Numerology
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Numerology and numerological divination were popular among early mathematicians such as Pythagoras, but are no longer considered to be part of modern-day mathematics and are now regarded as pseudomathematics by most mathematicians. Numerologists often apply distinct definitions to individual digits. These definitions and the resulting permutations between individual digits, or in a mathematical equation, will result in multi-fold meanings.
Today numerology is associated with the Occult, alongside Astrology and similar divinatory arts. This is similar to the historical development of astronomy from astrology, and that of chemistry from alchemy.
History of the Numbers
Most numerological systems past and present are formed from a base-10, or decimal system. Numerologists would argue that this has to do with base-10 systems of numerological thought arising from the human subconscious, being the basic number-system associated with human anatomy and engrained in the basic psychology of most people.However, during the days of the ancients, individual symbols (or glyphs) that represented 1 through 9 were rare and inventing a glyph that represented "nothing" seemed ridiculous.
Though modern day numerologists typically use base-10, there is a school of modern numerology - Chaldean numerology - that uses base-9, i.e., the numbers 1 through 8, inclusive.
The common usage of the numeral "0" became much more wide-spread due to the influx of Arabic traders who assimilated European societies around 900CE. Hence the system of numerals "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9" and "0" that are ubiquitous and indispensable today are also known as the Hindu-Arabic numeral system.
Definition of the Numbers
The ten individual digits are usually assigned distinct definitions.The
0. Everything and nothing. The All
1. Individual. Aggressor (positive enforcer as opposed to negative receptive). Yang.
2. Balance. Union. Receptive. Yin.
3. Communication/interaction. Neutrality.
4. Creation.
5. Action.
6. Reaction/flux. Responsibility.
7. Thought/consciousness.
8. Power/sacrifice.
9. Completion.
However, Cheiro, and ancient numerological systems such as the Chaldean, do not necessarily agree with this system, leaning toward the either astrological, or the psychic/symbolic.
Under these systems, the numbers 0-9 possess the following associations and colours:
0. - Nullify, Void, Space - Astrology: sometimes, space/infinity - Colour: Black
1. - Activation, New Beginnings, Consciousness - Astrology: Sun - Colour: Brown
2. - Duality, Duality of Physical/Non-Physical, Duality of Male/Female - Astrology: Moon - Colour: Red
3. - Creative, Perfection in Creation - Astrology: Jupiter - Colour: Orange
4. - Earth-based, Ego, Physical Solidity - Astrology: Uranus - Colour: Yellow
5. - Healing, Growth, Christic - Astrology: Mercury - Colour: Green
6. - New Ideas, Vision - Astrology: Venus - Colour: Blue
7. - Perfection, Creation, Completion, Physicality - Astrology: Neptune - Colour: Violet
8. - Infinity, Eternity, Non-Physical/Angelic - Astrology: Saturn - Colour: Silver
9. - End of a Cycle - Astrology: Mars and Pluto - Colour: Gold
The numbers following the cycle of 9 in base-10 are also assigned colours and associations such as the following examples:
10. - God, Universal Mind, the Intelligence of Space, the Wheel of Fortune - Colour: White
11. - New Cycle, New Beginnings, Courage - Colour: Maroon
12. - All Lineages, All Frequencies, Number of Total Variant Rays in Creation -
13. - Maturity, Totality, Completion -
18. - Good Luck. Long Life, Portent -
22. - Transition, Between Past and Future - Colour: Turquoise
33. - End of a Series of Cycles - Colour: Clear
144. - All Possibilities -
Each practicing numerologist will have a wider definition and understanding of each number, and how they interact with each other.
Master Numbers
11/2. Self identification. Ego in balance.
22/4. Balance in structure. Destruction in chaos.
33/6. Master Teacher.
44/8. Creation in sacrifice.
The master numbers are known for their instable property due to fluctuating from the two digit repetitions (such as 44) to the single digit vibration (such as 8). Master numbers are considered to be the hardest definitions to grasp when learning numerology.
Digit summing
Numerologists often reduce a number or word by a process known as digit summing.
Upon digit summing, they will combine the definitions within an equation to find their interaction, which in turn defines the base. Such as: the expression 32/5 would be described as the base definition of 5 being created through the interaction of numbers 3 and 2. (This example, in simple definition, would be: action being created by union and communication).
In the case of a number, you take the sum of all of the digits of the number, and if the result is a number with 2 or more digits you add up the digits of that number; you repeat the process recursively until you arrive at a single-digit number. For a word, you sum up the values corresponding to each letter's place in the alphabet (i.e., A=1, B=2, etc.) and then perform digit summing on the resulting number. The characteristics associated with the resultant number reveal information concerning the thing or person named.
Examples:
3,489 -> 3+4+8+9 = 24 -> 2+4 = 6
Hello -> 8+5+12+12+15 = 52 -> 5+2 = 7
There are exceptions to this process: There are four numbers greater than 9 that numerologists often will not break down further into a single-digit number. They are called master numbers, and their values are 11, 22, 33 and 44. They are considered higher vibrations of their digit-summed counterparts and very highly charged. They each have a specific meaning.
Master numbers not withstanding, it's worth noting that an alternative way to arrive at a digit summation is simply to take the value modulo 9, substituting a possible result of 0 with 9 itself.
Various methods of Calculation in Numerology
In Numerology, different methods of calculation are popular. the popular ones are :
- Chaldean Method,
- Pythagorean Method,
- Hebraic Method,
- Helyn Hitchcock's method
- Phonetic Method
- Japanese method
- Indian Vedic method
Numerological divination
- See also Arithmancy
In a type of numerological divination, a student of the field will use the name and birthdate of an individual to analyze and define something of the personality and propensities of that individual. Specific numbers are also assigned to the letters of the alphabet. Pythagorean numerological system (for the English alphabet) is represented here:
A, J, S=1
B, K, T=2
C, L, U=3
D, M, V=4
E, N, W=5
F, O, X=6
G, P, Y=7
H, Q, Z=8
I, R=9
To date, there is no scientific verification for the validity of claimed numerological principles. Numerology has thus been classified as a pseudoscience. Science, as recognized in modern society, is based on the scientific method and requires that assertions answer to the regular and replicable use of this method to be considered as scientifically verifiable fact.
Historians believe that modern numerology is an integration of the teachings from Ancient Babylonia, Pythagoras and his followers, (6 th. Century B.C. Greece) Astrological philosophy from Hellenistic Alexandria, early Christian mysticism, the occultism of the early Gnostics and the Hebrew system of the Kabbalah. The Indian Vedas, the Chinese "Circle of the Dead",and the Egyptian "Book of the Master of the Secret House", (Ritual of the Dead) are records giving strong evidence that Numerology dates back thousands of years.
Pythagoras and other philosophers of the time believed that because mathematical concepts were more "practical" (easier to regulate and classify) than physical ones, they had greater actuality. This is an idea in harmony with philosophical pragmatism and a choice for permanent concepts over changeable physicality.
St. Augustine of Hippo in A.D. 354 - 430 wrote " Numbers are the Universal language offered by the deity to humans as confirmation of the truth." Similar to Pythagoras, he too believed that everything had numerical relationships and it was up to the mind to seek and investigate the secrets of these relationships or have them revealed by divine grace.
In 325 A.D., following the First Council of Nicaea, departures from the beliefs of the state Church were classified as civil violations within the Roman Empire. Numerology had not found favor with the Christian authority of the day. It was assigned to the field of unapproved beliefs along with astrology and other forms of divination and "magic." Through this religious purging, the spiritual significance assigned to the heretofore "sacred" numbers began to disappear. In spite of this suppression there were still many devout believers, who kept the secret knowledge locked away.
An important example of the influence of numerology in English literature is Sir Thomas Browne's 1658 Discourse The Garden of Cyrus. In it the author illustrates that the number five and related Quincunx pattern throughout' art, nature and mysticism. The Discourse is a late example of the influence of Pythagorean thought in English philosophy.
Numerology in science
Scientific theories are sometimes labelled 'numerology' if their primary inspiration appears to be mathematical rather than scientific. This colloquial use of the word 'numerology' is quite common within the scientific community and it is mostly used to dismiss a theory as questionable science.The best known example of 'numerology' in science involves the co-incidental resemblance of certain large numbers that intrigued such eminent mathematical physicists as Dirac, Weyl and Eddington. These numerical co-incidences refer to such quantities as the ratio of the age of the universe to the atomic unit of time, the number of electrons in the universe, and the difference in strengths between gravity and the electric force for the electron and proton. As one author has observed however, we are bound to find co-incidences if we look long enough at any sample of numbers and therefore the kind of study that Dirac, Weyl and Eddington pursued 'seems like numerology' to many physicists ('Is the Universe Fine Tuned for Us?', Stenger V.J., page 3[link]).
Large number co-incidences still continue to fascinate many mathematical physicists even at the risk of being labelled 'numerologists'. Thus, for instance, James G. Gilson has constructed a 'Quantum Theory of Gravity' based loosely on Dirac's large number hypothesis (see Gilson's web page, about one third down the page[link]).
Numerology and astrology
Some astrologers believe that each number from 0 to 9 is ruled by a celestial body in our solar system. One widely accepted system connecting numerology and astrology is provided in the astrology and numerology article, but there are other conflicting systems as well.
In popular culture
In the movie π, the protagonist is searching for hidden numerical patterns in the stock market and the Torah. Each Hebrew letter corresponds to a number. The true name of God is said to correspond to a 216. Ironically, the number 216 is the product 6 x 6 x 6, and 666 is considered the number of the beast or Satan.British goth band Inkubus Sukkubus changed their name from 'Incubus Succubus' on the advice of a friend who said that the numerology of their first name was bringing them bad luck.
See also
- [Complete guide to Numerology, Astrology]
- Cognitive science of mathematics
- The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences
- Number of the Beast
- Gematria
- Isopsephy
- Pythagoras
- Pythagoreanism
- Numbers & Professions
- Dr. Matrix
- Gnostic circle
- Lexigram
- Aleister Crowley
- Golden Ratio
References
- The Mystery of Numbers, by Annemarie Schimmel (1993) ISBN 0195063031 — A scholarly compendium of the connotations and associations of numbers in historical cultures.
- Numerology : the number game, by Aaadietya Pandey (2006) .
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