S.5 #6 | Meaning in numbers

After dreaming an extremely vivid and memorable dream about a certain number, I had to find out the meaning behind it. In this episode, I share information about the significance of numbers in spirituality, as well as a method of interpreting Jewish texts using numbers in place of letters in the Hebrew alphabet called gematria.

Transcript

Hello and thank you for tuning in to Love to Heal Podcast! Before I jump into today’s episode, I will remind you to subscribe to my podcast on whatever application you’re using so that you know every time a new episode comes out. And if you’re ever in need of a quick inspiration or cheer me up, look for my short videos and posts on Instagram and  TikTok!

And so, a couple weeks ago I had a very vivid dream in which a number was shown to me and caught my attention. I actually have vivid dreams pretty much every night, but some stand out and others don’t. So this dream, in particular, really stood out to me and as soon as I woke up in the morning, I knew I had to look up the meaning of the number - 816. Of course, the first place I went was Google, and after typing in that number, the first result I got was the angel number 816 and its spiritual meaning. I’ll read it to you:

Angel Number 816 carries a spiritual message of finding balance between your material and spiritual goals. Your angels want you to focus on your spiritual growth and development. Dedicate time for meditation, prayer, and connecting with your higher self. By doing so, you will gain clarity, inner peace, and divine guidance to fulfill your life purpose.

Interestingly enough, this same web page had a biblical explanation as well, which read:

In the Bible, number 8 symbolizes new beginnings, while number 1 represents unity and leadership. The combination of numbers 8 and 1 signifies the beginning of a new spiritual journey with divine guidance. Number 6 represents unconditional love and harmony, reminding us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

When I read this, I got very excited! It was the message I wanted and needed to hear because let’s face it, starting a podcast is not an easy feat for several reasons- it takes tons of time, instead of getting paid for what I do, I actually pay to even be heard, and then there are people close to me who don’t believe in what I am doing, who don’t encourage me or even try to discourage me from doing it. It’s challenging and it’s disheartening when no one seems to appreciate your work. I actually finally understand what it’s like to be an artist, it’s really difficult to catch a break. The ones that make it big are very few and there is so much talent out there…So this message in my dream inspired me to really keep going, I mean I wasn’t going to quit any time soon but I did have my doubts. After this dream and the reassurance to keep following my soul’s purpose and trust divine timing, I felt like someone replaced a battery in me and the new charge will get me that much farther.

And while I absolutely loved the explanation of the angel number and the biblical one too, I still had to dig deeper.  As you know, I have transitioned from New Age spirituality into Judaism, so my next step was to research the significance of numbers in Judaism. I already knew that numbers were important in the Torah and Kabbalah, and that some were considered lucky, but that was basically the extent of my knowledge.  Therefore, I began to read up on this topic and here’s what I found out:

Jews have always found meaning and significance in special numbers, perhaps most intensively through the practice of gematria- ascribing numerical values to letters and words that are said to reveal mystical connections. But even beyond this Kaballistic practice, certain numbers have a way of reappearing in the tradition, and have accrued significance by virtue of their presence in key texts and rituals. Let me give you a couple examples:

The number 1 corresponds to the first letter of the alphabet - alef and symbolizes the unity of God: God is One.

The God in His action as creator is called Elohim (אלהים) which begins with the letter aleph.

The 10 commandments (in Hebrew) begin with the letter א which proclaims that God is One.

Seven is one of the most significant numbers in Judaism. The Jewish week is seven days long, because God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. (The Hebrew word for week, shavua, is derived from the Hebrew word for seven, sheva.) The menorah in the ancient Temple also represented the creation with seven branches, three on each side and one in the middle. 

The number seven doesn’t just structure the daily cycle of Jewish life, it is also part of a Jewish yearly agricultural cycle. Every seventh year, called the shmita or sabbatical year, the land is not tilled but allowed to lie fallow and rest. 

According to Jewish tradition, there are 613 commandments that Jews must follow, but just seven for the rest of humanity. These are called the seven Noahide laws.

At Jewish weddings, seven blessings (Sheva Brachot) are recited over the bride and groom under the huppah. In some cases, the bride circles the groom seven times, and in other contexts the couple circles one another seven times.

 Perhaps the most famous example is that the numerical value of the word chai, which means life, is 18. Eighteen is therefore considered a lucky Jewish number and Jews often give monetary gifts in multiples of eighteen (e.g. $18 or $180).

I won’t describe the significance of every number and corresponding letter, but it is very interesting to look at the Torah through the mystical lens and also to discover the roles of all these numbers in our daily lives. 

My number was specifically 816, which I did not find amongst the special or common numbers, but when I searched for its equivalent in letters, the word that is spelled out is “to be guilty”. The Hebrew verb "asham" primarily conveys the idea of being guilty or committing an offense. It is often used in the context of moral or legal transgressions, indicating a breach of divine or societal laws. The term can also imply the feeling of guilt or the acknowledgment of wrongdoing. In the sacrificial system of ancient Israel, "asham" is associated with the guilt offering, a specific type of sacrifice made to atone for certain sins and to restore the relationship between the offender and God.

As you can see, this is a very distinct explanation and maybe message from my subconscious or from G-d himself. After reading this, I started asking myself, do I feel guilty for having offended God in the past, before I became religious? Is it time for me to truly restore my relationship with God? I feel like I’ve been doing my best to pray and to stay connected to God through certain mitzvahs…am I not doing enough? Or have I done something recently for which I should feel guilty, perhaps I didn’t practice what I preach? Not being satisfied with this explanation, I decided to look at the separate numbers 8 1 6 to see if their significance made any more sense. The number eight is symbolic of new beginnings, the covenant with God, and transcending nature; the number one represents unity, and six is also symbolic of unity and completion. When considering the numbers separately, their meaning aligns more with the angel number meaning and gives me hope that my true spiritual journey has just begun, and that unity and completion are possibly my end goal? This is my personal interpretation of course, but hey, who knows, maybe it’s not so far fetched after all. 

Dreams can be interpreted in many ways. The Talmud regards dreaming as one-sixtieth of prophecy; the remainder it calls devarim b’teilim, nonsense or idle things. How can a person separate the prophetic bit from all the nonsense? The Talmud recommends consulting a dream interpreter, yet dream interpreters, like Torah interpreters, may have very different opinions. The Talmud records the story of one sage who went to 24 dream interpreters, each of whom offered a different — and true — interpretation. And so, like the Torah itself, dreams can have multiple meanings.  

I’ve decided to be my own interpreter and I’ve decided that good things are coming my way! To help that happen, of course, I will work even harder on my connection with God by observing more commandments and strengthening my faith. To guarantee a restful night and sweet dreams, here is the most important prayer in Judaism that is said before going to bed. Enjoy and until next time!

Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings sleep to my eyes, slumber to my eyelids. May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my ancestors, that I lie down in peace and that I arise in peace. Let my sleep be undisturbed by troubling thoughts, bad dreams, and wicked schemes. May I have a night of tranquil slumber. May I awaken to the light of a new day, that my eyes may behold the splendor of Your light. Praised are You, Lord whose glory gives light to the entire world.