Theos-Talk Archives (May 2000 Message tt00337)

	My belief is that a lot of the significance of the number 7 is based on
a circular pattern. Essentially, continuous patterns are divided into 7
parts because 7 is significant, and those 7 parts are used to prove that
7 is significant. An excellent example is the 7 colors in the rainbow,
where there are actually thousands of colors (not that the human eye can
distinguish most of them, although some can distinguish more than
others). Note that there are 8 or 9 planets (depending on whether Pluto
is a planet or a moon of Neptune), a whole bunch of moons, and an even
bigger bunch of rocks which we arbitrarily decide are not planets in the
Asteroid belt. Based on a geocentric view of the Universe (which, as
standing still is strictly a matter of definition, is a valid way of
looking at the Universe if you don't mind the extra math involved),
there are 7 objects in the nighttime sky visible to the naked eye of
most people that move relative to the rest of the stars, but I find that
the concept of "if I can't see it, it isn't there" smacks of the logic
of the animal, and is beneath humanity. Unfortunately, this level of
logic seems to have permeated the New Age movement, which is why the
term "New Age" leaves a bad taste in so many people's mouths.

	That being said, the psychological effects of the number 7 based on our
cultural background should not be ignored. Also, note that it is a nice
way of dividing things up, especially if you think in terms of polarity.
For when you divide up a unity into poles, you end up with two poles and
a center (another example of one into three). The next division would
create two more poles of 3 and a center, creating 7. This makes 7 a good
way of thinking about things. 

	Bart Lidofsky

Peter Merriott wrote:
> 
> Hi Bart,
> 
> I agree with your analysis that everything other than the 'Absolute' is only
> relatively real, you use the term "illusory".  But does that in itself
> detract from the significance of the number 7?  See for example HPB's
> comments on the significance of this number in the Secret Doctrine:

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