NUMBER 7

When people are asked to choose a number between one and 10, the most popular choice is 7, all over the world. 7 is a number that appears in nearly every facet of human life. Here are just a few examples: 7 is the number of periods (or rows) of elements on the periodic table in chemistry. On a more aesthetic level of science, ROYGBIV (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet) are the 7 colors that make up white light—these are also what we marvel at in each rainbow. With very few exceptions, all mammals’ necks have 7 bones. In addition to the traditional 7 seas in many cultures, 7 is also the number of stellar objects in the solar system visible to the naked eye: the sun, the moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. There are also 7 external holes in the human head: two eyes, two nostrils, two ears and one mouth.

Every religion and culture assigns a special place to the number 7. The Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament recount that God rested on and sanctified the 7th day, and in the Roman Catholic belief, there are 7 sacraments. Of course, the 7 Deadly Sins and the 7 Virtues that are well known in Western culture may also come to mind. Further East, Buddha walked 7 steps at his birth. And in the North American heritage, 7 is the definitive number in Cherokee cosmology. In Islamic tradition, 7 is used to symbolize infinity and is also the number of heavens and earths. Ancient Egyptians saw the number 7 as a symbol of eternal life. In Japanese mythology, you will find 7 Lucky Gods. In Hinduism, the cycle of rebirths goes through 7 stages before the soul attains moksha, or salvation, and in everyday Indian life, the 7 levels of consciousness play an important role, connected to the 7 main chakras of the body.

Musically, 7 is the number of notes in the traditional Western major scale. Throughout world music, literature, film and television, as well as in the sports world in many cultures, the number 7 has featured frequently—a sign of how powerfully it appeals to people everywhere and during different eras. Looking at modern communications, 7 is also the number of digits in an American or Canadian telephone number, excluding the area code. We use a 7-day week in the vast majority of today’s world. And many people say they are “in 7th heaven” when they are really happy.

Mrs. Ida