If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6, and 9, then you would have the key to the universe.
Published in · 9 min read · Jul 14, 2023
Many people have been attracted by the notion that Nikola Tesla gave the numbers 3, 6, and 9 a specific significance. It’s important to note that there aren’t any exact quotations or writings on the issue from Tesla himself. There is no clear historical evidence to support one of the most well-known quotes ascribed to Tesla, “If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then you would have the key to the universe,” which has been widely disseminated online.
This article delves further into Nikola Tesla’s fascination with the 3, 6, and 9, discussing their possible connections to obsessive-compulsive disorder, their importance in geometry and trigonometry, and their controversial place in vortex mathematics. It combines scientific research with historical perspective, disproving speculation while stressing the importance of analytical thought. By emphasizing the significance of numbers in everyday life, it sheds insight on Tesla’s brilliance and his ability to strike a harmonious balance between science and mysticism. Those interested in Tesla, the border between science and mysticism, and the appeal of numbers will find this to be an essential read.
Nikola Tesla was a scientist of towering intellect and, equally, a man of deep eccentricities. Among his quirks was an unmistakable obsession with the number three and its multiples. His fixation was so profound that it dictated aspects of his daily life, right down to the minute details.
One of the most well-known instances of his number obsession involved his routines at mealtimes. He often insisted on having 18 napkins (a number divisible by 3 and 6) at his table, which he would use to clean his cutlery before eating. After his meals, Tesla would engage in a peculiar ritual of calculating the cubic volume of the food he had consumed.
This compulsion extended beyond mealtimes. For instance, when he stayed in hotels, he demanded a room number divisible by three. If such a room was not available, he would reportedly change hotels until he found one that met his requirements.
Additionally, when Tesla walked, he would often feel compelled to take steps in sets of three. If his destination was within sight, yet he had not completed his three-step cycle, he would reportedly pace back and forth until he completed a multiple of three steps.
These behaviors lead some modern experts to suspect that Tesla may have suffered from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This mental health condition is characterized by recurring and intrusive thoughts, impulses, or images (obsessions) that cause distress, and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that a person feels driven to perform to reduce the distress or prevent a feared event.
Tesla’s obsessions with cleanliness, repeated actions in multiples of three, and even his habit of circling a building three times before entering, all align with known symptoms of OCD. It’s also worth noting that OCD often co-occurs with other mental health conditions such as depression and social anxiety disorder, both of which Tesla showed signs of throughout his life.
However, it’s important to bear in mind that our understanding of mental health has greatly evolved since Tesla’s time. While his behaviors seem consistent with what we now understand as OCD, the condition wasn’t officially recognized during his lifetime. Therefore, any posthumous diagnoses should be considered with some caution.
Despite these caveats, there’s no denying that the number three, and its multiples of six and nine, held a captivating sway over one of the greatest scientific minds in history. Whether this fascination stemmed from a neurological condition, a deep-rooted superstition, or some profound mathematical insight remains an enigma, adding to the enduring fascination that surrounds Nikola Tesla.
Numbers are the universal language through which we decode the world around us. Their presence is so ubiquitous that we often overlook their intrinsic beauty, a beauty Nikola Tesla was all too familiar with. The numbers 3, 6, and 9 in particular, find themselves woven into the fundamental framework of our existence, embedded within cycles of nature, and embodying the harmonic rhythm of trigonometry.
Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that studies the relationships between the sides and angles of triangles. It’s the basis for the study of periodic phenomena because it provides a mathematical way to describe oscillation and rotation, crucial for understanding waves and circles. Indeed, trigonometric functions such as sine and cosine waves, which oscillate between -1 and 1 in a repeating cycle, offer a precise method to describe a multitude of cyclical natural phenomena.
The sine and cosine functions graph the ratios of the sides of a right triangle as an angle changes. The values of these functions repeat every 360 degrees, or 2π radians — a number divisible by 3, 6, and 9. Therefore, these numbers play an essential role in the periodicity and symmetry found in natural phenomena and waveforms.
From the alternating current (AC) that powers our homes and cities to the electromagnetic waves that facilitate communication technology, the principles of sine and cosine functions are fundamental. The world of electricity and magnetism that Tesla so radically impacted is one where these functions reign supreme.
AC, unlike direct current (DC), periodically changes its direction, flowing back and forth in a cyclical manner. Tesla’s development of AC distribution systems was pivotal in the electrification of the world. Understanding the properties of AC circuits, from the oscillations of current to the phase relationships between voltage and current, involves a deep understanding of trigonometric principles.
Similarly, electromagnetic waves, which include radio waves, microwaves, and visible light, are periodic by nature. They are described by sinusoidal wave functions that define how the electric and magnetic fields change over space and time. These waves allow for wireless transmission of information, the principles of which Tesla helped pioneer.
In this realm of cycles, Tesla was in his element. The harmony and rhythm of 3, 6, and 9 in trigonometric functions played a profound role in his scientific contributions. Yet, as with so much about Tesla, the fascination with these numbers went beyond the scientific, hinting at an almost mystical fascination with the numerical dance that underpins the natural world.
Numerical symmetry, notably revolving around the numbers 3, 6, and 9, manifests in remarkable ways across geometry and nature. This symmetry is deeply ingrained in our universe, showing up in the arrangement of atoms, the orbits of planets, and the structure of snowflakes, to name a few. Nikola Tesla, with his uncanny intuition for understanding natural phenomena, was acutely aware of this patterned uniformity.
At the heart of this symmetry lies the number three. In the realm of geometry, the simplest shape you can construct is a triangle, which is a three-sided polygon. Triangles are inherently stable structures, a property that makes them foundational in architecture and engineering. From the pyramids of Egypt to the Eiffel Tower, three-sided figures provide strength and stability to structures around the world. This core relationship between three and stability is likely something Tesla, as an engineer, deeply understood.
Expand this concept further to three dimensions, and we encounter the cube, a shape that holds significant importance in geometry and is notably connected to Tesla’s groundbreaking work. The cube is characterized by its rotational symmetry along three axes. This symmetry, so intrinsic to the cube’s structure, may have provided inspiration for Tesla’s development of the three-phase alternating current system, which also hinges on the principle of rotational symmetry. The AC motor, one of Tesla’s crowning achievements, ingeniously exploits this concept to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.
Delving into the number six, we encounter the hexagon, a shape that nature seems particularly fond of. The cells of a honeycomb, for example, are hexagonal because this shape allows bees to maximize storage space while minimizing the amount of wax needed to construct the comb. This efficient use of resources demonstrates nature’s preference for symmetry and optimization, a principle not lost on Tesla.
Nine, while less directly visible in geometric shapes, is integral to rotational symmetry. When you delve into higher dimensions, the relationships between these numbers become even more intriguing. A hypercube or tesseract, a four-dimensional analog of a cube, has six faces — tying together the importance of 3, 6, and 9 in the realm of geometric symmetry.
What ties these examples together is the concept of patterned uniformity, of symmetry, a principle Tesla was adept at identifying and harnessing. These numerical relationships underscore the foundational role of numbers in describing the universe around us. As with all aspects of Tesla’s life, the interplay between these numbers reflects a blend of scientific insight and an almost mystical fascination with the numerically patterned world.
Vortex Mathematics, sometimes referred to as Vortex-Based Math (VBM), is a relatively recent concept that has garnered considerable attention due to its supposed association with Nikola Tesla, particularly his fondness for the numbers 3, 6, and 9. Its creator, Marko Rodin, posits that this unconventional mathematical approach uncovers the fabric of the universe. The foundation of Vortex Mathematics lies in the belief that certain numerical patterns provide insights into physical reality’s inherent energy patterns.
The approach relies heavily on the numbers 1 through 9, arranged in a so-called “vortex pattern” or “mathematical fingerprint of God,” with the numbers 3, 6, and 9 being deemed ‘vortex numbers’. According to Rodin, these numbers form a number map of great significance, demonstrating unique properties that suggest an underlying vortex or toroidal shape to the universe.
Rodin’s theory asserts that the number 9 is of special significance, acting as a “control” or “field” number. It also proposes that the numbers 3 and 6 represent physical and metaphysical realms, respectively, in an oscillating pattern of expansion and contraction. This, according to Rodin, symbolizes the infinite energy flow of the universe. While this theory captivates many, often capturing the imagination of those interested in the intersection of spirituality and mathematics, it is important to note that Vortex Mathematics is controversial and is not recognized by mainstream mathematicians or scientists.
Critics of Vortex Mathematics argue that it lacks rigorous mathematical basis. It doesn’t appear to offer predictive power or unique insights into real-world phenomena that can be consistently validated by experiment, both key elements of accepted scientific theories. Instead, they point out, it seems to be an example of number mysticism or numerology, where patterns perceived in numbers are imbued with special meaning, rather than revealing intrinsic mathematical truths.
Despite these criticisms, the concept has considerable appeal, bolstered in part by its supposed association with Tesla. Whether Tesla himself would have ascribed any significance to Vortex Mathematics is uncertain. However, the allure of these ideas demonstrates the ongoing fascination with the numbers 3, 6, and 9, and with the enigmatic figure of Nikola Tesla himself. As with so much around Tesla, the blend of science, mystery, and spirituality continues to captivate imaginations.
In the annals of scientific history, few figures loom as large, or as enigmatically, as Nikola Tesla. An inventor, a pioneer, and a visionary, Tesla’s contributions to the world of science and technology are vast and undeniable. His work forms the bedrock of much of our modern lives, from the electricity that powers our homes to the wireless communication technologies that keep us connected.
And yet, there remains a fascination with Tesla that goes beyond his scientific achievements. The eccentricities of his character, the breadth of his interests, and the depth of his convictions make him a compelling figure. Part of this mystique is undoubtedly tied to his reputed fascination with the numbers 3, 6, and 9. The significance that Tesla ascribed to these numbers remains largely speculative, built as much on anecdotal evidence and posthumous interpretation as on historical fact. What is indisputable, however, is the frequency with which these numbers appear in various aspects of our world, from the harmonic dance of trigonometry and the symmetry in geometry and nature, to the controversial realm of Vortex Mathematics.
While Tesla’s theories and inventions were grounded in empirical observation and mathematical precision, it is clear that he also harbored a sense of wonder at the mysteries of the universe. His fascination with the numbers 3, 6, and 9 could be seen as emblematic of this, a reflection of his desire to uncover the hidden patterns and rhythms of the natural world.
Whether one views Tesla’s numerical obsession as a manifestation of potential OCD, a profound mathematical insight, or an intriguing mix of both, it adds another dimension to the enigma of Nikola Tesla. His life’s work, his unique worldview, and his ongoing legacy serve as an enduring testament to the interplay of science, mathematics, and the human spirit. It’s this synergy that captures the essence of Nikola Tesla, whose life continues to inspire scientists, inventors, and dreamers alike.
