The Meaning of Alchemical Numbers

The superficial equivalents of the sphere, cone and cube are the circle, the triangle, and the square. These figures, used in symbolical thought, represent states of consciousness. These figures are related to the numbers 1, 3, 4, which denote God, Humanity, and Nature. One Being is represented as spirit, soul and body.

All geometrical relations are expressions of numerical ratios. "...we give natuaral assent to the power of numbers on which, in the Pythagorean concept, the universe is founded." (Sepharial 19)

The circles represents the sun and relates the natural aspects with the spiritual. There is only one sun and therefore, one God who is the universal lord. (The number one.)

"Mathematics, as the basis of all science, is itself a universal symbolism, a language into which all knowledge is eventually translated and rendered communicable. The key to all knowledge is in the science of numbers." (Sepharial 24)

One
One symbolises manifestation, assertion, the ego, selfhood and isolation. In the philosophical sense, it represents the synthesis and fundamental unity of things. In a religious sense, it represents the lord. In a material sense, it represents the individual. It is the symbol of the Sun.

Two
Two symbolises plus and minus, active and passive, male and female, positive and negitive and so on. It stands for the dualism of manifested life-God and Nature. It denotes agreement and separation.

Three
Three symbolises the trinity of life, substance, and intelligence, of force, matter, and consciousness. The family-fater, mother, and child.

Four
Four is the number of reality and concretion. It is the cube or the square. It symbolises the cross, segmentation, partition, order, and classification.

Five
Five represents expansion. It symbolises inclusiveness, comprehension, understanding, judgement, reason, and logic.

Six
Six is the number of cooperation. It symbolises marriage, a link, and connection. Six is the ineraction of the spiritual and material. Six also represents art, music, dancing.

Seven
Seven is the number of completion. It represents time, space, duration, and distance. It also represents old age, death, or enduance, and immortality.

Eight
Eight is the number of dissolution. It denotes the law of cyclic evolution, the breaking back of the natural to the spiritual.

Nine
Nine is the number of regeneration. A new birth. It represents spirituality, premonition, and voyaging. It also represents penetration, strife, energy, and anger.

Numbers are also associated with colors:

1 - white

2 - yellow or cream

3 - Violet

4 - Orange or ruddy gold

5 - Indigo or dark blue

6 - Pale blue or turquoise

7 - Silver or opalescence

8 - Black or deep brown

9- Red or crimson