Bess calculated her number.

Then she read the following out of her text book: It was pretty true. But a question came floating up her mind. She raised her hand and asked: "Professor, you said that meaning of these numbers are always almost pretty accurate. If this is true then how can, say all the people having the birth number 2, have the same qualities? Because there are a lots of hudreds of people who must be having birth numbers in common.... how can one analysis be tue for so mny people?"

Jess calculated her birth number.Her birthday was November 16,so her number was 1+6=7.After doing this simple exercise,she looked in the textbook and read:
SEVEN (7): If your birthday is the 7th, 16th, or 25th day of the month. You search for depth and meaning in all that you do and see. You are analytical by nature, which causes you to take longer than most to make a decision. Meticulous, pensive, and private, you need to be surrounded by natural settings of solitude and silence for rejuvenation.
16 birthday - You may find your life brings sudden (even traumatic) events that act as catalsysts, wake-up calls to look at your life more honestly. You insist on independence, need time to rest, meditate, and contemplate. You may have an unusual interest in the technical, scientific, metaphysical, or spiritual subjects. You may be seen as a perfectionist and as unusual or different.
Many things were true for her.She was indeed analytical,perfectionist,and needed time to meditate."Interesting!"she thought.

Professor Shackleton pointed at the girl with a smile on her face and replied, "Thank you for that marvelous segway into the next part of our lesson! The reason why these numbers fit for a great number of people are two-fold: Number one, is it that surprising to have two or three characteristics in common with another person? I don't think so. Number two, people interpret these characteristics individually with their own meanings of the words, so differences in interpretation can play a part.

But more importantly than that, I mentioned that the Birth Day number was a companion to the Core numbers. It is the accumulation and interplay of all of your numbers - the Core, the Companions, and a whole bunch more numbers that you'll be learning all about over the next few years - that make each reading different. You must consider that Birth Day number in conjunction with your individual numbers. That is how the properties of a single number combine with other numbers to give a more wholistic reading!"

Professor Shackleton waved her wand quickly and casting a nonverbal spell, began writing:

She turned to her students and asked, "Who can name the four elements of the Core? I want just their names, no definitions."

Professor Shackleton listened as the boy who had visited her in her office listed four important numbers in Arithmancy. She replied, "You are very close, but one of your numbers does not belong in the Core. The Maturity Number is actually a companion to the Core, but not a Core number itself. Nice try though."

Professor Shackleton nodded and replied, "Yes, that is correct. One point to you!

"The four elements of the Core are the Life Path Number, the Expression/Destiny Number, The Soul Urge/Heart's Desire Number, and the Personality Number. These four numbers combine to provide a picture of who we are and who we are meant to become in this lifetime."

Professor Shackleton waved her wand again and added to the words in the air, which now read:



She then asked, "What does the Life Path number reveal to us about ourselves?"

"What you say is indeed correct. One point!"

Professor Shackleton considered what the boy said about the Life Path Number and responded, "All the numbers of the core tell us how we relate to the world around us, not just the Life Path number. As far as two readings being different, the reason is two-fold. Firstly, each person interprets a reading differently and applies it to their own individual situation. For example, if my reading said I was a loner - to one person, they may read that as being a loner in love, others in friendship, others in business, etc. etc. A single word has so many meanings that one reading will be completely different to two different people. Secondly, you must consider this number in conjunction with the other core numbers and companions. The accumulation of numbers gives each person a very individualized reading that is completely different from any other. So while you may share the same Life Path number with another person, it is highly unlikely that you will also share an Expression number, karmic debts, personal years, and many other numbers and concepts in the study of Arithmancy. Does that make sense?"

"Very good! One point to you as well!"

Professor Shackleton adjusted her robes and requested, "You'll all want to take notes on this next topic because you will need it throughout your entire study of Arithmancy - the concept of addition by reducing first, then adding together. For example, here is my birthday again," Professor Shackleton waved her wand and wrote in the air:

"Notice that I sum each number separately, reducing it to its root number, then adding across once each is a single-digit number. Do you have any questions about this concept?"

Bess was very clear with it. Professor explained it quite well. She started doing the calculations.

Saylie looked intently at the date she had written, "2-16-2052" and started the calculations.

2+(1+6)+(2+5+2)
2+7+9=18
1+8=9

Raising her hand, she asked, "Does that look right, Professor?"

ooc: The year is 2063, right? If not, I'll edit...

Zoraida looked up at the calculations above. Adding to her journal.

Then looked up after doing her math. A few shorten tricks applied to the adding.

OCC: what year is it?

Kerry jotted her notes down in her journal and then using her own birthday, Kerry tried to add the numbers together just the way Professor Shackleton had, to see if she could do it correctly and what number she would get.

When she was done, she looked it over and gave it a quick nod thinking it looked ok. Raising her hand, she asked, "Professor is this correct?"

Professor Shackleton glanced at Saylie's journal and inspected her work. "That is exactly right my dear. Nice work."

OOC: The year is indeed 2063.

Professor Shackleton wandered over to Zoraida's desk and looked at her calculations. Spotting an error, Professor Shackleton pointed to the page and explained, "You seem to have made a little mistake here. This is what your information should look like:

"You see, my dear. The way that you had calculated the numbers made it appear as though you had a master number, twenty-two, in your Life Path. But that is not actually so. It very important that you reduce each group of numbers - month, date, year - first, then add them all together."

Professor Shackleton saw Kerry's hand in the air and made her way over to her desk. Glancing down at the bright Gryffindor's work, she placed her hand on Kerry's shoulder and said, "Excellent work, as usual. You have done it precisely correct."

Professor Shackleton hurried over to view Emily's work and noticed that it had been completed entirely correct. Smiling at the girl, Macadrian said, "It is correct. Nice work!"

Making her way back to the front of the classroom, Professor Shackleton began explaining, "Now, what I just tricked you all in to doing was finding your Life Path number! Your Life Path number is found by following these steps."

With a flick of her wand, the board was covered with the following words:
"Aren't I clever?" Macadrian joked with a wink. "One last thing you should know about calculating your Life Path, or any other number for that matter, is to be aware of Master Numbers. After step four and before step five, you must check to see if you have a master number 11, 22, or 33. If you do, you should write that number as the Master number first, followed by a slash, then the reduced number." Macadrian waved her wand again and in the air was a visual example of what she had just said:

"Life Paths that are Master Numbers should be evaluated first as the Master Number and then considering the reduced number. Now, what I would like you all to do is refer to your textbook and determine the meaning of your Life Path number. Be sure to write it in your journal and evaluate its accuracy as you did with your Birth Day number."

"Thank you Professor, I just wanted to make sure it was correct before moving on, or my work would be rubbish." Kerry laughed. "Ok now onto finding out what all this means..."

Kerry flipped through her textbook to find the meaning of life path number 3. "Interesting" Kerry thought to herself as she began to read:

"Well I certainly am spontaneous and creative, no doubt about that. I do try to be optimistic and unfortunately I do express my emotions...that one perhaps a bit too much." Kerry playfully acknowledged to her herself as she began to jot down the notes into her journal. A born communicator...I'm not sure about that...but then again there are many times I do find myself being the mediator in situation. Wow, this is all really freaky how true some of this is." Kerry thought to herself some more. "I wonder what the next set of numbers will bring me.