Chapter 9

NUMBERS, METALS AND PRECIOUS STONES

Counting is older than writing and probably dates to prehistoric times. Numbers seem to be deeply impressed in our collective subconscious, explaining why our dreams often refer to age, dates, and other aspects of the numerical. This might also explain why children start to count before they recognise letters. Numbers are at the root of letters and, in many cultures, the letters of the alphabet have a numerical value. This lends itself to magical computations and connections, especially when concerned with the divine and the names of ancient deities.