How Names Shape Life: Arcana in Kabbalistic Numerology

In the first line, just below the letters of the name, we find the Arcana that govern the main events of a person’s journey. These are known as the Dominant Arcana.

Each name carries within it a unique energetic configuration. This configuration acts like a spiritual blueprint, attracting experiences that support the development of character, the expansion of consciousness, and the evolution of the soul. Nothing in a person’s path is random—every lesson, opportunity, and challenge resonates with the vibrational qualities encoded in the name, in harmony with the merits the soul has accumulated over time.

It is essential to understand that no one is ever punished for lessons that weren’t fully learned in past experiences. Instead, life continually offers new and better opportunities to understand, grow, and realign. Every experience is a doorway, not a sentence.

Because of this, any aspect of our lives that feels out of alignment with our purpose, fulfillment, or happiness can be transformed once we become aware of the Arcana influencing us.

How the Arcana Act Throughout Life

Each Arcana revealed in the numerological interpretation of a name does not act all at once. Instead, each one unfolds its influence during specific periods of life, guiding the development of the person step by step.

Think of the Arcana as guardians of different chapters of your story:

• Some Arcana rule childhood, shaping early personality traits and initial life lessons.
• Others govern adolescence or early adulthood, influencing the choices that define identity, career, and relationships.
• Certain Arcana preside over maturity, bringing deeper spiritual awakenings, karmic resolutions, or personal mastery.

As life progresses, the influence shifts from one Arcana to another—each one activating at the right time, with the right intensity, to support growth. This sequence creates a kind of spiritual timeline, allowing us to understand why certain lessons arise when they do, and why some themes repeat until integrated.

By studying the Major and Minor Arcana in this context, we begin to see life not as a series of disconnected events, but as an organized, intelligent, and compassionate process designed for the evolution of the soul.

Example: The Arcana Throughout a Name – “Alexander Hamilton”

In Kabbalistic Numerology, each letter of the name corresponds to a number, and each number (or combination) connects to a Major Arcana. Reading the name this way shows the sequence of life influences each person experiences.

Step 1: Assign Numbers to Letters

Using the kabbalistic numerology chart (A=1, B=2, … I=1, J=1, K=2, etc.), we convert the letters:

A L E X A N D E R H A M I L T O N

Letter	A	L	E	X	A	N	D	E	R	H	A	M	I	L	T	O	N
Value	1	3	5	6	1	5	4	5	2	5	1	4	1	3	4	7	5

Step 2: Combine Numbers in Pairs (for Arcana)

We create two-digit numbers along the name for visualization:

Alexander Hamilton →

• 13, 35, 56, 61, 15, 54, 45, 52, 25, 51, 14, 41, 13, 34, 47, 75

Step 3: Map Arcana to Life Periods

In Kabbalistic Numerology, we use an average lifespan of 90 years, which reflects a realistic modern life expectancy while allowing enough granularity to see the unfolding of lessons throughout life.

Count the letters in the full name

Alexander Hamilton → 16 Arcana

• Using 90 years as an average lifespan:

Years per Arcana=90 divided by 16 ≈ 5.6 years per Arcana

So, each letter/Arcana represents roughly 5 and a half years of life.

Each Arcana corresponds to a life influence or lesson during the period of life when its associated letter/number occurs:

For Alexander Hamilton, the calculated Arcanas from his full name are:

13, 35, 56, 61, 15, 54, 45, 52, 25, 51, 14, 41, 13, 34, 47, 75

1. Each Arcana represents a period of about 5.6 years.

   • The first Arcana (13) governs approximately ages 0–5.6, the second (35) covers 5.6–11.2, and so on.

2. Arcanas remain in full value (13, 35, 56…), preserving the full Tarot symbolism.

   • This method avoids reducing the numbers to a single digit, which keeps the meaning and depth of each Arcanum intact.

3. The name becomes a personal timeline.

   • By reading the sequence of Arcanas along the name, you can see which energies, challenges, and lessons are active at each stage of life.

Visualizing the Life Timeline

• 0–5.6 years → Arcanum 13 – Early childhood transformations and foundational experiences.

• 5.6–11.2 years → Arcanum 35 – Development of creativity, curiosity, and early learning.

• 11.2–16.8 years → Arcanum 56 – Adolescence, first tests of character and self-discipline.

• 16.8–22.4 years → Arcanum 61 – Young adulthood, independence, and initial life choices.

• …and so on, until age 90, with each Arcana marking a specific life stage and lesson.

This approach allows anyone to see their life as a series of unfolding Arcanas, each with its own period of activation, offering a structured way to interpret challenges, growth, and opportunities along the path of personal and spiritual evolution.

Why Name Choice Matters in Numerology

By mapping the Arcanas along a name, we can see how each stage of life is influenced by specific energies and lessons. Every Arcana carries both challenges and gifts, and the sequence in which they appear defines the flow of experiences throughout a person’s life.

This is why choosing a baby name or considering a name change is so important. The letters in a name determine which Arcanas will activate during which periods of life. By selecting names that emphasize positive Arcanas, we can:

• Encourage smoother life periods

• Attract more supportive energies

• Reduce the influence of particularly challenging Arcanas

• Align a person’s life path with personal growth, well-being, and spiritual evolution

In short, a carefully chosen name is not just a label—it is a blueprint for the energies that will shape a person’s journey. Understanding this gives us the opportunity to bring more light, opportunity, and harmony into our lives from the very beginning.

Life Challenges in Alexander’s Name

When we examine these Arcanas more closely, several of them are particularly challenging:

• 35 (LE) → An Arcana associated with pain and difficulties; ideally avoided in names.

• 56, 61, 15, 54, 52 → Arcana linked to struggles, intense lessons, and challenges.

• 45 → An Arcana of separation, which can manifest as divorce, widowhood, or periods of isolation.

These challenging Arcanas highlight why Alexander is considered one of the most negative names in Kabbalistic Numerology. The sequence of the letters suggests that significant struggles could appear repeatedly throughout life, especially in relationships, personal projects, and emotional stability.

Practical Takeaway: Why Name Choice Matters

This example demonstrates why it is crucial to analyze names carefully—whether for a baby or when considering a name/signature change.

• The letters of a name define the life periods and energies a person will encounter.

• Choosing names that avoid highly challenging Arcanas can reduce unnecessary hardship.

• Favoring positive Arcanas encourages smoother periods of growth, joy, and opportunity.

In Kabbalistic Numerology, a name is more than a label; it is a blueprint for life experiences. Understanding the impact of each Arcana gives us the ability to align names with well-being, success, and spiritual evolution, guiding a person toward a more harmonious path from the very beginning.

A Note About Alexander the Great

Many might immediately think of Alexander the Great when they hear this name—a legendary conqueror, strategist, and historical figure. It’s easy to imagine that carrying such a name could be glamorous or auspicious.

But as the old saying goes: “People see the shine, not the grind”

Even Alexander the Great faced enormous struggles: relentless battles, political intrigue, and personal hardships. History also shows that he faced challenges with his own identity and sexuality, navigating a life that was far from simple despite his fame and accomplishments.

In the same way, the name Alexander in Kabbalistic Numerology carries some very challenging Arcanas (35, 56, 61, 15, 54, 52, 45…). These suggest that, like the historical Alexander, a person with this name may experience periods of struggle, emotional intensity, or separation, even if outwardly their life seems impressive.

The lesson here is clear: a name might inspire greatness, but it can also bring hidden challenges. This is why analyzing names carefully is so important—we can choose names that bring more positive Arcanas into a life, and gently mitigate the difficulties, giving the person a smoother path while still honoring their uniqueness.

 

Learn more about Arcanum 13 and its life influence here.

Egyptian Tarot symbolism.