Simple Gematria

Simple Gematria, also known as Ordinal Gematria, has its conceptual origins in ancient alphanumeric systems but emerged in its current form (A=1, B=2, etc.) during the Renaissance period in Europe. Unlike traditional Hebrew or Greek systems, Simple Gematria was designed as a straightforward adaptation of gematria principles for Western languages and alphabets.

During the 15th-17th centuries, European occultists and Christian Kabbalists sought to apply ancient numerological techniques to Latin and vernacular languages. Figures like Johannes Reuchlin and Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa incorporated Simple Gematria into their esoteric works, establishing it as part of Western mystical traditions.

Simple Gematria gained further popularity during the Enlightenment era when rational approaches to mysticism were sought. Its intuitive nature—simply assigning sequential values to letters—made it accessible to scholars and practitioners without knowledge of ancient languages. This accessibility helped preserve gematria practices as interest in classical languages declined.

In modern times, Simple Gematria has become the entry point for many numerology enthusiasts due to its straightforward calculation method. Contemporary occult and New Age movements have embraced it as a tool for personal insight and spiritual exploration. While lacking the ancient pedigree of Hebrew or Greek systems, Simple Gematria offers an approachable method for exploring the numerical dimensions of language.