According to Pythagoras, the science of numbers was the basis for all things. 13 is the most enigmatic of all numbers, as it is the number of transformation.
It was one of the most revered numbers in the Celtic tradition, as it is the number of the months in the lunar cycle of the year. This meant that it represented death and re-birth at the same time; as the 13th moon closed one year it also opened another.
Today in Asia, 13 is considered a sacred number and the Chinese in particular would not dare leave out a 13th floor, 13th number in a hotel and so on. It is the number of animals in the Chinese zodiac, including the cat. Again, this is directly because of the 13 month lunar year, which is also the calendar that Islam is connected to for it's religious holidays. There were 13 zodiac signs, the sun sign Ophiuchus being the last one that represents great knowledge.
In Judaism, 13 signifies the age of maturity.
The Egyptians were the first to develop a superstition for the number 13 as good luck. They believed that there were twelve steps on the ladder to eternal life and knowledge and to take the thirteenth step meant going through death into everlasting life. 13 was associated with immortality.
In the Kabbalah, 13 is not regarded as unlucky. In the second book of the Moses, one can study the 13 attributes of God (Exodus34: 6-7).
In the ancient religion of Mexico, the number 13 was considered the most fortunate number since it symbolizes the Sun.
In the New Testament, we find that the Master Christ gathered 12 apostles around him: 12 + 1 = 13.
In the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament, we find that there were 13 tribes of Israel, not 12. Most teachers speak of the 12 tribes of Israel, overlooking the tribe of Levi, who, as the Guardians of the Temple Mysteries, were not counted.
The Seal of the President of the United States, which is found on the back on a $1 bill contains several sets of 13: 13 levels of the truncated pyramid, 13 stripes on the flag, 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum" (Out of Many, One), 13 stars above the Eagle, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 arrows held by the Eagle, and 13 bars on the shield.
In music, the chromatic scale is composed of 13 notes - 8 whole notes, which are represented by the white keys on the piano, and 5 half tones, which are represented by the black keys. The 13th note becomes the first and last note of the octave.
The image of The Flower of Life, which contains all of sacred geometry, is composed of 13 systems of information that come out of the fruit of life. Each of these 13 systems produces a set of geometries that delineate and describe in detail every single aspect of our reality.
A number becoming a taboo seems like a strange concept, but indeed it is true in the case of the classic "Unlucky 13". It was in Roman times that the number 13 became associated with ill omens. The rise of power of the Catholic Church saw times where old customs and spiritual practices of the Celtic and Pagan traditions (all of which were nature based) became heretic. Consequently, as the number 13 also corresponds to the sacred feminine energy, a fear of the power of women became widely instilled during these times, and led to tens of thousands of murders of women during the dark ages and the rise of Patriarchy in Church and Politics.
In our show Balance, the story line, in 3 acts, relates to the curve of birth, life/death and rebirth, with 13 pieces of music and 13 characters representing 13 ancient tribes of the earth. The story unfolds of how balance must be restored between male and female and between the 13 tribes on earth so we can peacefully move into the next phase of higher consciousness as a race of people. Empowering people with old truths from the ancient traditions, is the message in Balance.
Thoughts create Your reality, therefore to 'think' is the greatest talent you have, so to think13 simply means that we are all connected, All as One and One is All we are.
Compiled by Dee Kennedy
Photos by Sam O'Connor and Jason Graham
Website by Christoph
All songs are Copyright 2005, 2006 and 2007 by think13 unless otherwise noted
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