Neoplatonic interpretation of the numerology of numbers

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

In this article, we will give a modern, based on the neoplatonic tradition, interpretation of the numerology of numbers, broken down into 10 levels with an application to astralogy and magic. And although this numerology is also used by Kabbalah, nevertheless it is worth paying attention to it, because apparently it also has more ancient roots. After all, the main thing is with what inner attitude we study it.

UNIT

Potentiality, isolation, creativity, impenetrability, unpredictability.

The one symbolizes the unmanifest creative principle, closed within itself, in contrast to the closedness of the three. This, for example, is the solitude of a thought ripening within itself, needing nothing but complete loneliness; it is the seed, the germ, the potential for future manifestation of any kind. The unit is absolutely impenetrable, it is a black box from which something can happen over time, but it is impossible to look inside it.

The unit is a potential reality, in particular, potential thought and potential energy, they can be released in any form, and it is impossible to determine it in advance.

Manifestations of a unit at a low level can be thought of as freedom and the energy of evil, i.e. active involutionary and chaotic principles, or rather what feeds their creativity. The latter, however, is predominantly secondary in relation to the higher manifestations of the unit (the creativity of good), i.e. usually evil repeats the idea of good in a reduced, profane form, using, however, all sorts of additional tricks. Nevertheless, regardless of the level, the unit always has all its qualities, including impenetrability and unpredictability, so that even a high spiritual hierarch is not able to accurately foresee the intrigues of the smallest imp. The unit symbolizes the Absolute as a universal generating creative principle and each of its images in any plane of the Universe, i.e. the starting point of any process of creativity and the birth of a new one. The unit stands above the artist, laying out brushes in front of the easel, and the educator, introducing the truth into children's souls - neither one nor the other, and no one in the world knows what the result will be, but at some point there is an introduction to the Absolute, or on the contrary, we can assume that here the Absolute models (recreates) Itself in local conditions.

In appearance, the unit is mysterious, full of meaning, closed, is, as it were, outside time and space, as if it has its own existence.

TWO

Denial, duality, decay, antagonism, opposition, openness, polarization, centrifugality.

Going beyond the limits, the first manifestation of the potency contained in the unit, the manifestation is gross, imperfect and proceeding mainly along the path of negation. This is a rebellion: a growing child against his parents. Here, especially at a low level, antagonistic dualism is characteristic, the position of opposition "either-or", which completely denies cooperation, "and-and". A typical fallacy of the two is the impression that it depletes the potency of the one. In fact, this is far from the case, but the magic of polarization, which makes one perceive the world in black and white, in this case is very strong, and one cannot completely free oneself from it. Unlike a closed unit, a 2 is extremely open, like a magnet that attracts particles with any charge to itself: positive - to one pole, negative - to the other. At a low level, two symbolizes instability and decay into evolutionarily lower elements. At a higher level, it is an instability associated with fluctuations between two opposite (in a sense) states; these states are perceived as antagonistic, therefore the transitions bring suffering, disharmonious, but each state in itself is very definite and stable. From the point of view of an external observer, the situation looks just very stable, just as it is stable to move the seasons from summer to winter and vice versa.

In general, the deuce is disharmonious; it is an antagonism that can be mitigated, but cannot be completely resolved, a state of the type “I can’t live without you, but I can’t be with you either.”

The two symbolizes the two poles and the voltage field between them in empty space; only the birth of something third can finally resolve this tension. The deuce is attractive, open, tense, and incomplete.

TROIKA

Synthesis of harmony at this level, stability, local self-sufficiency, centripetal, adaptability; time base period (time measurement characteristic).

3 = 2 + 1 - overcoming the opposition of two means the birth of the third, which qualitatively changes the picture of interaction. A synthesis occurs, the result of which is a triple union, quite harmonious for its participants, but lying in one layer of being: the triple is symbolized by a flat triangle, which feels great in its plane and either does not see or ignores the rest of the space. All former internal contradictions and external antagonisms are forgotten; the three in its plane is self-sufficient and completely stable. In contrast to the deuce, it is (in its plane) closed, but has a characteristic attractive-harmonious quality: it extracts harmony from the surrounding world, appropriating to itself, slightly rearranging it or itself in order to better assimilate; in general, the troika is very adaptive, but never to the detriment of itself. She is attractive from the inside (i.e. for herself), and also looks beautiful and harmonious from afar; but when it can reach you, it will manifest itself as a harmonious vampire-parasite, unless you manage to penetrate into it or work it entirely.

The other facet of the triple is the period of the event's time base, i.e. the sequence of states of sattva, tamas, rajas - creation, design, destruction. This is the complete time cycle of the existence of any object on this plane; in other words, the triple is the main characteristic of the temporal dimension. The triplet is embedded in the time stream; it seems to be at the beginning, in the middle and at the end. At the same time, at a low level of development, it gradually slows down the flow of time and goes into hibernation. At a high level, it chooses a turbulent flow and stabilizes it.

The trio looks beautiful, confident, non-violent. Her interest in the world is purely selfish; it radiates harmony into the world, but in a much greater amount takes it back.

FOUR

Rough materialization, primitive, rigid form, obstacle and impulse to development.

4 = 3 + 1 - the four means the destruction of the harmony of the three and going beyond the plane of its existence.

The four symbolizes the starting point of the evolution of this plan, when its materiality has already been created, but the process of its enlightenment has not yet begun; a situation when the spirit, imprisoned in a given form, is still completely potential, not manifested, but the form, on the contrary, is just as material, in no way harmonized with it, and seems to him a prison: 4 (square) is a symbol of a prison lattice. Another version of the four symbol is the cross: the crucifixion of the spirit in matter, i.e. spiritualization of an unprepared material form, or, from another point of view, the embodiment of an unprepared spirit.

The four symbolizes a painful state, when the spirit flickers in the form: it is already (as always, from the very beginning) there, but it cannot at least somehow settle down. The form does not correspond to the content, the goal is not attainable by the available means. However, the four is an incentive to resolve the problem: the spirit in the initial phase is extremely passionate and makes various attempts to eliminate the discrepancy. Thus, the four preserves the memory of the destroyed harmony of the three and contains sources of energy aimed at its restoration, and although this goal is practically unattainable, many of the four's efforts turn out to be constructive, although it does not quite achieve what it strives for; there will be many disruptions along the way, since the initial impulse of the four to a vertical breakout is unprepared, it has unusable funds.

4 = 2 + 2 - to the insoluble antagonism inherent in this material plane, the antagonism between it and the higher plane is added, i.e. antagonism spirit-matter. The result is a rigid structure (triangular pyramid), symbolizing absolute lack of freedom.

4 = 1 + 3 - the harmonious manifestation of the Absolute is always a profanation and inhibition of its creative possibilities: this is a princess in a crystal castle. In other words, the four at a high level symbolizes the descent of a high hierarch and dense material layers.

4 = 3 + 1 - the four is overcoming the isolation of the three, exit, at the cost of destroying its harmony, into the next dimension, to which it will take a long time and it is difficult to adapt.

The four are angular, ugly, aggressive, capable of being open-minded, often not afraid of difficulties, asocial, but with their strength and specific passionate charm they carry with them.

FIVE

Revitalization, ingenuity.

5 = 4 + 1 - the five symbolizes the overcoming of the inert materiality of the four, the first visible manifestation of spirit in matter, in other words, its revival. This life can be to some extent a negation of the form in which it originated and serve as the beginning of its destruction - this is how moss grows on stones, deepening their cracks, but in reality this is the first phase of the development of a spirit that has clothed itself with a dense material shell.

Five can be interpreted as the first creative manifestation of form, the first step in adapting the spirit to matter, or the beginning of the process of enlightening the material plane, or the first step on the way of harmonizing form and content. The five is fundamentally unpredictable, its manifestations are similar to the appearance of light over a formless Earth. However, the creative ideas of the five hang in the air: she herself lacks the strength to realize them, this is what the six is doing. In general, odd numbers (except for a three) are more original and capable of materialization than even ones, which, inheriting a two, are all to some extent closed on themselves, like the two poles of a magnet; odd numbers overcome this isolation by the creative energy of the Absolute (2n + 1 - one symbolizes the Absolute).

The five at a low level is parasitic life, the basis of which is not evolutionarily lower inert forms, but, on the contrary, more highly developed matter.

5 = 1 + 4 - materialization of the Absolute, i.e. life in material form, symbolized by the five, is in reality a model of the entire spiritualized Universe, and not some particular manifestation of its creative principle.

5 = 2 + 3 - the five harmonizes the irreconcilable antagonism of the two; in other words, life removes or softens the deepest contradictions that appeared at the time of the first manifestation of the Absolute.

5 = 3 + 2 - the five overcomes the closedness of the three, polarizing it. This partly disturbs the harmony (of course, not in the same way as when adding one, i.e. in a four), but the three receives an additional tension of the energy field and revives.

The Five is charming with lively spontaneity, inventive, does not respect authority, is tactless, loves freedom and independence and manages to escape the pressure of moral precepts in the most unexpected way. Everyone is interested in her, but where she is bored, she does not linger. For all that, it does not have much strength and needs support.

SIX

Life design, harmony at the material and living level; House.

The six completes the materialization level. Here the final form of materiality, created by the four and the animated five, takes place. The symbol of the six is a bee hive with bees and honeycombs. The six represents the harmony of the completed animated material plane; it is the ideal of the life that originally arose, its ideal design. Thus, if the three represents harmony in terms of ideas or general principles, then the six symbolizes the harmony of the first, most primitive material plane, spiritualized to a minimum, i.e. just lively.

The harmony of the six is the beauty of the functionality of a form designed for life: the beauty of an edible mushroom, a well-cut log hut, a comfortable chair, a well-protected anthill.

6 = 5 + 1 - the six solves the main problem of the five - insecurity, creating comfortable conditions for the emerging life, but also severely limiting its creativity; in fact, safety comes at the price of a loss of immediacy and unpredictability.

6 = 4 + 2 - the problems of the disharmony of the four are solved by introducing strong polarization and the accompanying force field into inert matter: some life is formed in it and receives adequate forms.

6 = 3 + 3 - life arises and takes shape in the interaction of two different subtle harmonious - each in itself - realities. These are, for example, the peculiar effects that arise when trying to combine theory with practice, each of which may be quite harmonious in itself, but not from the point of view of the other. Six is the number of engineers and applied specialists in general.

6 = 2 + 4 - materialization of the contradiction smoothes it out strongly. The energy contained in it creates life and the conditions for its existence; the antagonism between the poles turns into a force of constructive cooperation.

6 = 1 + 5 - the revival of the Absolute is also its profanation, although not as strong as its harmonization in the four (4 = 1 + 3). Moreover, his creativity is significantly limited. The six makes it possible to design something that already exists in advance: it is also a kind of creative work, but in a rather rigid applied framework.

6 = 1 + 2 + 3 - The Absolute manifests itself through polarization, which is harmoniously formed: the six completes the second level - the level of revival. She is unusually stable and her materially shaped harmony seems to her unshakable and indestructible, and in her plan it really is. Hence the limitation of the six, which, however, is less than the limitation of the three.

The six is beautiful in its functionality, stable, understands a lot about life, impenetrable for "higher matters", indulgent to the imperfections of others, because it can easily correct them, hardworking and inventive in practically useful things.

SEVEN

Spiritualization, vertical connection, practical spiritual teacher; vertical period, characteristic of the spiritual dimension; the highest meaning, transformation.

The seven symbolizes the exit to the next (third) level of manifestation of the Absolute; and if the second level is materialization in the most dense forms and their revival, then the third means spiritualization, i.e. direct connection with the higher planes of the Cosmos. The seven symbolizes the channel to the previous subtle plane; it also represents the period of the vertical sweep of the Cosmos, or the main characteristic of the spiritual (vertical) dimension. 7 colors of the rainbow and 7 basic musical tones symbolize a period that characteristically arises with an increase in the frequency of energy vibrations - similarly, the spiritual development of a person goes through seven chakras, in the vibrations of each of which there are 7 characteristic overtones - the plans of this chakra, and in each of these 7 plans can be distinguished, in turn, 7 more sub-plans. The spiritual level of a person is determined by his main frequency (chakra), its specific plan and its sub-plane, i.e. a three-digit seven-digit number. In this case, a practical spiritual teacher can be a person who is above the given one exactly on the chakra: then there will be mutual understanding between them, based on the identity of overtones; for example, for a person of the manipura-anahata (plane) - muladhara (subplane) level, the natural teacher will be a person (or vibration) of the anahata-anahata-muladhara level. A seven at a low level can symbolize a black spiritual teacher who tempts a person to go down to the plane or chakra.

7 = 6 + 1 - seven means overcoming the material isolation of the six, i.e. direct activation of the spiritual channel - energy coming directly from the superior subtle plane.

7 = 5 + 2 - the polarization that occurs in the life of a material form is capable of creating a direct vertical channel.

7 = 4 + 3 - harmonization of the rigid form occurs by turning on the communication channel with the previous plan, which gives a spiritual justification for the disharmony of the four.

7 = 3 + 4 - materialization of a harmoniously stable idea leads to the creation of a spiritualized form.

7 = 2 + 5 - the material revival of irreconcilable antagonism brings it to the level of connection with the spiritually higher plane, softens and fills it with the highest meaning.

7 = 1 + 6 - The Absolute, taking shape in a life form, gives it an additional spiritual channel.

Seven is not completely of this world; she glows with spiritual light, but does not suppress and is not at all dogmatic - she does not deny earthly reality, but highlights her subtle nature and makes her feel its highest meaning: in her presence, a (usually meditative) transformation of everyday life takes place.

EIGHT

Structure, spatial development, formal model, mathematical logic, horizontal periodicity of the Cosmos, magic.

8 = 23 - the figure of eight - a cube with 8 vertices - represents a three-dimensional space; thus, the figure eight represents the horizontal (spatial) periodicity of the Cosmos. The figure eight symbolizes structure, i.e. spatial development of the previous thin plan. In the seven, this plan only revealed its existence (the vertical communication channel was switched on), and in the eight it is already trying to take shape, to be embodied in this plan, which is symbolized by (three-dimensional) space. However, there are no conditions for this yet, and as a result, only a model of a thin-plane object is obtained, i.e. his largely conventional and schematic image, devoid of the life of the original, but nevertheless pointing to it: “words are fingers pointing to the moon” (Zen dictum). However, the spatial embodiment of the spirit, symbolized by the eight, is incomparable with the primary rough materialization of the four: in the second case, there is no external (for the form) space, and the lack of freedom and disorder of the spirit is experienced much more acutely: if the four can be compared with the imprisonment of a person in a prison cell with a cement floor, not in any way adapted for living, then the eight can be likened to house arrest.

Eight bears traces of a subtle form and is in some ways unusually perfect and effective, but in no case should it be confused with the true harmony inherent in, for example, three and six. Eight is still deprived of the true life of the spirit (subtle plane) that gave birth to it, and if for the dense (i.e. the given, current, relative to which there is a consideration) plan, it may seem formally perfect, nevertheless, life is adequate for it in she is not. She is internally flawed, but, of course, not like the four.

Under the eight is pure mathematics as the science of intermission (formal) structures, computer programming, mechanics - heavenly and earthly, purely logical constructions and methods of thinking.

8 = 7 + 1 - the first phase of the formation of a subtle plan in a dense one, which means material structures with a reflection of mountain origin, but devoid of true spiritual vitality.

8 = 6 + 2 - the polarization of a perfect life arrangement leads to a breakthrough into the subtle plane, but the resulting structures, with all their perfection and high-quality novelty of the level, are still dead.

8 = 5 + 3 - living life, clothed in harmonious forms, acquires the features of external perfection, but, losing its inherent vitality, does not acquire internal spirituality.

8 = 4 x 2 - secondary materialization, which occurs already within the existing form, i.e. outer space.

8 = 3 + 5 - attempts to embody an abstract harmonious idea in living material forms inevitably lead to the loss of a truly creative principle, which is replaced by formally perfect designs devoid of living spirituality.

8 = 2 + 6 - when the spirit-matter polarization takes shape at the level of perfect life, the breakthrough of a subtle form into a dense one occurs only formally, at the level of models.

8 = 1 + 7 - being colored with the colors of the rainbow and materializing on the next spiritual plane, the Absolute generates perfect forms, devoid of spirituality, but pointing to it.

The Eight is logical with impeccable formal logic, cold, carries a reflection of the heights and speculates on this at a low level, putting itself on a pedestal, and at a high level indicates the direction and ways of gaining spirituality; however, not everyone can follow the path indicated by the eight. The meaning of this path is the acquisition of unearthly perfection in earthly affairs.

NINE

Formal harmony with hidden antagonism; internal crisis, preparation for a leap in development; spiritual profanation, rite.

9 = 32 - the second level of the embodiment of the harmonious three, now not at the (first) level of ideas, but in partially spiritualized living matter. Nine is a sign of an impending crisis and a qualitative leap before the completion of the third level, which is expressed in the top ten by the emergence of self-consciousness of the spirit. Nine is a cosmic harmony that took shape in spiritualized matter, not prepared for this, and therefore contains an unresolved antagonistic conflict within itself. This conflict is resolved only in the top ten, and by the nine it is perceived as insoluble, but carefully camouflaged by its external harmony. Nine is in appearance absolutely self-sufficient, harmonious and passive, although in reality it represents the idea of transition, crisis and leap in development. The symbol of the nine is a self-sufficient, self-absorbed pregnancy. The internal reason for the hidden conflicts of the nine is that it is the second-highest manifestation of the harmony of the three, in which each of the three elements that make up the three gave rise to two more, immediately entering into antagonism. The nine, like the eight, is devoid of a direct channel to the subtle plane and represents the maximum attainable harmony of the world, which has indirect connections with a higher plane, but tries to build its harmony without them. This is the ideal of formal methods (for example, materialistic science), while the eight is the reality of formal methods. Thus, the internal antagonism of the nine is due to the impossibility of an adequate harmonious embodiment of the spirit (at this, i.e., the third, level of its manifestation), being at the same time an attempt to ignore this circumstance and build harmony of partially spiritualized matter, so to speak, with the available means …

However, the internal contradictions of the nine are not at all obvious, it claims to be perfect as it is, and pretends that these contradictions are nothing more than simply the forces contained in it, which can be used for further development and improvement. This, however, is not the case. Firstly, the nine symbolizes (as it were) the harmony already achieved, and she does not want to develop anywhere and, in her opinion, does not need to, and secondly, her internal contradictions are precisely antagonistic, i.e.she cannot reconcile them, and they painfully prick her from the inside. This is, thus, a pregnant woman, completely withdrawn on herself and completely satisfied with herself; she absolutely does not want to give birth to a child, and she pretends that she is not going to do this, at the same time feeling the temporality of her position and feeling the inner harbingers of an inevitably coming crisis, i.e. childbirth: uncontrollable mood swings, toxicosis, etc.

9 = 8 + 1 - having received perfect instruments that simulate the subtle, but still devoid of a direct spiritualizing channel into the subtle plane, the nine builds harmony in the initially spiritualized world, ignoring this spirituality. Therefore, it builds just a formal harmony, fraught with destruction or a breakthrough upward. Image: a musician polishing his technique, ignoring the plan of spiritual love, i.e. working on vishudha in addition to anahata.

9 = 7 + 2 - polarization of the vertical channel into a thinner plane gives large shifts at the horizontal level, but leads to the appearance of internal contradictions, which are insoluble at this level.

9 = 6 + 3 - perfect forms of life, clothed with harmony on the plane of spiritualization, acquire strong internal contradictions, but retain external isolation.

9 = 5 + 4 - the materialization of life at the primary spiritual level gives it formally harmonious, but devoid of opportunities for direct development of forms.

9 = 4 + 5 - life turns inert forms into perfect ones, but still only potentially spiritual.

9 = 3 + 6 - a perfect life, rising on a harmonious basis, acquires contradictions and retains only external harmony, since now it lacks a direct spiritual channel.

9 = 2 + 7 - the spiritual channel materializes the idea of confrontation, creating a perfect primary spiritual substance that preserves antagonism within itself - a religious or magical rite.

Nine is outwardly harmonious and self-sufficient, it seems to itself and to many others an unattainable ideal, but it is absolutely passive, immersed in itself and there it is torn apart by contradictions that are poorly understood by it. Claims complete spirituality, while at the same time unswervingly profaning all its real manifestations in others.

TEN

Primary self-awareness of the spirit; man, religion.

The ten completes the third level of manifestation of the spirit, symbolizing the emergence of its self-awareness. On Earth, a dozen are represented by a person, more precisely, a religious person. At this level, the Highest Beginning is presented in consciousness in the most general form, and its structure and principles of interaction with dense forms are mainly transcendental and are available not so much to the systematizing mind, but in the form of a general vague sensation or tiny sparkles-insights. The ten gives a sharp increase in the focusing of the vertical channel of the seven, which is ensured by the fact that it is now exhausted not only from above, but also from below, from the object; speaking in another language, a person is able to consciously cooperate with the Creator. Thus, the high manifestation of the ten is a monk, novice, a holy person (in a cell or in the world), a low one is a person who feels the command of God and consciously opposes himself to it.

10 = 5 x 2 - a person is distinguished from an animal not by a rational mind or self-consciousness in itself, but by a religious mind and religious consciousness, i.e. the ability to see life on a more subtle plane and somehow cooperate with it. Two fives symbolize two life planes (thin and dense), connected together. Not only does man need the Creator and cares about him, but man also needs the Creator - in this boldness the revelation of the dozen is manifested. However, the top ten is still partially closed and limited by concentration on the elements of spirituality that it actually has - the first manifestations of the spirit are not yet distinct, not confident in themselves, the vertical channel is weak, often breaks, despite all efforts from above and below. The lofty plan has not yet manifested itself clearly, hence the doubts and the precariousness of faith. These are the first sprouts of spirituality, they are easy to drown out from the inside and outside, and a dozen often, trying to preserve them through tough protection and design, actually destroys, turning into a nine - this is how a religion, losing its charismatic (vertical) channel, becomes overgrown with empty rituals, which nevertheless claim on a spiritual monopoly.

10 = 9 + 1 - in the top ten, the internal contradictions of the nine come out, and the gap between the spirit and the flesh becomes obvious, as a result of which there is a great internal harmonization and purification - so a person, formally a believer, suddenly realizes his total internal atheism and at the same time discovers a thin a trickle of living faith, still capable of almost nothing, but real. Of course, nothing remains here from the external harmony of the nine, which sometimes brings the ten to extremes, such as extreme asceticism.

10 = 7 + 3 - being harmonized, the spiritual channel receives a form in religious self-awareness, but at the same time it significantly loses in direct strength, although it sharply increases the level of vibrations.

10 = 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 - a person is a spiritualized polarized harmonized material form.

Ten are religious, not self-confident, subject to religious doubts and searches, and in this regard are capable of creativity, but, of course, not as much as seven and five. It easily slides down to the nine - a profane form of religiosity and is panicky afraid of eleven - the transition to the next level and transcendental issues for humanity.