Tag: Isidore Kozminsky

On Karma and Changing One’s Name

~ Boštjan Lovrat ~ Leave a comment

In Chaldean numerology, there are both proponents and opponents of changing one’s name or surname. Advocates of this practice argue that altering one’s name is a legitimate way to introduce more harmonious vibrations into one’s life. One of the first modern Chaldean numerologists to support this idea was Isidore Kozminsky in the early 20th century.[1] In 1926, numerologist Cheiro also advocated for it in his book.[2] Due to Cheiro’s influence, changing one’s name is much more common among Chaldean numerology practitioners than among those who follow modern Pythagorean numerology.

However, there are also opposing views. For example, William Mykian believes that our true name is given at birth and that changing it—even in cases of natural changes, such as marriage—can lead to confusion and difficulties.[3] Bodil Storm argues that name changes should not be made based on numerology because our name and surname carry karmic imprints.[4]

It is important to note that changing a name can indeed present challenges. On one hand, after making a change, there is often an adjustment period as one aligns with the new vibrations. This period can involve intense cleansing and challenges, sometimes lasting several months or even years. On the other hand, Chaldean numerologists often overlook the significance of consonant numbers, which have a substantial impact on the quality of a numerology chart. Ultimately, a name change can result in vibrational shifts that numerologists may not foresee—or may not even be able to predict.

That being said, these concerns should not be taken as arguments against changing one’s name based on Chaldean numerology principles. A birth name is not a fixed, unchangeable element. While we cannot alter the planetary positions in our birth chart, we can change our name or surname. Thus, excessive fatalism in this regard is unnecessary. Many people report positive effects from adopting a new name or surname. The key is to ensure that the new vibrations are truly beneficial, and there are ways to achieve this, at least to some extent.

Regarding the supposed prohibition of numerologically altering one’s name due to karmic imprints, it is crucial to first understand what karma truly is. At its core, karma is the law of cause and effect, but it also operates as a form of the law of attraction. A specific cause draws in a corresponding effect. Karma is not something fixed; rather, it is constantly shaped by our thoughts, emotions, and actions. A common metaphor is that of farming: we reap what we sow.

Consider someone traveling from Madrid to London. If they board a flight to New York instead, they will not arrive in London. Action triggers reaction, and choices lead to consequences. Similarly, one does not typically attend a business meeting in a sweaty, tattered shirt that hasn’t been changed in ten days—otherwise, others may avoid them and not take them seriously. Likewise, if we do not pursue education, we are unlikely to gain deep knowledge in the fields that interest us.

An unfavorable name vibration is like a sweaty shirt—it is advisable to change it before an important business meeting. It is like flying from Madrid to New York while intending to reach London. With enough money, layovers, and delays, one might still eventually reach London, but why not simply take a direct flight from Madrid? The decision to change one’s name or surname is like planting a new seed, which, according to the law of karma, will eventually yield benefits.

There is nothing in this process that contradicts natural laws. In fact, it is a direct application of the law of karma. However, it is important to remember that numerology only influences a part of our destiny. It does not alter planetary karma or the karmic influences of elemental flows in the astrology of Mother Earth (such as the Chinese Four Pillars system, or Bazi). Personal initiative and spiritual connection also create new opportunities—and thus, new karma. Therefore, while the significance of name changes should not be dismissed, it is equally important not to overemphasize their impact.

[1] Kozminsky, Isidore (1912): Numbers. Their Meaning and Magic. Samuel Weiser Inc. Pg. 57.

[2] Cheiro: Cheiro’s Book of numbers. 1935 Edition.

[3] Mykian, William (2011): Numerology Made Easy. Xlibris Corporation, USA. Pg. 142-143.

[4] Storm, Bodyl (2005): Numerology. Pyramideforlaget, Oslo. Amazon Kindle.

Chaldean Numerologist: Cheiro

~ Boštjan Lovrat ~ Leave a comment

William John Warner, better known as Cheiro (November 1, 1866 – October 8, 1936), was also referred to by nicknames such as Count Louis Hamon and others. However, he is primarily remembered as Cheiro. He was a British astrologer, numerologist, and palm reader.

His birth name contains numbers—13 and 15 (the sum of 96; 9+6=15). The base numbers 4 and 6 govern his numerological chart. This chart reveals a strong desire for recognition and performance (particularly highlighted by 96, with 24 in Life Path and 15 as the base number in his surname), along with a drive for success in business. Cheiro’s official name also reflected a robust longing for friendship and love, from which he drew significant spiritual strength. Additionally, he enjoyed fairly favorable influences of numbers on the chakras, which may have contributed to his reputation as a successful medium for a time.

The combination of numbers 13 and 15 sparked his interest in the occult (both 13 and 15), reforms, pioneering approaches (13), and even magic (15, 41). The number 41, in particular, fosters a fascination with numerology, which is further emphasized by his nickname “Cheiro” (Mercury and 23). Due to the numbers 13 and 15, an individuals may either become a victim of manipulation and circumstances or turn into a manipulator themselves… The overall numerological chart is complex and can bring strokes of fate that often arrive unexpectedly.

Cheiro was convicted and imprisoned in Paris around 1910 for business fraud, and it is said that this scandal closed doors among the English elite, prompting his move to the morally less stringent United States. An analysis of his works reveals a tendency for manipulation and misinformation—claiming, for instance, that he had been offering numerological guidance based on his system since the late 19th century, or that number 9 was so sacred it couldn’t correspond to any letter. Moreover, he downplayed the contributions of his European sources, like Isidore Kozminsky and Sepharial, while asserting he learned Chaldean numerology from an Indian brahmin.

Cheiro. Source: Wikimedia Commons, File:Cheiroy.jpg .

It’s essential to recognize that relationships between 15 and 4, or between 15 and 8, should not be judged too harshly. Not everyone with such combinations inherently becomes a manipulator, criminal, or prisoner. An individual’s morals and self-awareness dictate whether they use their strengths for good or ill, and when, if ever, they will yield to temptation. Furthermore, numerological charts can point to which areas of life help to balance the individual. For Cheiro, these areas primarily involved seeking courage, forming a connection with God, and nurturing love and kindness.

Even in his nicknames—like “Count Louis Hamon” and “Count Leigh de Hamong“—the theme of number 13 is prominently featured. It seems Cheiro intentionally emphasized this number, perhaps because it brings uniqueness and combines with the interchangeable number 1 to form a whole.

His nickname “Cheiro” underscores intellectual depth, as it contains the numbers for Mercury and the Sun. The number 23 derived from the nickname is considered auspicious.

In 1926, Cheiro published a book titled Cheiro’s Book of Numbers. In it, he defined the meanings of numbers in Chaldean tarot from 1 to 52, based on older sources. He also defined the rules of matching and mismatching between numbers. For each of the numbers 4 and 8, he differentiated between karmically strong and weak numbers, determining various numbers that align with them. He described favorable and less favorable months, recommended specific herbs and foods, indicated favorable colors and gemstones, and identified ailments commonly associated with particular numbers.

It’s very likely that Cheiro drew the foundational idea of alpha-numeric coding from Isidore Kozminsky, who assigned the letter H a value of either 5 or 8, and the letter X a value of 5. Based on his research, Cheiro developed an alpha-numeric coding scheme in which letters H and X always hold a value of 5. He also altered the value of the letter C, assigning it a value of 3 instead of 2.

For Cheiro, the key to analysis lies in the birth date, or Birth Number. He believed that the Total Name Number (TNN) should align with the Birth Number; otherwise, an individual might encounter challenges throughout life. He further explored the numerological influences of each day of the year based on the specific day of the month. Around 1936, he published another book titled You and Your Star, in which he detailed favorable numbers for every day.

Cheiro’s ideas of such favorable numbers influenced numerologists like Gerun Moore and Lloyd Strayhorn, who developed their own systems based on these concepts.

In Cheiro’s Book of Numbers, he established special guidelines to identify the most important two-digit number in a numerological chart. This number frequently corresponds to TNN, but sometimes the most significant number is derived from adding the birth date and TNN together (Birth Number + TNN). Cheiro did not assign a name to this number, but I personally refer to it as the Goal Number (which differs from Goal Numbers in Pythagorean numerology). Anmarie Uber called it the “Hidden Number,” while some perceive it as an indicator of career success.

Cheiro’s book, Cheiro’s Book of Numbers, does not provide reliable techniques for predicting the future. It also contains inaccuracies, such as the assertion that the Chaldeans were unaware of letters with a value of 9. Nonetheless, despite not being a comprehensive manual, this work played a pivotal role in the evolution of numerology. In many ways, Cheiro is considered the father of modern Chaldean numerology.

Chaldean Numerologist: Isidore Kozminsky and the Inappropriate Name Change

~ Boštjan Lovrat ~ Leave a comment

Isidore Kozminsky was reportedly born on October 25, 1870. He grew up in a family of Australian Jews and jewelers. He was known as an astrologer, numerologist, and an expert on gemstones and the Kabbalah. Because he married outside of Jewish circles, he adopted the name Francis Coton and moved with his family from Australia to London in 1935. Isidore Kozminsky remained his pen name. He died during World War II, but the exact time and cause of his death are unclear. One account suggests he died after tripping down an escalator in the London underground, while another claims he succumbed to pneumonia.

Isidore Israel Kozminsky, born on 25th October 1870

His numerological chart for the name Isidore Kozminsky shows a strong and quite favorable alignment of energies. It includes the auspicious numbers 23 and 55, as well as the number 96, which can be unfavorable (depending on how often it encounters the numbers 4 and 8). His chart reveals a strong relationship between 1 and 6, which often suggests a love of luxury and likely influenced his interest in gemstones. Numbers 96 and 24 bring a certain level of material comfort. Numbers 1 and 5 are positioned in a way that enhances the role of intellect, knowledge, and information. Numbers 96, 17 and 25 indicate an interest in the occult, with 96 potentially invoking darker spiritual influences. Therefore, due to the number 96, he needed to be cautious of the darker aspects of spirituality and manipulation. Base number 5 (23, 32) also signifies an interest in numbers, giving him some potential for communication and writing.

The reader can see that I treat the letter Y as a consonant. There is no consensus among numerologists on this, but studying various cases shows that it is more appropriate to treat Y as a consonant.

In 1905, Kozminsky wrote Numbers, Their Magic and Mystery, where he advocated for the Chaldean-Hebrew system with the values C = 2, H = 8, and X = 6 (the external values method of alpha-numeric coding). In 1912, he published Numbers: Their Meaning and Magic. Being an Enlarged and Revised Edition, in which he shifted to a coding system where C = 2, H = 5 or 8, and X = 5. This approach had a significant influence on Cheiro.

The method Kozminsky used for summing numbers in the Total Name Number (TNN) is controversial and outdated. Based on a specific form of Kabbalistic astrology, which Sepharial also endorsed, he identified certain numbers from 1 to 28 as having “potency of their own,” as well as numbers 37, 43, 51, 55, 65, 69, and 71. According to this system, if a name or surname corresponds to a number with its own potency, it is not reduced to a basic value. If it does not have its own potency, the number must be reduced to the first number that does. For example, the name Napoleon Buonaparte (an earlier version of the famous French general’s name) vibrates at 41 & 41. Since 41 does not have its own potency in Sepharial’s system, it must be reduced to 5 (4+1=5).

Vintage Book- image published on WorthPoint

In the case of Isidore Kozminsky, we get the name value 23 and the surname value 5 (from 32, which is reduced as 3+2=5). The sum is 28, which has its own potency and therefore does not get reduced to 10. The number 28 is considered a key number and is regarded as an unfavorable one. For the name Francis (8+2+1+5+2+1+3) Coton (2+7+4+7+5), the name sums to 22 and the surname to 25. 22 is generally unlucky, while 25 was considered fortunate in older traditions. The total is 47, which does not have its own potency and must be reduced to 4+7=11. The TNN value is 11, which Kozminsky treated as neutral. Since he was born under base number 7, we get interchangeable numbers. Kozminsky likely believed that his new name, Francis Coton, would be lucky.

In horse racing, Kozminsky adopted phonetic numerology (books Numbers and Horse Racing, 1928, and My Key Treatise, 1936). He believed that for humans, the written name was influential, while for animals, the spoken name held more power. In 1937, he also published Numbers And Their Practical Application, in which he used a reformed Chaldean coding system for interpreting people’s numerological charts, diverging significantly from Cheiro’s model. He also provided weaker descriptions of numbers compared to his earlier works.

According to his reformed alpha-numeric coding system, the name Isidore Kozminsky carried the values 26 and 35. In the new book, Kozminsky did not explain how to calculate the TNN. According to his earlier method in Numbers, Their Magic and Mystery, the number 35 is not given its own potency and is reduced to 8. The sum of 26+8=34. However, the name Francis Coton gives the name value 25 and the surname value 25. These combine to 50, which he considered his TNN. Nonetheless, the alpha-numeric coding used by Kozminsky in the final years of his life no longer had much influence.

According to the classic Chaldean alpha-numeric coding model (Cheiro’s approach), the name Francis Coton results in a numerological chart, which contains more unfavorable numbers. The chart is rather weak and shows conflicts between the numbers 23 and 26, 58 and 33, 26 and 58, and 33 and 28. This chart no longer indicates as much interest in gemstones, although some financial potential and interest in communication remain. The strong number 58 indicates a tendency toward eccentricity and reforms, which likely did not go in the right direction. We can see that Kozminsky’s numerological expertise declined in his later years. The information he disseminated lost touch with the Chaldean tradition and reliable interpretation.

Numbers 58 and 71 together emphasize the themes of death and difficulties. The surname Coton carries very unfavorable vibrations of 26 and 12, represented as a pillar. This might have influenced the spread of the story about the escalator accident. The numbers 8 (2+6=8) and 3 (1+2=3) can represent buildings, with 8 also symbolizing railways and underground structures. The number 12 can represent a pillar, which may symbolize ascending or descending via escalators. The conflict between 58 and 33, and between 23 and 26, could be connected to respiratory illnesses. Thus, both stories of his death have roots in his numerological chart. The interaction between number 58 and numbers 26 and 71 represents a conflict between base numbers 4 and 8. This pair often indicates significant difficulties and suffering. 58 is also an unfavorable TNN for period 6 (October, extended influence of Libra).

It becomes clear that in Isidore Kozminsky’s case, the name and surname change brought about unfortunate circumstances. Fortunately, Isidore Kozminsky continued to use his original name in his writing. The number 69 in the name Isidore Kozminsky also interacts with the number 58 in the name Francis Coton, adding to the negative influences. 69 reduces to 15, and 15, in its negative aspect, represents manipulation and even black magic. This might explain why Kozminsky’s books carry an unusual vibration. After reading them, I had to cleanse my aura several times. It would have been much better if Isidore Kozminsky had kept his original name in his everyday life. So, a word of caution: one must be careful when changing names. The goal of a name change should be to increase satisfaction or success in life, not to accumulate problems.

Some sources:

Chaldean Numerologists: On Modern Classics

~ Boštjan Lovrat ~ Leave a comment

Every student of Chaldean numerology should be familiar with key modern Chaldean numerologists such as Sepharial, Isidore Kozminsky, Cheiro, Pandit Sethuraman, Richard Cavendish, Gerun Moore, Lloyd Strayhorn, and Linda Goodman. All of these numerologists were also astrologers.

Sepharial (Walter Gorn Old) played a crucial role in transitioning from the older Chaldean school of “Kabbalistic astrologers” to modern numerology. He also introduced classical descriptions of numbers from Kabbalistic astrology, where the highest number described in this approach is 71. He later wrote a very popular book, “Kabala of Numbers” (1911).

In his development, he initially used an external method of alphanumeric coding of the Latin alphabet (C = 2, H = 8, X = 6). Later, he tested several different alphanumeric approaches but ultimately decided on phonetic numerology.

Isidore Kozminsky, like Sepharial, experimented with various methods of alphanumeric coding. At the latest, in an updated edition of “Numbers: Their Meaning and Magic” in 1911, he was the first modern numerologist to predict that we should, in some cases, treat the letter H as 5.  He also assigned the number 5 to the letter X. Like Sepharial, he described all the numbers he believed to have a “distinct potency of its own.” All other numbers he reduced to a number with such potency. His approach of dealing with name numbers is now considered outdated.

Cheiro (William John Warner) is regarded as the father of modern Chaldean numerology. He wrote several books covering numerology, with the most famous being “Cheiro’s Book of Numbers” (1926), where he advocated for the value of 3 for the letter C, 5 for the letter H, and 5 for the letter X.

Cheiro. Source: Wikimedia Commons, File:Cheiroy.jpg .

He emphasized the importance of the Birth number (the day of the month one is born) and its connection to the Name number (that is, Total Name Number, aka TNN). He was one of the first to focus on the compatibility of numbers. He adopted Sepharial’s number descriptions, sometimes expanding them, so they corresponded to some very old descriptions. However, he described numbers only up to 52. He also wrote a book called “You and Your Star”, where he described the most suitable numbers for each day of the year based on astrological techniques.

Pandit Sethuraman, in his book “Science of Fortune” (1954), adopted Cheiro’s alphanumeric coding but summed the unreduced numbers of the first and last names. He also deviated from Cheiro’s views on number compatibility. Sethuraman expanded Cheiro’s descriptions based on his own insights and described numbers up to 108. Unlike Cheiro, he considered numbers 39 and 48 to be unfavorable.

Richard Cavendish, in his 1967 book “The Black Arts” (which has quite an inappropriate book title, especially in connection to astrology and numerology), introduced the classical internal method of alphanumeric coding (with C = 3, H = 8, X = 6), although he seems to have arrived at this through his own research. He emphasizes the importance of considering the numbers of vowels and consonants, a concept long neglected in Chaldean numerology.

Gerun Moore wrote a book in 1973 titled “Number Will Tell”. He adopted Cheiro’s alphanumeric coding system but made several changes and additions to the descriptions of numbers and the rules of compatibility. Notably, he described numbers 39 and 48 as the unlucky number 12.

He also rejected Cheiro’s model of favorable numbers for each day of the year. Instead, he created his own system, where each day of the year is generally assigned two suitable numbers (though in some cases, only one number is given). He labeled these numbers as “keys.” According to him, name numbers matching a person’s key numbers bring luck and harmony.

Lloyd Strayhorn wrote his book “Numbers and You: A Numerology Guide for Everyday Living” no later than 1980. He adopted Cheiro’s alphanumeric coding system. Although he prefers Chaldean numerology, he also considers Pythagorean numerology. Based on his research, Strayhorn introduced his own system of number compatibility, which differs somewhat from Cheiro’s model.

He also rejected Cheiro’s model of favorable numbers for each day of the year, offering instead his own astrological model with lucky numbers. He later published “Lloyd’s Numbers and You Relationship Guide: A Cosmic Blueprint to Happiness & Joy”, in which he distances himself significantly from older Chaldean approaches.

Linda Goodman published a book “Linda Goodman’s Star Signs” in 1987, which also introduces Chaldean numerology. She adopted Cheiro’s alphanumeric coding system and significantly enhanced the descriptions of numbers. However, her method of determining the TNN deviates from those of her predecessors.

Linda Goodman concludes the list of modern classics in Chaldean numerology. I believe that this list provides an appropriate foundation for studying contemporary Chaldean numerology.

There are also a few Chaldean numerologists who have uncritically incorporated Pythagorean methods of interpreting numbers and relationships. While some ideas from the Pythagorean system can be adopted, not all Pythagorean techniques are suitable for Chaldean numerology.

The use of the Latin alphabet in Chaldean numerology

~ Boštjan Lovrat ~ Leave a comment

In contrast to Pythagorean numerology, the first examples of the use of the Latin alphabet in Chaldean numerology are only found in the modern era. Initially, two methods of alpha-numeric encoding were used, which are shown below with values by greater cannon (units, tens and hundreds) and lesser cannon (ordinal values) and with reduced values from 1 to 9. I call the first of these methods the internal values method of alpha-numeric encoding and the second the external values method of alpha-numeric encoding.

There are differences between the two methods for two letters. The letter “C” has a value of 3 in the internal method and 2 in the external method, while the letter “H” has a value of 5 in the internal method and 8 in the external method. The internal values approach was a closely guarded secret, so most numerologists only knew the values C = 2, H = 8. In modern Chaldean numerology we also see a reformation of the internal method as early as the 19th century, in which the letter “X” is assigned a value of 5 instead of 6.

The classical internal method with C = 3, H = 5 and X = 6 was introduced to the modern world in 1967 by Richard Cavendish in his book “The Black Arts“, but he seems to have been unaware of the somewhat older Chaldean alphabetic tradition. He seems to have discovered the value of the inner method based on his own findings.  

Both approaches assign vowels similarly to those in the Greek alphabet (which was influenced by Semitic alphabets and Semitic numerologies). The letter “A” is associated with the letter alpha and with a value of 1, the letter “E” is associated with the first letter of the “E”-voice, i.e. with the letter eta and with a value of 5. The letter “I” is associated with the letter iota and with the values 10 and 1, respectively. The letter “O” is associated with the first letter for the voice “O”, namely omicron with the values 70, 16 and 7. The letter “U” has a deviation and is associated with the Semitic letter waw with the value 6, and indirectly with the Greek letter digamma.

Aramaic/Semitic Original

Additionally, under the influence of the Jewish Kabbalah, some people have started to assign different values to the vowels “E” and “O” and to the corresponding letters (10 and 1 for “E” and 6 for “O”). This approach is popular among some Freemasons.

The use of phonetic numerology is also widespread among Freemasons and in certain other circles, with various approaches known. Among these, the school of Habeeb Ahmad stands out. Habeeb Ahmad published a book on the subject in 1903 entitled “The Mysteries of Sound and Number“. Phonetic numerology ignores the fact that the Hebrew alphabet was no longer entirely phonetic. They also ignore the findings of European magic that written words, and thereby letters, have the power of manifestation.

Without knowledge of the existence of the internal method, Isidore Kozminsky began to reform the outer method at the beginning of the 20th century, assigning the value 5 to the letter “X” and to the letter “H” sometimes a value of 5 and sometimes a value of 8.. These reforms are included, at the latest, in the updated edition of the book “Numbers: Their Meaning and Magic” from 1911. Kozminsky later developed his own alphanumeric Chaldean coding specifically for analyzing people’s names and surnames. Sepharial has also been exploring his own coding method.

Kozminsky’s early reforms seem to have been taken up by Cheiro, who then assigned the letter “C” a value of 3 and the letters “H” and “X” a value of 5 in his version of alpha-numeric coding. Thus, Cheiro’s approach arrived at a reformed internal method by another route. The approach was published in 1926 in the book “Cheiro’s Book of Numbers” and soon became a leading method in the field. After the Second World War it was supported and used by many numerologists such as Pandit Sethuraman, Gerun Moore, Linda Goodman, Anmarie Uber and August Darius Danielssonn. This is also the coding I use.

Few Chaldean numerologists still follow the external method. For example, Walter B. Gibson, but in more recent times this method has been supported, for example, by the Indian numerologist Harish Johari.