Archive Monthly Archives: January 2016
On the thirteenth day of Christmas?
On the thirteenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .
what? there is not a thirteenth day of Christmas? Oh, ok, may I share with you my discovery of the number thirteen? Many consider it to be the “unlucky” number and I want to show you its power!
When the founding fathers began designing the United States Seal they wanted to use the Exodus from Egypt as their design as they were leaving their mother country, England. After much discussion they changed it for a design that portrayed the purpose of the Exodus, leaving world Egypt to Mt. Sinai to make covenant with God. They used a pyramid as the mountain where God above and the world below.
The square base of the pyramid represented physical life or mortality (see number 4). It represented strength and duration. The thick foundation below represents our “outward expressions, our energetic psyche and denser body.”
The triangle, all seeing eye floats above representing the spiritual life or heaven (see number 3). The eye represents our “ever-awake, deep divine spiritual self.” Three above and four below is a symbol of the Sphinx trapezoidal head dress, which implies an unseen trinity or spiritual life above it. The three above and the four below implies our divine nature, inward (spiritual, unseen) and outward (physical, seen) expression. As a bigger picture, all on earth (4), physical life is growing upward, striving to become complete with Christ (3) becoming equal (equilateral triangle – equal, same in all areas of life) with God.
The ribbon at the bottom is in the shape of an open circle meaning birth. The words within the ribbon read, “Novus Ordo Seclorum” Latin for, “a new order of the ages (is born),” referring to the new American era. At the base of the pyramid are Roman numerals,MDCCLXXVI, for the year 1776, the year of the birth of our Nation.
How many 13’s can you find on the Seal?
To the founding fathers the number thirteen represented “progress, perpetuity and perfection.” They designed the seal with twelve surrounding the one.
Example of this idea are: the twelve tribes surrounding Moses or twelve
apostles surrounding Jesus or the twelve zodiac surrounding the sun.
On the “Reverse” side, the pyramid is the most prominent object:
- There are 13 steps on the unfinished pyramid meaning there was still room for growth as a nation. It is said the steps represent the thirteen cycles of the First-Sun Age in Mesoamerican pyramids. An obligation was assigned to each step. 1) treat others as you would be treated, 2) “Seek the whole truth”, 3) “Do your own share of the work. You cannot enter heaven on the back of servants.” and 4 – 10) identical to those of the ten commandments. The last three steps “cannot be disclosed.”
- There are 13 letters in the title, “Annuit Coeptis” which is Latin for “He (God) has favored (smiled upon) our undertakings.” The founding fathers believed that God provided providentially for the success during the struggle for freedom.
- There are 26 (2×13) letters in “MDCCLXXVI” plus “Novus ordo seclorum” at the base of the pyramid. On the obverse side (the US was the first to have a two sides) of the seal: “Obverse” means the object has a counterpart, an indication there two things about the object. This is the side used on all the official documents. Both sides can be seen on the one dollar bill.
- The eagle is the most prominent feature. Across the breast of the eagle is a shield with 13 alternating red and white stripes (the pales) representing the 13 original States. The stripes on the seal begin and end with the white stripe unlike the flag the begins and ends with red. This represents the desire for peace. Across the top of the shield is a blue field (chief) that unites all the stripes into one. It represented the United States Congress. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental congress, introduced the design for the new Seal and said, “The colors of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of america; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness and valor, and Blue, the color of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice.” The eagle became our national “Coat of Arms.”
- In his right talons the eagle grasps an olive branch with 13 berries representing peace. He is looking to the right saying he prefers peace.
- In his left talon the eagle grasps 13 arrows representing war meaning our willingness to defend our nation.
- Above the eagle are 13 stars inside a circular design, representing a “New Constellation”, the same constellation referred to in the blue union of the United States Flag. This constellation is in the form of the Star of David or two triangles, one pointing up and the other pointing down. It is also 12 surrounding one. The surrounding circle is both a cloud and fire representing the pillar of fire by day and cloud by night that God used to guide the Israelite back to their promised land. Here it represents the guidance God is still giving those who choose to follow Him.
- In his beak the eagle grasps a flowing ribbon bearing the first Motto of the United States, “E Pluribus Unum.” There are 13 letters in this motto which is Latin for, “Out of many, One,” reminding us that out of many States is born One New Nation. It can also be viewed on a spiritual level out of many (all of us) we will return to and be One with God. On June 30, 1956 the words, “In God we Trust” were designated as our National Motto.
There are eight thirteens found on the Seal representing the “rebirth” (see number 8) of a great Nation. Twelve surround one, one (God) supporting the other TWELVE (us). We are the New Constellation being formed and He is our Bright Star. Thirteen has great power! 🙂
If thirteen was so often used by the founding fathers isn’t it good enough for us! Thirteen is a number is TWELVE around ONE. Twelve apostles supported by the prophet. Us, as TWELVE tribes supported by GOD. What is supporting you? What is your center? Your support?
Continue reading
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas
On the twelve day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .
“twelve drummers drumming.” They were keeping the rhythm so the saints could march in beat while walking on the path back to God. The number twelve was to help the children remember the twelve apostles.
| During this time period when the Catholic Church was not accepted in England they would repeat ‘The Apostle’s Creed” every day to help them remember Christ. It contains 12 points of doctrine. |
The twelfth article of faith is about government. “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”
Twelve can be found in 187 places in God’s word. The meaning of 12, which is considered a perfect number, is that it symbolizes God’s power and authority, as well as serving as a perfect governmental foundation. It can also symbolize completeness or wholeness. For example, Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons, each of which represented a tribe begun by one of his sons or a princes.
The twelfth and final zodiac constellation is Leo, the Lion, the King of Kings. He is crushing the head of the serpent. Christ is referred to as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev 5:5) Leo is the symbol of Christ conquering Satan and then reigning as King of Kings.
‘Lamed’ is the twelfth letter in the Hebrew Alphabet and the tallest. It is known as the majestic letter, the King of all other letters. Anciently it was written as a shepherd’s staff. Symbolically it represents Christ as the leader of the flock.
Twelve in His Story:
- twelve signs of the zodiac
- twelve months in the year
- twelve tribes of Israel
- twelve stones on the High Priest breastplate
- twelve statues of oxen helped up the water basin in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 7:25)
- twelve apostles
- twelve gates to the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:12)
- twelve kinds of fruits on the trees of life in the new creation (Rev. 22:2)
The eagle has twelve tail feathers. These are the most powerful of all its feathers. These are the white feathers with the black tips, the steering, landing feathers. The native americans illustrated these feathers as lightning. Lightning produces chemical changes by uniting nitrogen and oxygen, thereby bringing nitrates to the soil of the earth with the rain. This helped the plants to grow. This symbolized the white surge of enlightenment that expands the mind. Can you see why they did rain dances?They believed that “rain is the liquid spirit – or essence or soul – of clouds.” (see my next series on eagles for more)
The traditional sweat lodge and tepee structures are still ritually constructed to look like the zodiac pattern of a calendar resting on twelve poles. Each section had an object or symbol representing a month and a constellation.
Twelve is double six and called the dodekad or “two ten” in Greek. The wonder of twelve is that it has so many divisors (one, two, three, four, and six), making it the supreme number. This is one of the reasons why our founding fathers chose it to be our system of measure. Other reasons was to remember its symbolic connection to God and Christ.
Three of these divisors shape (triangle, square, hexagon) tesselate, covers a flat surface without leaving gaps.
How do you choose what to write about with the number twelve, it is so rich!
The theme of twelve is power (tail feathers), order (months), government On the twelfth day of Christmas My Father gave to me
twelve
eleven faithful disciples,
ten commandments,
nine spiritual gifts,
eight new levels,
seven complete cycles,
six celebrations,
five things of power,
four family members,
three great desires,
two directions …
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .
“eleven pipers piping” the message of the gospel to the world. Those who are blowing their horns in preparation for the second coming are faithful disciples of Christ. Traditionally eleven reminds the church members of the eleven faithful apostles of Jesus. We are each disciples of Christ.
The eleventh letter in Hebrew is Kaf. KAF literally means ‘the palm of the hand’, implying productivity and potentiality. The words that describe kaf are crowning, accomplishment, receiving, selflessness and hard work. The Hebrew number eleven is Yod (10, power to act) and Aleph (1, heaven). Eleven embraces all the attributes of both these numbers.
| The eleventh constellation is Cancer, the Crab. It is an animal which can descend into the sea and come back out onto dry land with its treasure securely held in its strong claws. The crab represents the descent of Christ into the Spirit Prison, to bring forth the captives from that prison in his tenacious grasp. He is our Deliverer! This is different than our Savior (see #8). To save is to preserve or guard against and deliver is to carry from one place to an intended destination. |
Eleven is found in the scriptures. The last two Kings of Judah each reigned eleven years before the Babylonian conquest of Judah: Jehiakim and Zedekiah. Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, he dreamed of eleven stars bowing down to him (Gen 37:9)
| November 11th is Remembrance Day. My grandma called it, Poppy Day and it is also Veterans Day. It was to commemorate those who were killed in times of war. We wore artificial poppies to commemorate the veterans. Poppies have been the symbol of eternal sleep and death. |
Some say (look it up on google or most symbolism books) that eleven means disorder, disorganization, lack of fulfillment, imperfection. I believe that all numbers were created of God and that he doesn’t create junk! But, like the constellations, I know there is an opposite to all things too. So, if all numbers are positive then there must be a negative side too and vise versa. What side will you focus on or feed?
| On the eleventh day of Christmas My Father gave to me eleven faithful disciples, ten commandments, nine spiritual gifts, eight new levels, seven complete cycles, six celebrations, five things of power, four family members, three great desires, two directions … |
Just for FUN:
- Martin Luther was baptized on Nov. 11
- Fort Wood on Liberty Island has the shape of an eleven-pointed star and is the base for the Statue of Liberty (New York).
- New York was the eleventh state
- The first plane to hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, was American Airlines Flight 11
- September is the 254th day of the year. 2+5+4=11
- Apollo 11 was the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon
- There are eleven players on a soccer team, on an American football team, on a cricket team, as well as on a field hockey team.
- The First World War ended on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
- “The eleventh hour” suggests urgency. Because the clock runs to twelve, this is the last hour to get things done.
- In Numerology number 11 is a Master number. A Master number is a double-digit number like 22 and 33. It contains double the amount of attributes of that number.
On the tenth day of Christmas
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .
“ten lords a leaping” Traditionally ten was the used to remind us of the Ten Commandments. While the missionaries taught a young lady in our home they shared with us an easy finger play of how to remember the ten commandments and their order. I recommend you ask a missionary the next time you have one over.
| God
enjoys using the number ten also. There are the TEN commandments, the
TEN plagues, and the TEN tribes. There are TEN generations between Adam
and Noah and another TEN before Abraham. The tabernacle and Solomon’s
temple were each TEN-part structured and measured. Yom Kippur, the Day
of Atonement, the holiest of Jewish holy days marks the end of the TEN
Days of Awe. The Levites received 1 /TENth of all income as their
inheritance (Num. 18:22) and the Lord asked us to give tithing of 1 /
TENth our income. Oh, don’t forget the TEN virgins, they are still
waiting for their bridegroom. 🙂 |
The etymology of the word ‘ten’
The word “ten” is derived from the Indo-Eurpean word dekm, signifying “two hands” a reference to our ten fingers. From Sanskrit dasa, Greek deka and Latin decem. The Germanic branch changed the “d” to a “tz” in “zehn” and from this came “ten.” In Hebrew and Arabic the word for “ten” is ‘kinsman’ or ‘tribe.’ ‘Yod’ is the tenth letter and number in the Hebrew Alphabet. It is the smallest of all the letters, but the most powerful. Anciently it was written as an arm and a hand reprinting work and worship, wholeness and oneness, and the power to act. Yod’ is suspended in midair and has two right angles implying the covenants that we make with our right hand.
‘Yod’ is small and seemingly insignificant just as our hand are small, but do the more work than any other member of our body. Just as one drop of oil hold the whole essence of the plant from which it come. Our cells hold the whole essence of the entire body.
| Hands are the simplest examples which show the law of number. Both are alike and each is opposite from the other. Hands are the most versatile parts of our body and the only ones capable of reaching any other part. |
The number ten is unity at another level. We are back at ONE with another value, in this case a place marker, or zero. The root of TEN is ONE. TEN has all the values of ONE, unity, oneness, heaven, father, cycles, etc. Ten is ONE powered by TEN. TEN represents the Power to Act. Multiplying by ten doesn’t change the number but only act to expand its power! 50 is an expression of 5. It is expanded power.
| Our currency is a base 10 system. The coins equal to one dollar and the bills can equal to the hundred dollar bill. I remember reading a book about a man who immigrated to America. Years later he was mentoring another young man and telling him all the things he could be grateful for and one of them was our currency based ten system. It is so easy to learn and grasp an understanding. |
| In our school we use the AL Abacus to teach math. This is a base ten manipulative with ten beads on each wire, five of one color and five of another. This is just like our hands, five and five. It makes counting visual for children and they don’t have to count on their fingers. The picture shows 38, easily seen and understood. |
| Gemini, the twins are the tenth constellation. They are identical twins, one dressed in red and the other in white, holding a harp and a bow and arrows, holding a club. The twins represent that Christ is both the Father and the Son. We take upon us His name when we are baptized and He becomes our Father. He is the only begotten son of the Father and our brother. The twins also depict the first and second coming of Christ. |
| On the tenth day of Christmas My Father gave to me ten commandments, nine spiritual gifts, eight new levels, seven complete cycles, six celebrations, five things of power, four family members, three great desires, two directions … |
On the Ninth Day of Christmas
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .
ladies dancing. What are they dancing about? Are they celebrating the coming home of their missionary? I know I am. 🙂 The ninth day is to help us remember the nine fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” The gifts of the spirit are tools used to make the tree more fruitful. The purpose of a tool is to bring forth the fruits. For example these tools/value can help change a mans heart causing him to repent.
| The ninth constellation is Taurus, the Bull. He is a white wild ox with two large, golden horns. He is charging forward. He symbolizes the tribe of Joseph and his two sons as the horns. The Bull also represents Christ as the Lord of Hosts making ready the Second Coming. |
The Family, a proclamation to the world contains nine paragraphs and lists nine principles to help make families successful. Nines are associated with growth and procreation. Mitosis, cell division, takes place with centriole which are made of nine parallel tubes in a circle. Sperm is made of nine twisted threads. It take nine months to develop a baby in a womb. Tet is the number nine in Hebrew. It was anciently written as a closed baskets representing boundaries, keeping the good within and the bad out. It also reminds us of the walls of a home, where we allow goodness to come in and evil to stay at bay.
Nine is a square number created by three rows of three. It is also a triangle number.
On the ninth day of Christmas, My Father gave to me
nine spiritual gifts,
eight new levels,
seven complete cycles,
six celebrations,
five things of power,
four family members,
three great desires,
two directions …
On the Eighth Day of Christmas
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .
eight maids a milking. The number eight in tradition was to help remember the eight beatitudes. They are eight consecutive steps to perfection. Each step represents a new level. Just like the octave. There are seven different keys with eighth being the first again only higher, repeating at a new level.
| The eighth constellation is Aries, the Ram. The Ram’s leg is extended to the bands holding the fishes and represents breaking the bands of death. He also has one foot on the head of the Sea Monster meaning he is defeating the enemy. He is an adult ram with a gold fleece that represents Christ’s resurrected glory. Joseph Smith describe it as, “whose brightness and glory defy all description.” |
| Chet is the number eight in Hebrew. The number eight represents rebirth, a new beginning and resurrection. Anciently chet was written as a fence. a barrier between our old life and our new life. |
There are many examples of eight in the scriptures, but I’m only going to show you my favorites. First, there were eight survivors in the Ark, The brother of Jared created eight barges to ride to the promised land and it took eight days for Alma to take his people from King Noah’s reach. Notice that each of these examples have the number eight, a new change and water. Baptism is a change and takes us to a new level through immersion in water at the age of eight. Baptism is the symbol for the death and resurrection of Christ. Cool?
| In architecture a square (4) base and octagon (8) center leads to a spherical (1) dome and point symbolizing the transition (8) between earth (4) and heaven (1). Check out the steeples around you, most of them follow this same pattern |
| The number eight, beatitudes and the constellation of the ram all celebrate the resurrection of Christ. They each represent reaching a new level, a change, transcendence. What will you change today? On the eight day of Christmas My Father gave to me eight new levels, seven complete cycles, six celebrations, five things of power, four family members, three great desires, two directions … |
The Seventh Day of Christmas
On the Seventh Day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .
my
mother’s favorite, “seven swans a-swimming.” She loves swans and she
also loves alliterations. This seventh day is dedicated to her, the
woman who gave me my life and encouraged me to have many fun filled New
Years.
Traditionally the seven symbolizes the seven gifts of the spirit. Isaiah wrote them in chapter eleven. They are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord.
| In
the seventh article of faith we also find a lists seven gifts, “We
believe in the gift of tongues, prophesy, revelations, visions, healing,
interpretation of tongues, and so forth.” (Article of Faith 1:7) Seven and three are the most commonly used numbers found in the scriptures. There are 7 days of creation, Enoch is the 7th generation and taken to heaven (complete). Jacob worked 7 years Leah and 7 more for Rachel, Joseph prepared for 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine, there are 7 Holy days (Lev 23), Naaman dipped seven time in the Jordan river to be cleansed, John teaches to the 7 churches/cities is Asia. We are to forgive 70X7 times, there are 7 levels of persecution and 7 dispensations to complete the earth’s cycle. |
Seven in nature is found in cycles. Crystals have seven major systems to be created. Cells go through seven steps to split. Rainbow have seven colors. There are 280 days of gestation, a multiple of seven.
There are cycles in the Hebrew number seven or “shevah.” It is from the root “savah” which means “to be full,” “to be satisfied,” or “to have enough of.” (see Beloved Bridegroom) Think about the days of the week, seven days complete the week. The word “week” comes from the Gothic wiko signifying “sequence to which we come” which is derived from the Egyptian uak, the word for festival, a quarter of the moon’s monthly cycle of 29.52 days equaling one “moonth.” The seven-day rhythm creates and is a familiar cycle to all of us.
| The Hebrew word “shevah” can also be read “shabah” which means “to swear” or “to take an oath.” Thus, seven not only signifies fulfillment and completion, it also is a number for an oath and a connection to covenants and covenant making. Christ made a seven-fold covenant promise with Israel at Sinai. This covenant is remembered in the wine on on table of shew bread in the Holy Room of the Tabernacle. |
Anciently the Hebrews drew a mattock or tool for the number seven. This was to remind them that on the seventh day they were to lay their tools and weapons aside for a day to receive spiritual nourishment. The seventh and last of the Hebrew Holy Days is Yom Sukkoth or Feast of Tabernacles. This celebration is about Christ’s coming and taking us home to rest with God again in Heaven (His Tabernacle). The word “rest” means “security in the house of your husband.” On the cross was the seven word description, “This is Jesus The King of the Jews.” Christ’s last words was a seven word phrase, “Into thy hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
The seventh constellation is Pieces, the two fishes that are caught in the bands of death and being dragged down to hell by the sea monster or devil. The two fishes represent the ancient and the latter-day churches. Christ stands at the head of His church (Eph. 5:23), the Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14) as depicted in the main star.
The seven swans were swimming and so were the two fishes in the constellation. There are so many commonalities within the number seven. What will you remember from this study? the word meanings? the seven gifts? or all the cycles? the covenants? The Sabbath Day? Whatever you choose may God Bless you on this New Year’s Day!
| On the seventh day of Christmas My Father gave to me seven complete cycles, six celebrations, five things of power, four family members, three great desires, two directions … |