Last Updated on December 1, 2021 by astrologerbydefault

Someone asked me a question on using numerology and Rahu Ketu’s role in it. Thus this generic post.

In my opinion, numerology is a good way to rapidly assess the individual in sitting in front of you. If you know just his birthday, eg just 25^th Sept, even this much is enough to gain a reasonable insight into his personality. And learning about the 9 numbers, their characteristics and planetary associations is a bit easier than learning full-fledged Jyotish. So if you are a beginner, do read up on numerology and see if you can use it in your everyday life. The 9 numbers are obviously from 1 to 9. Technically 0 is not a number in the real sense (who knows what 0 really is?). The double digit numbers from 10 onwards are naturally reduced to single digits.

I have studied numerology also in my journey with Jyotish. I analyse things, test them on the people I know and then conclude. So here are the planetary associations which I have determined to be correct and I use these.

• 1 = Sun
• 2 = Moon
• 3 = Jupiter
• 4 = Rahu
• 5 = Mercury
• 6 = Venus
• 7 = Ketu
• 8 = Saturn
• 9 = Mars

In most numerology books, you will find the numbers 4 and 7 are linked with Uranus and Neptune. However I have observed that 4 and 7 are perfectly in tune with the attributes of 4 = Rahu and 7 = Ketu. Students of astrology already know what forces are indicated by Rahu/ Ketu (I have written a lot about them in my several posts). There are no attributes for Uranus and Neptune in any authoritative reference book, they are not graha as per Jyotish (post here). The western books which are said to be authoritative have been written very recently, in the past 50yrs or so. These cannot be relied upon. Any Art or Science which observes humanity as a whole has to be replicable and valid across several generations, only then can its inferences and results be accepted.

Suppose your birthday is 23 Jan 2014. Now you can derive 2 numbers from this date. The first one would be 2 +3 =5, let’s call this 5 the birth number. The second number you can derive is 2+3+1+2+0+1+4 = 13. Then you add this together 1+3 = 4. Let’s call this 4 the total number (you can call them whatever you like as long as you remember how you derived them and what they indicate. They are called psychic, destiny, soul, etc whatever)

The birth number will indicate what you personally think, feel, want, expect, choose, desire, etc. It is your personal number, it tells a lot about you as an individual, your aspirations, fears, the things which hold you down and the stuff which propels you onwards. Your self-image. This number will be more active in the early phase of life when you are immature, young and not much concerned about the responsibility of life.

The total number is more about your public image. Your grown-up attitude towards life, the compromises you make, the maturity you develop with your life events. How life polishes your personality and makes you grow as you get older. This total number indicates your pre-determined, in-built subconscious patterns which are karmic in nature and intended to bring some learnings to you. This number becomes more dominant after you get a job or become financially independent or get married or have a child, ie when you suddenly realise that you are a grown-up with adult responsibilities. After this life-altering event you resonate more with your total number.

There is always a distinct shift from your birth number to your total number. In our example birthdate, 23 Jan 2014 the shift is from 5 to 4. In the initial phase of life, this person will be more dominated by Mercury’s characteristics as connected to the number 5. Later, as he matures, the attributes of Rahu as the number 4 will emerge more strongly. You can analyse for yourself, use your birth date to calculate your birth and total number. If you are in your 30s or older, you will be able to notice the change in your life-pattern as you ‘grew-up’. There will be two distinct phases which can be correlated with these two numbers.

In some cases you will get the birth number and the total number to be the same. Eg for birthdate 6^th Dec 1995 both are 6. In this case, the person will always strongly resonate with the number 6. But after his maturity event, there will be a subtle difference in the expression of the 6, as the same number gives a slightly different result when working as the birth number and as the total number. eg for the number 6, it works better as a birth number than as a total number.

Another point of interest. A person born on 1^st 10^th 19^th 28^th will have the same birth number 1. But each of these persons will express the energy of the 1 in a different manner. ie the person born on 28^th will have a subtle influence of 2 and 8 also on his birth number 1, a tip for these 28^th borns is to manage their finances and budget sensibly for the future.

There is a misconception that some numbers are good and some are bad. But the reality is that all numbers have attributes which can be converted to pleasing/ unpleasant experiences. Try to understand your own number’s attributes so that you can use them proactively for your benefit.

Eg the number 8 linked to Saturn is often considered to be rather tedious. As it is linked to delays, loneliness, age, karmic requirements, imbalances in the Vaat element, misunderstandings, humourless nature, struggles in life extreme events etc. But people born with this number are capable of hard work, are serious about life, can handle almost any situation, are persistent, are strong, patient and persevere. These qualities can be harnessed intelligently. If you have a good understanding of the numbers you can use them to turn life as per your wish. Eg again for number 8. You should consciously try to do the following to gain the most of your number’s energy.  Try to make new connections and keep in touch with your acquaintances/ relatives. Get out more and try to be cheerful. Try something new once in a while. Trust your loved ones and people close to you to some extent at least. Arguments are never-ending, so say your point and then remain silent. You will get very little help in life, so do not take on more than you can do yourself. Do not take up too many jobs just for the money angle. Eat food which will help relieve your aggravated Vaat dosh. Spiritual practice is a must, believe in a higher energy, it will help you.

If you observe your friends numbers, you will note that their numbers will be complementary to yours. Eg again for number 8, a long term relationship/ friendship with 3 5 6 numbers will be a good option.

And finally if you open your horoscope and tally your numbers with them you will find that your number will be linked to your ascendant lord or a planet who has very high shad-bala or is very prominent in some way or the other in your chart. Eg my total number belongs to my ascendant lord. My husband’s total number is the planet who owns his birth Moon sign. I have seen so many such examples. You will find some connect between the numbers and the powerful planets in your horoscope.

I haven’t written anything on numerology till now because I do not use numerology in predictions. I use the numbers only for quick analysis if needed. The test of any divinatory art is its ability to give precise predictions about the past, present and the future. I have not seen a real live example yet where a numerologist predicted the past/ ongoing/ future event correctly, consistently and replicably. Eg If in transit Ketu transits over the 4^th house, the results are definitely going to be separation from the mother, denial of home comforts, health issues, unnecessary travelling etc. This sort of prediction is not possible with numerology as it is taught today.

Personally if I have to find out how my current time/ day is going to be, I open the Panchangam, check out the Tithi, Vaar, Karan, Yog, and link it to my Tarabalam and the Choghadiya. Perhaps glance over the instant Kundali. This is automatic as I have been doing this for years now.

But for beginners, numerology is useful for instant analysis as you need just the date to work with. eg if you are stuck in traffic, irritated and suddenly realise that the date today is 8^th or 17^th or 26^th you immediately calm down as the attributes of this number are delays and frustrations. Or if your boss is never willing to listen to you, and you realise that yes, his birth day is 11^th Oct, so many 1’s in his date, he is going to be egoistical. Or if you go to the bank on 4^th June and the accountant there takes an inordinate time over the details, then yes its the energy of the 4 at work.

So Numerology can give a quick snap-shot of the situation and should be studied.