Our Lady Liberty – How’s She Doing?
‘Thirteen – What’s in a Number?’
by Dahni
© Copyright 7/14/09
all rights reserved
Heretofore, WE have spent considerable time exploring liberty and specifically, the Statue of Liberty. Every statue; every building and anything built must have a foundation. The foundation of this blog, ‘Our Lady Liberty, – “How’s She Doing?” is liberty. It is a known fact that the more information or details about something WE have at our command, the easier it is to recall the information. The Statue of Liberty posts here, with all it’s information, was given for that purpose, to be able to recall the information. The Statue of Liberty as a visual representation of our liberty, should firmly fix an image of liberty in our minds. The purpose of any foundation is to be able to support, preserve, protect and maintain the structure upon which it stands. I would hope that you recall, it was only a few common people among WE the People, children and a newspaper man, which were responsible for getting that foundation built. It is rarely ever a matter of numbers, but unity that matters in erecting a base upon which to stand. And from this base; this pedestal and this foundation of liberty, upon which WE the People stand, WE the People move forward –
Today: ‘Thirteen – “What’s in a Number?’
Numerically and biblically, the number 13 is associated with apostasy, revolt and even rebellion. The word apostasy comes from one Greek preposition (apo) + one Greek word (stasis). Looking at a circle, the Greek preposition apo would be the motion away from the surface of the circle. The Greek word stasis is defined as, “a standing still.” Apostasy (Gr. apostasiā, apostasies), is “a standing away,” or “a withdrawing from.” From its original meaning, it is easy to understand why the number thirteen, for many, is considered as an “unlucky number” and is feared by others. But apostasy is not the ONLY meaning of the number 13!
In numerology and numbers in scripture, the number twelve is considered the number of governmental perfection, corresponding to the number 3 (completeness) X (multiplied by), the number 4 (creative works), as the four seasons – spring, summer, fall and winter, the cycle of life. The number twelve is reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus, etc., whereas the number thirteen was considered irregular, transgressing this perfection.
But in nature, there are 13 Lunations in one Solar year. A ‘Lunation’ is a complete cycle of the Moon from New Moon, Waxing Moon, Full Moon, Waning Moon, Dark Moon and then New Moon again which takes approximately 28 days. This occurs 13 times during the time it takes the Earth to orbit around the Sun, also known as, a Solar year.
Women are lunar creatures and their menstruation cycles are linked to these cycles of the moon as are the ocean tides and other naturally occurring phenomenon. The root of the word month and menses is Moon. Nature, not invention made the calendar! Women were the original time keepers. We know that 13 Moons and 13 menstrual cycles pass during the seasonal shifts of one year. When invention and myths replaced this natural order and a new calendar was put into place, all things feminine were demoted; devalued and any such lunar consciousness or association was believed to be evil, cursed and “unlucky.”
A year was no longer reckoned by the Moon. A year was divided into 12 intervals of time or 12 months, some with 30 days, some with 31 and one with only 28, but every four years, to reconcile the lost time to the cosmic truth, on leap year, one day is added in February. What was by nature, the wonder and proper preparation for new birth and to sustain new life, a woman’s menstruation became a ‘curse’ and she was considered “unclean.” Long ago, many were taught that the ancient rite – ‘Drawing Down the Moon’ ( gazing at the Moon for Spiritual power), would make one insane, crazy or a lunatic, and the number 13 became an unlucky number!
The age of 13 is the age when children become teenagers. This could also be another argument for rebellion, especially if you are the parent of a teenager or have ever been one. 
As to fears associated with the number 13 and especially, Friday the 13th, levels of a multi-story building are numbered sequentially, from the basement, number 1 or ground floor upwards. In some nations, the number 13 is considered unlucky and either buildings will only be built to the 12th floor or purposefully omit numbering the 13th floor and are numbered as the 14th floor.
Landlords, business owners, hotels and motels with their suites and on their floors may omit the number 13, so as not to compromise their desirability, by superstitious customers and tenants. Even streets and addresses on streets may intentionally omit the number.
One of the largest manufacturers of elevators, Otis Elevators, estimates that 85% of the buildings with elevators, do not have a floor named the 13th floor. Also, the Disney ride ‘The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror’ is known to have 13 floors, even though the dial on the elevator goes to 12.
Some people experience traumatic physical, mental and emotional effects from their fear of 13 and particularly Friday the 13th . Many will not leave home on this day and even others will not get out of bed.
Again, apostasy, revolt, rebellion and even fears are not always associated with the number 13.
In Judaism, 12 signifies the age at which a boy matures and becomes a Bar Mitzvah or “one to whom the commandments apply.” The Bat Mitzvah (female), is at the age of 13 for girls. Both of these ceremonies are for a Jewish boy or girl who has ‘come of age.’ This also coincides with physical puberty. 12 or 13 was not the age when they became adults, but a time when they could participate in the Sabbath.
In Bible times, the Bar Mizvah (boys), or the Bat Mitzvah (girls), was the first time they were permitted to or considered mature enough, to ask an intelligent question of a adult. At the age of 12 was, when Jesus was lost from his parental party and found later in the temple both “asking questions” and hearing answers. He was of legal age to do so and would have been required to have participated in a public Bar Mitzvah ceremony. But there is evidence to support that this ceremony did not occur at the same time as other Jewish boys, but in a separate ceremony to show that based on the belief at the time, he was a bastard child, for his father was unknown. Thus he was separated and considered an outsider, one drawn out publicly to show that he was a child, born out of wedlock. His was considered an untimely birth; an unlucky birth and a birth associated with apostasy. But there is more to the number 13.
Thirteen may be viewed as 12 + 1 to mess up the order of governmental perfection. But thirteen can also be seen as 12 + 1 to restore the order of governmental perfection. It is the number of atonement. Common definitions are:
Atonement – noun
1. satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) Theology. the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, esp. as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ.
3. Archaic. reconciliation; agreement.
Many cultures and religions have often used animal sacrifice as symbols of atonement, or reconciliation. Such animals among others were bullocks, goats and lambs.
Another way to view this word atonement is – At-One-Ment or being at one with. Such was another number 13 in American History, which occurred on July, 4th, 1776.
Thirteen colonies somehow, unanimously declared, their independence from the world’s most powerful military at the time and the King of England. There is much evidence to support that only 10-13% of the population among those 13 colonies, ever fought in The Revolutionary War.
While there were unsuccessful colonies in the ‘New World’ to precede it, the first English-speaking colony to survive, was at Jamestown, Virginia. The last to settle was Georgia, by charter, in 1732. The list below includes the thirteen colonies in chronological order.
- Virginia 1607
- Massachusetts 1620
- New Hampshire 1623
- Maryland 1634
- Connecticut 1635/1636
- Rhode Island 1636 Note: This was the first colony to guarantee all its citizens freedom of worship. This colony was founded on separation of church and state.
- Delaware 1638
- North Carolina 1653
- South Carolina 1663
- New Jersey 1664
- New York 1664
- Pennsylvania 1682
- Georgia 1732/1733
Memorize the following and perhaps it will help you to recall the chronological order of the 13 colonies. The Capital letters and highlighted letters correspond to the individual colonies:
[Virtue and liberty, the Mass appeal for New Hope, Marries the land and Connects Realism and Idealism with Deliberate Noble Colonies and Sole Colonies, Newly Jerked together; Newly Yoked together and Penned together by the word writ and signed by 13, made it Great!]
To the King of England, the 13 colonies were an ‘unlucky’ lot, traitorous, rebellious and a representation of apostasy. To the 13 colonies, they were at one with each other, and with one heart and one resolve, they atoned for the “sins” of their mother England.
For WE the People, the beneficiaries of the 13, it is a wonderful number! It is a number that marks our liberty. And as a person born on the 13th, I’m particularly fond of the number.
Next time: ‘We Declare’ – 56 signers and our Founding Fathers’
