What the Lo Shu Grid is
The Lo Shu is an ancient Chinese magic square: the numbers 1 to 9 arranged so that every row, column and diagonal adds up to 15. Legend says it appeared on the shell of a turtle from the Luo river. Numerologists, especially in India, use it as a chart of the birth date: each digit of the date goes in its fixed cell, and the full, empty and repeated cells are read.
How the grid is filled
- Write the date as DD MM YYYY and take every digit except zero; zero has no cell.
- Place each digit in its cell: 4 9 2 on the top row, 3 5 7 in the middle and 8 1 6 at the bottom. A digit that appears twice is written twice.
- In Indian practice the Mulank (the birth day reduced to one digit) and the Bhagyank (the whole date reduced) are usually added too. Some numerologists use the birth-date digits only; switch the option off to see that version.
- Read the result: complete and empty lines of three (planes), missing numbers and repeated numbers.
Example: 16 February 2003 gives the digits 1, 6, 2, 2 and 3. The Mulank is 1 + 6 = 7, and the Bhagyank is 1 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 14, so 1 + 4 = 5. With both added, the grid holds 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7.
The eight planes
Each row, column and diagonal is a plane. A complete plane is read as a strength (an arrow of strength); a completely empty one as an area to work on. The two diagonals through the centre are called Raj Yog when complete.
What each number stands for
Missing and repeated numbers
A missing number is read as a quality to develop consciously, not as a flaw: almost every grid has some empty cells. A repeated number makes its quality stronger, and three or more of the same digit can tip it into excess. Remedies that promise to fill a missing number are beliefs, not proven effects.
Numerology is a traditional belief system, not a science. Use it for reflection and interest, not for decisions about health, money or relationships.