Thirteen presents itself repeatedly in my life, and has shown itself in these times of pandemic and civil unrest. Symbolism is a way to make sense of the world, to remind us there are always greater forces at play. Thirteen is ultimately a number sacred in the universe, the feminine body, and our concept of time and place. Over the years it has been riddled with superstition, especially in Western culture. A number both lucky and unlucky; why do we simultaneously worship and turn our backs to it? Any symbol this divisive is worth paying attention to.
13 Moons & A Turtles Back
Native Americans used turtle shells to establish the lunar calendar. The center of shell has 13 larger scales, representing the 13 moons in a year. The peripheral scales add up to 28, counting the number of days in a lunar cycle.
Friday the 13th & The Divine Feminine
Venus is a goddess of love, sex, fertility and beauty.
Friday is derived from the Latin term ‘dies Veneris’ which translates ‘Day of Venus.’
Another sacred connection to 13 is that a woman's average female cycle is 28 days, equating to 13 female reproductive cycles over the course of 12 months or 364 days.
Friday the 13th originates as a celebration of the feminine, though we have come to accept the day as bad luck.
13 & The United States
The 13th Amendment, freedom and slavery.
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction"
Amendment XIII to the US Constitution, Abolishment of Slavery, 1865
13 is a truth and a fear woven into our culture as Americans.
It is a reminder of how we came to be.
13 Guests & It's Your Last Supper
" Jesus and his twelve disciples make thirteen
A righteous number of righteous men
Even Judas the betrayer came true in the end."
13th Floor / Growing Old, OutKast ATLiens, 1996
Driven from religious superstition, it is considered unlucky to have 13 guests at a dinner party.
13 | Other References
Thirteen is a key to unlocking a greater understanding of the world and our place in it.
Have a weird and cool story about 13? Let's chat :)
This is an ongoing research project.