The Secret Science of Numerology: The Hidden Meaning of Numbers and Letters [Paperback]

Shirley Blackwell Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2001

The Secret Science of Numerology is unlike any other book on numerology, because it explains why numerology works. It reveals the science behind this ancient mystical art. And, the book introduces the Inner Guidance Number, a powerful tool for accessing our inner knowing.

The Secret Science of Numerology is the first book to present a thorough explanation of the numbers and letters, starting with their origins-the how and why of their design, and exploring their nature in names and in language.

Product Details

• Paperback: 287 pages
• Publisher: New Page Books (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564145298
• ISBN-13: 978-1564145291
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Divination > Numerology

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

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Insight, June 13, 2004

By 

T. R. LAVALLEY "blackbird" (Frederick, Md) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Science of Numerology: The Hidden Meaning of Numbers and Letters (Paperback)

Shirley has been practicing numerology longer than most of us have been alive. She brings this depth of experience alive on the page, as she explores the meanings of the various numbers and their vibrations.

Shirley takes each number back to its Kabbalist Roots. She demonstrates how the meaning and energy captured in the original pictograms is still alive, if hidden, in the meaning of the numbers and letters we use today. The Example of how the Hebrew Letter
Alph, which evolved into our letter A, is in fact a pictogram of an Ox's head, turned upside down. Now take that image, it is also a stylized picture of the female reproductive system. So A is tied intimately to the creative principle of the universe. This is just a tiny example, but letter by letter she lays bare why given shapes where chosen to represent different vibrations. Shirley's vision of numerology is rooted deeply in the tradition that sees number as vibration, and vibration as music. She will truly introduce you to the music of the spheres.

Shirley's ease with the subject makes the style of this book very conversational, and yes that leads to a lot of anecdotal passages. Personally I find the anecdotal material one of the strengths of the book. Here we have the direct experience of a practitioner with 40 plus years in her craft. This is one of the best books I have ever read. Even if your not interested in divination now, by the time you finish the book you may well be! An author with a wonderful voice, talking passionately, and knowledgably about the craft she loves. It doesn't get much better than this.

56 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars All that glitters is not gold, May 27, 2002

By 

Timothy J. Joko-Veltman "Tim" (Brasilia, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Science of Numerology: The Hidden Meaning of Numbers and Letters (Paperback)

If I were to rate this book on marketing and appearance, it would get 5 stars. The cover is nice, the title is catchy, the paper is high quality, and the text is nice.

But all that glitters is not gold. And maybe not even silver, or come to think of it, worthwhile. This book glitters, but definitely isn't gold.

The main problems I had was that it is full of logical fallacies and irrelevant, anecdotal, and circumstancial "evidence." Actually that's two problems. Big ones.

But don't believe me because just *I* said so. Here's an example: she says that because the Hebrew equivalent for the letter "h" has a particular meaning within Kabbalistic Numerology (itself a distinction she slyly fails to make), the letter "h" in English therefore has the same meaning. Since when are different languages interchangeable? Next thing we know it'll be Greek, or better yet, Korean!

And her "evidence" is largely anecdotal. Most people know that if you set out looking for something, you'll find it; if you have a preconception about the way it's supposed to be, it quite likely will end up being that way. And of course she found the "evidence" she needed to "flesh out" her dog- er, I mean beliefs. As such, her stories become very shaky "evidence," at best circumstancial.

This reminds me of another thing that bothered me a lot. Ms. Lawrence should probably study physics along with metaphysics; there are four elementary particles so far discovered: neutron, electron, proton, and neutrino. She also made several other scientific errors - perhaps the next version will correct those "minor errors" as well. Bad Science isn't such a big deal ... unless your book has "Science" in the title.

All of this -[in my opinion] - thoroughly destroyed Ms. Lawrence's credibility.

I don't have anything against Ms. Lawrence or numerology (I'm quite fond of the latter, actually), but it was seriously disappointing to buy this book and find it to be so uncredible. If I disregard what I knew both before and after reading this book, the "hidden meaning of numbers and letters" would still be "hidden."

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE SECRET SCIENCE OF NUMEROLOGY: THE HIDDEN MEANING OF NUMBERS AND LETTERS, January 7, 2007

By 

MAROO "MAROO" (Los Angeles, CA---USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Science of Numerology: The Hidden Meaning of Numbers and Letters (Paperback)

We find this book presents an interesting reader-friendly introduction to the historical bases and concepts of Numerology, including delightful discussions of concepts of potential energy vibrations associated with sounds, colors, words, numbers, etc., and how these vibrations may affect the energy fields, etc., in the world in which we live. We feel whether one is reading the book as a serious student or simply to read for curiosity of the concepts presented, the material is presented in interesting, thought stimulating writings, and it is for these reasons we have shared this book with our friends. Amazon.com offers competitive pricing and timely deliveries. Happy reading !!!