Archive for Thursday 7th August 2003 - The story of creation

We are born into a world of which we know almost nothing. Our scientists do not know how it began, or how life arose. We do not know the origin of human intelligence or culture. We do not even know if we are alone in the universe.

Yet in the darkness of ignorance there is a source of firm knowledge. Numbers and geometry are always the same, everywhere. Wise people in the past saw the field of numbers as divinely given, reflecting the perfect order of the universe. From it they derived the story of creation that we have been examining.

But when Jonathan asked me to write about numbers and creative geometry, my first thought was for our readers. I like to speak plainly and not mystify anyone. So, for the sake of anyone who has been mystified by my five-week series, here is my simple explanation.

I have been telling an ancient story, about how the world began. It was the work of a loving Creator. He made it as perfect as possible, using numbers, geometry and the harmonies of music.

The Creator is "he" because he represents the male, generative principle in nature. His partner in the creative act is the eternal feminine principle, the holy spirit or world-goddess. Her womb is the spherical universe.

This story is the root of all ancient religions and all the esoteric sciences ­ alchemy, astrology, divination and magic. And behind the story itself is a code of mathematical knowledge, the original blueprint of Creation.

Most people do not care to study numbers, and why should they? If you do, though, you are well rewarded. But if not you can benefit from what the initiates all say: "You should not worry because everything is well taken care of."

John Michell

Unexplained Phenomena, A Rough Guide Special
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Who Wrote Shakespeare?
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