Your Expression Number

Like your birth date, your name is also a melody. Each sound, or letter, in your name has a vibration that matches the vibration of a number. The numbers of your name hold the clues to your personality--the traits you were born with, what motivates you, your inner desires, your strengths and weaknesses, and the way in which you interact with other people. However, the most important clue in your name is your expression number--the number that describes how you interact with others. To find your expression number, you need to change each letter of your name into the corresponding number, then add these numbers together. Be sure to use your full name. However, don't include any designations that may follow your name, such as Jr. The chart below shows the number associated with each letter.

Let's use Caitlin's name as an example. Her full name is Caitlin Anne Clark. First, change her letters into the corresponding numbers. Then add these numbers together until you have a one-digit number. (If the total is a three digit number, add the three digits together. For example, 144 would be added 144 9.)

Caitlin's expression number is 3.

You may want to do each of your names separately, since this is a good way to check your addition. If you haven't made any mistakes, adding the numbers of each name together should give you the same expression number you got by adding your whole name at once. In Caitlin's case:

When you add Caitlin's names together, you get 5+7+9=21.  2+1=3.

For some people, the name they use now may not be the name they were given at birth. This happens most often when a woman takes her husband's last name upon getting married. But it also occurs when children are adopted. The name you were given when you were born has the strongest influence on you, even if you don't know what that name is. But any other name you are known by can affect the kind of opportunities and experiences you attract. In fact, some people actually change the spelling of their name, or change their name altogether, in an attempt to improve the opportunities that come their way. Therefore, if you are adopted and you know your original name, use that name in figuring out your expression number. If not, use your adopted name.

Now that you've found your expression number, let's see what it tells you about the way in which you interact with other people. Incidentally, since others see this part of you every time they interact with you, you may want to ask your friends how well they think your expression number describes you.

Expression Number 1:
You interact with others in a forceful, original, daring, creative, and assertive manner. You like to take charge and to lead others, and you're happiest when you are the boss or are free to carry out your own ideas. Not surprisingly, you don't like having to follow someone else's orders.

Expression Number 2:
Known for your friendliness and tact, you strive for cooperative relationships with others. You are patient, cope well with details, and are willing to work behind the scenes. Although somewhat shy, you attract people to you. You may find it hard to make decisions or to take a stand, however.

Expression Number 3:
You are cheerful, outgoing, animated, expressive, imaginative, witty, and creative in your interactions with others. You need a lively social life, and your ability to create fun and laughter makes you popular with others. However, you often get bored quickly and may have difficulty finishing what you've started.

Expression Number 4:
You are sincere, honest, practical, and logical in your relationships with other people. You also have a great deal of self-discipline and are a hard worker. You tend to be conservative and stubborn, however, and need to take care that you don't become rigid in your way of doing things.

Expression Number 5:
You are adaptable, adventuresome, entertaining, and versatile in interacting with others. These traits plus your skill at communicating make you popular and at ease with many different types of people. However, to be comfortable, you need a great deal of freedom in your relationships.

Expression Number 6:
You seek harmony and love in your relationships with others, offering understanding, stability, trust, loyalty, and a willingness to shoulder responsibilities. You function best when you have a peaceful home life. Take care not to meddle in others' affairs, however.

Expression Number 7:
You tend to be quiet, aloof, and secretive in relating to other people. You are an individualist and don't like being taught by others. It takes you a while to get close to people, and even then, you need to have time by yourself to think and to dream. But be careful that your daydreams don't replace real life.

Expression Number 8:
Success-oriented, you are aggressive, practical, organized, self-assured, efficient, and direct in your relationships to others. When you are at your best, you can also be quite generous. However, you need to be careful that your desire for wealth and power does not make you greedy and power hungry.

Expression Number 9:
You are compassionate, idealistic, and broad-minded in your interactions with others. You feel a connection with all human beings, regardless of their race, ethnic group, religion, or gender, and want to work with others to improve life for all. You can be a charismatic, although sometimes impractical, leader.

This is a good time to add the information about your expression number to your own numerology chart.

How Do Your Numbers Fit Together?

In general, odd numbers are harmonious with other odd numbers, while even numbers are harmonious with other even numbers. If your life path and expression numbers are harmonious, your personality is well-suited for the path in life that is best for you. If they are not, you'll have to learn to make some adjustments.

For example, if your life path number is 7, your destiny is to seek knowledge independently, but if your expression number is 2, you prefer to work cooperatively with others. As you can see, it's hard to do both these things at the same time. In this case, finding your way may be more difficult for you than for some others. However, it helps to know what the problem is. That way, you can figure out how best to make your life work for you.

Now that you've had a chance to see what your numbers say about you, what do you think about this information? In reading about their life path, many people recognize it as the direction they were trying to go in anyway. Is this true for you as well, or does your life path seem wrong for you? Remember, no one says that you have to follow that path. The choice of how you live your life is up to you.

What about the way your numbers say you interact with others? Does that seem to fit or not? As mentioned earlier, you can not only check the description of your expression number against the way you think you interact with others, but you can ask your friends for their opinion as well. After all, they've probably already "got your number."

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