Numerology

It's been over 6 months since my last post, but 6 is my lucky number.

I used to be a big believer in Numerology. When I was in high school I devoured books by Cheiro and Linda Goodman on the subject. Since I was born on the 6th of October  these authors claimed that my lucky number is 6 ,and so I've spent a lot of time and energy in ensuring  that any important event I planned fell on the 6th, 15th or 24th of  the month ( so that the digits added up to 6).In the beginning I noticed that things did appear to go 'smoother' for me when I did this. I felt luckier on these dates and so I would be more confident. It was as if the Universe had my back on these days when the day was ruled by the Venusian number 6, and so I had nothing to worry about. I felt like I had stumbled upon a great secret that would give me an edge over others and bring me fame, fortune (and women) if I used it properly and so I bought more books on the subject and studied it in greater detail.

After lucky dates, the next step that a budding numerologist usually takes is to calculate the numerological value of his name to make sure that it's aligned to his lucky number. The process involves determining the numerological value of each alphabet. This can be done using the Chaldean system , which is based on the Jewish Kabbalah, or the Pythagorean system, in which each alphabet is given a number based on it's sequence in the alphabet.

I  calculated the numerological value of my name and depending upon which system I used it added up to either a 3 or an 8. The three is ruled by the happy-go-lucky teacher Jupiter, while the 8 is ruled by the stern and disciplined Saturn. When I thought about it I felt that both numbers had an equal influence on me 

 After a while I  developed the habit of converting the names of everyone I knew into their numerological equivalent. I did this as research, to study the effect that a person's name had on their personality, and eventually it became an addiction. I would look at a word and rapidly convert it into it's number by  adding up the digits in my mind. I soon knew the numerological value of each of my friend's names, and could determine who I would end up being more compatible with

 All this was fine upto a point but soon the cracks in the system began to appear. The way I see it, there are at least three ways Numerology can work against you. First, If you begin to believe that your luck is 'on' only on certain dates in a a year  then what happens on the other dates? When exams came around, I would find myself feeling confident when the exam fell on the 6th of the month, and would then find myself feeling nervous when another exam fell on the 7th.

Secondly, what happens if you can't change your name? You are then stuck with a name that could be unlucky for you when there's nothing that you can do about it.You will then walk around feeling unlucky all the time, and this thought ends up becoming a self fulfilling prophecy

The third problem is with your relationships.  If you find yourself liking a girl, only to realize that your numbers ' don't match'  then your relationship is doomed even before it begins. In other words your confidence in the succesful outcome of any relationship is in direct proportion to your belief in Numerology.

 It's been over 20 years since I first picked up Linda Goodman's star signs and was initiated into the world of lucky numbers.I can't say that numerology has improved my life in any way.Lucky numbers, lucky colours, lucky names may boost your confidence on some occasions, but they are just as likely to erode your confidence on others.The only benefit I seem to have derived from all the time and energy invested in the study of the subject is an above average ability at mental math!