Nine Primary Numbers
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Unity or the Monad
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The leader of all, symbolizes the Omnipotent Deity, the "oneness" of Divine Purpose, The beginning of all things (creation), the singleness yet boundlessness of the Godhead. This number is associated with God and the sun. Since the Deity is generally perceived as being masculine and that the male species is believes to have been created first, the Monad is more often associated with the male sex. |
Duality or the Duad
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Often associated with the Devil (due to his horns), so not a number held in high revere. But the Pythagoreans felt it represented both diversity and equality/justice. Diversity in being thoughts of two opposites (i.e. night and day .. good and evil... rich or poor, et al) Yet also in the thoughts of justice or equality, both sides of the issue/question must be heard while the existence of brotherhood and love depend on the presence of two people. Thus the Duad also stands for balance, harmony, sympathy, and response. Two points when joined together form the extremities of the line, thus the symbol of duality. It is a feminine numbers and links these attributes to women. Old Testaments assigned this number of uncleanliness due to God commanding unclean beasts to board Noah's ark two by two. | |
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Ternary or the Triad |
This number is a triangle, or symbol of the male genitalia or sexual potency/procreation (so yeah - this is a masculine number) It also represents the Trinity, the symbol of ultimate creative force in Christian religions. It is holy and complete number, for all things consist of three (a beginning, middle, and an end). Pythagoreans believed in three worlds (Inferior, Superior, and Supreme) whereas followers of Plato or Socrates acknowledged three principals (Matter, Idea, and God) and then there are the three great virtues for marriage (Justice, Fortitude, and Prudence). The number three appears in many biblical references (three wise men of the East, the wises men's offering of their three gifts, the three archangels, and three godly virtues to name a few). Complete numbers are important in magickal aspects. In pagan religions, it is also a representation of the Triple Goddess aspect of the moon, prayers (chants) being repeated three times to ensure they will be answered/heard, the priestess of Apollo sat upon the "tripod of truth", and the "three-fold" thought/rule of thumb just to name few examples here. There are three dimensions of space (height, length, breadth); aspects of time (past, present, future); states of matter (solid, liquid, gas); and kingdoms in nature (animal, vegetable, mineral). |
Quaternary or the Tetrad |
Considered the foundation and root of all numbers as well as being symbolic of truth. Associated with the earth and its four elements, primary directional points, and the seasons ... all of which that are important in magickal practices. (i.e. the Circle is cast in accordance the elements and cardinal points). The Pythagoreans regarded the Deity as the Tetrad or "four sacred letters" (recall in Greek, that the name of God is Zeus). Before poo-pooing this idea, digest these tidbits of facts about the word God appearing in four letter format : French Dieu; German Gott; Dutch Godt; Danish Godh; Swedish Goth; Sanskrit Deva; Spanish Dios; Latin Deus; Italian Idio; and in many English speaking countries we refer to him as Lord. Four liberal sciences (astronomy, geometry, music, and arithmetic); man was thought to possess the four properties (mind, science, opinion, and sense); and there were four accepted states (death, judgement, heaven, and hell). The square that symbolizes the Tetrad and it has been said to stand for solidity and reality. | |
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Quineunx or the Petrad |
A number with both male and female attributes (marriage), the first number comprised of even (2) and odd (3), and pretty universally regarded as the symbol of health. Ancient Romans it's significance was emphasized by burning five candles during marriage ceremonies. Many religions (non-Christian) included prayers asking help from five gods to instill five virtues into the hearts of prospective brides. Mohammadanism preaches five religious duties : prayer, fasting, purification, alms, and pilgrimage to Mecca). Christian Scriptures contain the number 5 in its passages (Benjamin was given 5 changes of raiment of Joseph; the latter brought five only of his brothers to Pharaoh; and David chose 5 smooth stones which to be used to slay Goliath). Moreover, man possesses five senses (sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste) as well as five digits on each foot or hand. The Pentad is represented by a regular five-sided plane or else by a pyramid. It also takes the shape of a five-pointed star (which is one form of the Seal of Solomon). |
Hexagon or the Hexad |
Represented by a well balanced six -sided figure. It can be also symbolized by the two intersecting triangles : known as the Seal Of Solomon (most common variation known)., some superstitious folks used this same symbol as a charm against evil spirits, and also been employed to show the two natures of Jesus Christ and as such was frequently found carved or included in window designs in old monasteries or churches. Regarded by some to be a sacred number as the world was said to have been created in six days. As the total of three and three, it shows creativity. Overall, the Hexad has been regarded to be one of the happiest number, since it also represents completion and harmony. | |
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Septenary or the Heptad |
Regarded as the most mystical and magickal of numbers, appearing innumerable times in religious and magick references, yet also the most mysterious and interesting of the primary numbers. It is aloof, alone, unique. The Pythagoreans regarded it to being the highest primary number whish was complete in itself and incapable of division by another except 1. To the Greeks and Romans, it was a symbol of good fortune, being connected with the moon, which was believed at one time to be the seventh planet from the sun, which has four phases of 7 days each thought to control the flux of life with its waxing and waning. The seven notes in music were viewed as the universe laid out on a vast musical scale (harmony in the spheres). In folklore terms, the 7th son of the 7th son was believed to inherit powerful magickal and psychic gifts. In religious thoughts, the number attained high significance (seven Gothic gods, seven worlds believed in by the Chaldeans; the seven heavens and seven hells of Mohammadans; and the seven degrees of initiation in Eastern religions). The Christian Scriptures were also abounding in the references to the number seven (the seventh day being holy for God rested on it; Jehovah contains seven letters; there were seven sorrows if the Virgin Mary; seven cardinal sins and virtues; the army of Joshua encircled Jericho seven times on the seventh day, headed by seven priests bearing seven trumpets, and the on the seventh occasion the walls of the city fell; there were seven plagues set upon Egypt; seven fat king and seven lean; and "a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again" stated in the Proverbs; Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive his brother seven times and the answer was "until seventy times seven"; and in the Book of Revelations, we read about seven spirits before the Throne, and the seven stars which are the angels of seven Churches ... and innumerable other examples). The Heptad is said to be filled with the qualities of wisdom, endurance, and completion, and as an everyday number in life thought to be lucky.
Octaedron or the Ogdoad |
The Pythagoreans referred to this number as one of justice and fullness. It has a dual nature (two circles) and may bring failure or success. Lying on its side, it is the symbol of infinity and of strong Christian associations. The Ancient Egyptians had a customary practice of eight people in each boat taking part in sacred processions on the Nile (thought to stem from the Biblical reference to the eight souls saved from the Great Flood in Noah's ark. ) By mathematic standards, the Ogdoad was regarded as the first cube, having six sides and eight angles; and signified reality and strength. Being the highest of the even primary numbers, it is the ultimate symbol of balance. |
Nonagon or the Ennead |
Another number regarded to be magickal, the symbol of completeness and highest attainment of mental and spiritual achievements, perfection and concord. It was also thought to be unbounded, due to certain peculiarities it possesses when treated mathematically If 9 is multiplied by itself, or any single figure, the two figures in the product when added together always equal 9 (i.e. 9 x 3 = 27; 2 + 7 = 9. Or, 9 x 9 = 81; 8 + 1 = 9; and so on). Similarly, if the numbers from 1 to 9 were added together, they would total 45, 4 + 5 then equals 9. or how about this little math trivia fact : if you take all the multiples of 9 (9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, and 81) are added together, they equal 405; 4 + 0 + 5 equals (yep, you guessed it!) 9. Now again, if any row of figures is taken , their order reversed and the smaller number subtracted from the larger, the sum of the numerals will always be 9. For example : 74,368,215 minus 51,286,347 will equal to 23,081,868. Now do this 2 + 3 + 0 + 8 + 1 + 8 + 6 + 8 = 36; 3 + 6 = 9!!!! Ta da!! There are numerous other mathematical examples but these are sufficient in explaining why the ancients thought nine was a boundless number. The concord because it unites all the other primary numbers and perfection due to 9 months is the pre-natal life of a child. In ancient Rome the number nine was held in regards in the following: market day was held every ninth day; the Hydra, a monster of mythology, had nine heads; the Styx was supposed to encircle the infernal regions nine times). In a Christian belief associations, Jesus died in the ninth hour upon the cross; fallen angels in "paradise Lost" fell for nine days. The Jews hold the belief that Jehovah came down to the earth nine times. Initiation to many secret societies of the East consist of nine degrees. In magickal practices, this is ideal diameter for the Circle. |
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