The Psychology of Numbers

Numbers do not merely have a quantitative nature, but also a qualitative one (for Pythagoras they were divine). Numbers have life, they are not just symbols on paper. Several philosophers, alchemists and mystics throughout history have associated religious or mystical ideas to numbers. In ancient times, people associated mystical meaning to words and names based on their numerical value, which became the basis for 20th century numerology that seeks to understand personality through numbers. Carl Jung describes number as the most primitive archetype (the archetype of order), which provides a vital link between matter and psyche (united by the unus mundus). Psychologically, the most primitive numbers are 1 to 4, which form the basis for all the rest of the numbers, and as such it is not surprising that they are the most recurring ones in the psyche. These remarkably symbolise the human creation myth and the purpose of life. To paraphrase Pythagoras, “Number rules the universe.” ⭐