The Law of 3

Is three truly a magic number? Why do celebrity deaths seem to come in threes – for instance, the weekend’s triad of Dennis Hopper, Gary Coleman and Rue McClanahan?

Many cultures depict God as having three aspects – for instance, Catholics speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; whereas Hindus speak of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. European paganism recognizes three phases of the Goddess or archetypal womanhood – Maiden, Mother and Crone. Hinduism recognizes the Tridevi, or three forms of the Goddess, as Saraswati (the goddess of learning and arts), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and fertility), and Paravati (the goddess of love and power). Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels – Buddha (the spiritual potential of all beings), Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha), and Sangha (spiritual community). In Qabalah, 3 is the number of Binah, or the archetypal female energy.

The philosopher, mathematician and mystic Pythagoreas held that three was the “noblest” number. The classic rules of rhetoric, and comedy, demand that statements made in threes are inherently more effective. The psychology of communication, and advertising, demonstrates that something must be stated a minimum of three times before somebody truly hears it. Almost all movies rely on a three-act structure (and often become trilogies if their directors are particularly ambitious and well-funded).

Wiccans hold that whatever energy a person puts out, whether it is positive or negative, will return to them threefold.

A triangle, which of course has three sides, is the strongest structure possible.

So what exactly is so special about the number three? In many ways, three is the number of change. It is the first positive number that implies anything moving. The number 1 is single, alone, and unified. 2 implies opposites, duality and reflection. But only in 3 do things really start to move, as 3 implies a third factor and therefore the beginnings of motion. This is why we speak of love triangles, power triangles, why you only become a family when you have a child (and not just a dog or a “third wheel”), and so on. And, perhaps, this is why bad news tends to come in threes.

What do you think – what exactly is it about the number three that holds so much mystic potential?

14 thoughts on “The Law of 3

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  6. Carmen Hexe

    Things have always happened to me in 3s, good and bad. I regard the 3 as my lucky number, even my birthday consists of all 3s (9/3/69). I also tend to arrange things in groups of 3s on shelves, etc. 🙂

    Reply
  7. misskrystal

    Thanks for such an interesting article…
    When two things happen at once, I always get this feeling, “Oh boy, what is next.”
    Most of the time it is true….Yet, as far as, “Trying again” in order to be successful at something-The third time sometimes is REALLY “The charm”…The hardest for me, with the “3’s”- so far has been some deaths….I had three people, immediate family, all die within the same year….They also all had their names start with the same initial….Which is also the same first initial for their family’s last name….All I can gather is it was just meant to be…..Miss Krystal

    Reply
  8. virgo2757

    Hi, Suzanne,
    Thank you for the book recommendation; I’ve heard of it before but have never read it. I’ll be sure to pick up a copy, it does sound interesting.

    Reply
  9. SuzanneSuzanne

    Virgo 2757,

    Fascinating. Have you ever read “The Life You Were Born to Live” by Dan Millman? I have a life path number of 3 as well. It’s all about expression and sensitivity — in a nutshell. The universe is sending signs…I think the psychics here can provide much more insight, but that book is incredibly helpful, too.

    Reply
  10. Gina Rose ext.9500Gina Rose ext.9500

    Hi,
    For those interested, here, in specific is the short version of the Wiccan ” Rule of Three ” or The Law of Threefold

    Ever Mind The Rule of three,
    Three Times What Thou Givest Returns To Thee.
    This Lesson Well, Thou Must Learn
    Thee Only Gets What Thou Dost Earn.

    Blessed Be )O(
    Gina Rose ext.9500

    Reply
  11. Gina Rose ext.9500Gina Rose ext.9500

    OOPS…..typo …it should say :

    ” An’ it harm NONE, do as ye will ”

    Blessed Be )O(
    Gina Rose ext.9500

    Reply
  12. Gina Rose ext.9500Gina Rose ext.9500

    Hi,
    I am HEREDITARY Wiccan, meaning I can trace myWiccan heritage back over 10 generations….

    The Law of ThreeFold is part of The Wiccan Rede. Below is just part of that which explains the Wiccan Law of ThreeFold. Wiccan laws are based upon the Universal Law of Karma…..whatsoever you put out , good or bad, comes back to you.

    Bide ye the Wiccan Rede ye must,
    In perfect love and perfect Trust.
    Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill
    ” An’ it harm done, do as ye will ”
    Lest in self defense it be,
    Ever mind the Rule of Three !!!!!!
    Follow ye this with mind and heart,
    Merry ye meet, and merry ye part.

    Blessed Be )O(
    Gina Rose ext.9500

    Reply
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  14. virgo2757

    This was a good article, gave me some things to think about, but also increased my curiosity about a situation that’s been happening to me since February of this year: the number 333 has been following me around. I seem to see it every time I look at a digital clock, it’s been a total on register receipts, it’s been the code at the bottom of some of the scratch-off lottery tickets I’ve bought [although I didn’t win anything! :-(( ], and it was even the total of emails my daughter left unchecked in her email box last month. (Yeah, I told her to sit down and start cleaning them out!) Can anyone give me some insight as to what message I might be getting or what lesson I’m supposed to be learning from this? I’d really appreciate it. Just for additional information, my lifepath number in numerology is 3, and THREE years ago, I finally got to spend some time doing something I’ve been wanting to do for 25 years: stand-up comedy. Again, thanks in advance for any insights.

    Reply

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