Number 13 is firmly associated with the notion of "bad luck." It's considered ominous by many.

The number 13 conjures up images of witches, black cats and even death, since the 13th card of the Tarot is the card of Death and is pictured as a skeleton (the symbol of death) with a scythe reaping down men in a field of newly grown grass where young faces and heads appear cropping up on all sides.

This image later became known as "The grim reaper," and it was ascribed to the planet Saturn. In the medieval England, the standard fee for the hangman was 13 pence -- a shilling and a penny.

Thirteen became "unlucky" around the Middle Ages. The probable reason was that Judas, a so-called villain, a betrayer of Jesus, was the "13th" apostle at the Last Supper.

In antiquity, 12 was perfect, complete number, so 13 indicated the beginning of a new cycle. The idea of the end of one cycle and beginning of another may be how the number 13 came to be considered as a symbol of death. According to Nature's Law, the old one has to die to make room for the new one. At the mystic, Uncrossing, Protection and Purification, rituals are performed for 13 days, using 13 items and reciting prayers 13 times.

Thus number 13 stimulates unexplained fears. The dread of 13 is so widespread in American culture that laborious efforts have been made to avoid any association with it whatsoever. Floors of buildings are spared the curse of 13 by skipping the number altogether.

Nevertheless, America is closely associated with the number 13. Starting with 13 colonies, the first national flag had 13 stars, and even today, it still has 13 stripes. Not to forget that the phrase "July the Fourth" contains 13 letters. The green side of the dollar bill is a standout for number 13. On the green side of the dollar bill, there are 13 s.jpg in the pyramid of the Great Seal. The motto above the pyramid, which reads "Annuit Coeptis", has 13 letters; the eagle on the right side has a ribbon in its beak that bears the motto "E Pluribus Unum," which contains 13 letters. The eagle has 13 tail feathers, and on its breast, there's a shield of 13 stripes. In one talon the eagle holds 13 arrows and in the other an olive branch with 13 leaves and 13 berries. Over the eagle's head are 13 stars that form the six-pointed "Star of David."

One may discard the notion by calling it "fluke" to stick to his or her superstition. However, the facts are hard to ignore and may encourage us to take an optimistic look.

The average celestial motion of the moon is 13 degrees per day, and Earth takes 13 weeks to travel from the equinox to the solstice. Then 13x452 weeks is the time Earth takes to complete evolution around the sun, and in most years, lunation (i.e., conjunction between the sun and moon) occurs 13 times.

Internationally, the fear of number 13 is unfounded. It's an honored number in many countries around the world. There are 13 occurrences of the quantity 13 in the design of the Great Pyramid of Gaze in Egypt, the largest stone edifice ever built. In the Indian Pantheon, there are 13 Buddhas. The mystical discs that surmount Indian and Chinese pagodas are 13 in number. Enshrined in the Temple of Atsuta in Japan is a sacred sword with 13 objects of mystery forming its hilt. And 13 was the sacred number of the ancient Mexicans - they had 13 snake gods.

If the skeptics are not still convinced tell them, "I was born on 13th, but it wasn't Friday." Remember, what matters is one's confidence and what he or she, not others, thinks about his or her personal attitude and achievements. With one's own high self-esteem, belief in humanity, and faith in the divine power, anyone will do just fine, regardless of the day he or she was born. Understand the mysticism of number 13 by the Lord Almighty's grace and employ the given power and dominion positively for the greater good.

Happy birthday to all who are born on the 13th.

Mandakini Hiremath is a Claflin instructor and coordinator of the university's writing center.

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