Lo Shu grid
The Lo Shu grid is a 3×3 magic square, 4-9-2 / 3-5-7 / 8-1-6, in which every row, column and diagonal adds up to 15. In numerology the digits of your birth date are placed in it to show strong, repeated and missing numbers.
Also known as: loshu grid, lo shu square, lo shu magic square
The Lo Shu, the ‘Luo River scroll’, comes from Chinese legend: a turtle rose from the river in the time of the flood-taming Emperor Yu, with this pattern of dots on its shell. The same square underlies Feng Shui, where each number has a direction: 1 north, 9 south, 3 east, 7 west and 5 at the centre.
To draw your grid, write each digit of your birth date in its box, repeating it as often as it appears and ignoring zeros. Many Indian numerologists also add the Moolank and Bhagyank. For 14/08/1990, the digits give two 1s, one 4, one 8 and two 9s, and the Moolank and Bhagyank add two 5s.
Rows and columns form planes: mental (4-9-2), emotional (3-5-7) and practical (8-1-6) across; thought (4-3-8), will (9-5-1) and action (2-7-6) down; and the diagonals 4-5-6 and 2-5-8, read for success and property. A full plane shows a strength; a repeated number shows emphasis.
Missing numbers are sometimes presented as defects that need costly remedies. Traditionally they simply point to qualities you may need to practise on purpose, and simple daily habits are the usual advice. Nearly everyone has some empty boxes.