What is gematria and how is it used?

gematria is an ancient system of numerology used by some religious and philosophical groups to ascribe numerical values to words, phrases, or ideas. The practice of gematria dates back as far as the 6th century BCE and is still practiced today in Kabbalah, a form of Judaic mysticism, and in other hermetic wisdom teachings.

The word "gematria" has its roots in the Greek language, where it translates to "geometri" (meaning "earth measurement"). This name reflects the concept that each letter of the alphabet has a numerical value which can be combined with other letters or words to provide deeper insights into their meanings.

In gematria, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is assigned a numerical value ranging from one to four hundred. Since there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, each phrase or word can create specific numbers alluding to various possible meanings. For example, if you took three of the letters from the Hebrew alphabet and their corresponding values (Heh = 5; Vau = 6; Shin = 300), you would end up with a total value of 311. That number can then be used for further analysis.

The main purpose of gematria is to use it as a tool for exploration and understanding of hidden spiritual concepts in both scripture and secular writing. It is used by students of sacred tradition as an aid towards comprehending deeper mysteries, such as alchemy and angelic communication. It can also be used by numerologists who specialize in divination arts like tarot readings or astrology.

In addition to exploring spiritual insights, some scholars also believe that gematria is a powerful code-breaking tool when looking into historical texts or traditions such as biblical scripture or ancient myths. By employing this system for decoding hidden connections and messages between different scriptures, one may discover correlations linking various topics - like politics or science - which wouldn't normally be thought to have anything in common at first glance!