So, the 47th Problem is Euclid of Alexandria’s geometric proposition of the Pythagorean Theorem. In math we know that a2+b2=c2. What that means is that the area of two squares equals the area of the hypotenuse2. Essentially it is the mathematical proof that right triangles can be visualized by three squares that are in a ratio of 3:4:5. (Wikipedia, 2018) This comes in handy obviously in math/geometry. What though is the meaning beyond the surface?
Well when we speak of sacred things like sacred geometry or even alchemical process; the right triangle represents the 3, trio, or even holy trinity. This is re-enforced and expanded upon by the three squares. When folks think about the “holy trinity”, most of the world immediately goes to God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. Or the before, the here and now, along with the future. Now lets really dig beyond the Christian spin and move on to Egypt. See in Egypt you had Osiris, Isis, and Horus. Here again three. Now in this example you have the father, mother, and son. Osiris is the father Horus, who was conceived post resurrection that was casted by Isis. A little interesting aside here, Osiris was killed by Set his brother. (Wikipedia, 2018) That should ring familiar with another story of brothers to whom biblically created the line of humanity that now exists.
So, we can now see the sacred aspect of the 3. The 47th Problem is also said to represent the Bride’s Chair which is the position that Isis typically depicted while holding the young Horus. (Symbol Dictionary, 2018)
Another aside President James Garfield was said to find an alternative proof for the Pythagorean Theorem. (Policy World, 2008) Which oddly enough served while the 47th Congress was in session. (Uhler, 2011)
Ok back on track, we have a ration of 3:4:5 which translates to 3:5:7 via taking the square of 3:4:5 and then subtracting the square from the next whole number. (1,4,9,16 = 3,5,7) (Masonic Lodge of Education, 2018) So what is the deal with 3:5:7? As already stated 3 represents the trinity as well it represents the 3 Master Masons required to open a Master Mason’s Lodge. 5, however in a biblical sense represents God’s grace. This from the creation of man with 5 fingers, 5 toes, 4 limbs + the head, and 5 senses etc. On a more open interpretation 5 represents man, health and love via the combination of the number that represents the feminine, 2, with the numerical representative of man which is 3. Bring man and woman together you have 5. There is also the concept of hieros gamos. The above and below combining. Not to mention Leo, Mercury. 5 also is the number of Mason’s it takes to conduct a Fellow Craft’s Lodge.
Ok so what about 7? Biblically it is the gift of eternal life. Oh, lets see, 7 colors of the rainbow, The Moon, The Sun… 7 is all over the place as a sacred number. Of course, the masonic connection is that 7 is how many Masons it takes to open the first degree and the beginning of the travels in the order. There are also the 7 gods of luck. The top 7 gods in the pantheon of Sumerian world.
Oh, this is fun too considering alchemical meanings and chemical meanings: 3+5+7= 15 15 is Phosphorus which is also represented as a tetrahedral anion. Tetrahedron ofcourse could be more familiar if you thought of the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
Or in Hebrew 15 is yogh heh which is one of the many names of God.
The bottom line is that this represents so many levels of our existence that it can be overwhelming.
Where does this play in Magick or the manipulation of reality and energy?
With magick you have the rule of 3, sexual based magick, of course Aleister Crowley.
Reality and energy breaches into the physics and even quantum physics.
Where does all of this reside? Why even write about this? Ultimately it is proof of worship of the goddess or feminine worship that has been practiced through out humanities time span. It is often quipped that prostitution is the oldest profession. Why? The desire and need to experience the woman or the goddess in the purest of the sense. You have Isis in Egypt. Mary and the Queen Mother Mary in Christianity. There is the Black Madonna.
No matter what your stake, it all comes back to recognizing the power women truly have and endorsing it in daily actives.
To each their own but with out women we would not be here nor, would we continue. Scared Geometry, faith, magick, intimacy, life, it all comes back to the power of the mother or goddess back to the 47th Problem.
References
Masonic Lodge of Education. (2018, 03 22). 47th Problem of Euclid How To Square Your Square. Retrieved from Masonic Lodge of Education: http://www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/47th-problem-of-euclid.html
Policy World. (2008). Policy World: PSO Proceedings. PSO, a Related Society of the American Political Science Associatiow,the International Political Science Association, and the International Studies Association (p. 497). Policy World.
Symbol Dictionary. (2018, 03 22). 47th Problem (Bride’s Chair). Retrieved from Symbol Dictionary: http://symboldictionary.net/?p=2474
Uhler, K. (2011). The Demise of Patronage: Garfield, the Midterm Election, and the Passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Act. Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations Florida State University Libraries.
Wikipedia. (2018, 03 22). Osiris. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris
Wikipedia. (2018, 03 22). Pythagorean theorem. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem