Numerology is the study of symbolic relationships between numbers and perceived events. It was popular among early mathematicians like Pythagoras but is now considered pseudoscience. Pythagoras and others believed numbers had greater meaning than physical concepts. Numerology was not approved by Christian authorities in 325 AD and was grouped with astrology and magic. Despite this, numerology remained significant in some traditions. Modern numerology draws from ancient cultures and incorporates systems from figures like Pythagoras, but was further developed and popularized in the late 19th/early 20th century.

1. NUMEROLOGY

2. WHAT IS NUMEROLOGY
Numerology is any study of the purported divine,
mystical or other special relationship between a number
and some coinciding observed (or perceived) events. It
has many systems and traditionsand beliefs.
Numerology and numerological divination by systems
such as isopsephy were popular among early
mathematicians, such as Pythagoras, but are no longer
considered part of mathematics and are regarded as
pseudomathematics or pseudoscience by modern
scientists.

3. NUMEROLOGY IN HISTORY
Pythagoras and other philosophers of the time believed that because
mathematical concepts were more "practical" (easier to regulate and
classify) than physical ones, they had greater actuality. St. Augustine of
Hippo (A.D. 354–430) wrote "Numbers are the Universal language offered
by the deity to humans as confirmation of the truth." Similar to
Pythagoras, he too believed that everything had numerical relationships
and it was up to the mind to seek and investigate the secrets of these
relationships or have them revealed by divine grace. See Numerology and
the Church Fathers for early Christian beliefs on the subject.

4. NUMEROLOGY IN THE PAST
In 325 A.D., following the First Council of Nicaea, departures from the
beliefs of the state Church were classified as civil violations within the
Roman Empire. Numerology had not found favor with the Christian
authority of the day and was assigned to the field of unapproved beliefs
along with astrology and other forms of divination and "magic". Despite this
religious purging, the spiritual significance assigned to the heretofore
"sacred" numbers had not disappeared; several numbers, such as the
"Jesus number" have been commented and analyzed by Dorotheus of
Gazaand numerology still is used at least in conservative Greek Orthodox
circles.Numerology is prominent throughout Sir Thomas Browne's 1658
literary Discourse The Garden of Cyrus. Throughout its pages the author
attempts to demonstrate that the number five and the related Quincunx
pattern can be found throughout the arts, in design, and in nature –
particularly botany.

5. MODERN NUMEROLOGY
Modern numerology often contains aspects of a variety of ancient cultures and teachers,
including Babylonia, Pythagoras and his followers (Greece, 6th century B.C.), astrological
philosophy from Hellenistic Alexandria, early Christian mysticism, early Gnostics, the Hebrew
system of the Kabbalah, The Hindu Vedas, the Chinese "Circle of the Dead", Egyptian "Book of
the Masters of the Secret House" (Ritual of the Dead).Modern numerology has various
antecedents. Ruth A. Drayer's book, Numerology, The Power in Numbers (Square One Publishers)
says that around the turn of the century (from 1800 to 1900 A.D.) Mrs. L. Dow Balliett combined
Pythagoras' work with Biblical reference. Then on Oct 23, 1972, Balliett's student, Dr. Juno
Jordan, changed Numerology further and helped it to become the system known today under the
title "Pythagorean", although Pythagoras himself had nothing to do with the system. Dr. Jordan's
work "The Romance in Your Name" provided a system for identifying key numerological influences
in one's name and birth date and remains a seminal interpretive guide for practitioners today.
Subsequent 'numerologists' including Lynn Buess (1978), Mark Gruner (1979), Kathleen
Roquemore (1985), and Florence Campbell (1983), expanded on the use of numerology for
assessing major aspects of personality and cyclical patterns in life.