The Mysteries of Gematria: The Ancient Numerology
Gematria is an ancient technique of numerology, originating in Assyrian, Babylonian, and Greek cultures, but especially followed by Jewish mysticism, primarily Kabbalah – a mystical system that interprets the mysteries of the Bible, creation and the Torah. Gematria assigns a particular value to each letter of the alphabet. Then, by adding the importance of the letters in a word, this total is compared with that of other words.
Gematria: The Ancient Numerology
The art of Gematria or Kabbalistic numerology constitutes the key to the self. How great it would be if all it took was to pick up a simple correspondence table of values and apply it to the name, and all the secrets of the person would be unveiled!
Numerology is not fixed. Nothing is fixed. Everything is movement! The Moon moves around the Earth, which moves around the Sun, which moves through the Milky Way, and it moves through the Universe, and the Universe is continually expanding. The principle of movement is one of the great postulates of Hermeticism. So, how could numerology be fixed?
As we said before, for Hebrew mysticism, Gematria consists of associating the letters of the Hebrew alphabet with corresponding numbers. The alphabet is formed by illustratively drawn letters. It has hidden meanings, which are revealed from the interpretation of numerology.
Adding the numbers equivalent to the letters makes it possible to understand the numeric value of words. Mystics relate words of similar values, looking for hidden patterns in the scriptures.
THE NUMERICAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HEBREW ALPHABET
1 – Aleph
2 – Bet
3 – Gimel
4 – Daleth
5 – Heh
6 – Vav
7 – Zayin
8 – Het
9 – Tet
10 – Yud
20 – Kaf
30 – Lamed
40 – Mem
50 – Nun
60 – Samech
70 – Ayin
80 – Peh
90 – Tzady
100 – Koof
GEMATRIA AND THE OCCULT
Some occultists used this numerology system and even associated the meanings of Gematria with tarot cards. For example, the author of the book “The History of Magic,” Eliphas Levi, recommended the practice. To relate Gematria with the Tarot, the 22 Major Arcana cards would have their values calculated relating to the first 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The rituals of the famous Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn also used the practice, as did the ceremonial magic of magician Aleister Crowley, who published a numerology interpretation manual titled 777.
KABBALAH AND GEMATRIA
The original uses of Gematria in Kabbalah were linked to biblical interpretations. According to the book of Genesis, God created the Universe through the word, the meaning of the beginning of existence. For those who study Kabbalah, divine creation was based on the power of Hebrew letters and words associated with numbers.
The interpretation of biblical texts from numerology allowed a deep reading of the mysteries of creation. A famous example of Bible interpretation with Gematria is verse 14, chapter 14 of Genesis. The passage talks about 318 men who helped Abraham fight the enemy army that had killed his relative. By Gematria’s interpretation, 318 is the number equivalent to the name of a servant of Abraham, Eliezer. So, one possible interpretation is that Eliezer would have helped Abraham and not the 318 men of the literal text.
Another interpretation says 318 is the number of the word “Siach,” which in Hebrew means “speak.” So, Abraham would have fought his enemies by speaking God’s sacred name, represented by the number.
The Sacred name of God is one of the most consecrated concepts of Kabbalah.
The Tetragrammaton, or YHWH, is a word with a sense of justice, morality, and grace. Elohim is another holy name, which the meaning is the original and creative force of the Universe.
WHAT KABBALISTIC NUMEROLOGY CAN DO FOR YOU
Nothing that does not generate a change in our quality of life is worth anything. So how can numerology change someone’s life?
NUMBERS ARE ARCHETYPES
Numbers, functioning as archetypes, make numerology a means of accessing knowledge that is beyond the rational human mind. That’s why it’s mandatory to learn numerology when you learn Kabbalah. Whoever says they know numerology and don’t know Kabbalah doesn’t know numerology at all. Because Kabbalah and numerology (Gematria) are closely linked, only someone who knows the paths (sefirot) of Kabbalah can decode a name.
A person’s name reveals striking traits of their personality, and without a name, we cannot be recognized in society. Even God has a name (incorrectly called Jehovah), represented in the tetragram IHVH. The person’s name associated with the numbers determines their evolutionary degree in the great WHEEL OF LIFE.
Numerology can then determine a person’s weak and negative points. These points often result from karma from other lives and point out the most striking characteristics that the person can develop toward success, which is the goal of all of us.
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About the Author
Creatrix from Sirius. Fairly Odd Mother of Saints (Bernards). Fish Tank aficionado by day, ninja by night. Liane is also the Editor-in-Chief of OMTimes Magazine and Ministry Earth Magazine, Co-Founder of Humanity Healing International and Humanity Healing Network, and Board Member of Saint Lazarus Relief Fund.
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Creatrix from Sirius. Fairly Odd Mother of Saints (Bernards). Fish Tank aficionado by day ninja by night. Liane is also the Editor-in-Chief of OMTimes Magazine, Co-Founder of Humanity Healing International and Humanity Healing Network, and a Board Member of Saint Lazarus Relief Fund.