Why does the recurrence of numbers (e.g., 23) and symbols suggest a hidden deeper meaning?

Question

If you look for it, the number 23 is everywhere.
Each parent contributes 23 chromosomes to the DNA of a child.
It takes 23 seconds for blood to circulate throughout the entire body.
The human biorhythm is 23 days long.
December 23, 2012, is the date the Mayan calendar ends, predicting an apocalyptic event.
David Beckham is #23
Lebron James is #23
Michael Jordan was #23.
Earths axis is tilted at 23.5.
Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times.
230 people died on TWA flight 800.
These are only a couple examples.

Tell us what numbers and symbols you see in your everyday life, eerie or not.

Answer 1

23 is a prime numbers. It is also the first 10*2 based prime.

Prime numbers themselves are a marvel simply because they represent a number that can't be divided by anything except 1.

This being true, 23 is unique simply because it is the first rotation out of the base 10 system, with 1(<- 10)9 being just prior.

You see a similar even when you hit the first prime over 100 = 101, which is associated the educational system.

Prime numbers are indeed a marvel, but rather than focusing on the individual numbers themselves, we should stop and think - who thought this system up? We are taught in history that it was the Sumerians who fist made the complex system, but at the root of it, we have synchronistic, yet erratic behaviour, and such anomalies as primes, proving that the nature of the system we live in is indeed complexities infinitely expanding based on exponential multiplication. Numbers prove this, and so does the very nature of time itself.

23 is an interesting number, but check out the numbers 3, 7 or 13 (all primes) sometime, and 23 dwindles in comparison. Symbolism is indeed powerful, and every time you look at the time and it's 11:11,1:11, or 9:11, or 2:02 ask yourself why.. synchronicity to a system and form of thought.

Answer 2

So?
The father contributes only 22 chromosomes, as the Y chromosome has no genes.
It doesn't take precisely 23.00000 seconds for the blood to circulate, does it?
No apocalypse occurred on 1999 December 31, so none will occur on 2012 December 23.
What was Sammy Sosa's number? What was Mickey Mantle's number? What was Johnny Unitas' number?
The Earth's tilt is about 23.5 degrees; it is NOT 23 degrees.
Why is the Julius stabbing number special? How about the number 1? That's the number of times both Lincoln and Kennedy were shot.
134 people died aboard American 191. 189 died on the plane crash into the Pentagon. No 23s there.

Besides, I can prove that 23 = 0. Here is how. Solve the quadratic equation x^2-27*x+50 = 1:

(x-25)(x-2) = 1

So either

x - 25 = 1 or x - 2 = 1

Taking x - 25 = 1, we get x = 1 + 25 or 26.

Substitute 26 into the original equation:

x^2-27*x+50 = 1
x^2-27*x+49 = 0
26^2 - 26*27+49 = 0
676-702+49 = 0
23=0

But there is an even easier (although costlier) way of proving it. Go to a movie theater. The headline in the Richmond Times-dispatch read "This number is a zero".

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149193344604&path=%21flair&s=1045855936229

Answer 3

The reason why the number 23 seems to be such a predictive and mysterious number is because the numbers themselves are the most common numbers on earth.

The numbers 2 and 3 are the lowest prime numbers besides 1. Nearly everything can be brought down to these numbers. Every number, except otherprime numbers, can be divided by either 2 or 3.

Also, the number 23 it self is a prime number which means that you cannot divide any more than 1 and 23.

There is no deeper meaning to the number 23 for the sole fact that the numerical system that created 23 is not very old. We have only been using this system for about 800 years. When looking at something like Mayan dates, which did not use the same numerical system as us, the number 23 is a interpretation of an older system.

Answer 4

Most people know and understand that numbers are infinite.

However, all numbers are based on only 10 numbers found in the universe. Those numbers are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0. Even though repeatable, there can be only those 10 numbers used in any given combination.
We, as human beings, consciously and subconsciously try to find hidden "meanings" in these repetitions as we try to conquer and explain what we cannot prove and remains a constant unknown.
If we step outside of our "boxes" we can see that these repetitions are only a part of the natural occurance and re-occurance of the repetition of these 10 numbers, and not some kind of mystical "awareness" that we have yet to discover. As well, numbers are relative, as a whole, and their use in our daily lives are not perfect.

Let's take the combination of 2 and 3 as the number 23 for an example and the list provided in the original question.
Not all parents contribute 23 chromosomes to the DNA of a child. Some children, such as with Down's Syndrome may get more than or less than 23 chromosomes.
The heart has a particular "rhythm" it carries in general. However, as we all know, the heart may beat slower or faster, so it is impossible that every cycle of blood circulation lasts exactly 23 seconds.
The above may also be a given to the human biorhythm. As everyone is different, the biorhythm of one versus another is imperfect.
As there are no ancient Mayans floating around the earth today, we can only interpret the Mayan calander with no perception of the true value of time that the ancient Mayans had.
David Beckham and Lebron James....both stars but in different sports which neither can correlate to the other, no matter how many numbered jerseys are found on the bench.
Michael Jordan the same as above, even though he and James are in basketball, they are non-correlatable as both can only be related to one sport but at different times.
The Earth's axis is not perfectly tilted at 23.5 and remains in a constant state of change as it revolves around the sun and the galaxy revolves around the universe. Most understand that the rate of the Earth's rotation is slowing, so this axial tilt will change only in correlation to that slowing as well as the constant change in magnetic pull.
What we know about Julius Ceasar is by ancient written record and literary guide. Furthermore if the knife, let's say, in one of those "stabs" did not fully penatrate the body, would it be wrongfully interpretated as a "stab" where it truly was a "graze"?
Ah, 230 people died in TWA flight 800. Again, relative. Could it of been that any of the passengers was pregnant? It would be relative, as then it would have been 231 people who died, yes?

As we can see, all numbers in their ultimate configuration and repetition are relative and severly open to interpretation. As emotional beings, we may find these repetitions "eerie" only because we want them to be.....not because they really are.

LilD

Answer 5

Here are some more:

September 11, 2001 - add the numbers 9+11+2+1 and you get...23.

The first Morse Code transmission - "What hath God wrought?" - was from the Bible passage Numbers 23:23.

The Knights Templar had 23 Grand Masters, the last being Jacques de Molay.

Alexander the Great was aged 23 when he cut the Gordian Knot.

Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, served between Grover Cleveland's two non-consecutive terms.

The Salt March, initiated by Mohandas Gandhi to protest the salt tax, lasted 23 days.

W, the 23rd letter of the Latin alphabet has 2 points down, 3 points up.

William Shakespeare's date of birth is 23 April, died on 23 April and had his first portfolio published in 1623. His first play Titus Andronicus was performed January 23, 1594.

The soft drink Dr Pepper "is a unique blend of 23 flavors.

In The Big Lebowski, The Dude and his friends always play at Lane 23.

Answer 6

Is it significant that this question was posted 3 days ago, and there are 11 days left to answer?

3 + 11 = 14

Wait a minute, that can't be right. It should be 23. Shouldn't it?

But 7 + 7 = 14
(there's those 7s again)

And the evil number 666?
(666 - 23) / 14 = 45.928571428571428571428571428571

Taking an approximation of PI, when I divide 22 by 7 I get 3.1428571428571428571428571

Look at the similarity in the digits after the decimal point.

1+4+2+8+5+7+1=28

Therefore there must be something significant about the number 28.

Mustn't there?

ROFLMAO
Anyone can make any number seem significant.

Answer 7

9-11, weird facts! Try this and let me know what you think! Thanks!?

This is pretty coincidential.... or well planned - not
sure how you'd look at it.

Make sure you do the microsoft word thing at the end

Read this...

Weird 9/11 facts...

1) New York City has 11 letters

2) Afghanistan has 11 letters.

3) Ramsin Yuseb (The terrorist who threatened to
destroy the Twin Towers in 1993) has 11 letters.

4) George W Bush has 11 letters.

5) The two twin towers make an "11"

This could be a mere coincidence, but this gets more
interesting:

1) New York is the 11th state.

2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers
was flight number 11.

3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers. 9 + 2 = 11

4) Flight 77 which also hit Twin Towers, was carrying
65 passengers. 6+5 = 11

5) The tragedy was on September 11, or 9/11 as it is
now known. 9 + 1+ 1 = 11

6) The date is equal to the US emergency services
telephone number 911. 9 + 1 + 1 = 11.

Sheer coincidence..?! Read on and make up your own
mind:

1) The total number of victims inside all the
hi-jacked planes was 254. >2 + 5 + 4 = 11.

2) September 11 is day number 254 of the calendar
year. Again 2 + 5 + 4 = 11.

3) The Madrid bombing took place on 3/11/2004. 3 + 1 +
1 + 2 + 4 = 11.

4) The tragedy of Madrid happened 911 days after the
Twin Towers incident.

Sheer coincidence..?! Read on and make up your own
mind: Now this is where things get totally eerie:

The most recognised symbol for the US, after the Stars
& Stripes, is the
Eagle. The following verse is taken from the Quran,
the Islamic holy book:

"For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a
fearsome Eagle. The
wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands
of Allah and lo,
while some of the people trembled in despair still
more rejoiced: for the
wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and
there was peace."

That verse is number 9.11 of the Quran.

Still uncovinced about all of this..?! Try this and
see how you feel afterwards, it made my hair stand on
end:


Open Microsoft Word and do the following (TRY THIS FOR
REAL)

1. Type in capitals Q33 NY. This is the flight number
of the first plane to hit one of the Twin Towers.

2. Highlight the Q33 NY.

3. Change the font size to 48.

4. Change the actual font to the WINGDINGS 1

scary huh??

Answer 8

It is the number one that has the deeper meaning.

1 is a prime number.

2 = 1+1
3 = 1+1+1
2+3 = 5 = 1+1+1+1+1
2x3 = 6 = 1+1+1+1+1+1
23 = 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+...
23 = 10111 in Binary

In the basic number sequence, 123, one comes BEFORE the the number 23!

1 can be divided evenly into the number 23.

Divide 1 by 23 and you get 1/23!

They year 2000 problem occurred in year 2001 minus 1.

There are 123,123,123,123,111 trillion times more numerological events associated with the number 1 than with any other number.

Also, you seem to have a really bad problem with math, you listed 10 examples and said "These are only a couple of examples." A couple would be 2 examples.

230, and 23.5 does not equal 23.

Answer 9

Unfortunately, Arithmacy and Numberology don't have a secure place in the world. If there was, then you could use them to PREDICT ill events. Let's look at some things for a moment.

Dec. 7, 1941
12+7=19
1+9+4+1=15
12+7+1+9+4+1=34
1+9=10=1
1+5=6
3+4=7

Sept. 11, 2001
9+11=20
2+0+0+1=3
9+11+2+0+0+1=23
2+0=2
2+3=5

Jun. 6, 1944
6+6=12
1+9+4+4=18
6+6+1+9+4+1=30
1+3=3
1+8=9
3+9=12=3

Wow, between Pearl harbor, D-Day, and Sept 11, there was no numberic corelation! These were three very important dates in the history of the United States in the last century. Surely, if there were some sort of binding numberical value asigning good and bad luck throughout the universe, something would have appeared connecting the three. Oh, well, I guess we will just have to go back to the drawing boards.

Answer 10

1

Answer 11

My classmates and I used to worry about that, too. A lot of calamities in our country happened within a certain time frame. But over time the bad luck ended and everything went back to normal.

I don't think 23 really has a bad connotation or association with anything evil. Maybe the other events, like the plane crash and all those natural calamities, are really just coincidences. But the others could have been man-made.

I'm not saying Michael Jordan would join the band-wagon of 23 lovers, but someone people really do like odd things, just the way a person I know fancies the number 13 even though most think it's an unlucky number. And Hollywood is really making the mass media more intrigued about this number by coming up with shows just like that of Jim Carrey's.

So in the end it's all in the mind and in the Lord's Will. (Cause, yes, I'm Catholic.)