Understanding Your Dreams IV
Numbers in Your Dreams
By Diana Haronis
Throughout history, numbers have held mysterious and magickal significance. People have associated them with various spiritual qualities and unconscious traits. The subconscious mind automatically associates certain feelings and images with different numbers. Dreams often use numbers in this same way. Even to those with no knowledge of numerology, the numbers stimulate a subconscious memory on an archetypal level. For example; the number 12 evokes a feeling of cosmic and spiritual significance. There are 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 disciples of Christ, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 hours on a clock, 12 months in a year. Twelve is a very significant number to us on a subconscious level signifying wholeness, completion and cosmic order.
Here are some of the subconscious connections made with other numbers:
0: Nothingness; the void; but also, as a circle, it evokes a feeling of the continuity of life and untapped creative potential, as in the egg or the womb.
1: Beginnings; the first manifestation; the male procreative force. It is also the ego, as in I, or looking out for #1. One can also symbolize solitude or loneliness.
2: Duality; male and female, positive and negative, light and darkness, God and Goddess. Two is feminine and receptive. It signifies cooperation, sharing, partnership and balance. Sometimes 2 can indicate a choice to make.
3: The Trinity; the three faces of the Goddess; body, mind and spirit. Often a dream stressing the number 3 has a spiritual significance. Symbolized by the triangle, 3 represents the union of 2 energies which result in the birth of a new condition—as a mother and father combine their energies to create a child. Therefore, three is the number of creativity, artistry and self-expression.
4: Balance of energies, as in the four elements, the four directions, the four seasons of the year. It is a number associated, like the square, with stability, structure, order and conformity.
5: Five is most often associated with the physical, sensual nature; as in the 5 senses, the 5 appendages of the body, 5 fingers on the hand. It is a symbol of man incarnated in a physical body; spirit expressing through matter, as symbolized by the 5 pointed star. In numerology, 5 is the number of transition and change.
6: Unity, harmony and balance. As the 6 pointed star, composed of two interlaced triangles, it represents the union of Heaven and Earth; God and Man; body and spirit. Numerologically, it signifies healing, beauty and service to others.
7: Seven is a mystical number, often associated with good luck. It marks initiation from one level of being into another. It takes 7 years for all the cells in the body to regenerate themselves, so every 7 years we are born anew. God is said to have created the world in 7 days; there are 7 chakra (energy centers) in the body. When the 7th chakrum is awakened, we are initiated into higher levels of consciousness.
8: Eight is the same shape as the infinity symbol, suggesting the continuous cycle of birth, death and regeneration. Numerologically, 8 is associated with justice, power, authority and money. It speaks of taking ideas from the realm of spirit, and giving them form within the physical.
9: Completion and ending, as in the ninth hour. Babies are born in the 9th month of pregnancy. Cats have 9 lives. According to numerology, we begin a new cycle of growth and experience every 9 years.
Many other numbers hold hidden meanings for us in our dreams. Eleven may mean in the eleventh hour, or, numerologically, inspiration. Ten may indicate perfection, as in the perfect 10.
Thirteen may be lucky or unlucky according to your perspective. Generations have associated it with the occult, and have generally seen it as an ill omen. Skyscrapers and hotels often leave out the 13th floor. One of the most persistent superstitions concerns Friday the 13th. The 13th card in the Tarot is Death. To Pagans, 13 is a number of power and rebirth. There are 13 members in a coven. Interestingly, Christ and His 12 apostles made up a group of 13!
Another number with mystical significance is the number 33. It is associated with high, spiritual teachings. It was at age 33 that Christ began His ministry.
You can expand the symbolism of numbers in your dreams with any knowledge you have of numerology, astrology, the Cabala or the Tarot.
Numbers in dreams can often indicate time. Dates, sums or money, time and amounts are all interchangeable in dreams. For example; $5 plus change, may indicate that you will make a change in 5 days, 5 months or in May (the 5th month). Something happening at 6 o'clock in your dream may mean that it will happen in 6 days, 6 months or in June. Look to other aspects of the dream for confirmation. For example; if the number appearing in your dream is 7, and the dream setting is the forth of July, you can assume that it is referring to July. Then again, if your dream indicates something happening very quickly, 7 probably means 1 week.
Occasionally a person will receive the winning lottery numbers in a dream, but much more often numbers prophesy times. Take special note of all numbers in your dreams, and remember to always ask yourself first, What does this number mean to me or what is my intuitive feeling about it?
Until next time, Sweet Dreams!
1991, Diana Haronis
Diana is researching her book on dream interpretation, of which these articles will be a part. She is interested in hearing about your personal experiences with dreamwork, or any unusual dream symbolism you have confronted. She is also interested in your questions about dreams, and will try to answer as many as possible. Write to her at: 226 Marna Dr., Vacaville, CA 95687 | 
