The fear of the number 13

Number 13 has always had a grim fascination for most of us. It has usually been associated with bad luck or karma but there are places where number 13 is reported to bring good luck!

In the ancient pagan world, the number thirteen was venerated because it was associated with the lunar year, the pagan "year and a day." The ancient figure of the pregnant Mother Goddess from Laussel is shown holding what is believed to be the first lunar calendar known. It has thirteen marks etched in it and is roughly the shape of a crescent Moon. This would seem to indicate that even then it was known and observed that there are thirteen new or full moons a year. Scholar and Professor of anthropology and archaeology say the evidence indicates that our ancestors were observing and marking the passage of time as early as 25,000 BCE.

 The ancient Egyptians believed the number 13 was associated with everlasting life. This association relates to the waxing and waning of the Moon. They thought the Lunar cycle to be associated with the god Osiris, and with his life, death, and resurrection. Egyptians believed there were twelve steps on the ladder to eternal life and that they believed taking the thirteenth step was to go through the process of death and resurrection. It seems therefore that they associated the number with immortality and held it to be lucky. 

The Moon goddess was associated with the number 13 due to the fact that there are either 13 Full Moons or 13 New Moons in every year. The number 13 is also associated with the death of Jesus. The last supper, which preceded his death was attended by the 12 disciples and by Jesus making a group of 13. This seems to be the source of the fear of the number 13. 

The number 13 is also associated with the Death card of the Tarot. The first known Tarot deck appeared in Europe about five hundred years ago. Some feel that the cards are based on ancient Egyptian wisdom. It is known that the Tarot is a repository of Hermetic mysteries, astrological lore and pagan religious tradition. The Death card has a bad reputation but its true meaning speaks of transformation and renewal.

To this day many people fear the number 13. This fear is called triskaidekaphobia. Many do not wish to attend a dinner party where there are only thirteen guests. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was among the many who fear the number 13. Many buildings do not have a thirteenth floor. NASA's Apollo 13 flight, which took off at 13 minutes after the hour on April 13, developed a number of problems on the way to the Moon. Miraculously, the crew was able to return unharmed. Even though this may be viewed as a manifestation of the unfortunate attributes of the number 13, the crew did have the good luck of safely returning despite all the obstacles and difficulties they had to overcome. 

Some fears have deep roots in the collective unconscious but one need not adhere to the fears held within the unconscious. With conscious, positive, focused intent, we can educate ourselves and bring these hidden fears to light for the purpose of eliminating them. It's important to note that in other times and other cultures, the number 13 was viewed as fortunate. It's a good idea to remember that every Friday the 13th.  Every Friday the 13th go safely and best of fortune ever! 

Fear of the number 13 has a specifically recognized phobia, Triskaidekaphobia, a word which was coined in 1911. The superstitious sufferers of triskaidekaphobia try to avoid bad luck by keeping away from anything numbered or labelled thirteen. As a result, companies and manufacturers use another way of numbering or labeling to avoid the number, with hotels and tall buildings being conspicuous examples (Thirteenth floor). It's also considered to be unlucky to have thirteen guests at a table. Friday the 13th has been considered the unluckiest day of the month. There are a number of theories behind the cause of the association between thirteen and bad luck, but none of them have been accepted as likely. 

But despite this history we should not let a mere number deter us from pursuing happiness. After all the calendar is now bringing a new possibility for anxious obsession: a whole year ending in the unlucky number 13!