The fascinating magic of number 108
On the 22th of December 2022, which coincided with the winter solstice, I held a charity action in favour of the NPO Ever’y Cat, which is a Brussels-based NPO whose volunteer staff catches stray cats and gives them a better life in 4 Brussels municipalities, specifically: 1140 Evere, 1030 Schaarbeek, 1130 Haren and 1000 Brussels.
You can get a clear picture of exactly how they work on their webpage.
The action itself consisted of consecutively performing 108 sun salutations. Therefore it was akin to a “yoga marathon”, as crooked as that sounds. The action could be followed via social media platform Facebook and also attended via Zoom.
Why the sun salutation?
The sun salutation is pre-eminently a dynamic yoga exercise that puts a lot of energy in motion, energy that you can then spiritually direct towards a particular goal, in this case: the solidarity action with Ever’y Cat. The material precipitation of that energy is ultimately the money we collected, which is donated to the ASBL.
People also asked why exactly I did 108 sun salutations and not any other number.
What is the symbolic meaning of 108 ?
For a more detailed understanding and a concise summary of the symbolism and mystery of 108, I got clear information from professional astrologer and yoga therapist Susan Hopkinson. And this is what it boils down to:
The number 108 consists of three digits, each of which already has a special meaning in number science or numerology and in many esoteric philosophies of East and West:
- the 1 represents the all or “completeness”
- the 0 represents nothingness or the absence of energy, matter or existence: the “void”
- and the 8 in turn represents infinity
If you add 1 + 0 + 8 together, you arrive at the number 9.
Now, if you divide 108 by two, and then add the digits of the fraction again, you get 9 again.
Some examples:
-
- 108/2 = 54 and 5 + 4 = 9
- 108/4 = 27 and 2 + 7 = 9
- or: 108/8 = 13.5 and 1 + 3 + 5 = 9
- etcetera
Writers devoted entire volumes to the number 108.
9 Is considered a mysterious number in numerology, and it is said to “contain all teachings”.
Wherein lies the peculiarity of the number 9 ?
An example:
If you add to 9 another digit, you obtain a new number.
Now, if you add all the digits of that new number again, you get back the original digit. As if the 9 is capable of performing a great disappearing act.
Some examples here too:
- 9 + 5 = 14 and 1 + 4 = 5
- 9 + 8 = 17 and 1 + 7 = 8
- or : 9 + 1 = 10 and 1 + 0 = 1
How much did the action bring in?
Believe it or not, the action for Ever’y Cat raised 216.00 euros. That = 2 x 108. So each sun salutation raised 2.00 euros!
The money has been transferred in full to Ever’y Cat.
Many thanks to everyone who made a donation.
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