Numerology is the ancient and culture-spanning study of numbers and their energetic influence in life. In numerology, every number (and letter, too) has a “secret code” linked to it that can reveal traits, challenges, powers, and destinies. Numerology is like a blueprint of what your life could be, and the key number for your “secret code” is your birth date, as well as your full name. Much like a horoscope, your numerological chart reveals your personality, talents, and future potential.
What’s a life path number, anyway?
Your life path number derives from your date of birth. It represents your key traits, as well as your purpose in the wider world in this lifetime. Some numerologists believe that you will live this life path, potentially over and over again, until you learn its ~lesson~, and then you move on to the next number.
Your life path number might not always resonate when you first read about it. Bear in mind that life is long, and you might take may twists and turns before finally hitting upon your true purpose. We all need to make mistakes, test ourselves, gain experience, and react to the childhoods we had before reaching a place of maturity, fulfillment, and service. Some get there faster than others and some never make it, but most of us take a long and winding road to finding our niche—and that’s okay!
How to find your life path number
To find your life number, you simply reduce the digits of your full birth date until you reach a single-digit number, excluding 11 and 22 and 33, which are considered master numbers (more on that in a bit). This single digit is your individual life path number.
Let’s say your birthday is June 11, 1996. To calculate your Life Path Number, you will reduce each component of this date to a single digit:
The date, 11, is reduced to 1+ 1 = 2.
The month, 6, is reduced to 6.
The year, 1995, is reduced to 1 + 9 + 9 + 5. This equals 24. Then, 24 is reduced to 2 + 4 = 6.
Then, we add the reduced month, date, and year numbers (2 + 6 + 6) and arrive at 14 which we then reduce again (1 + 4) to 5.
So, in this case, your life path number is 5.
The only time you would not reduce the final number is if you get 11 or 22 or 33. These are considered master numbers, and they have an extra special meaning—they’re basically like a “supercharged” version of their repeating digit.
If your life path number is 5, here’s a little more about you…
Life Path Number 5: Personality Traits
5s are inherent free spirts, restless souls, and adventurers. They’re always looking for the next quest or horizon to chase. This is a life path that will keep you on the move, always— physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Most 5 people go through many different “eras” in their life, perhaps moving, switching careers, or changing relationships. 5 people are not born to stay put!
You are adaptable, brave, creative, innovative, inspiring, and persuasive. This makes you a natural for sales, marketing, PR, politics, or inventing “the next big thing.” The only drawback here is consistency and sustainability, because your restless nature can make you fickle and easily distracted from a long-term goal. Self-discipline and persistence are hard-won traits for 5s.
All 5 people like a party, have a hedonistic edge, and are great company. However, this can lead to excesses and unhealthy lifestyle choices. For 5 people, life is a balancing act to lean into the strengths of their fearless, independent nature while avoiding the pitfalls of restlessness and discontent.
Life Path Number 5: Career
For 5s, their career purpose is to discover new things and find new space (mentally, emotionally, and physically). 5s are natural adventurers! You might be drawn to careers involving travel, marketing, hospitality or events, filmmaking, entertainment, journalism, touring, coaching, research, events and PR, innovation, business consulting, and sales. You are a multi-talented individual who craves freedom, adventure, and excitement, and your roles in life (you will have at least two or three careers!) need to deliver that in order to capture your attention. You love travel and you’re willing to move around. You work well with ambiguous or loose briefs, because you are resourceful and enjoy the process of discovery. You do not like being micro-managed.
Life Path Number 5: Relationships
Relationships can be tricky territory for 5 folks because a major component is commitment, sticking in one place with one person… and that might not sit well, especially for younger 5s. Routine and expectation can dull a 5’s spirit, so it’s likely they will, at least for some part of their life, prefer short-lived but passionate and intense relationships. However, if they can meet a likeminded free spirit, that can change. If adventure can be a key component of a connection, then a relationship can endure.
Life Path Number 5: Compatibility
5s get along best with other 5s, as well as 1s and 7s. They need to partner with a strong, independent, almost forceful character who has their own full and busy life and likes their own space. Living separately while in a relationship would probably appeal, and work, for 5s.
Celebrities With Life Path Number 5
- Beyoncé
- Jay-Z
- Ryan Gosling
- Angelina Jolie
- Denzel Washington
- Uma Thurman
- Drew Barrymore
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Mick Jagger
- Steven Spielberg
- Nicolas Cage
- George Clooney
- Tom Cruise
- Eminem
- Tom Hanks
- Alanis Morissette
- Jack Nicholson
- Kate Winslet
- Tiger Woods
Kerry Ward has been reading and teaching tarot for over 25 years, and alongside her work as Horoscope contributor for Cosmopolitan UK, has worked for Cosmopolitan US, too. You can book a personal, written tarot reading with her, which comes as a beautifully illustrated brochure, while she is also the published author of Power Purpose Practice, Card of the Day Tarot and The Good Karma Tarot. She also created the Crystal Magic Tarot deck. Follow her on Instagram @mytarotbella for weekly forecasts, insights, and tarot teachings, or find her on LinkedIn.
