On February 23, a Joel Schumacher film, starring Jim Carrey, entitled ‘Number 23’ will be released. The story centers on a book given to the main character (Carrey) that seems to echo the events of his life and prominently features the phenomenon that has come to be known as “The 23rd Enigma.” Riddle 23 is the belief that each event is somehow related to the number 23. This is sometimes wrongly attributed to the science of Numerology, although that is incorrect. Like the phenomenon of ‘9-11’ in which the coincidences of the number 911 are graphed and enumerated, the enigma 23 may be nothing more than a particular example of the confirmation bias in cognitive theory known as apophenia – the experience of finding connections or patterns in random and meaningless data. Supporters of the 911 phenomenon find a good part of these coincidences by manipulating numbers to arrive at a desired result (denying the possibility of a true coincidence) and many of the examples given in the numerous lists on riddle 23 share this trait. Robert Anton Wilson himself, whose work explores some of these interesting coincidences regarding the number 23, comments that the phenomenon simply shows how the mind can find the “truth” in anything if it wants to see it.
However, there are some genuine coincidences (or synchronicities) that feature the number 23 and it is often interesting to regard them as harmless diversions, some of which we will list here. Due to popular culture there are also many instances in which the enigma is intentionally evoked in artistic works that feature some reference to 23. If you decide to provisionally accept the phenomenon as a true example of synchronicity in action, don’t be surprised if you start to see the number 23 everywhere as it becomes what is known in psychology as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Whether you see it or not, have fun. 23 times more!
Curiosities of the number 23
The physical biorhythm cycle is said to be 23 days. It takes 23 seconds for blood to circulate through the human body. The male and female each contribute 23 chromosomes during conception. One complete turn of the DNA helix occurs every 23 angstroms. The number of joints in the human arm is 23. There are 23 vertebrae in the human body. Tantrists believe that the male sexual cycle is 23 days.
Shakespeare was born on April 23. Shakespeare died on April 23. Two 23 is 46 and that was Shakespeare’s age when the KJV was published. Take a King James Version of the Bible and go to Psalm 46. Count 46 words and you will come to the word “shake.” Go to the end of the chapter and count 46 words back and the word you end with is ‘spear’.
Ancient Egyptians celebrated the New Year on July 23, the day Sirius rises behind the sun.
The ideal orbit, the Clarke orbit, for a satellite is 37,000 kilometers above the earth.
The first prime number in which both digits are prime and add to another prime number is 23.
The 23rd letter of the alphabet, W, has 3 points up and 2 points down.
Two-thirds, or 2/3, is equal to .666.
The first transmission of Morse code is reported to have been “What has God done?” A biblical quote from Numbers 23:23.
Alexander the Great was 23 when he cut the Gordian knot and Caesar is reported to have been stabbed 23 times. The Knights Templar had 23 Grand Masters.
The “Day the Music Died” was February 3rd or 2nd. This was, of course, the day Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Big Bopper died.
Devin Hester, whose jersey number is 23, becomes the first person to kick-off for a touchdown in a Super Bowl (XLI).
Now how many more instances of mystery 23 can you find??
Copyright Jakob Steele 2007
