THE ELEMENTS OF NUMEROLOGY

Rodford Barratt

Element Books, London, 1994.


Although the price of this book has too many large numbers in it, it may be worth reading if you can borrow a copy, as I did. It is only an introductory guide, yet seems to cover the whole range and depth of the subject in just a few pages. Unfortunately, not a single procedure is accounted for or explained, just baldly stated, in the usual way of such books:

"This is the usual way to find the essence of numbers in numerology - continuing to add all the numbers together until only one number or digit is left. It is called fadic addition." (p.11)

This leaves us to wonder about the etymological relation with the word "fad". Let's move into the thick of things, and consider birthdays:

"As a generalization, babies born on or after 1.1.2000, and babies born on or before 31.12.1999, will differ fundamentally in their approach to life." (p.21)

A little clue about what this fundamental difference amounts to would be nice, but Barratt does not oblige. But then, perhaps it's not so easy:

"It [the Birthday Number] is an important number, for the numbers in your birthdate are superseded only by the Life Path. Contrarily, in Indian numerology the Birthday Number is often of paramount importance." (p.33)

A bit tricky then, if different schools disagree? And yet:

"Each metaphysical science illuminates a part of your life in its own way. They are all mutually supportive." (p.2)

If only we could get some evidence for all this.

"In an excellent book that delves into word analysis, Behind Numerology, the author Shirley Blackwell Lawrence describes a machine, an 'eidophone', that can show how words when spoken form different vibrational patterns in the atmosphere that we cannot see. Beautiful sounding words form harmonious patterns; brutal or ugly words create haphazard formations. The machine proves that words or names affect the atmosphere." (p.43)

When I was at school, we had things called oscilloscopes. Maybe they mean a device for making duck-calls: an eiderphone? Let's move on.

"The letters of our alphabet are numbered. There is a natural progression from A to Z: A is 1 and Z is 26." (p.43)

Does he mean that the letters can be numbered, or that they are by numerologists?

"There is an ancient belief that words that total the same number are connected. For instance: God, majestic, eminent, grand, zeal, smart, mega, success, influence and renown, all total the number 8." (p.56)

Now we have something to go on. I have made the profound discovery that anagrams can help here. Try these: dog, laze, trams, game. If you wish to confirm Barratt's marvellous insight, you may of course find your own words which fit the number. Here's one suggestion: bollocks.

"This little-investigated aspect of word analysis... is a rewarding area to investigate."

Indeed it is. Here's another opportunity to contribute to this fascinating science:

"The first letter of a word dominates the letters that follow it. Think of: action, assert, autocrat, achieve, ambition; or royal, regal, reign, renown, radiant and rich." (p.62)

Or these: asinine, abysmal, apery, asylum; or random, ridiculous, ragbag, rubbish. Terrific! What do we learn next?

"The opportunities that occur in your life appear in cycles. Numerology can show this but it does not make predictions." (p.89)

I see, but what's this?

"We have now calculated the main numbers used in predictive numerology." (p.105)

Strangely enough, I had a funny feeling that he would contradict himself again. Not that we should make too much of this, for as Barratt states at the outset:

"There is nothing psychic about it." (p.7)

There is nothing adult about it, either. This must be the most stupid book I've seen in ages.



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PSYCHOLOGY OF BELIEF AND SUPERSTITION



© Paul Taylor 2001