Numerology & the Divine Triangle

What is numerology? Well, let's say it's about as complicated or as simple as you would like to make it considering it's math with meaning attached to the numbers. When looking at numerology we are assuming that numbers have a frequency, and that this frequency is often associated with a recurring energetic theme.

In Faith Javane and Dusty Bunker's book Numerology and the Divine Triangle, they demonstrate the most concise take on cross referencing numerology, tarot, and astrology that I have yet to come across in my fifteen year journey of studying the tarot. What immediately pulled me into the book was Javane mentioning in the forward "I found a teacher in astrology who insisted that before she would accept me as a student, I must study numerology." This captured my attention because it was such a hard statement to imagine a potential teacher saying to a potential student.

However, it intrigued me further because I never considered numerology as a strong preliminary step in astrology, much like it is for tarot. I began to think a lot about the 'Matrix of Destiny," as I was trying my hand at creating my own divine triangle. Which for those who don't know, in short, the "Matrix of Destiny," is a type of numerical natal chart reminiscent of an astrological natal chart. What makes it unique is that it has tarot associations to the first twenty-two cards of the deck called the "Major Arcana." Numerology is the connective tissue when it comes to astrology being cross referenced with tarot in a way that makes sense outside of the commonly pre-set planetary, elemental, or astrological assignment to the tarot cards. 

As I continued working my way through the book to decipher the meaning behind my own divine triangle, and was pleasantly surprised when at the back of the book was a comprehensive breakdown to numerology for the tarot as opposed to the one I learned elsewhere! The way I learned numerology for the tarot was the basic Major Arcana being 0-21 and then any number higher than 9 is obviously reduced, except for repeating numbers. For the Minor Arcana and the suits I had learned that 1-14 was applied here, and again if it went above 9 it was reduced, and again accept for repeating numbers.

To my wonderful surprise at the back of this amazing book, the tarot cards were 1-78.  I had never witnessed another example of numerology applied to tarot. The Major arcana started and ended with the fool being number 0 and  22 (which if you're a tarot reader this placement makes sense even though the card is typically associated with 0, it usually is a representation of completing a cycle). The suits in this book counted backward instead of forward for the court cards! Which really shocked me, and then went forward through the suits 1-10, in the order of wands, cups, swords, and pentacles.

This fascinated me! The more I stared at the charts the more the order in which the cards were presented began to make sense, as well as had some overlap with the original way I learned tarot numerology. The only detail of these charts that stood out to me with overlap that is worth mentioning, is that the Knights of each suit represented a season, and every night in the original numerology I learned was an 11, or repeating master number. The logic for it in the book, is that the Knights are holding the aces and a generally shown in the landscape, however, to me there had to be something more in depth about the Knights if the Page, Queen, and King were not associated with the seasons as they are also depicted holding a singular item. I also found it interesting that my personal cross-referencing between numerology systems was not mentioned in this book, but perhaps that is where numerology meets the anomaly.

One massive question I had was "How did they decide which suit goes in order for the number sequence?" Well, because the tarot cards already have pre-set elements, seasons, and astrological associations the chart starts with the sign of the zodiac "Aries," and continues to follow the cards in this order around the wheel of the year. With these preset details it was easy to see that in the chart they are counting the cards astrologically by degree. Then of course by dictating how they would fall in order, they are then assigned a numerology number.

After reading this book and using it as much as I have over the years I would recommend it to anyone who is wanting to further their knowledge in a way that cross-references a lot of what tarot requires people to know in order to understand the cards in depth. The original system I learned for numerology (0-22 and 1-14), is wonderful for someone starting out in a basic sense. The tarot has so much hidden knowledge that it will teach me, yes even me, forever! However, if I had to personally choose a numerology system that actually works and makes more sense, then I would choose the system developed by Javane and Bunker in this book.

Personally, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in symbolism, synchronicity, numerology, astrology, the occult, paranormal, spirituality, and the tarot. So, don't put this book on the dusty digital list of books to buy, simply buy it and let it collect dust somewhere within reaching distance. One day it's going to be useful or of deep intrigue if it's already somewhat associated with personal interest. Numerology is everywhere!

Written by: Makylie Killian