The Seventh...
The Egyptian hieroglyph for 6 depicts male and female genitalia, underscoring the sexual connotations of this number. The number 3 was associated with the Goddess, while 6 signified her union with God. The fairy-tale command "Open, Sesame" is actually a Sufi love charm, with "sesame" deriving from seshemu, the Egyptian word for intercourse. The symbolic "cave" that needs to be opened is the female genitalia or yoni.
6 was described by Pythagoras as a "perfect number" because 1+2+3=6 and 1×2×3=6. The Hexad was called the Form of Forms and the Maker of the Soul because its harmonious arrangement symbolised the harmony inherent within the soul, represented by the two equally balanced triangles. The number 6 is often seen as the symbol of marriage, as it can be split into two groups of three.
6 is dedicated to Venus, the Goddess of Love, yet it seems to lack a direct connection with the spiritual nature of love or the Creator. However, the number 6 provides the tools needed to create the powerful magical sign known as the Law of Correspondence—"as above, so below"—otherwise known as the Magen David (Star of David).
Because six can be split into two groups of three, it embodies a precarious balance, making it as likely to symbolize evil as it is good. This ambivalence recurs in the symbolism associated with the number. The symbol for 6 itself is also ambiguous; flipped upside down, it becomes 9. Thus, six represents the marriage of opposites, comprising an image and its reflection, making up the whole.
In Tantra, the number 6 is called Shat. Several sets of important sixes exist, including six noble virtues and six revealed views of the universe.
In the Tarot, 6 corresponds to the Lovers card, depicting a young man at a crossroads trying to decide between two girls of equal merit. Cupid hovers in the background, bow and arrow ready, about to make the decision for him, perfectly illustrating the dilemma inherent in the number 6.
In Wicca, the witch's curse (or hex) is so-called because six represents the number of copulation, symbolising the union of the Triple Goddess with her mate. The word itself is derived from the original meaning of "hag."
Early European Christian authorities deemed 6 as the number of sin due to its association with physical love.
Historical Context and Usage
The historical significance of the number six 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 six had profound sexual and spiritual symbolism. The depiction of male and female genitalia in hieroglyphs reflects the intertwining of sexuality and spirituality. Rituals often involved invoking fertility and balance, emphasising the duality represented by the number six.
Sumer (c. 3500 BCE): The Sumerians (ancient Iraq) employed the number six in their mathematical systems. They recognised it as a "perfect number," which played a role in their trade and architectural designs. The use of six in their cosmology demonstrated the importance of balance and harmony in their worldview, influencing later mathematical concepts.
Bharata (Indus Valley Civilisation) (c. 3300–1300 BCE): The early civilisations in Bharata (ancient India) integrated the number six into their spiritual practices. In Hindu philosophy, six is significant in various contexts, such as the six seasons of the year, which reflect the cyclical nature of life. Additionally, it plays a role in the understanding of duality and balance within the cosmos.
Mesoamerica (c. 1500 BCE): In Mesoamerican cultures, the number six appeared in various rituals and cosmological beliefs. The Maya and Aztecs associated it with agricultural cycles, reflecting the balance needed for harvests. The concept of duality in nature also related to the number six, showing how opposites coexist harmoniously.
Zanghgu (c. 3000 BCE): In the Zangzhou region ancient China, the number six was significant in spiritual practices. It was associated with harmony among the five elements, often representing the balance required to maintain cosmic order. The number six's auspiciousness in Chinese culture reflects its integration into philosophical systems, such as Confucianism and Taoism.
Hellas (Ancient Greece) (c. 800 BCE): Pythagoreans viewed six as a perfect number and regarded it as symbolically important in their teachings. They believed that it represented harmony and balance, linking it to mathematical and musical principles. This connection influenced philosophical thought regarding the universe's structure.
Japanese Buddhism (c. 6th century CE): The number six can symbolise completeness and is reflected in various teachings and practices. In Buddhist cosmology, it often represents the integration of various aspects of existence, linking physical, spiritual, and communal elements.
China: The number 6 is considered extremely auspicious and is associated with heaven. The I Ching is based on two sets of three diagrams that combine to create a hexagram. The 64 hexagrams of the I Ching serve as a predictive dictionary of the human condition, describing various elemental combinations and their interactions.
Agreeable Connotations:
Unconditional love, balance and harmony, home and family, domesticity, parenthood, guardianship, service to others, selflessness, responsibility, nurturing, care, empathy and sympathy, self-sacrifice, humanitarianism, the ability to compromise, emotional depth, honesty and integrity, adjustment, stability, poise, protection, firmness, healing, idealism, justice, conscientiousness, solution-finding, problem-solving, clarity, teaching, curiosity, peace and peacefulness, circulation, grace and dignity, simplicity, reliability, material needs and economy, providing and provision, agriculture and growth, and musical talent.
Disagreeable Connotations:
Weakness and being weak-willed, a superiority complex, impracticality, shallowness, submissiveness, restlessness, unsupportiveness, selfishness, and being easily stressed.
