How to use gematria numbers

Gematria is a sub-discipline of numerology which assigns special meaning to numbers in order to study words and expressions from an esoteric perspective. Its use can be traced back to ancient Hebrew and Greek writings, where it was used to assign numerical values to words for the purpose of providing deeper insights into both religious writings and everyday conversations. The practice is still very much alive today, with practitioners believing that understanding the true meaning of words can be revealed by learning their numerical counterparts.

So how do you use gematria numbers? First, it's important to note that each letter in the alphabet has its own numerical equivalent. Here's a sample chart:

A – 1 B – 2 C – 3 D – 4 E – 5 F – 6 G – 7 H – 8...etc.

If you want to find out the gematria number of a word or phrase, simply take each letter's corresponding number and add them together. For example, if you want to find out the gematria value of the word "friend" (F-6, R-9, I-9, E-5, N-5), you would add 6+9+9+5+5=34.

Once you know the gematria value for a word or phrase, then what? Well, different cultures have assigned various meanings to certain gematria numbers based on numerology principles. For instance in Judaism and Christianity there are some traditional beliefs linking special significance to certain numbers like 7 (for divine perfection) or 40 (for deliverance). Beyond this though, many modern practitioners rely more on personal intuition and any associated symbolic meanings they personally assign to each number as a result of their own metaphysical experiences. This type of interpretation takes practice and discernment but can provide an interesting "key" into unlocking deeper insights around whatever topics one may be exploring at any given time.