The Number 5
Pythagoras believed that 5 represented man in perfect balance with the universe and containing the sum of the male and female elements. At times this was taken to symbolize marriage. For the Sikhs, the number symbolizes the five sacred objects that are worn by all males.
The Chinese believe the number represents the 5 elements that are used in the divination oracle The I Ching as well as on the Pa’ Kua that is a device used for determining Feng Shui: earth, air, water, fire and metal.
In Wiccan circles, five can be found in the star shaped pentagram that symbolizes the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water surmounted or united by spirit.
Deities associated with the number 5 include Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine and Ecstatic Revelation; Ishtar, the Babylonian Goddess of Love, Sex and War; Mars the Roman God of War and Thor the Norse God of Thunder.
The colors sky blue and turquoise symbolize the number 5. The gemstones associated with 5 are turquoise and aquamarine. The flower associated with 5 is the anemone.
Some common superstitions about the number five are:
A five-leafed clover is even luckier than a four leafed one.
Wearing a five-pointed star turns away evil.
If five cookies fuse together while cooking a funeral will take place.
If you twist the stem of an apple and it breaks on the fifth twist you will be married within the year.
In the hoodoo tradition, a talisman featuring a hand displaying all five fingers is known as the Lucky Hand and is used to ward off misfortune as well as for luck in gambling.
If you wax your hair on the fifth day of the month you will go bald.
It is unlucky to get married on November 5th.
If you dream about the number five you will soon be famous.
The Number 6
For Christians, Jews and Moslems, the number 6 represents the day that man was created. Mathematicians revere the number 6 because it is the first perfect number.
Deities associated with the number 6 include Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom; Bacchus, the Roman God of Wine and Hermes, the Greek God of Communication.
The number 6 is symbolized the colors deep blue, navy and royal blue. Gemstones associated with 6 are sapphire and lapis lazuli. Flowers that symbolize the number are thistles and bluebells.
Some common superstitions about the number six are:
It is unlucky to purposely turn the number six upside down in jest as it means your projects will not be completed.
If you find a rose with six petals it means you will be lucky in love.
If you find a pansy petal with six colors in it, it means you will receive an unexpected visitor.
A talisman with the number 6 worn on it means you will be protected against hurricanes and tornados.
It is unlucky to get married October 6th or November 6th.
If you dream about the number 6 you will soon have sex.
The Number 7
The number 7 is equally sacred amongst Islamic, Christian and Jewish religions. According to Jewish and Christian mythologies it took six days to create the world with the seventh day being the holiest day – a day of rest. The Bible, Zohar and other religious texts also recommend that fields were to be left fallow every seventh year as means of allowing the earth to regenerate itself. Some Christians believe the number 7 represents the seven levels of hell.
It is Hebrew tradition to mourn, or sit Shivah, for a period of 7 days.
Deities associated with the number 7 include Frigga; Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Intelligence and Wisdom and Mithras the Sun God in Zoroastrian lore.
The number 7 is associated with the colors violet, purple and plum. 7’s gemstone is amethyst.
Flowers associated with 7 are irises and deep purple roses.
Some common superstitions about the number 7 are:
If your date of birth can be reduced to a single number that can be divided by seven then you will have a particularly lucky life.
Shattering a mirror brings 7 years of bad luck.
If you sing before 7 am then you will cry before 11 am.
Wrapping her husband’s belt 7 times around a tree causes a woman to become fertile.
The seventh child of a seventh child is said to have psychic powers.
If you wash your hair on the 7th day of the month you will have trouble with the law.
It is unlucky to get married April 7th or December 7th.
If you dream about the number 7, you will soon meet a soul mate.
The Number 8
The ancient Greeks associated the number 8 with unhappiness and imperfection. The psychologist Carl Jung equated the number with the secret and dark movements of the subconscious that constantly folds into itself like a snake eating its tail.
According to the principles of Chinese Feng Shui the number 8 represents abundance and prosperity. It is considered lucky to have a house number that contains an 8.
Gods and goddesses associated with the number 8 include: Mercury, the Roman Messenger God; Gaia, the Greek Earth Mother; and Hera, the Greek Queen of Heaven.
The number 8 is represented by the colors pink and rose. 8’s gemstones are rose quartz and pearl.
Flowers associated with the number are pink roses and pink carnations.
Some common superstitions about the number 8 are:
If you fall ill eight days after a new moon, you will die by the full moon.
If you give 8 pennies away you will receive 108 times that amount.
Repeating your own name 8 times while staring into your own eyes in a mirror is thought to bring prosperity.
It is unlucky to give a person a bouquet with 8 flowers.
A house with the address 88 will bring you double happiness.
If you wash your hair on the 8th day of the month you will live to a ripe old age.
It is unlucky to get married February 8th and June 8th.
If you dream about the number 8, you will soon lose a great deal of money.