The Contribution Of Pythagoras To The Modern Numerology

Pythagoras made a lot of mathematical and mysticaal contribution to the modern numerology. But after his death, people’s interest in mathematical mysticism and all his teachings on numbers waned. Most of his teachings were now restricted to secret use. Sometime after his death however, a group of neo-Pythagoreans emerged and brought up his teachings again. But with time, some of his less scientific works and theories faded away. In addition to Pythagoras’s death, the ruling of the first council of Nicaea in the Roman Empire also contributed to the decline of numerology. After the council, alterations and antithesis of the beliefs of the state church was considered a civil violation all over the Empire. It was clear that the Church authority in the Empire didn’t fancy numerology and its principles; it was further classified under the unapproved beliefs of the time alongside magic and other types of divination. Regardless of the religious attacks and disagreement, numerology still has a high level of spiritual significance. Some philosophers identified and recognized some spiritual numbers like the Jesus number, plus the fact that some Greek orthodox gatherings still see numerology as useful to them. Also, in the course of the disapproval from the church, several numerology faithful argued that an unignorable level of numerological principles are evidently found in the bible where numbers like 5, 7 and 3 have a lot of spiritual coding and meaning. For instance, God created the universe in three days, Jesus is said to have been dead for three days before he resurrected, 7 and 3 was highly linked to the activities of God in the bible more than any other number.

Other philosophers like Cornelius Agrippa wrote on numerology during Pythagoras era and even after his death. Cornelius Agrippa in his work occult philosophy (1533) provided parts of the ground in which western numerology is practiced now. He strongly was of the opinion that numbers have inherent powers in them and can be used for both physical and spiritual purposes. For example he identified some numbers as tools used for healing, casting out evil spirits or summoning good ones. According to him, number five has the power and energy to cast demons and to serve as anti-poison.

Apart from the studies of Pythagoras, the origin of numerology has also been attributed to some alchemical theories which have closely related principle and beliefs with that of numerology. This is evidently seen in the work of Arab alchemist Jabir Ibn Hayyan whose experiments and researches were basically founded on principles and assumptions of numerology. They were based on the names of substances in the Arabic language. Another notable work that highlighted numerology before the modern numerologists is the literary discourse of Thomas Browne: the Garden of Cyrus. In his writing, he established the sacredness of the number five and its linking Quincunx pattern which can be seen clearly in nature and designs, mostly in botany.

After these Pythagorean works, other modern numerologists began to write and most of them was building on the works of Pythagoras. One of the most notable works among others was that of Mrs. Dow Balliett who wrote lots of books and articles regarding vibration, music and colors. She particularly built from and integrated her works with the Pythagoras teachings and principles. Her work “The romance in your name” published by her student Juno Jordan in 1965 served as a major foundation of the system used in modern or western numerology now. Balliett and other modern numerologists, posits that every number has a vibration unique to it. Not just numbers in fact, everything has its own vibration; colors, foods, colors, people etc. these unique vibrations play a very important role in the lives of every individual. And if anybody will have a good and fulfilled life, they have to ensure that their vibrations are perfectly harmonized and integrated with the other vibrations around them. This particular idea of numerology is also seen in different astrological and new age practices asides numerology and is described to be as a result of the activities of subatomic particles. Although this is a main concept of numerology, there is not enough science and empirical research that identifies, measures these vibrations and it’s on people and the environment generally. Some other numerologists have often established a kind of connection between these vibrations and the sounds that comes from the movements and activities of other planets and heavenly bodies on the earth. According to Pythagoras, all the planets are enclosed in a kind of transparent physical sphere and that there is a corresponding musical ratio with the space in-between planets.

Modern numerologists have also made a number of modifications on the principles of Pythagoras. For example, they attach and link numbers to people and also associate some superficial concepts to numbers. Most of them believe that the single digits one to nine have corresponding unique features due the different vibrations natural to them. Numbers have their different and unique features as a result of the peculiar ways they are used in different cultures and society, some of the theories of Pythagoras also gave numbers the different properties and features they have. The distinguishing meanings and features linked with different numbers have also affected the approach of modern numerologists towards every number; it is common to identify slight differences in the interpretation of numbers by modern numerologists.

Even though there are slight differences here and there in the origin and development of numerology, the crux of numerology has remained to tell the future and end results of all sorts of relationships, regulate people’s behavior, have a clearer insight into people’s personality, and to create and live a fruitful life with the assistance of numbers peculiar to individuals, in other words their numerology. For instance, if an individual’s number is 7, it is assumed that the number 7 has its unique vibration and so if the individual in question will be productive with his life, all his decisions and activities must be in tandem with the vibration and concepts linked to the number. Due to the different schools of thought involved in the development of numerology, different methods have been used in practicing numerology.