Your Inspirational World Die/s Every Minute You Dont Read This Article: 7
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Showing posts with label 7. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 7. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Speacility with Number 7

Tuesday, December 15, 2009 0
Speacility with Number 7

 Speacility with Number 7 

 Speacility with Number 7

7 (Seven) In religions

Christianity

Seven Days of Creation - 1765 book

The number seven (7) in the seven days of Creation is typological and the number seven appears commonly elsewhere in the Bible. These include:

* Seven days of Creation (Genesis 1). God rested on and sanctified the seventh day (Sabbath)

* Seven years of plenty and seven years of famine in Pharaoh's dream (Genesis 41)

* Seven days of the feast of Passover (Exodus 13:3-10)

* Seven day week and the pattern concerning distribution and use of manna (Exodus 16)

* Seven year cycle around the years of Jubilee (Leviticus 25)

* The fall of the walls of Jericho on the seventh day after marching around the city seven times(Joshua 6)

* Seven things the LORD hates (Proverbs 6:16-19)

* Seven loaves multiplied into seven baskets of surplus (Matthew 15:32-37)

* The Seven last words (or seven last sayings) of Jesus on the cross.

* Seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom (Acts 6:3)

* Seven Spirits of God are mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

* Seven churches of Asia to which the "Book of Revelation" is addressed.

* Seven churches, seven stars, seven seals, seven last plagues, seven vials or bowls, seven thunders in the Revelation, the last book of the Bible.

Other sevens in Christian knowledge and practice include:

* The Seven Sacraments in the Catholic faith (though some traditions assign a different number).

* Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

* The Seven Joys of the Virgin Mary, of Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other traditions.

* The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, of Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other traditions.

* The Seven Corporal Acts of Mercy and Seven Spiritual Acts of Mercy of Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other traditions.

* The Seven Virtues: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility

* The Seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride.

* The seven terraces of Mount Purgatory (one per deadly sin).

* In the genealogy in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is 77th in a direct line.

* The number of heads of the three beasts (7 × 10 × 7 + 7 × 10 × 10 + 7 × 10 = 1260) of the Book of Revelation, and of some other monsters, like the hydra and the number of seals.

* In the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew 18:21, Jesus says to Peter to forgive seventy times seven times.[6]

* There are seven suicides mentioned in the Bible (OT and NT)[7]

Hinduism

* The Sanskrit word 'sapta' refers to number seven.

* The Indian Music has 'sapta swaras', means seven octats (sa re gan MA pa dha ni), which are basics of music, using which hundreds of Ragas are composed.

* Celestial group of seven stars are named as 'Sapta Rishi' based on the seven great saints.

* Seven Promises, Seven Rounds in Hindu Wedding and Seven Reincarnation

* As per Hindu mythology, there are seven worlds in the universe, seven seas in the world and seven Rishies (seven gurus) called sapta rishis.

* Seven hills at tirumala also known as ezhu malaiyan means Sevenhills god

* There are 7 Chakras.

Islam

* The number of ayat in surat al-Fatiha.

* The number of heavens in Islamic tradition.

* The number of levels of Earth in Islamic tradition.

* The number of circumambulations (Tawaf) that are made around the Kaaba

* The number of walks between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah mountains -that is travelling back and forth- seven times during the ritual pilgrimages of Hajj and Umrah.

* The number of fires in hell. i.e the 7 fires of hell.

* The number of doors to hell is also seven.

Judaism

The Menorah is a 7-branched candelabrum

* A highly symbolic number in the Torah, alluding to the infusion of spirituality and Godliness into the creation. For example:

o God rested on and sanctified the seventh day (Shabbat). – Genesis 2:3. "Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars." – Proverbs of Solomon son of David King of Israel 9:1

o A seven-day purification period is required for one who has become tamei to become tahor.

o The Shmita (Sabbatical) year arrives every seventh year.

o The Jubilee (Yovel) year comes after 7 times 7 years.

o The Counting of the Omer leading up to the Giving of the Torah is expressed as "7 times 7 weeks."

o There are 7 days of Passover and Sukkot when celebrated in Israel.

o Shiv`a (another pronunciation of the Hebrew word for 7—(Hebrew: שבעה ; "seven")), is the number of days of mourning. Hence, one sits Shiva. As in Shiva (Judaism)

* The weekly Torah portion is divided into seven aliyahs, and seven Jewish men (or boys over the age of 13 who are considered men; Bar Mitzvah) are called up for the reading of these aliyahs during Shabbat morning services.

* Seven blessings are recited under the chuppah during a Jewish wedding ceremony.

* A Jewish bride and groom are feted with seven days of festive meals after their wedding, known as Sheva Berachot ("Seven Blessings").

* The number of Ushpizzin (also known as the "Seven Shepherds") who visit the sukkah during the holiday of Sukkot: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David.

* The number of nations God told the Israelites they would displace when they entered the land of Israel (Deut. 7:1): the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

* In Breslov tradition, the seven orifices of the face (2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 ears, and the mouth) are called "The Seven Candles."

* The Menorah (Hebrew: מנורה), is a seven-branched candelabrum lit by olive oil in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem. The menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people. It is said to symbolize the Burning bush as seen by Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25).

* The number of times Cain will be avenged by God if he is murdered (Gen 4:15).

* The Israelites circled Jericho for 7 days and then the wall tumbled down.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Tirumala trip on Jun 14, 2008

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 0
Tirumala trip on Jun 14, 2008

 Tirumala trip on Jun 14, 2008

 

Tirumala trip on Jun 14, 2008

Myself, Swaminathan and Oracle Team we started at bangalore on 13th June, 2008 reached Tirupathi by about 12.30 am on 14th June, 2008. we had dinner next to the bus stand and took a jeep till alipiri, the starting point to climb up the hill. this is complete photos while climbing up the hill.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

The New 7 Wonders of the World -Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, the Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Petra, and the Great Wall of China

Thursday, May 29, 2008 0
The New 7 Wonders of the World -Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, the Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Petra, and the Great Wall of China

The Seven Wonders of the World are the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, the Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Petra, and the Great Wall of China.
 The Seven Wonders of the World are the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, the Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Petra, and the Great Wall of China

 New7Wonders of the World was a campaign started in 2000 to choose Wonders of the World from a selection of 200 existing monuments. The popularity poll was led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the New7Wonders Foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, with winners announced on 7 July 2007 in Lisbon.

Following 7 candidates have been elected by more than 100 million votes to represent global heritage throughout history. The listing is in random order, as announced at the Declaration Ceremony on 07.07.07. All the New 7 Wonders are equal and are presented as a group without any ranking.

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, IndiaINDIA

This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), JordanJORDAN

On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), PeruPERU

In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) ChinaCHINA

The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, ItalyITALY

This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.

Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBRAZIL

This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

MEXICO

Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.

Voting analysis


Bernard Weber - Founder & President of New7Wonders, on the voting results

After 7 years of campaigning and 100 million votes received, the results of the world’s first-ever global vote were announced on July 7, 2007 (07.07.07), the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year of our third millennium, in Lisbon, Portugal and are now in the process of being validated and confirmed. The canon of New 7 Wonders of the World was announced during a spectacular gala show in the “Estadio da Luz,” the stadium of light, in the presence of 50,000 spectators and millions of television viewers throughout the world.

A little more then 2,200 years after the Ancient 7 Wonders (which represented buildings built over a period of 2,000 years) were declared in 200 B.C. by a single man, Philon of Byzantium in Athens, more than 100 million votes from people from every corner and country in the world, elected the New 7 Wonders of the World.

This truly new set of 7 Wonders covers, once again, the time span of 2,000 years—from the Arab city of Petra and the Roman Colosseum, both of which date from the 1st Century A.D., to the wide-armed statue of Christ Redeemer on Rio de Janeiro’s Corcovado mountain, built in 1931.

Following are some of my thoughts on the results of this first global vote in humankind’s history:

Allow me to start by taking something right off the top of your mind: No, not the Chinese, nor the Indian people have played the most weighty role in choosing the New7Wonders! They did not represent the largest group of voters. The children and young people of our world did.

For the first time ever, children could participate in a global election. They were the most numerous group of voters, since the Chinese have children, the Indians do too, Americans, Europeans, Africans—all of us, we all have children. Children up to a certain age do not have a strong national sense of pride, so they were our most objective voters, they voted for what they genuinely liked best.

In addition, it was not the case—as many had feared and wrongly predicted—that only the rich Western world and developed countries would dominate the list-making. Indeed, it was the rich, saturated and (as we saw time and again) more lethargic developed world that joined the proud, much more enthusiastic developing world to choose the New 7 Wonders of the World. Interestingly, at the very beginning of the campaign, in the year 2000, so seven years ago, the first wave of votes came from Turkey.

It seemed to me that people in developing societies use the Internet differently from us in the western, northern world of plenty. For them, it is the gateway to connect with the rest of the world. In our so-called privileged, developed world, the Internet is often used to surf, chat and/or consume content.

Reflecting the diversity of our world, there are three of the New 7 Wonders in Latin America, two in Asia, one in the Middle-East and one in Europe. They represent some of the most important civilizations of the past two millennia — Arab, Chinese, Inca, Indian, Mayan and Roman.

With the 7 (no more and no fewer) votes that people had to cast via our website, plus the opportunity to cast votes via text messaging or telephone, our voting system proved to be well balanced. Internet voting was the equalizing factor, while SMS and phone votes expressed the passion and strong feelings that people had for their favorite monument. As a result, some candidates received many Internet votes from all over the world without even engaging seriously in campaigning. This was the case with the Colosseum in Rome, the only wonder standing in old Europe, representing Roman civilization. Unexpectedly, the Alhambra in Spain did not enjoy public support when it came down to voting, despite a rigorous campaign supported by the King and the Prime Minister of Spain and great local activities, such as the creation of a human chain of 3,000 people embracing the ancient fortress.

The biggest surprise, however, came from Africa in the final phase of the election—a tremendous sprint in the last weeks before voting closed. Huge number of votes poured in supporting the African candidate in Mali: Timbuktu. Mali itself sent more votes in one single week than had the entire country of Germany up to then! This propelled Timbuktu from the bottom of the list to literally scratching the top 7! Had the organizers started campaigning just a month earlier, Timbuktu would have had a serious chance to be elected as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

More people from Korea and Japan voted for the Eiffel Tower than did people from France. Many children worldwide loved Neuschwanstein Castle, but the Germans didn’t. The United States, whose inhabit- ants voted very passionately and in truly huge numbers, did not vote for their Statue of Liberty.

Hundreds of thousands people send us comments and words of encouragement and often thus explained their choices. Some of these moving comments are listed after this report.

On a personal note, I am especially pleased to see that the two countries, Switzerland, where I was born, and Canada, whose citizenship I adopted as my second nationality, were amongst the most active participants without having their own candidates in the running together with some exotic countries like Yemen, Albania and Afghanistan.

This new list of 7 Wonders reflects quite accurately what economists predict as the upcoming economic and industrial regions in the world in the not-too-distant future: China, India and South America.

I have asked myself: Could there be a connection between, on the one hand, the motivation and the pride, enthusiasm and the compassion that people have for their culture and monuments that symbolically represent them, and, on the other, their motivation to make a brighter future for themselves?

My response is: Yes, this is definitely the case and ultimately also the reason that cultural identity is so important to every single human being and to all societies on our planet!

My personal experience traveling, spending time and sharing life in different parts of the world taught me that people who are deeply rooted in their culture are more secure and, as such, fear the stranger, the unknown much less. Their own strong identity allows them to open up and appreciate differences, valuing the enriching experience with a stranger. It is the respect and appreciation of that which is different that forges the strongest friendship.

The New7Wonders Foundation will honor the 14 New7Wonders Finalist Candidates, together with the New 7 Wonders of the World, forever. They all deserve the acknowledgement of being outstanding finalists, since they are all icons in their own way, representing the best that people and civilizations have left behind for future generations to respect, honor and enjoy!

The people have spoken, history was made.


Our Heritage is our Future!


Bernard Weber, Founder & President of the New7Wonders Campaign, on the voting results.


Source: http://www.new7wonders.com/

Lucky Number 7 - seven is so perfect and powerful that it represents a connection to the universe

Thursday, May 29, 2008 0
Lucky Number 7 - seven is so perfect and powerful that it represents a connection to the universe

Number seven is one of those figures. It symbolises every positive and valuable matter in existence like prosper life, happiness, renewal, and perfection. Some numerologist even believes that number seven is so perfect and powerful that it represents a connection to the universe.


seven is so perfect and powerful that it represents a connection to the universe



The image of the "Lucky 7" dice roll is usually made of 5 + 2, as on the cover of the Perry Mason mystery novel "The Case of the Lucky Legs", but it sometimes comes up 4 + 3, as on this gold-plated American "Lucky 7" money clip. The "Lucky 7" dice roll is found on quite a lot of hoodoo curio packaging, including 7-day candles; the character called Lady Luck, in her Irish-Amewrican World War Two incarnation, wears dice for earrings and they always show 7. These "Lucky 7" images all derive from the dice game of craps, where rolling 7 wins, and thus the dice that roll 7 are a symbol of gambler's luck


The image of the "Lucky 7" dice roll is usually made of 5 + 2, as on the cover of the Perry Mason mystery novel "The Case of the Lucky Legs"

But there is more to the luck of 7 than its place in games of chance. Why is 7 so fortunate? The following colloquy, begun in a Freemasonic mailing list in 1995, was continued in the alt.lucky.w newsgroup and the pre-war blues e-list from 1997 - 1999. It is currently my most complete summary of the LUCKY SEVEN concept.


From: Corrigan

Hello, all. Greetings from Fellowship Lodge #490, Flint, Michigan.

A question that has come up in lodge is the mention of the number seven. Why is the number seven important in Masonry?

I can think of the seven days of the week, the seven arts and sciences, but come to a halt there. Would very much appreciate your comments.

From: " Scotty " Mudie



  • There is on a Scottish Mason's apron seven tassels on each side and when the apron was placed around me for the very first time these same seven tassels intrigued me so much that it led me to the field of research of our Great Order.
  • In almost every system of antiquity there are frequent references to the number seven.
  • The Pythagoreans called it the perfect number, 3 and 4, the triangle and the square, the perfect figures.
  • There were for instance seven ancient planets. The sun was the greatest planet of the ancient seven and next to the sun, the moon, changing in all its splendor every seventh day.
  • The Arabians had seven Holy Temples.
  • In Persian mysteries there were seven spacious caverns through which the aspirants had to pass.
  • The Goths had seven deities, as did the Romans, from whose names are derived our days of the week.
  • In Scriptural history there is a frequent recurrence to this number. E.g. in Revelation 1:16 -- "and He had in His right hand seven stars, " alluding to the seven churches of Asia. (The seven stars are depicted on a RWM's apron in the Scottish Constitution).
  • For us as Masons, King Solomon was seven years building the Temple. It was dedicated to the glory of God in the seventh month and the festival lasted seven days.
  • There are, as you stated, Brother Chris, our seven liberal arts and sciences.
  • We require seven Brethren to make a Lodge perfect and we have our seven steps on the winding staircase.
  • Reverting back to the Masonic apron, in the course of time aprons became embellished with much ornamentation until the present form of apron was instituted. There was no deliberation on the part of our ancient Brethren to place seven tassels on each side of the apron because the number seven has and probably always will be a sacred number in Masonic symbolism.

  • I sincerely hope you enjoy the research as much as I have.

    From: Gordon Charlton,

    That reminds me of a story. Whilst on holiday in Austria we participated in the games laid on for the evening by the tour company. We were part of a team of seven, and for each round of the game (a rather silly one involving bending over and throwing bowling balls between your legs) we adopted a different set of seven names.



  • The seven dwarfs
  • The seven deadly sins
  • The Trumpton fire brigade (a UK children's cartoon: They are Pugh, Pugh, Barney, Magrew, Cuthburt, Dibble and Grub)
  • The seven orders of architecture
  • The seven seas
  • The Seven Sisters

  • and so on.



  • Maya (my wife) reminds me that the seventh son of a seventh son is supposed to be born gifted. Apparently Donny Osmond was such a son. I pass no comment on his "gifts."
  • "The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers" notes (amongst other things) "If a, b are the shorter sides of a Pythagorean triangle, the seven divides one of a, b, a-b or a+b"
  • It also reminds us that there are 7 basically different patterns of symmetry for a frieze design, which I suppose may be of interest to an operative Mason. (I actually knew this as my father was in wallpaper for a time.)
  • It claims the Greeks called 7 the "rational diagonal" of a square of side 5, apparently *because* (7^2)+1=50, which makes no sense to me.
  • Finally it postulates that the "St. Ives" problem (As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives. Every wife had seven sacks, etc) dates back over 3500 years, and can be traced to an Egyptian scribe. (This theory can be traced back, possibly more reliably, to one R. J. Gillingham, "Mathematics in the Time of the Pharaohs," MIT Press, 1972.)

  • From: Rick Reade



  • There are seven visible planets and luminaries (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn). Each one rules a day of the week (Sun=Sunday, Saturn= Saturday, Moon=Monday, etc.) and that is where the seven day week came from. Each one is supposed to have a particular virtue or power.
  • Harold Percival believed that each one of us is an individual trinity, the "Triune Self", part of which re-exists in our mortal bodies, blah, blah, blah. It has seven minds:
    • body-mind
    • feeling-mind
    • desire-mind
    • rightness
    • reason
    • I-ness and
    • Selfness.
    When the Triune Self progresses to the next noetic level and becomes an "Intelligence", those seven minds become "faculties":
    • focus faculty
    • image faculty,
    • dark faculty
    • time faculty
    • motive faculty
    • I-Am faculty and
    • Light faculty.
    For more see "Thinking and Destiny; Adepts, Masters and Mahatmas; Masonry and Its Symbols (incorporated in the 11th ed. of T&D) by Harold W. Percival.

  • From: Kirk Crady,



  • Checking various sources for references to the number seven, I was struck by this quote from Manly P. Hall:
    "The 3 (spirit, mind, soul) descend into the 4 (the world), the sum being the 7, or the mystic nature of man, consisting of a threefold spiritual body and a fourfold material form. These are symbolized by the cube, which has six surfaces and a mysterious seventh point within..."
  • You may make of it what you will, but I would also observe, in reading the above quote, that the Masonic apron apparently illustrates his meaning quite beautifully: consisting of a triangle (3) fitted to a square (4). . . With this perspective in mind, its several permutations make for an interesting source of further thought.

  • From: Michael Sykuta,



  • From Masonic sources:
    "The 7 days of the week, the 7 sabbatical years, the 7 years of famine, the 7 years of plenty, the 7 years occupied in the building of King Solomon's Temple, and especially the 7 liberal arts and sciences."

  • From:Lucky Number 7 catherine yronwode



  • A circa 1930s bronze Lucky Coin in my possession bears images of what the designer considered to be The 7 Lucky Artifacts:
    • * wishbone
      * rabbit's foot
      * white elephant charm
      * key with heart-lock
      * four-leaf clover
      * swastika (the coin is pre-Hitlerian)
      * horseshoe
    These surround an All-Seeing Eye, a Masonic symbol. Beneath the eye are the words, "The All-Seeing Eye Guards You From Evil."
  • In the small town of Nevada City, California, there is a market called the Lucky 7 Grocery Store. The reference is to the fact that in some gambling games a score of 7 wins the turn.
  • When Inanna the Queen of Heaven (the major love, fertility, and war goddess of the Sumerians) descended into Hell, she was forced to pass through seven gates, at each of which she was required to remove one of her garments, until she stood before her sister Erishkigal the Queen of the Underworld, naked and defenseless. She was then struck dead by seven plagues. Later, upon her return from Hell, she passed though the same seven gates, at each of which she resumed one of her garments. (See Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein's "Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth" for the full text of what happened to her in Hell and how she got out alive.)
  • In African-American hoodoo there is are several formulas for anointing oil, soap, and floor wash that use the number seven. Among them are Seven Herb Bath, Gambler's Gold Lucky Seven Hand Wash, Seven-Eleven Holy Type Oil, and a relatively modern line of prod ucts marketed under the name Seven African Powers. These "powers" are better known in the African-Caribbean Santeria religion as the Orishas or natural forces of the African Yoruba people, who during slavery days became identified with seven Catholic saints. Images of the Seven African Powers can be found on Santeria votive candles.
  • The Seven Sisters is a term used to indicate the constellation of the Pleiades -- but The Seven Sisters of New Orleans were a family of hoodoo women who lived and practiced in the Crescent City in the 1920s - 30s. Mentioned by several of Harry Middleton Hyatt's informants, they were said to have a house "by the water" and were popular enough to became the subject of a blues song by the Texas musician J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith. Here are complete lyrics for "Seven Sisters Blues, Parts I and 2" recorded October 3rd, 1931 in Chicago and released on two sides of a 78 rpm record. Notice that the number 21 (3 times 7) also appears in this song. The transciption is by Chris Smith
  • SEVEN SISTERS BLUES - PARTS 1 and 2
    J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith

    PART 1

    They tell me Seven Sisters in New Orleans
    that can really fix a man up right
    They tell me Seven Sisters in New Orleans
    that can really fix a man up right
    And I'm headed for New Orleans, Louisiana,
    I'm travelin' both day and night.

    I hear them say the oldest Sister
    look just like she's 21
    I

    hear them say the oldest Sister
    look just like she's 21
    And said she can look right in your eyes
    and tell you just exactly what you want done.

    They tell me they've been hung,
    been bled, and been crucified
    They tell me they've been hung,
    been bled, and been crucified
    But I just want enough help
    to stand on the water and rule the tide.

    It's bound to be Seven Sisters,
    'cause I've heard it by everybody else
    It's bound to be Seven Sisters,
    I've heard it by everybody else
    Course, I'd love to take their word,

    but I'd rather go and see for myself.

    When I leave the Seven Sisters,
    I'll pile stones all around
    When I leave the Seven Sisters,
    I'll pile stones all around
    And go to my baby and tell her,
    "There's another Seven Sister man in town."

    Good morning, Seven Sisters,
    just thought I'd come down and see
    Good morning, Seven Sisters,
    I thought I'd come down to see

    Will you build me up where I'm torn down,
    and make me strong where I'm weak?

    PART 2

    I went to New Orleans, Louisiana,
    just on account of something I heard
    I went to New Orleans, Louisiana,
    just on account of something I heard
    The Seven Sisters told me everything I wanted to know,
    and they wouldn't let me speak a word.

    Now, it's Sarah, Minnie, Bertha,
    Holly, Dolly, Betty and Jane
    Sarah, Minnie, Bertha,
    Holly, Dolly, Betty and Jane

    You can't know them Sisters apart,
    because they all looks just the same.

    The Seven Sisters sent me away happy,
    'round the corner I met another little girl
    Seven Sisters sent me 'way happy,
    'round the corner I met another little girl
    She looked at me and smiled, and said,
    "Go, Devil, and destroy the world."

    [spoken] I'm gonna destroy it, too.

    [spoken] I'm all right now.

    Seven times a year
    the Seven Sisters will visit me in my sleep
    S

    even times a year
    the Seven Sisters will visit me all in my sleep
    And they said I won't have no trouble,
    and said I'll live twelve days in a week.

    Wanna go down in Louisiana,
    and get the hell right out of your bein'
    Wanna go down in Louisiana,
    and get right out of your bein'
    These Seven Sisters can do anything in Louisiana,
    but you'll have to go to New Orleans.
    As Funny Paper Smith's song indicates, the Seven Sisters demonstrated a "gift" or mark of power commonly found among hoodoo root workers: they could tell a client what was wrong before he or she spoke. This gift was also attributed to the Arkanasas conjure and spirit ualist Aunt Caroline Dye. Advertisements for such seers may make reference to their telepathic power with stock phrases such as "She tells all before you utter a word" or "Don't tell her -- let her tell you!"

    The famous Seven Sisters of New Orleans gave rise to numerous imitators, among them Ida Carter, a hoodoo women in Hogansville, Alabama, who called herself "Seven Sisters," despite being a single individual. In recent years the Seven Sisters of New Orleans name has became a brand of hoodoo products distributed by International Imports.
  • The theme of "seven lucky brothers" is a recurrent folkloric motif. I am reminded of the Ge rman folk tale (recorded by the Grimm brothers) of the "Seven Brothers Turned to Swans" and of the mid-20th century musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."
  • This brings us back to the "Seventh Son" concept touched on earlier -- and the special luck attributed to the seventh son of a seventh son, as seen in Willie Dixon's blues song "The Seventh Son," recorded by Willie Mabon in 1955 and also by Mose Allison. Thanks to Chris Smith the transcription:

    THE SEVENTH SON
    by Willie Dixon (Arc/BMI)

    Now everybody's crying about the Seventh Son,
    In the whole round world there is only one;
    I'm the one, I'm the one,
    I'm the one, I'm the one, the one they call the Seventh Son.

    Now I can tell your future before it comes to pass,
    I can do things for you makes your heart feel glad;
    I can look at the skies and predict the rain,
    I can tell when a woman's got another man;
    I'm the one, I'm the one,
    I'm the one, I'm the one, the one they call the Seventh Son.

    I can hold you close and squeeze you tight,
    I can make you cry for me both day and night,
    I can heal the sick and raise the dead,
    I can make you little girls talk all out of your head;
    I'm the one, I'm the one,
    I'm

    the one, I'm the one, the one they call the Seventh Son.

    Now, I can talk these words that sound so sweet,
    And make your loving heart even skip a beat.
    I can take you, baby, and hold you in my arms,
    And make the flesh quiver on your lovely bones;
    I'm the one, I'm the one,
    I'm the one, I'm the one, the one they call the Seventh Son.

  • Quoting from "A Dictionary Of Superstitions" by Iona Opie and Moira Tatem (Oxford University Press, 1992):
    1579: Lupton's "Thousand Notable Things": "It is manifest by experience that the seuenth Male Chyld by iust order (neuer a
    Gyrle or Wench borne betweene) doth heele onely with touching
    through a naturall gyft, the Kings Euyll."
    ("The King's Evil" is the skin disease scrofula.)
  • The n there's the Muddy Waters' song, "Hootchie Cootchie Man" (written by WIllie Dixon) -- with its "seven doctors" --
    Hootchie Cootchie Man
    On th
    e seventh hour
    of the seventh day
    of the seventh month
    the seven doctors say
    "He were born for good luck
    that you'll see"
    I got seven hundred dollars
    don't you mess with me
    'cause i'm the hootchie cootchie man...

  • From: Yoke Lim



  • In Chinese culture, the number 7 also features rather prominently in some aspects of life. For example, the seventh day of the first moon of the lunar year is known as Human's Day. That day is considered the birthday of all human beings universally. That is why a Chinese is deemed to be a year older on that day, regardless of what the actual date of birth is. But this is not to say that a Chinese does not celebrate a birthday on the actual day of birth. I have no idea how far back in time this idea started, but as I write this, I am struck by the coincidence of the Christian concept of creation of the world by the seventh day as related in Genesis.
  • Similarly, on a death, a special ceremony is held on the 49th day after death, that is, 7 X 7 days. It signifies the final parting.

  • From: (DHAND302)



  • I came across a reference (in Encyclopedia Britannica, actually) to the "Shichi-fuku-jin," or the Seven Gods of Luck in Japanese folklore. They're described as comical deities often depicted riding on a treasure ship with various magical implements, such as a hat of invisibility, rolls of brocade, an inexhaustible purse, keys to the divine treasure-house, cloves, scrolls or books, a lucky rain hat, or a robe of feathers. I've never heard of these whimsical little dudes before, but I instinctively like them a lot. Yet when I went to the library to research this a bit further (at least find a good picture of them) I found nary a trace.
    Anybody else know anything more?

  • From: (WeldonKees) (Paul Edson)



  • The "shichi-fukujin," translated either as the "Seven Gods of Happiness" or "Seven Gods of Luck" are personifications of earthly happiness in Japanese folk religion. They are:
  • HOTEI: the "fat" or "laughing" Buddha who personifies your garden-variety mirth and merriment.
  • BISHAMONTEN: the watchman
  • FUKUROKUJU: the god of longevity
  • JUROJIN: the god of scholarship
  • DAIKOKU: the god of nutrition
  • EBISU: the god of fishing
  • BENZAITEN: the goddess of music.
  • These seven are often portrayed together riding on a treasure ship, but may also be carved or depicted individually. Representations are often in the form of wooden or ivory amulets and most commonly are used to pin together the kimono. I don't have any further information about what objects are generally carried by or associated with each, sorry.
    These seven gods are probably an expansion of earlier Chinese deities who fulfilled the same sorts of functions. The Chinese deities were five in number, dressed in the red robes of civil servants, and each was usually accompanied by a bat. In fact, five bats depicted together often stand in for the gods as a symbol of luck.
    (Information from "The Dictionary of Symbolism" by Hans Biedermann and from my brother, who has a master's degree in Japanese culture and language.)