In this post, we’re moving deeper down the “rabbit hole” of the Personal Dynamic Alphabet. It’s a big topic, and it’s specific to the English alphabet as we use it today.

There are many different ways to consider the different factors within the name but most of the books on Numerology only consider the Name Numbers themselves, and not the internal components. As you probably know, we do talk about the Heart’s Desire and the Personality numbers, which describe the ­Sums of the vowels and consonants. Many books talk about the Cornerstone, but very few cover the dynamic cycles within the name, which are composed of the pattern of letters and the qualities of the individual letters themselves. Just as we break down the patterns of the numbers that form the LifePath into different time-periods, we do the same with the sub-components of the name by using the Personal alphabet.

We’ve talked about this a little in the past when discussing the Inclusion Table, but that is something that is done by converting the letters in the name. This time, we’re going to study the letters themselves, so you can see the difference between letters that have the same Numeric value, so that it gives a more thorough picture of what happens during the name cycles that give us the energy phases within the name, as opposed to the whole name or other sums.

But be careful with learning about the letters, because taking them out of context will not work, period. There are certain conditions under which a given letter will present its results, and that’s what we’re going to cover now.

The Key Letters

Think of a Jigsaw Puzzle. Even if you have the whole picture on the box, the first pieces most people look for are the four corners, since they have two straight sides, followed by the ones with 1 straight side, and then work their way inward from there. It’s basically the same way that we handle the letters; by recognizing the key letters in the name, such as…

The Cornerstone: This is the first letter in the first name. It letter represents the first impression you have on other people at the same time it gives a clue as to your strategy for impressing others. As we work more deeply into the alphabet, you’ll see clear examples of this in the people you know and in yourself. We normally study it as a letter, rather than the number it represents. There are 26 Cornerstones so they will be described as we explain the letters in the next few posts

The First Vowel

For this, beginners should only use the standard vowels, A, E, I, O and U for starters. I always use Y myself, because I think that it should count as a vowel. As I often say, when we learned our vowels, the teacher made us say, at the end of the 5 “and sometimes Y” – to me, Numerology is that sometimes. The behavior person name Myron and another named Myra convinced me that it works as a First Vowel. At any rate, for many people, the Cornerstone also the First Vowel, such as Olivia, Adam and Evan. So since there are only these few, it’s easy to get a feel for them and spot them right away. The descriptions of the associated number are seldom interchangeable, so let’s look at what the letters have to say.

First Vowel: A

First Vowel A tends to be original and independent. People with A as first vowel generally have a reason for whatever they do; they are very good at rationalizing their actions. This First Vowel is enthusiastic and must work with change, instead of resisting it, or they can become aggressive instead of progressive.

First Vowel: E

First Vowel E tends to be inspired, helpful, and has a physical take on life. These people find opportunities in travel and by seeking out a wide variety of experience, or in changing circumstances. They often see opportunities where others don’t. It’s important for them to be responsible for the decisions they make, because irresponsibility scatters their energy. They love many different forms of entertainment.

First Vowel: I

First vowel I people tend to be emotional and passionate. It’s especially important for them to keep their emotions out of their financial affairs to avoid extreme reactions to changes. They experience stresses when their plans don’t work out if they let their emotions control their decisions. Their passions are their keys to success in all other aspects of life, so they should always spend time pursuing their dreams and ideals.

First Vowel: O

First vowel O people will express themselves in an emotional, strong and willful way. They will, however, keep their emotions in check, and are not usually conscious of how good at keeping secrets. They are not too open to the ideas and suggestions of others. Although these can be quite useful gifts, but they usually need to be more flexible in their close relationships; that may even be an important life lesson.

First Vowel: U

First vowel U folks tend to be intuitive and conservative, and sometimes, self-sacrificing. They need to avoid dumping their feelings on others when they are unhappy. Avoiding duties and responsibilities invites trouble that they cannot foresee. Making their well-being their top priority is their key to success. They often fall in love easily.

First Vowel: Y

First vowel Y people sometimes confuse other people, because they like to have more than one thing going on at a time. They unconsciously impress others differently than they intended. Y’s should make an effort not to surprise people with questions that lead them off course. They almost always have a “plan B”, and others never know if they are included or not.

The first vowel is always studied as a letter, not a number. Since its a vowel, it always gives some kind of clue to the Heart’s Desire or Soul Urge, and how it works as part of the character or personality.

The Final Letter

Now both the Cornerstone and the First Vowel are included in the First Name, which I usually call the social name. We should also look at the last letter in the first name, because it tells how someone habitually “leaves things” with people. For instance, people with the last letter Y usually leaves the other party in a conversation thinking or trying to decide if the person with the final Y meant what they thought they did. People with E as the last letter usually leave people with a sense that they’ve enjoyed themselves, and N and W usually do the same, since those letters are all 5’s – we sometimes look at the number rather than the letter for the last letter. You should start looking at that with friends and family and see what kind of results you get.

Lastly, the numeric value of the whole first name is called the Major Key – although a sum, and not a single alphabetic letter, it is a reliable indicator of how the person lives their life. It’s often important in getting a clear view of a person’s habits and unconscious character traits. It has some special uses that we’ll talk about in the future, but for now, let’s move on…

The Minor Key

We need to consider the first letter of the last name too. The last name is different from the first in that it talks about one’s background, heritage, the lessons they’ve learned in life and so on. I know some folks that are into ancestral or lineage healing, it really is important to them. Its numeric value is called the minor key and can be quite startling, because it is generally about what one strives for in life. It can be any of the 26 letters of the English Alphabet, and as we discuss all the letter meanings, you’ll find what you need to apply it. It can also be read by its numeric value.

A little more about these Key Letters

If any of these letters is repeated in the name, it carries the quality of that letter during its period of activity, but not as strongly, unless the repeated letter is the cornerstone. If it is, then during its period, the person may have intense experiences in which they find themselves in similar situations to the cornerstone period, or, at the very least, feel a strong familiarity with the circumstances they encounter. They may find themselves repeating behaviors they’ve done before, especially if the Personal Year carries the same number as the Cornerstone.

If any of these Key Letters are doubled (or adjacent, as in Aaron) then the same energy carries on for twice the length of time. As the Personal Year changes in January, the person is working with a new “environmental” number, that will require different choices. It’s less complicated than it sounds; it’s automatic, like changing clothes to match the weather. Most will not grab sandals to wear when the snow is several inches deep.

Understanding the Letters

The set of guidelines are specific to the letter. These descriptions are more intense when it is one of the Key Letters, or when the letter comes up by way of the name cycles. When a letter appears as part of the “secret identity”, or “moving balance” number, they are often called Transits, but unlike the transits of planets in Astrology the letters are not “moving.” Time is passing by and the letters in a name become prominent according to the law of cycles, one of the oldest mystical laws we know of.

So I am writing these down according to the number groups, and by learning about them this way, you can also quickly learn the numbers for the letters.

In fact, it is easy to make “Mnemonics” or memory phrases that remind you of the letters. You’ll know their numbers before you know it, especially if you can think of images that you can attach to them that are colorful or memorable.

The 1 Group – A, J, and S – “A Jolly Song”

The Meaning of A

A is original and independent. It gives the capacity to lead, and the ability to create change, for good or ill. It looks almost like an arrowhead piercing its target and sometimes it feels like that to others. A can be angry, aggressive and arrogant when over-reacting to the experiences encountered during its Transit, so it’s important to focus on acceptance – especially self-acceptance. During its 1-year period, it can help move things forward, but it gives one the feeling that time is flying by. Hastiness or impulsiveness don’t help but being tactful does. It can be advantageous when one is starting something new. A transit of A after age 10 can bring a year of upheavals in one’s lifestyle or relationships. “A” years usually bring positive results in personal growth. It gives the option to make major changes whenever it appears, especially if it’s the Cornerstone. Two A’s in a row gives you two years to wield its force.

The Meaning of J 

J has a hook at the bottom which can cause one to focus on powerful experiences from the past even in cases of “selective memory loss” or trauma. Resolving and learning from them is J’s way to a successful and happy future. It can make one judgmental or always ready to “joke around.” When situations are difficult, a person with a J cornerstone (or when J appears in Transit) can be their own judge and jury, but learning to forgive the self and others can undo negative thinking or self-created jinxes. It is a very self-reliant letter. J people need to avoid justifying anger, procrastination and resentment. During its 1-year Transit, the rewards of past experiences can be had, bringing benefits from previous experiences or chances to resolve unfinished business. After the 10th birthday, the lessons J people learned earlier can help them make more positive or future-oriented decisions that can be a source of real power. J people are almost always reliable.

The Meaning of S

S looks like a snake or a meandering river. It’s a letter that is both slippery and seductive, yet can be sensitive, sensual and smart. It can be secretive. When S is the Cornerstone, it gives a persuasive quality that can sway others successfully or sidestep obstacles and troubles. This letter grants strong intuition and social skills. During its 1-year Transit, challenges can be shaped into useful experiences. An S year is known to be troublesome for relationships, but on careful self-examination, it can be seen that they are the results of one’s choices. It’s always important for S to be very careful when making important decisions, especially if there are two S’s in a row. If the letter S presents itself more than once in a name, the general characteristics of this letter and the circumstances it brings will call upon one’s resilient, pioneering and adaptable qualities often, and act as an important asset, especially if S is the Cornerstone.

The 2 Group – B, K, and T – “Big Kitchen Table”

The Meaning of B

B is an interesting number, because it is a peaceful, domestic, and gentle, force that strives for balance, that can help one to be fair and even-handed in all affairs. Even though the lines of its symbol are all closed, it’s not always stable. Emotional pressures that the B holds in can build up to the point that they can burst out like a bubble or blowup. You may have seen a movie in which Bruce Banner (the Hulk) says “don’t make me angry” before turning into a monster. While its 2-year Transit is running, expect to build a secure base from which one can blast off for their adventures. It can also be behind a breakthrough that increases the financial bottom line. When its’ energy is active, it’s a good time to form or dissolve alliances. After the 11th birthday, fairness, emotional balance and self-respect need to become the top priorities of people with a B Cornerstone, Minor key, or during the 2-year periods of B in a name cycle. Whenever B appears in the name cycles, it offers the opportunity to make changes in relationships. If the name has two B’s in a row then there is a period of 4 years, with the most intense “B-Time” happening during years 2 and 3.

The Meaning of K

K looks like someone walking forward while extending a hand and a foot toward the future. Generally, K shows the expression of new ideas and gives one a social nature, especially when it’s the Cornerstone or the Minor Key. K is not the best number for the financial life when it’s Transit is running, because it is better at spending than saving. It’s a vibration that gives the ability to inspire or motivate others, especially during its 2-year Transit, but this talent must not be used manipulate others.

It has an outgoing nature that is willing to share ideas. K-dominant times collect friends and increase one’s influence. K usually shows a progressive thinker who is hungry for new knowledge, and people with K as a dominant letter find it easy to let go of the past. After the 11th birthday, financial discipline needs to be one’s top priority. K people tend to find a unique and original path to follow that usually brings positive results. “Outside of the box” and “win-win” solutions for problems are easy for K people to discover. Expressing new ideas will further their best interests and inspire others, probably due to the fact that K is the 11th letter of the alphabet, and picks up some characteristics from the Master Number 11.

The Meaning of T

T has a lowercase form that looks like a plus sign, but in its regular uppercase form, which we use more often in Numerology, it looks like a nail. Either way, it adds intensity to the experiences and abilities especially when it’s time to “lock things down.” When T is Transiting, it helps one to think or talk things through. It increases curiosity, but it can also lead to frustrating “dead ends.” Meaningful relationships of all types are important to T.

Sharing thoughts and feelings prevent the build-up of tension that can explode as an emotional tempest. The 2-year Transit of T can bring travel, but it can also bring distracting temptations that could cause one to “go off on a tangent.” It almost always adds something new to the life during its cycle. It can bring prosperous times, especially after the 11th birthday, but prosperity is more likely to come through the actions and efforts of other people. T carries logical, investigative and detail-oriented qualities. Two T’s in a row makes for a 4-year period during which it is easier to add new talents or reinforce old ones.

The 3 Group – C, L, and U – “Colorful Large Umbrella”

The Meaning of C

C, as I’ve mentioned from time to time, looks something like a cartoon character’s mouth, which describes the communicative, creative and sometimes comedic qualities with which it is associated. It gives the power to make unusual connections between things, ideas, places and people. This is the heart of C’s urge to express itself. It also quickly creates common bonds with other people. All social activities thrive on contagious happiness, which is a major quality of this letter. During its 3-year Transit, it may be challenging to stay on task, especially if C is one of the key letters, or if 3 is one of the major numbers along the life path.

C’s all need to learn not to bite off more than they can chew. It’s a letter that gives its bearers a good degree of foresight during its active phase. Sometimes people with a strong C have creative talents they may not be aware of. This can also happen during one of its Transits, especially after the 12th birthday. If it appears more than once in the name, one must avoid being a “multitasker” who lives by distraction and temptation, instead of by a chief aim or a well-defined plan.

The Meaning of L

L looks like an outstretched arm or a 7 reversed, showing its’ bearers to be loving and helpful on the one hand, and connected with the hidden or hidden side of life on the other. It seeks love in both its romantic and spiritual forms and prefers to follow its ideals and imagination instead of routines and traditions. L has a loyal attitude that easily wins many friends, especially during the 3 years of its Transit.

L shows a person who is usually in touch with their own emotions and those of others. It is one of the most empathic of the letters. It’s also quite sensitive to music and art in any form and stimulates the creative side of life when it’s active. After the age of 12, the Transit is connected with extensive or long-distance travel, and often is a sign of good luck in general. When the letter L presents itself more than once in a name, it helps one use its passionate, motivating and helpful qualities whenever it is activated. If 2 L’s are next to one another, the 6-year double period may mark major changes in the lifestyle or social life, such as a change of residence or marriage in any of its forms.

The Meaning of U

U looks like a cup. A cup can contain or limit. It’s an emotional, receptive letter that makes it easy to sympathize with and understand other people. It requires a lot of caution during its transit, because the “rounded” bottom makes it easy for it to tip over and spill its emotional content. That can be an issue in the social life of a U-dominant person, especially during its period, when one has a tendency to “dump” on other people. At the same time, a U period makes it easy to pour out resentments or toxic emotional attachments in a healthy and positive way through imaginative or creative pursuits.

One thing about it we should remember is the “U-Turn” aspect of this letter, which can turn gain into loss or friendship into enmity or do the reverse. Its 3-year Transit period can bring benefits or complicated issues, and its results are solely dependent on the choices of the person making the decisions, whether they are aware of the importance of their choices or not. Sometimes, this letter makes it hard to stay on course during its cycle, or if it’s the First Vowel or Minor Key. If the letter U presents itself more than once in your name, you’ll find that these “reversal” or “do over” events happen frequently. It also offers the opportunity to use its friendly, loyal and fair qualities regularly. After the 15th birthday, there is a danger of impulsive decisions causing financial losses. But it is lucky in many ways, because it takes little or no effort to change course, reinvent oneself, or turn things around.

In the next post in this series, we’ll cover more letters, tricks and tips for working with your Personal Alphabet. Read it here.