Considering the Seven

Now we come to lucky number Seven. Along with Three, Seven is perhaps the most well-known benefic number. All across the world, whether they believe in the esoteric meanings or not, practically everyone is familiar with the "specialness" of the number Seven. Here in the Western world, we are nearly all familiar with the usage of the number Seven in the Bible. On multiple occasions throughout Scripture, the number Seven is used to represent something that has special significance. Seven is the number of perfection. A thing done Seven times is done to its perfection, just as silver refined in the fire seven times (Ps. 12:6). In the book of Daniel we see Nebuchadnezzar angrily ordering the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal in order to burn the insubordinate men (Dan. 3:19). In this instance the king is showing his intention of intensifying the heat to its maximum level in a display of wrath and power. The list could go on, but the understanding of the number Seven is that it represents the perfection of whatever it refers to in context. This signification of perfection is what we typically are looking at when we think of the "lucky" number Seven.

Seven has many interesting manifestations in the universe. There are Seven notes on the musical scale. There are Seven colors of the visible light spectrum. There are Seven primary Chakras along the center line of the body. There are Seven inner planets of the solar system which are used in astrology which also correspond to Seven days of the week. Each of these correspond to and harmonize with specific aspects of our psycho-emotional being. Indeed, these Seven can be used to fully map out our energetic architecture. From this perspective, we can see why the number Seven is seen as highly favored and a symbol of perfection.

Using the Chakras as an example, the Seven can be seen as components of our energetic being and as stepping stones of sorts along the path of our evolution. Each new concept we master matures us along in our journey. We work our way up the scale until we reach the seventh. At that point, it is as if we have completed a "level" of the game. From there we progress to the next octave (which will be discussed when we consider the Eight) and begin again at a more "advanced level." This is one of the beautiful aspects of the journey that is commonly overlooked in modern New Age teachings. The journey never ends. It is the goal of many practitioners to reach "enlightenment" by completing the scale and exiting this world. This is not an accurate representation of the function of the Seven. Again looking at the Chakras, Sahasrara is not the final goal. Activating it only means we have completed one cycle (assuming we have indeed activated it.) Then we move along to the next cycle. There is no end and no static state of "enlightenment" to be achieved. And how wonderful that is. Why would we want to be done and have nothing left?

When considering the Seven, we are observing the natural progression of our (and the universe's) evolution. Just like the musical scale, every time we complete one cycle we move on to the next octave and continue along. The Seven teaches us about ourselves. It shows us where we are, and where we still have to go. By learning from the Seven we can come to know our architecture and how we can become the best we can be, like silver refined seven times.