We humans love symmetry and love to find meaning in everything, so repetitive numbers like and dates such as 11/11/11 invoke huge interest and endless speculation.
Many people, including myself regularly see 11:11 in unexpected places. As well as on clocks, I see the repeated ones randomly, such as on my car's mileage, on a receipt or even a friend suggestion from Facebook (very often people who have 111 friends in common).
There's even a coach in my town who has the number plates 111 LoA (which stands for the Law of Attraction). How cool is that?
There is a world-wide movement of people who believe that 111 or 11:11 is an extremely powerful sign, so of course today is a very special date.
What does it all mean? Is it a symbol for something profound or just some dumb hippie crap?
My favourite astrologer Yasmin Boland says that it's a reminder for us to come together as a human race. "It’s about unity consciousness and remembering we are all 1" .
Another astrologer Jon Cainer says "11.11.11 is not so much an astrological phenomenon as a quirk of the calendar but it is definitely a day when we can all embrace change".
In many countries, 11th November is a day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives fighting in wars. We come together and stand for a 2 minute silence at 11am and many people get up for a dawn service.
It's marked with the heart-wrenching poem, For the Fallen, by English poet Laurence Binyon. It has been used in 11th November commemoration services in Australia since 1921:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
On this day, we remember those who have sacrificed their lives. Let's make this year even more of a reminder.
What is the significance of 11:11?
There are many websites dedicated to the 11:11 phenomenon, including this one which explains:
"These 11:11 wake-up calls on your digital clocks, mobile phones, VCR’s and microwaves are the "trademark" prompts of a group of 1,111 fun-loving spirit guardians, or angels, and it's their way of using our innate ability for pattern recognition to let us know that they are here."
Okay - some part of me loves the idea that angels use this to communicate with us. My Virgo down-to-earth part finds it a little silly. But when I see the numbers come up, I mentally ask 'What is the message you want me to know?'
I often see the numbers when I'm doing something that feels amazing - an incredible coaching call or undertaking a new challenge and I take the numbers as a message 'Keep going, you're on the right track'.
Sometimes I use it as a reminder to stop what I'm doing and focus purely on love and appreciation just for one minute.
I also love Steve Pavlina's take on it (his daughter was born at 11:11).
"11:11 basically acts like a glitch in the matrix of reality" he says. "Consider that perhaps reality itself doesn’t work the way you previously expected, and maybe — just maybe — these 11s are coming up for a reason that you simply don’t comprehend yet".
What could the reason possibly be?
"There is a cosmic law which states that your reality must remain congruent with your beliefs. If you choose to maintain your old beliefs, you cannot be shown anything that would violate them. However, once you shed the old beliefs and embrace new ones, the proof you originally sought will be readily forthcoming.
The continued recurrence of these 11s serves as a constant wake-up call. The 11s make it difficult to keep doing business as usual.
When you consciously ask to see reality accurately, some amazing things will begin to occur, gently at first, then with increasing strength and presence."
What do I believe about 11:11?
Humans like to make meaning out of everything and I'm open to many different interpretations. I like to see significant or unusual things like this as an anchor, a reminder to be fully present to my life.
I feel the same way about 2012 predictions. I don't take the 'end of the world' scaremongering in a literal way. But wouldn't it be cool if 2012 was a catalyst to change the world and the way we live in it as we know it.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
than are dreamt of in your philosophy
~Shakespeare's Hamlet
If you are unnecessarily sceptical about such things, you miss an opportunity. It doesn't mean you have to believe in every weird and wacky thing on the internet or go crazy with conspiracy theories. Anything that reminds you to stop and reflect on your life is a good thing.
I believe any day is powerful when we powerfully set our intentions towards our goals and dreams for a better world. So why not take advantage of the sexy looking date and make a big deal out of consciously deciding what you want in life?
You can choose to let 11.11.11 pass you by, or you can choose to use it as a catalyst - a chance to hit reset on your dreams. We won't get this beautiful date for another hundred years, so why not see it as an opportunity?
Wouldn't it be cool if millions of people around the world used this day to dream about the possibility for a better, more loving world? Here are my suggestions:
- Spend a minute meditating and reflecting at 11.11am and 11.11pm. Send out love to the world. It can't hurt right?
- Do a new dream board. Think of everything you want in your life and make a beautiful representation of what the next year will bring for you.
- Spend some time gazing at a beautiful tree and reflect on how amazing your life is. Gratitude is one of the most powerful forces in the world.
Finally, give yourself permission for transformation. Not just on this apparently auspicious day, but because you deserve it and the time is now.
And from now on, every time you see 111 or similar, choose to see it as an encouraging message from the Universe: 'You are on the right track, keep going!'.
Love and luck!
xx
