Pythagorean Number Symbolism: Metaphysical Meanings of Numbers One, Two, and Three

Properties derived from Numbers can be traced back to those properties that emerge when considering a chosen series, provided the choice has been made carefully for the purposes one has set, which, ultimately, are determined by the metaphysical orientation of the Personality acting in such meditation. Having said this, if we considered a limiting number such as $1000$, we would implicitly have already accepted that a first complete series could be that obtained by considering only the first $10$ Numbers and, therefore, that these are, symbolically, the most important. We know that the number $12$ has great cosmological importance and, in general, is fundamental in the constitution of an initiatic center. Therefore, in this article we will limit ourselves to mentioning the symbolism of the first twelve numbers: $1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12$. Number One. Number One is not originated from another number if we place ourselves from the point of view of substance. It is God's number. The Pythagoreans called it Simplicity, that is, that which cannot be divided, but also Intelligence, because it reunites all things in itself, as well as Being or Cause of Truth. Other names were those of Ship or Chariot because He is the one who hosts everything, but also Friend, Life and Happiness. When it was called Darkness, Mixture and Shadow, it meant the fact that in it all Numbers were present, but not yet made explicit, as in a kind of mixture, in a still undifferentiated state. All numbers come from One, in it are contained all Numbers and no Number can ever generate Unity in its Uniqueness except One. Since numbers are the cause of the living, One is the cause of the life of beings. The Unity that precedes, originates and contains every difference, the great Unity of Chinese metaphysics, is founded on the absolute One. At a lower level the Uniqueness of manifested reality guarantees the reality of all its multiple faces insofar as it is founded on Unity. The ascent towards One passes through the unification of oneself obtained, not by means of an abstract cancellation of life possibilities, but with the lovingly coordinated intensification of the same, in order to realize, but only as a first important stage, one's own uniqueness in order to then finally realize Personality. In this direction the vision and realization of the Unity of One as harmonic totality of parts is a degree of knowledge that implies an effective realization of the possibilities contained in any given domain of conditions. Number Two. Two in an absolute sense is the foundation of the idea of Duality. An aspect of Duality turned towards non-manifestation is realized through the eternal knowing of the Other in Unity. An aspect of the idea of Duality turned towards the world of informal manifestation is well symbolized by all forms of complementarity. Descending into the world of manifestation, Two founds the Idea of separativity by positing itself as Other with respect to One. The equation $1 + 1 = 2$ is the symbol of Duality in Unity, which, by inverse analogy, is obtained from two units reflecting themselves in each other. Instead the action $S(1) = 2$ is the symbol of full separativity and is the true manifested beginning of the action of essence on substance. In this case truly Two expresses the idea of opposition and differentiation, while in the case of double repetition of unity, $1 + 1 = 2$ are symbolized, principally, the ideas of specularity or complementarity. Number $2$ was called Mother of Zeus. It was also called Movement, Generation, Change, Impulse, Nature. The most general term, Change, which subsumes them all in itself, evokes the encounter between opposites, and which in nature assumes the form of movement and then we have the oppositions of hot and cold, good and evil, day and night, life and death. Number Three. Three in absolute is the foundation of the idea of Trinity. An aspect of Trinity turned towards non-manifestation is the instantaneous generativity of the Life of Unity. An aspect of the idea of Trinity turned towards the world of informal manifestation is well symbolized by every conciliation obtained within a domain containing two distinct but not necessarily complementary parts. Descending into the world of manifestation, Three founds the Idea of the resultant of action and reaction between two poles in opposition. The popular saying "there's no two without three" is one of the deepest truths given to the language of the people. For this reason $3$ was called by the Pythagoreans Friendship, Peace, Concord, Harmony. It was also called the Indomitable, because it can never be divided into two equal parts; this expresses the law of the Ternary as return to Unity. Change operates according to three fundamental tendencies: of elevation, of expansion and of submersion.