March/April 2024 Alchemical Voice

Alchemical Voice - L2M - Issue 25
There are no smaller numbers, that multiplied with each
other would result in 53. For me, 53 became a solid
number, unbreakable and with the purity of diamond.
Without knowing it, I had discovered prime numbers.
Prime numbers
Antiquity was a time of analysis, consideration and
interpretation. One way to study nature, the world
around us and the night sky, was the use of numbers
and calculus. The philosophers of the day were also
interested in exploring numbers as such. They felt that
there could be a metaphysical quality to numbers, in
addition to their numerical function. By extension, the
use of numbers developed from mere arithmetic to a
greater use in symbolism.
A special subset of numbers is prime numbers. The
definition is that they are integers that only have two
factors, itself and 1. As an example, 13 is a prime
number. It can only be written as 1 x 13.
Prime numbers attracted a lot of attention in antiquity,
by mathematicians such as Euclid (3rd century BC) and
Pythagoras (6th century BC).
You would think that there is a limit to how big a prime
number can be and still only have two factors, itself and
1. But there actually isn’t. Euclid of Alexandria showed
that there is an infinite number of prime numbers. This
is weirder than you think. Take a look at the number 2
147 467 379. It may not be readily obvious but this
number cannot be evenly divided by any other number.
As a matter of fact, this is simply a reflection of the
nature of mathematics. However, for me as an adult,
the number 2 147 467 379 becomes as strong and as
magical as the number 7 was for me as a child. It
cannot be divided. It stands firm, with great resolve and
will resist any attempts of divisiveness.
Music of the spheres and other vibrations
Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher, mathematician
and much more. Today, he is undoubtedly best known
for his theorem about the relationship between the
sides of a triangle with one corner at a right angle.
Pythagoras also put forward a theory that each of the
heavenly bodies comprising our solar system would
cause a certain musical note.
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