Behind Numerology: Complete Details on the Hidden Meaning of Letters and Numbers [Paperback]

Shirley Blackwell Lawrence (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Newcastle Pub Co Inc; 1st edition (November 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087877145X
• ISBN-13: 978-0878771455
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #836,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I adored my parents. My mother came from Sweden with her family when she was just 15, but already a concert violinist. My father was from Oklahoma and also musical. He and his brother made their own musical instruments and played them quite well. Both mom and dad were born psychic, so they were more spiritual in their thinking than most.
My mother looked forward to my playing the accompaniments for her concertos, so I began piano studies when I was 8. At 12 I asked to study voice. From then on I was in every musical and play throughout my school years. Music was my major in college: 2 years at Montana State in Missoula, and 3 years at San Diego State where I attained my bachelors degree.
Just before graduation I entered and was runner-up for a screen test at Fox Studios. The head of talent invited me to his office, saying he had me in mind for many musicals coming up. But after a chase around a desk I ran out, realizing it would take more than singing talent to get anywhere there. I moved to Hollywood to continue my voice study with a prominent vocal coach, and moved into the historic Studio Club where stars like Marilyn Monroe and Kim Novak had lived.
Soon I had an agent who sent me on interviews for movies and TV. One producer cast me as the lead in his movie; only he expected intimacy and I didn't want stardom if that was part of the contract; so I left. A casting person tried to unclothe me. So I started working as an extra. A director said he would be proud to have me as his prot'g' and groom me for stardom, but I learned that too required intimacy, so I continued working as an extra. I didn't care. I was singing in concerts and musicals, and was also one of three singers in Ted Bowers' Turn-of the Century Show' where I was the accompanist as well.
I met my musically talented husband on a movie set, and together we had several shows that we performed for clubs from San Diego to San Francisco, singing light opera songs and highlighting the beautiful sweetheart years of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, whom we resembled, plus cute novelty numbers from the early 1900s. Jeff plays the organ as well as piano, and has a beautiful baritone voice that attracted the mafia who wanted to make him a star. I took notes for a later book.
During this time I had a number of psychic experiences that led me to study the meaning of numbers. When I saw how accurate my numerology chart was, and those of my husband and three children, I wanted to know WHY it worked, but no book on numerology explained it. After 5 years of research, I wrote of my findings and my first book was published in 1989: Behind Numerology. I studied with William Eisen, author of the many English Cabalah books, and wrote my second book, Numerology and the English Cabalah. When my publisher died, Career Press/ New Page Books bought his company and republished my first book as 'The Secret Science of Numerology,' and then asked me to write a simpler book on the subject for the average person. They titled it 'Exploring Numerology, Life by the Numbers.'
In the early 90's I wrote two theses to earn my doctorate in metaphysics. Soon after, I left the movie business and became an administrative assistant for Dr. Masters in his University where I worked until my retirement about 10 years later. It was then that I was able to gather my 35-plus years of notes and together we wrote our book on our Hollywood adventures just published in July 2006, 'Hollywood Be Thy Name: An Inside Look at Hollywood Actors and Extras.' There you will learn what actors have to go through to make it in Hollywood, what it is like to work on movie sets, as well as meeting many extras and hearing their fascinating stories about working in 'the business.' The book is full of surprises and untold stories.
We are now retired and living in Florida near our three children: Jennifer, David and Julianne, and their families.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the Serious Seeker, October 15, 2000

By 

Debbie Comings (Knoxville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind Numerology: Complete Details on the Hidden Meaning of Letters and Numbers (Paperback)

For 6 or 7 years, I have been a student of numerology and have studied many books and authors' ideas, styles, etc. "Behind Numerology", as well as her subsequent book, "Numerology and the English Cabalah", have elevated my study and insight to a whole new level. Both books are a must for the serious seeker and student. This author has done tremendous research and supports modern numerology from its ancient roots. She provides the most comprehensive explanations, meanings, and coverage of the numbers and the alphabet/letters that I have ever seen. Further, she details the evolution of the ancient alphabet from the Phoenician and Hebrew times to present day, as well as introducing linkages with gematria, temurah & notariqn; the Tree of Sephiroth; and the Tarot. There are many examples and interpretations; charts; and reference tables. Compound, master, and mystic numbers are covered as well as a host of other information. Even after years of study, once I read both of her books, I now feel that I have only just begun....there is so much depth to this subject if one is so inclined to pursue it. Both books also provide an enormous amount of reference to supporting resource material. Obviously, I highly recommend these books for advanced study. I believe these books are both currently out-of-print, but they can be found through the the various resources offered online and are well worth the effort.