numerologia
Arithmancy
Arithmancy, from the Greek arithmos "number" and manteia "divination", is an ancient practice of numerical divination documented in classical Greece and the medieval Arab world. It works with a person s name and date of birth to derive meaningful numbers. It partially overlaps with modern numerology but retains its own traditions.
Historical traditions
In ancient Greece, isopsephy associated a numerical value with each letter of the Greek alphabet. In the medieval Arab world, the "abjad" system did the same with the Arabic alphabet. Hebrew gematria uses the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. All these practices are ancestral to modern theosophical numerology.
Contemporary use
Today the term "arithmancy" is used to indicate numerological readings that combine multiple calculations (name, surname, vowels, consonants, recurrences and gaps of numbers). It is a more articulated approach than just the destiny number or just the personality number.
FAQ
Difference with numerology?
Arithmancy is the ancient term and covers Greek, Arab and Hebrew traditions. Theosophical numerology is the modern version, simplified and popularized.
What is gematria?
The Hebrew version of arithmancy: it associates a numerical value with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet and is used both in Kabbalah and in traditional exegesis.
Is it a synonym for "arithmomancy"?
Yes, they are variants of the same term. On Tarotsi we use "arithmancy" for consistency.