A lifeline is one of the most important tools to use in your quest for self-discovery. By learning what the patterns of your life have been, you will know how to make sense of why you have done things this way or that way and how relevant these events have been.

A simple definition of a lifeline is a horizontal line on which you will put the dates of the most important events that have occurred throughout your life so far. Of course, in most cases, the older you are, the longer your lifeline will be, and the younger you are, the shorter it will be. This does not necessarily mean that your life has not been presented with crucial events that have promoted a great change in your life, that you have not turned your direction in this or that way. In a lifeline, everything is important.

Because you know your life better than anyone, you can figure out what’s really important. However, don’t dismiss other things as silly and unimportant. You never know. For example: you moved from one city to another. Perhaps this won’t be too memorable, until you see that there have been many such moves and therefore a pattern was formed.

To prepare, make sure you have a large sheet of paper for that, or take several sheets and tape them together. Draw a line down the middle of the paper. You will want to write both above and below the line. Hang the paper on an empty wall. Markers, not pens or pencils, are best for this project.

Then, on a separate piece of paper, make a list of the events in your life. Here are some examples:

1. Start with your date of birth, the birth dates of your siblings, if any.

2. Add the death of your family members and pets or anyone else you care about.

3. Write down your health problems and “challenges” such as your childhood illnesses, your surgeries, the onset of major illnesses.

4. Add the dates of your physical sexual development, for example, the first time you had your period or your first ejaculation, the first sign of pubic or facial hair, breasts, etc.

5. Add the dates of your first sexual experiences.

6. Write the name of your boyfriends/girlfriends, lovers; beginning and end of relationships.

7. Add your wedding/divorce dates (those are the main beginnings and endings of relationships).

8. Add the birth of your children.

9. Add your education and rankings.

10. Add the date your children left home.

11. Add the jobs you have had, etc.

The list can go on and on depending on what is important to you.

When you have finished making a list, categorize and color-code your list: for example, all births are red; all relationships are blue; all health challenges are green; all works are turquoise (don’t use yellow as it’s not as visible); etc. Remember to leave black for the line itself.

Now, you can divide your lifeline into 7 or 9 year chunks, so you have a nice regular distribution of years. The ratio of 7 or 9 years, instead of the common 10 years, is explained by some metaphysicians as the dates on which significant life changes occur. You will notice this pattern and decide which one to use.

Finally, draw your artwork, writing the events perpendicular to the life line.

When you’re done, look at the patterns in your life; your ups and downs, your challenges, your grievances, your surprises, etc. Finally, take a look at what it all means and where the main changes have taken place. Mark them on the life line. This will help you determine how to approach the next phase of your life and will also help you better understand yourself. You are done for now.