I'm fairly much the same.  I picked up my 1st book on Numerology in 1982.  It were based on the Chaldean alphabet.  I found my beginning interpretations then, to be fairly accurate.  Later that year I'd lost the book, though I still had a copy of the alphabet / numbers relation.

Personally - until I finally found my 2nd Chaldean Numerology book by Leeya Brooke Thompson !NO LINKS! in 2001, I hadn't personally, been attracted to the Pythagoran alphabet.  Leeya's book (Chaldean Numerology) helped bring me back into things.

Finally - in 1999, I wrote my first Numerology calculator software, which I used to assist in building my current legal name.
In 2005, I started rewriting the software again, not too successfully, with the chosen programming package.
Finally - about 1 week ago, I chose a new language and have been happily writing a new Chaldean alphabet calculator, ever since. :D

The software is yet only days old, but so far functional.  Updates are continually being posted, free for everyone, at the bottom of my Numerology page.

As far as learning for interpretation goes though - I've years yet of learning to do.    

within the western world  the Pythagoran method is the most widely used  ,which seems to do the trick in most cases ,and fills the void .but just like any other system of thought, a little bit of this and alittle bit of that cant hurt matters none.and seems to be the case when looking at numerology it has evolved over time, the sages of old would have no clue as to our methods  both types would seem very strange to them . if one dont seems to work try another . Being flexible and able to adabt ,finding a common factor bringing  order to chaos .isnt that the goal .The universe is based on natural order and patterns,  ,if this wasnt true than numerology and other systems of the same thought would not work.

Within the two systems the date of birth is calculated the same .the 1-9 energy vibrations are still in place which happens to be the key numbers within a chart  ,and i  believe the meaning of the 9 energy vibrations are basically the same,  but beyond that it begins to differ .my biggest question is if we have 9 basic vibrations why isnt there a letter assigned to that vibration  if the same is based on patterns how can we follow it in one case and not another  ????????

It is always best to follow what path seems to resonant with you most.

While I find there is some value to the Pythigorian, or western method, I admit to still needing to learn a great deal.

I do not admitedly know a great deal about any method however back in the late 80's Linda Goodman came out with new book her Star Signs book and I found that using the numerology from this book which is Chaldean,

Often I find that this shows connections to people and events, using it both for birth, and name numbers, so I use this most often.

I have yet to come across a person it hasn't really matched with, and I find it matches well with home issues. Such as the number on a house, example someone was going to purchase a home, there are obstacles with the number 8 or challenges to over come.

When someone I knew was about to purchase a home, I said they would have a delay that they could get it but there would be some kind of problem and delay that would slow down the process for the purchase, which was true they had to wait a few extra months to make the purchase than originally planned.

I also feel that when people are aware of the influences and energies or vibrations of the number then they can use it to help, and avoid the pitfalls.

The Chaldean seems to work well, for current issues as well, as for the birth number, based on the date.

dessa

Check into the Numerology link at Leeya's web page at:

No links allowed!
Rhutobello
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I've also linked her web site to my Numerology (under construction) site.  I purchased her book immediately upon finding out about it, a couple of weeks ago.  I've barely stepped into it's vast amount of information but already in an overall check of my birthname and date, it's accuracy has far outstepped the original Chaldean Alphabet that I'd been using on and off, since 1982.
I can't wait until I learn more of the new alphabet, to interpret further into my own life and then other friends of mine.