Thirteen is the number of the next expansion when life establishes in form and content, born out of 4 which is the number of life in movement through unseen worlds and distributes its forces in the land.
Thrirteen is composed by 1 containing the whole and 3 which is the triad | trinity born with and governing life replicated; together they denote that the whole is still alive and multiplying. Pythagoras also registered that, remembering that 1 is the Spirit spanning all existences and 3 is completion when life is already in another life.
In the Book of Mutations (I Ching), 13 represents ‘Community with Men’ carrying clarity inside and force outside for pacific cohesion, where life is not reached marginating nor separating but with equity for all involved.
In Tarot, 13 is Death, which within dominant religions is still interpreted as the end of life, tragedy, pain, and so it became the excuse to give it a last name: Thirteen Badluck.
Originally, not even tarot might have had that history for the arcane. Thirteen is the number of change, the end of a cyle and strat of a new one, transformation, rebirth, and even in a card reading very seldom it is related to the death of a person.
The representation of major arcane 13 by Anne Marie Ferguson in ‘Legend the Arthurian Tarot’ (image to the right) brings name, last name and ancient history, he is Gwyn Ab Nudd & The Wild Hunt, the Lord of Change. Also for Aleister Crowley, 13 is the Son of the Great Transformers.
Gwyn Ab Nudd from Welsh mythology or forgotten history, he is the Ruler of the Otherworld, representing in a much more assertive way death as a bridge for life to enter her next expansion, shaking cycles so life may carry on her path.
And in natural cycles, 13 manifests the past in the present and together they build the future towards the encounter of the past where both were born and another life awaits to be, along the road… they will be other numbers.
Ah! And luck? The great kidnapped in our lives, the distorted daughter of the Fates – Three Ladies of Destinies – still awaits for redemption when superstitions recover their place as connectors among seen and unseen worlds we dwell in.
Thirteen is much more, this is just a short visit through its worlds to be completed by your visits if you share them…