A magic square from ancient China
The Lo Shu Grid is a three by three square of numbers from Chinese tradition. Its nine cells hold the digits 1 to 9 in a fixed pattern, and every row, column and diagonal adds up to 15. This property is called a magic square. The grid is one of the oldest known, and it has been used in Chinese philosophy, in the art of feng shui and, in modern times, in numerology.
The name Lo Shu means the writing of the Luo River. A legend tells that around 4,000 years ago, a turtle emerged from the Luo River during a flood, with a pattern of dots on its shell. The pattern showed the numbers 1 to 9 in a square. The ruler Yu the Great is said to have used it to control the floods and to organize the land. The story is a myth, but the square itself has a long history in Chinese texts.
The layout
The grid is arranged as follows.
| 4 | 9 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 8 | 1 | 6 |
Check the sums. The top row is 4 + 9 + 2 = 15. The middle row is 3 + 5 + 7 = 15. The bottom row is 8 + 1 + 6 = 15. The columns add up to 15, and so do both diagonals. The number 5 sits in the center, and is said to be the balance point of the square.
How numerologists use it
In numerology the grid is used as a map of a birth date. The idea is that each digit in your date of birth marks a quality, and that the presence, absence or repetition of a digit shows strengths and gaps. It is a second view that complements the Life Path number, which squeezes the date into a single digit.
How to fill the grid
- Write the full date of birth as day, month and year, for example 14 March 1990 as 14, 03, 1990.
- Take every digit of the date. Ignore zeros, because the grid has no zero.
- Place each digit in its cell. If a digit appears twice, write it twice in the same cell.
- Note which cells are filled and which are empty.
Example: 14 March 1990. The digits are 1, 4, 0, 3, 1, 9, 9, 0. Without the zeros these are 1, 4, 3, 1, 9, 9. Place them in the grid. The number 1 appears twice, 3 once, 4 once and 9 twice. The numbers 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are missing.
Some numerologists also add the Life Path number and the other single digit totals to the grid. Others use only the digits of the date, which is the simpler method used here.
What each number means
Sources differ in detail, but the following readings are common.
1. Communication, self expression and identity. 2. Sensitivity, intuition and cooperation. 3. Imagination, thought and humor. 4. Practical skill, order and hard work. 5. Balance, emotion and will, the center. 6. Responsibility, family and care for home. 7. Reflection, analysis and spiritual interest. 8. Ambition, handling money and organizing others. 9. Idealism, compassion and a wide outlook.
A digit that appears several times is read as a strong trait. A digit that appears many times, such as three or four 1s, may be read as an excess, for example talking too much, or too strong an ego. A missing digit shows a quality that takes more effort, and it is said to be one you can build on purpose.
Reading missing numbers
Missing numbers are often the most discussed part of a reading. In the example above, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are missing. A reader would say that the person may need to work on trusting intuition, finding emotional balance, taking on responsibility, making time for quiet thought and managing money or ambition. At the same time they have strong 1s and 9s, which suggest a clear voice and a wish to serve ideals.
A missing number is not a flaw. It marks a lesson, and many numerologists point out that people grow most where something is missing. A grid with no gaps is rare.
Planes and arrows
Some readers look at the rows, columns and diagonals as patterns. The top row, 4 9 2, is called the mental plane, the middle row, 3 5 7, the emotional plane, and the bottom row, 8 1 6, the practical plane. A completed row is said to give strength in that area, and an empty row shows a weakness. Lines such as 1 5 9 or 3 5 7 are given names such as the arrow of determination or the arrow of spirituality, though the names vary by author. For beginners, counting the digits is enough.
Lo Shu in feng shui
In feng shui, the same square is used as a map of a home or a room. Each of the nine cells is linked with an area of life and a direction, and an element. Feng shui practitioners use it to place furniture and objects. This is a separate use, and it should not be mixed up with the numerology reading, even though the grid is the same.
Other grids
Indian numerology has its own form of the grid, called the Loshu or Lo Shu grid in some texts, which uses a slightly different layout and meanings. Vedic numerology also uses the day number and the date of birth in different ways. If you read about a different layout, check which tradition it belongs to before comparing results. See the overview on the page about numerology.
A word of balance
Scientific studies have not found that the digits of a birth date predict personality. The grid is a symbolic tool and many people enjoy it as a way to reflect. A missing number is no reason for worry, and a full grid is no sign of success. Use it for curiosity, and combine it with your own sense of what fits.