Numerology

By: Kyle E. Thayer

Honors 201
23 September 2003
Definition and brief history of
Numerology:
Numerology is the study of numbers as
they relate to our character and destiny.
In Ancient Babylon the first unit was ten,
and the second unit was 60. This survives
in seconds, minutes, hours, and degrees
of a circle.
Many cultures used finger counting as a
basis for their number systems.

Pythagoras
He was a Greek mathematician who is
considered the Father of Numbers.
He believed that nothing could exist
without numbers.

Numbers and their Meanings
The number one is associated with the
one and only divine.
The number two is seen as the good and
the bad, the Yin and the Yang.
Good things come in threes but also
death comes in threes.
Many religions revolve around a theme of
threes. (ex: the Holy Trinity)
Numbers and their Meanings
(cont.)
The number 4 is associated with the earth.
(ex: 4 phases of the moon, 4 seasons, 4
directions, 4 winds)
The number 5 has been connected with
human life and the 5 senses and also
marriage.
The number 6 has been called the most
perfect number since it is the sum &
product of its parts.
Numbers and their Meanings
(cont.)
The number 7 is seen as a pillar of
wisdom.
The number 8 is viewed as lucky number
and the number of the gods.
The number 9 is associated with pain and
suffering since Christ died at the ninth
hour of the day.
Triskaidekaphobia
(fear of the number 13)
costs America one billion dollars a year
in absenteeism, train and plane
cancellations and reduced commerce on
the thirteenth of the month.
Christian traditions explain this by
examining the Last Supper. There were
12 + 1 people, and Jesus was betrayed.
It is said that witches travel in groups of
13.

Numerology today
Numbers are still associated with certain
meanings and superstitions.
Each person has two numbers, a birth
number and a name number.
The birth number is calculated from the
date of birth while the name number is
calculated by assigning all the letters in
the alphabet meaning.
Numerology Today (cont.)
Billions of dollars are spent by people who
believe that numbers control their
fate/destiny.
Psychic hotlines, books, newspapers,
magazines, and other media encourage
numerology.
Follow the instructions on the handout to
find out your birth sign, your name sign
and what they mean.

Enjoy!
References
A Brief History of Numerology. 10 September
2003.
http://ancientastrology.com/Numerology.html
Numerology. 23 September 2003.
http://www.russellrowe.com/numerology.htm
Schimmel, Annemarie. The Mystery of
Numbers. New York: Oxford University Press,
1993.