Numerology
Numerology
While working, one of my colleagues and I had a conversation about personalities. During this conversation, my colleague explained to me that she believed in the idea that our personalities, growth, and personal struggles were already defined by the date we were born. This mathematical ‘science’ states that there is a relationship between numbers and metaphysical ideas or phenomena. Some examples are angel numbers, or that one trend where people write their name and the name of their crush and turn it into numbers to see if they are compatible. The shocking part about Numerology comes from the fact that when diving deeper into it, individuals keep describing it as a science when it isn’t. So then what is it?
One of the many ideas of Numerology
The specific Numerology my colleague and I talked about was Numerology intertwined within someone's date of birth. According to a Jeukens (n.d.), there are 9 animals that describe each number, these animals being; a lion for number 1; a wolf for number 2; a rabbit for number 3; a bee for number 4; a swallow for number 5; a dog for number 6; an owl for number 7; an elephant for number 8; and a dolphin for number 9. The date of birth comes into play with these numbers. For example, if someone is born on the 1st of February, 2001. Then they would have the numbers 1 (for the 1st), 2 (for February), and 3 (for 2001 (2+0+0+1 = 3). These numbers correlate to the 3 phases of life; 0 - 28 years, associated with your month number; 28 - 56 years, associated with your day number; and 56+ years, associated with your year number.
The problem of Numerology
The problem of Numerology isn’t related to the fact that it exists. Afterall, it is a belief that numbers are correlated with the world. The problem arises with the way it is presented, as it calls itself a science based off of Pythagoras’ knowledge of numbers. Moreover, it calls itself an oracle to get a better insight of personalities and certain historical events. In this case, Numerology is a mere pseudoscience, a belief that tries to proclaim itself as scientific when there is no scientific evidence behind it. Furthermore, the fact that this so-called science tries to attach itself to sciences like Mathematics and even Psychology is harmful towards these real sciences, as it brings down the evidential value of these sciences.
So what now?
Having personal beliefs is something that makes us human. Thus, believing or following beliefs like Numerology isn’t inherently bad. Just don’t start conversations with colleagues stating that these beliefs are scientific and lack flaws.
