Natural Magic - Doreen Valiente 1998

Magic of Numbers

A great deal has been written about numerology, or the magical use of numbers; but much of it is so contradictory that the student is left bewildered. One reason for this is that numerologists approach the subject in various different ways. Some use the cabbalistic numerical equivalents of the Hebrew alphabet and try to adapt these to the English alphabet, for the purpose of working out the numerical value of people’s names. Others base their conclusions upon the numbers derived from the mysterious Tart cards. Still others seek to relate numbers to astrology and interpret a number according to its supposed planetary correspondence.

Perhaps a good deal of this muddle can be straightened out, if we remember that numerology is primarily about numbers and only in a related sense about astrology or the Tart. We may equate 1 with the Sun, 2 with the Moon, and so on; but this will only be true in relation to our little planet. This will be one case of the meaning of the numbers 1 and 2, so to speak, taken in relation to our small, local corner of this galaxy; whereas the principles of mathematics will apply throughout the universe. There would still be unity and duality if our planet and our solar system had ceased to exist.

Considering this, we realize the depth and immensity of the study of numbers. It is something which drew the attention of the most renowned philosophers of the past, notably Pythagoras and Plato; and yet a child can sum it up by counting on his fingers. The signs for numbers are known as digits from the Latin digitus, a finger.

Numerologists generally get at the essence of a number by reducing it to a single digit. They do this by adding the figures of a number together until only one digit is left. For instance, 527 would be added as 5 + 2 + 7 = 14, and then further reduced to 1 + 4 = 5. It is a curious fact that if you take the final resulting digit of such an addition away from the original number, the result will always be divisible by 9. Thus 527 − 5 = 522, and 522 divides by 9 to make 58. So the sum of the digits of a number is, in a sense, the root of that number, and the process is not as illogical as it looks. Any number above 9 consists of the sum of its digits plus a certain number of nines.

The number from 1 to 9, with the addition of the cipher 0, are the basis of all mathematics, and these are the numbers which numerologists usually work with, reducing all larger numbers to a single digit as above. An old attribution of these numbers, which dates back at least to the sixteenth century and may be much older,* gives them astrological correspondences as follows: the Sun, 1 and 4; the Moon, 2 and 7; Jupiter, 3; Mercury, 5; Venus, 6; Saturn, 8; and Mars, 9. The Sun and the Moon, being luminaries, have two numbers each. 1 is the positive number of the Sun, and 4 the negative; 7 is the positive number of the Moon, and 2 the negative.

This table will, I think, be found a help in interpreting the meaning of numbers; but it should be kept in mind that it is the properties of each number which matter in this study and these astrological correspondences are only likenesses and approximations.

The idea of reducing a person’s name to its numerical equivalent is a very old one indeed. In the Hebrew, the Greek and the Arabic alphabets, the letters all have a numerical equivalent and the occult properties of numbers and letters are the basis of much mystical lore among the people who have used these alphabets since ancient times. Some numerologists today, as mentioned above, use a number code based upon the ancient Hebrew, in order to interpret names; but the big difficulty involved in using such a code is that the Hebrew alphabet was designed for writing the Hebrew language, not modern English, and a precise correspondence between it and the English alphabet is not possible. The same applies to Greek and Arabic; each alphabet was designed for writing its own language and no other. The result is, that of all the numerologists who use codes based on the Hebrew, one can scarcely find two whose codes are precisely the same and this leads to endless uncertainty.

It seems more logical to me, therefore, to emulate those numerologists who take the principle of the old kabbalistic alphabets and apply it to modern English, instead of trying to equate the English alphabet with Hebrew and filling the gaps with the aid of Greek.

This is the code I propose to use, and it has at least the virtue of being simple and without variation, while still based upon ancient ideas.

The numerical equivalent of each letter is shown by the number it falls under. So if you want to see what number your name gives, just write down the letters of the name you are most generally known by, put the numerical equivalent under each, add the numbers together and add the digits again as described before, until you have just one digit remaining. That will be the number of your name and it will tell you what the influence of that name is. You will probably find that it gives you a good idea of your personality, as reflected by that name.

Remember that names can be changed, and so can personality. This is why the latter term is derived from persona, a Latin word meaning a mask, as used by players on a stage.

The meanings of the numbers from 1 to 9 may be briefly summarised as follows:

1: this is the vibration of the leader. A forthright person, dominant and active. Strong-willed, too, and can be self-centred; but with plenty of initiative and originality. The number of the pioneer.

2: a much gentler influence than that of the foregoing. One who values friendship and sentiment. Sometimes shy and lacking in resolution. Fond of home life and domestic happiness. Often gifted with psychic powers, especially mediumship.

3: a lucky number and often happy-go-lucky, giving a cheerful, rather bohemian influence. Generous and optimistic. Sometimes self-indulgent and extravagant. People who take a sporting attitude to life.

4: a fine, four-square influence, steady and reliable. Loyal and hard-working; but can be rather stubborn and unimaginative. Practical, persistent, and matter-of-fact.

5: an active and rather changeable influence, giving its subjects many different talents and interests. Unusual powers of mind, but often marred by impatience. Fond of travel, and dislike to be tied down.

6: the number of harmony and beauty. Its subjects are cultured and artistic. Fond of luxury, sympathetic and peace-loving.

7: the mystic number. Its subjects are idealistic and often misunderstood. Thoughtful and self-possessed, they can become ’loners’; but they have reserves of inner strength. Sometimes psychic and intuitive.

8: the number of organization and material power. Conservative, sometimes stern and pessimistic; but solid, strong and high-principled. Cautious and careful.

9: a number of great strength, for good or ill. Active, courageous and ambitious; but can be jealous and over-hasty. High-spirited and fond of excitement.

The above could be described as thumb-nail sketches of the influence of each number, as seen when it works out as the number of your name. One should remember that everyone has the faults of their virtues—and the virtues of their faults! For instance, a 2 personality may seem demure and self-effacing in comparison with more dashing types; but would be a wonderful home-maker and may be much pleasanter to live with. A 9 person may be jealous and rather domineering; but he will stand by you and fight for you through thick and thin. A 4 may seem a plodder and an old square; but what a truthful and trustworthy person he is to fall back on, when some of the more brilliant ones have let you down.

If we really want to change our personality, then changing our name may be one way to do it. The deliberate adoption of a new name is, after all, something that people do because they want to make a change in their life. They are, for some reason, dissatisfied with their previous name. Subconsciously, perhaps, there is some part of their being that they are striving to express, and they choose a name that will enable them to do this. Sometimes, indeed, a change of name does make a striking difference to a person’s life. If we read the biographies of people who have in some way made an impact on the world, it is surprising to find how many of them have changed the name they were given at birth.

For instance, who ever heard of Edward Alexander Crowley? But the flamboyant Aleister Crowley became a legend in his lifetime. Greta Gustafsson was just another Swedish girl trying to get into films. Then she changed her name to Greta Garbo. Adolf Hitler’s family originally went under the name of Schickelgruber. Can you imagine people shouting “Heil Schickelgruber”?

Curiously enough, the name Adolf Hitler adds to 2—that supposedly gentle, self-effacing number! Was Hitler a medium, who became the tool and instrument of sinister powers? The town where he was born, Branau-am-Inn, was noted as the birthplace of a number of well-known mediums. We know that he was fascinated by the occult, and that it played a big part in his life. Numerology can often given unexpected insights like this into life and character.

What, however, is the real number of a person’s destiny? We read so much in different books, of lucky numbers, fatidic numbers and so on; but one thing is certain. We may change the number our name makes as often as we like; but there is one number we cannot change, because fate decided that for us—the number of our birth date. It seems logical, therefore, to select this as representing the number of our life’s destiny, rather than the more ephemeral name-number, which shows the personality we display to the world. The destiny number is something deeper. Occultists who believe in reincarnation tell us that the birth date number represents the lesson we have come to earth to learn in this lifetime.

We arrive at the birth date number by writing down the figures of our date of birth, and then adding them together until only one digit is left. Thus, if you were born on July 18th, 1941, you write down 18.7.1941, which adds to 31, giving a final digit of 4; so 4 is your number of destiny. The process is very simple and the numbers are interpretated according to the general ideas of their meaning already given, though in a rather deeper sense.

Perhaps we can understand them better if we consider the implications of each number as the sequence unfolds. First, we have the number one, the potential germ or seed, the unit of evolving life. It represents man seeking to establish himself as an individual. Then comes the number, two, not merely two ones but two complementary opposites—man and woman, light and darkness, fire and water, all the pairs of opposites without which manifested life could not exist. Two represents the stage at which man realizes there are other people in the world besides himself. But two opposites cannot accomplish anything unless they are united, any more than two straight lines can enclose a space.

With the number three, however, we have the triangle, the first geometrical figure. The opposites are united, and life has begun to expand. The number three is a sacred, magical and lucky number, and has been throughout the ages, because it represents the manifestation of life in this way. One typical example of its sacredness is the trinity worshipped in ancient Egypt: Isis, Osiris and Horus, the Mother, Father and Son.

The number four represents the foursquare foundation of the world, the four elements, the four cardinal points, the four winds, and so on. It typifies law, orderliness, and regularity—morning, noon, evening and night; childhood, youth, maturity and old age; and so on. But this very orderliness needs to be enlivened by something more, and so we progress to the number five.

Five is the number of mind, the human being seeking experience through the five senses. With the number five, man seeks to look beyond the world of the four elements, to be untrammelled by his surroundings, to travel and progress.

By using his mind, man is led onwards to the number six, the number of beauty and harmony. Culture and artistry enter into his life. He appreciates the finer things; but he still seeks beyond. Gracious living in itself is not enough. He advances to the meaning of number seven, the mystic number, which teaches him to look inwards and know himself, to seek for the inner light within his own soul.

But mysticism and idealism need to be brought into the realms of practical reality. So man also needs the number eight, the number of organization, by which ideals and ideas can be crystallized into form, to make a better life. Even so, such forms cannot endure for ever; and so the number nine, powerful and regenerative, eventually comes into man’s life, sometimes destroying, but also clearing the ground so that life can renew itself eternally.

These nine digits, together with the nought, the circle which represents infinity and eternity, make possible all the calculations of mathematics. No wonder that the ancient occult philosophers held numbers to be sacred, and representative of divine things.

We may put this knowledge to practical use by considering the life-lesson to be derived from each number of destiny, as indicated by the birthdate:

One: this teaches us to be self-reliant, and to develop ourselves as individuals.

Two: this teaches the need for co-operation with others, and to cultivate sympathy and understanding.

Three: this teaches the expansion of consciousness, generosity and optimism.

Four: this teaches orderliness, firmness and the need to build upon a foundation of truth.

Five: this teaches the search for knowledge and wisdom, and the need to find freedom from limitations.

Six: this teaches the appreciation of beauty, and the finding of harmony with oneself and others.

Seven: this teaches the way of withdrawal into one’s own soul, and the finding of inner peace and enlightenment.

Eight: this teaches organization, and the ability to use material power wisely and with justice.

Nine: this teaches truly creative living, and the right use of strength and initiative.

If we look out for the occurrence of our name-numbers and birth date-numbers in our lives, we shall find them, or numbers whose digits reduce to them, turning up in all sorts of places. But which one of these numbers can be considered our lucky number?

The old belief is that odd numbers are more lucky than even ones. The Roman poet Virgil tells us that "the gods delight in odd numbers". The reason for this is that odd numbers were regarded as positive and pertaining to spiritual things, while even numbers were negative, and pertaining to material things. Hence, it may be a good idea to choose as your lucky number that one of your numbers which is odd. If they are both odd, choose the one which appeals to you most. Experience will soon show you which is your best choice.

If your numbers include 2 and 4, remember that these numbers have a sympathetic connection with 7 and 1 respectively, because of their astrological correspondences, as set out earlier in this chapter. So if your number as given by name or birthdate is 2, then 7 could be lucky for you; and if it is 4, then 1 could be your lucky number.

6 is a fortunate number, because of its associations with harmony and perfection. 8 is not generally considered fortunate; but if both your name and your birthdate give this number, then it is evidently so strongly connected with your life that it may be fortunate for you. Try it and see; but if your life seems fatally involved with eights in an unfortunate way, remember you can always change your name to one that adds to a different number.

Alternatively, some numerologists regard the day of the month on which one was born as giving one’s lucky number, reducing it if necessary to a single digit as before. It seems to me to be a weaker influence in one’s life, however, than either the name or the birthdate number. But if, as often happens, this number is the same as either the name or the total birthdate number, then it reinforces the strength of that number in one’s life; and if it seems to give a more fortunate vibration than either of these two numbers, then adopting it as one’s lucky number would certainly seem a good idea.

When you have decided which is your lucky number, which the foregoing information should help you to do, then look out for it in your daily life. Watch for telephone numbers and house numbers; notice days and times; add up people’s names—almost everything has a number connected with it in some way. Keep a notebook and record things that have proved fortunate or otherwise, from a numerological point of view. Numerology can be a fascinating hobby, as well as a practical means of help and guidance.

A further note needs to be made about the numbers 4 and 7. When Cornelius Agrippa recorded their astrological correspondences in the sixteenth century, only the visible heavenly bodies of our solar system were regarded by astrologers; that is, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and the Sun and Moon. However, since that time other planets have been discovered and named Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

Astrologers have had time to assess the influences of Uranus and Neptune and data is being accumulated about Pluto, although its influence at the moment remains as dark and obscure as this remote planet itself. These planets are sometimes regarded as being of a more spiritual and esoteric nature than the visible planets. Only as man has progressed along the road of his development has he become aware of them. (Although there is some evidence that the ancients knew a great deal more about science and astronomy than they have hitherto been credited with; see We Are Not the First, by Andrew Thomas, Sphere Books, London, 1972).

Some numerologists have ascribed the influence of Uranus to the number 4 and that of Neptune to the number 7. When one is dealing with the more spiritually-advanced type of person, I think this inference is well-based. However, one must use one’s own judgment, from practical observation.

The influence of Uranus is unconventional, revolutionary and even eccentric and cranky if carried to excess. It gives intellectual brilliance and inventiveness. In material matters, it is connected with aviation and space-travel.

The influence of Neptune is mystical and visionary. It is often connected with strong psychic powers; but if carried to excess, it can be the passport to a world of beautiful illusion. In material matters, it rules, among other things, hallucinogenic drugs, typical of a condition of highly-coloured and delusive fantasy.

As with all other planets and signs, both Uranus and Neptune have their good and their bad sides—or perhaps one should say rather, their positive and their negative sides. Occultists who watch the trends in human history have observed that the discovery of Uranus in 1781 was the precursor of the French Revolution and that of Neptune in 1846 was the precursor of Spiritualism. These tides in human thought have had widespread influence and each was typical of the planet whose discovery preceded it.

*De Occulta Philosophia, Cornelius Agrippa, 1531.