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From: nagasiva@yronwode.com (nagasiva)
Newsgroups: alt.magick,alt.magick.tyagi,alt.pagan.magick,alt.occult
Subject: (O) Gematria and Other Systems of Numerology
Date: 13 Dec 1998 18:37:20 -0500
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49981213 IIIom

a correspondent writes:
# I've been trying to get a firm hold on the gematria system of 
# qabalah.  So many books have left me more confused than 
# enlightened, I was wondering if you could recommend one or two?  

the numerology of Kabbalah appears to be somewhat diverse with
regard to its practice and application.  there are several modes
of relating the Hebrew letters (22) to numerical values (10), even
though there is an historical identification between the counting
numbers and the aleph-beth (aleph = 1; beth = 2; etc.).  

Nigel Pennick wrote a lovely little text called _Magical 
Alphabets_ which contains quite a bit of data on the relationship
between letters and numerical values, inclusive of several systems
to use.  often the system is named by virtue of the linguistic
constructions made when the whole of the alphabet is laid out with
their assigned values (e.g. AIQ BEKR, or whatever it was called,
which sets up equal rows and assigns values to those in the proper
columns).

another Hebrew system is called 'Notariqon', though as my library
is in shambles I'm afraid I can't detail the differences at present.
these (Gematria, Aiq bekr, Notariqon) are merely systems of
association between letters and numbers such that words can be
compared in value and investigated with respect to the words that
add up to the same (or similar) numbers.  like a tarot spread,
what is made of this comparison depends upon the interpretation
of the viewer/occultist.

those with similar value are often presumed to have 'esoteric' 
connections on the basis that inasmuch as the divine constructs 
the cosmos like a book, those items with common qualities may 
be discovered through deciphering the code of the Great Geometer.

I consider all types of numerology to be styles of *divination*,
and do not invest them with the truth-source value that so many
occultists have seen fit to assign (e.g. Crowley at times).

qabalah is much more than a concise and self-integral composite,
but is instead a grand confluence of ideas from different authors
that are at variance as often as they are in conformity.  the
exploration of new means of comparing and correlating letters
and numbers is a science of subtle skill and imaginative 
incentive.  may we see more and more ways of going about this.

blessed beast!
=========================================================================
nagasiva -- nagasiva@yronwode.com; http://www.hollyfeld.org/~tyagi/
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