What is the purpose of gematria?

gematria is a system of interpreting ancient Hebrew letters and words as numerical values. Dating back to the time of the Babylonian exile of the Jews, gematria is used among Jewish people to interpret the literal meaning behind biblical text and in some cases engage in more mystical analysis.

At its most basic, gematria assigns numerical values to each Hebrew letter based on its place in the alphabet. These numerical values are then applied to words or phrases in order to add up to larger numerical values which can then be studied for meaning. For example, if a person wants to learn about certain parts of the Torah, they may use gematria to assign a numerical value to each word or phrase being studied and then look for patterns or relationships between those numbers and other words or subjects in the text.

Gematria is also used within Kabbalah, a school of spirituality that seeks greater understanding of God through ancient texts and practice. Kabbalists often use gematria as a tool for uncovering hidden narratives within Jewish sacred texts, while others use it as an aid in magical processes such as ceremonial casting circles and performing rituals.

Modern applications of gematria can vary depending on which tradition one follows — some focus on using it within mystical conceptions while others focus on using it as a way of decoding hidden messages in ancient texts. It's important to note that no one definitive interpretation for any type of gematriatic analysis exists; much like other spiritual practices such as tarot reading and astrology, individual interpretations will vary depending on who's doing the interpreting.