March/April  2004

The Power of Numbers

By Roz Brown

      "1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21"

       For those who were captivated by the 2003 best seller, The Da Vinci Code, the numerical sequence shown above will be delightfully familiar. It's called the Fibonacci sequence, and is used with great effect by author Dan Brown to drive his historical thriller. Mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci created this progression of numbers in the 13th century, a progression in which each term is equal to the sum of the two preceding terms.

      Numerology evolved as a system of divination precisely because numbers, while numerous and varied, are also logical and obey orderly rules. What appears chaotic is in fact a pattern and that pattern can be applied to life's most fundamental questions.

      Western numerology goes back to the Pythagorean principle, that ultimately all things can be explained through numbers-not only the universe, but also the very nature of individuals. Although little is known about him, Pythagoras was a Greek mathematician, sage and teacher of the 6th century BC who is said to have discovered the ratios of musical intervals. Earlier references to numerology can be traced to the Jewish Cabala, and is also central to another popular form of divination-astrology. Other readers may be more familiar with the Chinese number system, the I Ching or The Book of Changes.

      In other words, references to numerology are widespread in history because this method of divination is said to have sprung up more or less independently in Greece, Asyria, Egypt and the greater part of Europe .

      There is also an association between medieval Christian number symbolism and modern numerology. For instance, the number 13 is considered unlucky in Western society because Judas was the thirteenth apostle in the Biblical account of the Last Supper. Thirteen came to be known as a number to avoid-Friday the 13th, the 13th floor, the unlucky 13th dinner guest. In contrast, the number 22 represents completeness and perfection because of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and the 22 major trumps of a Tarot deck. Forty has a similar identity with completeness: the Biblical flood was 40 days; Moses went to Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights; Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days.

      All references in numerological divination are related to the nine whole numbers. To understand how they are used to identify personality traits, it's important to know what characteristics are associated with each number. Odd numbers are considered dominant and vigorous, while even numbers are passive and subordinate. Not surprisingly, good and male were linked with the odd numbers, while evil and female with even numbers. That's not politically correct in modern numerology but it's important to understand in viewing the following chart:

Number 1: Active, independent, powerful, innovating, leading

Number 2: Passive, weak, indifferent, irresolute

Number 3: Brilliant, free, capable, lucky

Number 4: Dull, clumsy, uncreative, unlucky

Number 5: Adventurous, courageous, versatile, inspiring

Number 6: Settled, unaware, impractical, placid

Number 7: Wise, discerning, ahead of the time, mysterious

Number 8: Unimaginative, tactless, greedy

Number 9: Mental and spiritual achiever, artist, seer

      A different take on it comes from the Chinese, who associated the odd numbers with heavenly qualities, and the even numbers to earthly qualities. These central associations were given to each number and used to identify personality as well as fate.

      Most numerology systems rely on the numbers one through nine, although some systems stop with the number eight. Each letter of the alphabet is associated with a number. To learn more about a person's personality, their strengths and weaknesses, and possibly their fate, you must know that person's name, and which letter of the alphabet is associated with each number of the alphabet. In other words, connect-the-dots between a name and its numerical pattern and sum, and that person makes more sense to himself and others.

      For example, to find your birth number: If your birthday is September 21, 1958 , your number is calculated by reducing your date of birth to a single digit; in this case, 9 (September) + 2 + 1 (the day of the month) + 1 + 9 + 5 + 8 (the year) = 35; reduced down, 3 + 5 = 8, your birth number. Numerology also allows a calculation for your soul number, personal number, name number and goal number. For example, your soul number, related to your self image, can be calculated by reducing your day of birth to a single digit. Your personal number is calculated from your first or personal name. 

      Naturally your number changes if you use your full name or if you use a nickname or the name you've always been known by although it may not be your given name. Which opens the door to critics of numerology. In The Skeptics Dictionary, Robert Todd Carroll writes, "Certainly, the Pythagoreans were a cult with esoteric notions about the universe and numbers, including the notion of the harmony of the spheres. No doubt they found something mystical about the relations of sides of triangles, which we have come to know as the Pythagorean theorem. But there is no evidence that Pythagoras thought he could analyze his disciples' personalities by assigning numbers to the letters of their names and their birth dates. For one thing, he would have realized the unreasonableness of such a notion. Different languages have different alphabets; different cultures use different calendars."

      Nonetheless, numerology has been used as a tool for analysis; in marriage counseling, personnel and staff management (who will work best with whom) and parent counseling (in ascertaining why some parents have great difficulties with their children). The numerologist, after studying a client's information, would not be able to improve someone's luck, but they may be able to reduce the risk of bad luck by making certain recommendations. For example, a numerologist might suggest slightly altering a name to change its historical association with a particular number, and thus nudge fate for a more positive outcome.

      Much like astrology, a numerology session can last from 30 minutes to an hour and a half and cost $15 to $150, depending on the practitioner's skill level and reputation. Keep in mind that a really seasoned numerologist would also be knowledgeable about other divination methods such as astrology, palmistry and graphology.

      It's also possible that other numbers may have some connection to our destiny. Lys Anzia, a national playwright based in Boulder , tells this story: "A close friend of mine died in 1991, after being hospitalized for a short time. I was gathering up his belongings when I picked up his wallet and noticed the numbers on his Social Security card. The first three numbers, 518, matched the date of his death, May 18. The next two numbers matched the floor number where he was hospitalized, and the last four numbers matched the room number where he died. I was overwhelmed. It seems his destiny-the map of his life-was with him all along, on that little white-and-blue, government-issued card he'd gotten as a young man."

      Now take another look at the sequence of numbers from the Da Vinci Code. When the crime solvers first see the cryptic sequence they're grouped like this: 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5. In other words, depending on their arrangement, they mean everything and nothing. Perhaps that's what we need to remember when relying on numerology to gain guidance for our lives: it can easily be used to both reinforce what we want to hear and rebut what we don't want to hear.

      For more information on numerology, see the following:

. The Secret Science of Numerology: The Hidden Meaning of Numbers and Letters by Shirley Blackwell Lawrence (New Page Books, 2001)

. Living Your Destiny by Hal A. Lingerman (Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1992)

. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Numerology, by Kay Lagerquist and Lisa Lenard (Alpha Books, 1999)

. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Divination, by Stephen Karcher (Barnes & Noble Books, 1997)

. www.ancientastrology.com

. www.creativelivinginstitute.org

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