my astrology. My sun is in my 6the House (6) and my moon is in my 12e House (12 = 3). The 6e Service house rules and my Moon in Libra focus my emotions on my relationships and how I can “bring harmony” to others (the binary, 2, of relationships).
Like a full card reading, a comprehensive look at your numbers through these multiple systems, and even multiple ways within each system, is a wonderful way to plumb the depths of your spiritual story. In another article I will look at some of the different ways to look at numbers and timing in your life using the Pythagorean system and Goodman’s techniques, and provide an article on the many places numbers appear in your life which “Hide in plain sight”.
