Founder of The Priestess Path Lineages of Light ®

13 The Holy Number of the Goddess

Happy Friday the 13th!

The number thirteen is found in the harmony of the earth’s cycles, moon cycles, women’s cycles, and in the cosmic order of the universe. It is interesting to note that for hundreds, if not thousands of years, this number has been made out to be “unlucky”.

We clearly see that there are thirteen moons in one year. The ancient Maya and Native American cultures used the cycles of the full moon to tell the time. There are exactly 13 full moon cycles in one solar year with one sacred day out of time. You can get 13 Moon Mayan Calendars if you wish to follow moon time.

Native American cultures also used 13 moon calendars. Each of the 13 moons of the year has a name associated which reflects the aspects of the earth and climate when the moon is full. For example the “Blossoming Moon” in March clearly notes the time when the the plants and trees blossom. The Saanich people of northern most Washington had this thirteen moon calendar:

Thirteen also happens to be the number that marks the half way point from full moon to full moon. Each full moon cycle is 28 days, with day 13 being the half way point.

It is interesting to note that a woman’s menstrual cycle is normally 28 days and harmonizes with the moon. Day thirteen of a woman’s menstrual cycle is her fertile time and marks the half way point in her monthly cycle.

In the earliest records from Neolithic times, we see goddess figures associated with the number thirteen. This carving is known as the “Venus of Laussel.” Found in a shelter in Southern France, it shows a voluptuous goddess figure with her right hand holding up a bison horn with thirteen notches engraved in it and her left hand placed upon her pregnant belly. The thirteen notches, likely noted the thirteen moons in one year and/or the thirteenth day of her menstrual cycle in which she could get pregnant.

In the mystic teachings of the Hebrew, there are thirteen aspects that make up the body of God. There are thirteen Sephiroth in the Tree of Life, the thirteenth realm being that of Ain, which is the unmanifest, yet all-potential aspect of God.

Throughout the course of history, the number thirteen has been feared, vilified and marketed as “unlucky”. For instance, the number thirteen is known as the “Devil’s Dozen” the fear of the number thirteen is known as Triskaidekaphobia. Fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia, (pronounce that!).

And let’s not forget, the noble Knights Templar, who protected Christian pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land, met their fate on Friday the 13th in 1307. The King of France feared their power and wealth and got Papal support to massacre, arrest and seize all the assets of this powerful and noble group of warriors. Likely, this also greatly attributed to the fear and unluckiness of the number 13 and Friday the 13th.

Fear of the number 13 could also come from there being 12 Apostles of Jesus and then Judas is the 13th who betrayed him. Fear of the number 13 is clearly linked to fear of the Goddess and simply of women, which resulted in Christian vilification of the Goddess aspect of the Creator and the trinity: The Goddess.

This world-wide fear has crept up to the present moment in time, but many are seeing through the veneer of fear into the sacred reality and origins of the number 13.

Rock on 13, we love you!

Author: Elizabeth Seraphine, Creator of the Priestess Path Lineages of Light® Mystery School & Wudang adept.

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