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Google is populated with searches seeking the meanings of things, with queries like "what does it mean when my right ear rings," "what does it mean when you see a blue jay," or "what is the meaning of the angel number of 444."
While some would mock an angel number and say it was God's cat stepping on the Universe's keyboard, I understand why so many people are looking for meaning in the things they repeatedly catch glimpses of, or see during meaningful moments.
I believe we can balance a cultivation of meaning from the spiritual, with what some call "spiritual discernment.”
In what follows, I offer some ideas, and thinking tools you can use to *not* be used by things like "angel numbers," while still finding some sources of meaning that help you in a practical, rather than abstract, way.
Language Magic Is Why We Seek Out Spiritual Meaning
I've discussed Language Magic, and to summarize it a bit: Language is itself, inherently magical.
That humans found simple, and then elaborate, and sometimes artistic ways to communicate with each other, is magical.
Because of our concept of language, we can talk to the world in the form of question, and it can talk back with a sound or sight that hits at the right moment to resonate with us in some way.
By learning new languages, we have new ways to communicate with the world, and a new way to see the world, which comes with it, a new way to interact with the world.
When we learn an oracle, astrology, or Spanish, we can then exist in a way that we previously weren't able to.
The idea of an Emperor becomes different when we know the meaning of the Tarot card.
And I'll argue that when people know an accepted, consensus meaning of a supposed "angel number," they can then communicate with the world in a different way.
But, as I'll get into next, you should seek out your own understanding of any language you're learning instead of getting it from one source.
Using The Language of Divination To Understand The Meaning of The Signs You See
Learning an oracle is an investment that takes time, but the benefit is that you can communicate with the world without some intermediary on TikTok telling you the meaning of any 'signs' you happen to see repeatedly.
As an example:
Once I learned the I Ching and Tarot well enough, I began asking it for the meaning of everything from numbers I'd repeatedly see, to astrological transits and placements (suggested question: 'what reading best represents the meaning of x', or 'what message is x trying to tell me')
By doing so, I came to my own conclusions about these 'signs' and 'synchronicities', without needing to rely on some supposed authority that was gatekeeping some essential knowledge.
And when we can be our own translator of hidden meanings, we distance ourselves from any possibility of falling victim to cult-like figures preying on our need for certainty. I recommend you build up some oracular knowledge of your own.
Why We Should Be Careful About Assigning Signs And Meanings Too Much Importance (And How To Safeguard Aginst Doing So)
The truth is, there's spiritual meaning everywhere.
Anything from a dream, to the number on a street sign seen at an opportune time can transmit some form of a message to you.
And because all of this is so plentiful, don't attach too much importance to any one message.
To be honest, I don't remember all of the readings I did about this or that number on a clock.
The Buddha argued against speculation, and like a lot of things, he was right about it.
There will never be a Heaven-sent Snopes to confirm or deny what means something to you.
The creator (some would say 'vessel') of Angel Numbers has since disavowed their significance.
Does that mean they don't mean anything? Well, it depends on whether you think they mean something to you.
Just like the right movie at the right time can change us, a series of numbers at the right moment, repeatedly, can connect disconnected events.
It can string meaning along throughout our lives, and the best way to protect ourselves from any pernicious extremes is to remind ourselves that there's still living to be done.
Despite the seemingly divine information we're receiving being important to us in some way, you have to go about your day-to-day life all the same.
Ask yourself: is believing this working for me, or not?
If you've become obsessive or nearly manic in the face of such phenomena, take a step back, and ground yourself.
Socialize with people that won't encourage your obsessions, put the social media to the side, experience nature, and look after your mental health.
There's still meaning to be had in the minutiae or our daily lives, and often, our biggest sources of meaning come from our relationships.
And it's likely more important to bolster our relationships with other material beings instead of those immaterial ones that are said to have dozens of eyes.