The Sixth...

Now things start to get even more exciting. The dots that add up to 5, if placed symmetrically, give the potential for a five-pointed star (pentagram) or for a five-sided shape (pentagon). The number 5, like the number 3, is constructed by adding an odd number (3) to an even one (2), thus blending male with female. The pentagram itself is a mystical symbol that holds within it all the qualities of the 5. The Pythagoreans regarded the pentagram (Pentad) as a sacred symbol of health, vitality, and light. The holy number 10 is divided equally into two parts by the Pentad, which also symbolises the triumph of spirit over matter.

Five is a number of balance; its central dot acts as a pivot for the two on either side. It's also the numerical symbol of a human being, which forms the five-pointed star shape when legs and arms are outstretched, reminiscent of Leonardo's famous drawing of Vitruvian Man.

In the Western world, there are four elements, but in the East, there's a fifth, or quintessence, that binds them all together, referred to as ether. Alchemists indicate this with a five-petaled rose in the center of a cross, symbolising the Rose Cross Lamen.

In the Tarot, 5 corresponds to the Hierophant, or the Pope, who represents the face of God on Earth, embodying spiritual authority and the transmission of wisdom.

Historical Context and Usage

The historical significance of the number five can be traced through several ancient civilisations, highlighting its role in cultural development:

Ta-Mery Empire (c. 6000 BCE and earlier): Encompassing Kemet (ancient Egypt) and Kush (ancient Sudan), the number five was often associated with spiritual beliefs and practices that reflected balance and completeness.

Sumer (c. 3500 BCE): The Sumerians in ancient Iraq recognised the importance of the number five in their social and religious structures, where it often represented various elements of their cosmology.

Bharata (Indus Valley Civilisation) (c. 3300–1300 BCE): The early civilisations in Bharata (ancient India) incorporated the number five into their spiritual practices and philosophical systems, particularly regarding the five elements and the divine functions.

Mesoamerica (c. 1500 BCE): In various Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Olmecs and Maya (ancient Mexico and Central America), the number five was a symbol of perfection and was reflected in their calendars, rituals, and understanding of balance.

Zanghgu (c. 3000 BCE): In ancient China, the number five was significant in spiritual practices and was associated with harmony among the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water).

Hellas (Ancient Greece) (c. 800 BCE): Greek philosophers, including the Pythagoreans, viewed the number five as vital in their mathematical and philosophical frameworks, often linking it to concepts of health and vitality.

Islamic Cultures (7th century CE): In Islam, five is regarded as a "lucky" number and occurs frequently in religious practices, such as the Five Pillars of Islam, which are essential acts of worship and the foundation of a Muslim's faith.

Japanese Buddhism (c. 6th century CE): In Japanese Buddhism, there are five directions: the existing cardinal points plus the centre.

Yantric System (c. 300 BCE): In the Yantric system of Hindu numerology, Pancha is the name of the number 5, representing the five functions of the divine: creation, preservation, destruction, obscuration, and liberation. Additionally, there are five layers or bodies of a person: physical, vital, astral, wisdom, and bliss.

Agreeable Connotations:

Personal freedom, the unconventional, individualism, non-attachment, change, life lessons learned through experience, variety, adaptability and versatility, resourcefulness, motivation, progress, activity, experience, travel and adventure, sympathy and understanding, sociability and companionability, release and surrender, influence, sensuality, promotion, natural flair, vivaciousness, courage, health and healing, idealism, telepathy, pleasure-seeking, vitality, vision and the visionary, expansion, opportunity, storytelling, mercy, kindness, invention, magnetism, competitiveness, imagination, curiosity, cleverness, intelligence, and making life choices and decisions.

Disagreeable Connotations:

Being rash and irresponsible, inconsistency, unreliability, thoughtlessness, non-committal attitudes, fear of change, rigidity in thought and action, a lack of vitality, a dislike of confinement and routine, restlessness, inactivity and stagnation, upheaval, and discord.