Ancient Divination by the Wheel of Pythagoras

Sortileges By Lots

AMONG all the methods of "divination" which have found favor in the eyes of the student, none has received greater recognition than that of Sortileges or "drawing lots." Admitting the sanctity which attaches to any body of Scripture to be acknowledged by the consultant, what method of obtaining a knowledge of the will of Nature could be more facile or more dependable than to take haphazard a text from the revealed Word?

The Bible among Christians, the Koran among Mohammedans, and the religious books among various nations have been consistently used for purposes of "divination" by Sortilege. Various of the religious books of India are consulted in the same manner, and they have many books constructed for purposes of "divination." In all Sortileges drawn from holy writ the direct action of the divinatory faculty is relied upon, and the lot drawn is accepted as the expressed will of Nature in regard to the matter about which the inquiry is made; the belief in such a. divination being that the Spirit not only directs the mind to this means of resolving its doubts. but also guides the hand to an appropriate and true selection.

In the case of hooks constructed specially for the purpose of "divination," of which there are a great number, the automatic or divinatory faculty is by means of numbers, geomantic points and other intermediaries, so that in effect the diviner is guided to a Sortilege or Oracular sentence which is designedly in opposition to the question and presumed to satisfy it, being favorable or otherwise according to the lot or number involved.

The usual method of making such books of divination is to formulate a certain number of questions, from which the diviner may choose such as answer nearest to the matter in hand, and then to arrange a codex by which each question is related to a variety of answers, so that at some point or other in the process the automatic faculty may avail itself of the element of "chance." Thus, while there is a great variety of methods, the principal factor in all cases is the exercise of the automatic or "divinatory faculty."

And if we rightly consider the matter there is no reason why such Sortileges should not be true and effective, for it is constantly under observation that problems which cannot be solved by the voluntary exercise of the faculties will be speedily and successfully surmounted by the automatic or involuntary action of the mind. Such cases are on record in connection with the experience of somnambulism or sleep-walking, from which it appears that a person may retire to sleep with the mind in a state of anxiety concerning some problem of study, some article lost, some circumstance forgotten, and during sleep the person will rise from his bed and go about without harm or danger to himself and accomplish with great ease that which had been upon his mind before falling asleep. The morning finds the problem solved, the lost article restored, the forgotten incident carefully set down in writing. These facts prove two things: First, that the soul of man knows more than it can impress upon a tired or disturbed brain; and, Second, that all action is followed by reaction. Concerning the first of these, it is well known that intuitive knowledge transcends reason and that instinct surpasses the highest use of the senses.

What intuition is to the mind of man, instinct is to the animal soul. Both are in the nature of direct and unerring knowledge, but the one is related to the imponderable and the other to the material world. "When the brain is at rest, and when Reason, the great Doubter, has done its best and failed, then the soul is able to throw down the images of its thought upon the clear and unruffled surface of the mind, as if it would say, “Be still and know that I am the lord!"

As to the second deduction from experience, one may quote Scripture to the same effect: "Ask and ye shall receive; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shal1 be opened unto you." But it is also possible, and to the ordinary mind may be more acceptable to cite a common experience of every-day life. A name is forgotten which it is important should be recollected; we worry over it, we twist and turn about in the storehouse of the memory to find that particular name; we go through the alphabet in the hope of getting a lead-off in the right direction from the initial letter; we make various futile attempts at a combination of sounds; but all to no purpose. We give it up and turn for distraction to some other theme. No sooner has the attention become entirely diverted than, spontaneously and perfectly, the much-sought name springs to the brain, the eye, the tongue on the instant.

The moral of this is: When you have ploughed and sown, leave the harvest to Nature; or, as I have heard it otherwise put: When you can't solve a problem, leave it to the spirits of the Astral Plain and they will answer it in your dream," which means, I take it, that Nature is all-sufficient and that what she can make she can break, by one means or another. And this is the faith of the devout; for, having tried by all rightful means to compass an end, and finding the task beyond his powers, a man does well to leave the issue in higher hands. By doing so he affirms his faith in the beneficent power of his Creator.

An instance of the kind of Sortileges referred to as "indirect," may be found in the "Wheel of Pythagoras." A person desires an answer to a question. Such answer may be propitious or adverse, of immediate fulfilment, or delayed, according to the condition of the Planets

WHEEL OF PYTHAGORAS

Invented In The Solitude Of The Middle Ages

Resolves All Questions, Past, Present, And Future.

Divination By Numbers Of Very Ancient Origin.

An Ancient Oraculum Divided Into Compartments

Reproduced From An Ancient Manuscript

By L. W. de LAURENCE

Positively Never Before Given To The WorId

Ancients Had Faith in Divination by Numbers

"TOMES" IN THE DEAD LANGUAGES

The Numbers attributed to the days of the week, and of the Planet ruling the day, are of very ancient origin. They are, as well as The Wheel of Pythagoras, a creation of former traditional foreknowledge by lots or numbers, and were invented, like Geomancy, in the Monastic Solitude of the Middle .Ages. The Ancient Manuscript from whence this is compiled appears to have been written as early as the fifteenth century. --It was purchased at a very high price by DR. DE LAURENCE, who, being an Adept and member of the same Eastern Order Of Sacred Mysteries to which Pythagoras belonged, is the only man in the world who now has possession of this MarvelousWheel. The very same is protected by Copyright and must not be copied or reproduced. Disregard of this warning will subject the offender to the penalty provided by law.

Arithmancy, or Divination by Numbers, on which The Wheel of Pythagoras is founded, was variously practiced. Many stupendous "Tomes," in the dead languages, now obsolete and forgotten, were to be found, explaining the “Art and Manner" of these curious proceedings; ill which the letters of the party's name were said to contain many hidden arcana, when deciphered by the" mysteries of numbers." The ancients went so far in these particulars, as to declare their belief that each individual may know the chief secrets of his destiny by the help of his name, or patronymical appellation; and also that there exists a peculiar sympathy between the name and the pursuits throughout life. These facts are here stated merely to apprise the student of the unlimited faith of the ancients for Divination by Numbers, no matter how or where they were found.

There have been several Ancient writers of eminence who have treated of "the power of numbers" when chosen or combined by "lots;" amongst them stands conspicuous Trithemius, the famous Abbot of Spanheim, whose works are exceedingly mystical, rare, and curious, but have never been translated into English.

The Ancients, who were extremely fond or Divination, were wont to place great confidence in the "Wheel Of Pythagoras" which resolves questions by Arithmancy, or a species of sortilegy by numbers, wherein the result depends upon the unfettered agency of the mind and will, or intent to know "any difficult thing."

The Wheel Of Pythagoras is said by ancient writers to resolve "all questions the asker may wish to be acquainted with, whether of the past time, the present time, or of the future." The following are a few samples of the questions:

Questions The Wheel Is Said To Answer

Inform me of any or all particulars which relate to the woman I shall marry. --Will the Prisoner be released, or continue captive? --Shall I live to an old age? –Shall I have to travel far by sea or land, or to reside in foreign climes? --Shall I be involved in litigation; and if so, shall I gain or lose my cause? --Shall I make, or mar, my fortune by gambling? --Shall I ever be able to retire from business with a fortune? --Shall I be eminent, and meet with preferment in my pursuits? --Shall I be successful in my present undertaking? --Shall I ever inherit testamentary property? --Shall I spend this year happier than the last? --Will my name be immortalized, and will posterity applaud it? --Will the friend I most reckon upon prove faithful or treacherous? --Will the stolen property be recovered, and will the thief be detected? --What is the aspect of the seasons, and what political changes are to take place? --Will the stranger soon return from abroad? --Will my beloved prove true in my absence? --Will the marriage about to take place be happy and prosperous? --After my death, will my children be virtuous and happy? --Shall I ever recover from my present misfortune? --Will it be my lot to experience great vicissitudes in this life? --Will my reputation be at all or much affected by calumny? --Inform me of all particulars relating to my future husband? --Shall the patient recover from illness? --Does the person whom I love, love and regard me? --Shall my intended journey be prosperous or unlucky? --Shall I ever find a treasure? --What trade or profession ought I to follow? --Have I many, or any enemies? --Are absent friends in good health, and what is their present employmen? --Shall my wife have a son or daughter? --If a horse shall win the race? --If a prisoner shall come out of prison? --If an absent person shall return? --If the city besieged shall be taken? --Of two fighters, which shall prevail? --If the sickness shall be long or short? --If a suit at law shall be gained? --If thy wishes shall succeed? --If the day shall be fortunate? --If the stolen or lost things shall be recovered? –If it be good to buy or sell? --If the asker shall marry? --If the undertaking will succeed? --If the asker is fortunate or unfortunate? --If any matter or thing whatsoever shall end good or ill? --If a sick person shall recover or die?

EXPLANATION OF THE WHEEL

The "Wheel Of Pythagoras" is divided into Four Compartments, the upper half of which contains in order the Numbers, which are termed propitious, good, and fortunate; the lower half contains those Numbers of a contrary kind, or those which are termed evil, unpropitious, and unfortunate.

Around the Wheel are the letters of the Alphabet, opposite of which are placed certain corresponding Numbers which are required in the calculations. These are fully explained in Tables One, Two, and Three. The Numbers in the right half of The Wheel are said to denote "Long Time," or that the things to which the question having these Numbers refer, will be quite a long length of time in coming about. Those Numbers in the left half of The Wheel are said to signify a short or brief space of time ere the affair is accomplished. Next follow the Tables Used In Working The Wheel And The Mystical Numbers Of Each Day In The Week. Next follows The Numbers Of The Planets Ruling The Days and these in turn are followed by The Numbers To Be Chosen By Chance In Working The Questions, all of which are fully explained on the following pages.

TABLES USED IN WORKING THE WHEEL

TABLE ONE

The Numbers To Be Chosen By Chance

1	11	22	28	29
6	2	12	23	30
15	7	3	13	24
19	16	8	4	14
25	20	17	9	5
27	26	21	18	10

TABLE TWO

Numbers Corresponding To Each Day In

The Week

SUNDAY . . . . . . . . . 106 THURSDAY . . . . . . . . 31

MONDAY . . . . . . . . . . 52 FRIDAY . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

TUESDAY . . . . . . . . . 52 SATURDAY . . . . . . . . 45

WEDNESDAY . . . . . . 102

TABLE THREE

The Numbers Of The Planets Ruling The Days

SUNDAY . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 THURSDAY..................... 78

MONDAY . . . . . . . . . . . 45 FRIDAY........................... 45

TUESDAY . . . . . . . . . . 39 SATURDAY..................... 55

WEDNESDAY . . . . . . . 114

How To Resolve The Question

In the first place, the inquirer must refer to Table One, and, while thinking earnestly upon the question he wishes resolved or answered, let him choose a number out of the square, shown under Table One, without pre,editation; or, what is said to be still better, let the inquirer close the eyes and draw, without hesitation, one of the thirty pieces of cardboard upon which are printed numbers beginning with ONE and ending with THIRTY. Before drawing, mix the pieces of cardboard up together and then draw one promiscuously from the lot and write the number, which appears on the piece of cardboard down on a piece of paper. This is the first step in the operation; but thereon depends the truth of the whole: therefore the inquirer must be particular in this part of the process.

Second. To this number, so chosen, either from the square, shown under Table One, or drawn from the mixed cardboards as directed above, let the inquirer add the number answering to the first letter of his Christian name; which is seen in The Wheel itself, where the numbers stand in the inner circle, under the letters.

Third. To this sum add the Number corresponding to The Day of the week, shown in Table Two, and then to this add the Number corresponding to the Planet ruling the day on which the question is asked, which is plainly shown in Table Three. Then add the whole together, and divide it by 30, and the remainder look for in The Wheel, observing in what part of The Wheel it falls; but if there be no remainder, then the number 30 itself must be looked for in The Wheel.

If the number, representing the remainder, is found in the upper half "Short Time" quarter of The Wheel, success will come speedily.

If it is found in the upper half "Long Time" quarter, success will be delayed.

If it is found in the lower half "Short Time" quarter, failure will be met with speedily.

If in the lower half "Long Time" quarter, failure will attend in the end, and after delay.

Now, to know whether the question or demand, which the inquirer or anyone else propounds, shall succeed or not; take notice, if the number fans in the upper half of the Wheel, your fortune therein is Good, and the lot you have cast will cause your request to be fulfilled. But if it chance to be found in the lower half of The Wheel, your lot is Evil and unfortunate; and the proposed question shall have an Evil issue.

Note, also, if it be any question wherein time is concerned; as, how long or short shall be the matter in hand before it be accomplished. Ohserve, that one-half of The Wheel represents numbers of "long time," the other half of "short time;" and even so, in good or evil, shall the matter in hand come out.

The whole of the questions but one in the list are answered as directed above; but, the last question, shown here, which is, "If a sick person shall recover or die?" to the above sums must be added, the sick person's age, and the result proceeded with in the same manner as shown in the Second Example.

First Example

Saturday, March 6, 1915. --It was asked, "If an undertaking should succeed?" The number drawn from the mixed cardboards was 14; and the person's first name was Samuel, and the first letter being S, had the figure 9 opposite it, as shown in The Wheel. These two numbers, thus obtained, were set down on paper and below them was placed the number corresponding to Saturday, which is 45, as shown in Table Two. Under it was then placed the number corresponding to the Planet ruling Saturday, which is 55, as shown under Table Three. These figures added together totaled 123, and when divided by 30, left 3 for the remainder. By looking at The Wheel you will observe that No. 3 appears in the upper half of The Wheel in the" Short Time" division. This shows the undertaking would be a fortunate one and that good results would come very soon. The proper manner of putting the above numbers down is shown below:

Number drawn from the mixed Cardboards . . . . . 14

Number in The Wheel opposite to S . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Number corresponding to Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Number corresponding to the Planet ruling Saturday 55

Total Sum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

No. 123, divided by 30, leaves 3 for the remainder. Refer to The Wheel, and 3 is found in the upper half marked "Short Time." This shows that the affair would be accomplished accordingly.

Second Example

A person whose initial was S asked, on Wednesday, If a sick friend should recover or die? and drew forth a piece of cardboard with the number 23 upon it, as his lot. The answer was as follows:

Number chosen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Number opposite to letter S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Number corresponding to Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . .. . 102

Number corresponding to the Planet ruling Wednesday 114

Age of the sick person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

268

No. 268, divided by 30, leaves 28 for the remainder, which is found to fall in the "Unfortunate Half" of The Wheel, and denotes, "long sickness, and dangerous, 01" of a doubtful issue."

These examples will be sufficient to illustrate the method of resolving questions by famous "The Wheel Of Pythagoras," in which the only difficulty consists in choosing the first number. For which purpose, the manuscript from whence this is taken recommends the inquirer not to "ask but one question on the same day, and to refrain from all gibing, sporting, jesting, and unbelief, while divining, or making use of The Wheel," in order to know the truth.

The reader will remember that this wheel was believed by the ancients to bear actual certainty. Let him try it, and judge for himself.

UNFORTUNATE AND EVIL DAYS

By The

WHEEL OF PYTHAGORAS

The same Ancient manuscript also contains a tradition relating to the evil days, or days of misfortune, whereon no question should be asked, as follows:

"There he evil and unfortunate days, so called by the ancient philosophers, in the which, if a man fall seriously sick, he shall be in danger of death, or else to be long sick; or if any person take upon him a journey, and set forward in any one of these days, he shall have ill luck in his doings: neither is it good to plant, to make bargains, or banquets, in any of them.

"JANUARY hath five ill days; that is, the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th and 11th.

FEBRUARY hath tilree; that is, the 13tll, 17th, and 19th.

MARCH hath three; that is, the 13th, 15th, and 16th.

APRIL hath two; that is, the 5th and the 14th.

MAY also hath two; the 8th and the 14th.

JUNE hath but one ill day; and that is the 6th.

JULY hath two ill days; the 16th and 19th.

AUGUST hath two; the 8th and the 16th.

SEPTEMBER hath three; that is, the 1st. 15th, and 16th.

OCTOBER hath but one ill day; and that is, the 16th.

NOVEMBER hath two; that is, the 15th and 16th.

DECEMBER hath three; that is, the 6th, 7th, and the 11th."

The foregoing tradition is very old in date. In the middle ages these days were universally shunned, as "ruled by evil influences." As an old writer has it:

"Date of evil, strife and hate;

Cruel wrath and fell debate.

Planets strike and stars annoy,

Aspects, aught of good destroy.

Shun their calends,

Heed their power.

Nought begun in evil hour

Ever went well. Spirits o'er

Those days preside,

Who sport and gibe,

With human fate;

Omens of hate,

Wrath, and debate."

The reader may discover more regarding the fortunate and unfortunate days, according to astral causes, by consulting Standard works treating on the subjects of Magic and Occultism.

Will My Operation Be Successful?

Another kind of Sortilege or Divination somewhat in the nature of a Kabala, is contained in a manuscript written in old Hindu. The method is as follows: A question of any sort being written down, the number of words in the sentence are noted and successively the number of the letters in each of the words. These numbers are set in a row, and are then added by pairs from right to left, the nines being excluded and the remainders set down in a second row. The same process is followed out continuously until at length only two numbers remain to be added together, and the sum of them gives the final number, which may be 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 on the one hand, or on the other 2, 4, 6, or 8. If the number be odd, the result is adverse; but if even, the augury is good.

An example will serve for all cases. Let the question be --

Will my operation be successful? The number of the words is 5, and the number of letters in the words successively are 4, 2, 9, 2, 1. The word successful has ten letters, but rejecting the nine, 1 is left. These figures are then set out in order from left to right, and added together in pairs, rejecting the nines when the sum of any two exceeds that number. As a final result we have the figure 2, which shows that the operation will be successful, and that speedily; for the smaller the number the quicker will be the realization of the good or evil thus prognosticated.

EXAMPLE

As further explanation of this method, taken from the Hindu Kabala, it should be understood that when the question, "Will my operation be successful?" or one similar to it has been asked, the same should be written down, and then the number of words in the question put down upon a. piece of paper, which in this case is 5, and then to the right of it place the figures which represent the number of letters in each word. The number of letters in the first word are 4, in the second 2, in the third 9, in the fourth 2, and in the fifth there are 10, but, as stated above, you are to throw out 9; this would leave 1. Now, you have the following figures, which you are to place in the first row, name1y,

5 4 2 9 2 1

9 6 2 2 3

6 8 4 5

5 3 9

8 3

The figures in the second row are obtained, by adding the 5 and the 4 in the first row" making 9. As shown above, you are to place the 9 under the 5 and 4. You are then to add the 4 and the 2 together, making 6, and place this under the 4 and the 2; you are then to add the 9 and the 2 together, which makes 11, but when you throw out the 9, it leaves 2, which you are to place under the 9 and the 2. You are then to add the 2 and the 1, which makes 3, and place it under the 2 and the 1.

This explanation will enable you to add and set down the figures as shown in the the examples given here, until you have obtained the final answer, which will be an odd or an even number, and, as previously stated, if the final number be odd, the question asked will have an unfavorable result. But, if the final number be even, the result will be fortunate and good. Again, it should be understood that the smaller the number, the quicker the results will come, be they either good or evil. This method of answering questions and finding out whether certain things will or will not occur in the future, is looked upon with great respect by the Hindus, and it has been used by them for centuries. However, no good results will be obtained unless the whole and entire transaction is conducted in a very serious and faithful spirit.

The "divination" in the above example rests upon the unpremeditated and spontaneous use of words which are employed to express the question in mind. It is perhaps needless to add that the forcing of a sentence by studied art is not in the nature of an appeal to the automatic or subconscious part of one's mind, and no reliance can be placed upon an answer thus obtained. Neither is it possible to successfully engage the divinatory faculty upon all and trivial occasions. The use, as distinguished from the abuse of the faculty, consists in its employment only upon serious occasions and concerning issues which cannot be otherwise known.

There is in NATURE a conspiracy between the volitional faculty and the rational faculty, and another between the automatic faculty and the intuitive faculty, and these alliances are set in opposition to each other, so that the ascendency of the one means the subjugation of the other. This being understood, and also that the Rational Soul and the Psyche are opposed to one another by nature and constitution and method, the one being as it were the active and the other the passive within us, there remains to us the choice of either. But in the Adept, who has brought his nature into equilibrium and has celebrated the Nuptials of the Soul, these two act as one to the production of the most perfect results.

THE END.

The following table of numbers is to be printed upon a piece of cardboard or stiff paper: