Alternative Lottery Strategies

By: Jo Mason

We all know the statistics on the lottery. Even if you're not familiar with the exact numbers, you've probably heard phrases like, "You have a greater chance of being struck by lightning." And while this is certainly true, many people still like to play the lottery. It's a fun way to spend a little money and daydream about what life would be like if you were filthy rich.

But if dropping a dollar and picking up a random ticket has gotten boring, you can liven up your lottery with some "alternative" ways to choose your numbers. In this article, you will learn about everything from the stars in the sky to the dreams you have at night. Let's get started with the ancient practice of numerology.

Understanding Numerology

Did you know that when you play your birthday numbers -- as many folks do -- you are using a very ancient ritual? Numerology is the study of the meanings of numbers. Its exact origin is unknown, but it predates the time of Christ and was practiced by the Chaldeans of southern Babylonia (southern Iraq). Some believe that the mysterious design of the Pyramid of Giza was, in part, based upon numerological calculations.

And in case you think those old beliefs have no bearing on today's world, think again. Why do you think some architects, to this day, number the floors of most tall buildings from 1 to 12 and then from 14 upward? And -- be honest! -- ask yourself: Have you ever deliberately chosen seat number 13 on an airplane?

The eminent Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, who studied with Sigmund Freud and is best known for his introvert/extrovert personality classifications, devoted many writings to numerology. He stated that numbers existed before the consciousness of man existed, meaning that man discovered numbers and did not invent them. He believed that numbers play a large part in everyone's life. Instead of joining the multitudes trying to decipher a predictable design or pattern in the lottery, try focusing on something far easier to predict: your own personal winning pattern.

You may have noticed that certain numbers crop up frequently in your life, such as phone numbers, anniversaries, and addresses. Or maybe you've observed particular days or times when it seems you just can't lose -- as well as those times when it seems everything you do goes wrong! Here's how to determine what some consider your luckiest numbers of all -- your birthday numbers. There are two different types of birthday numbers: your primary number and your secondary number. Each number is calculated in a different way.

Your Primary Number

Although some numerologists disagree as to which of the birth numbers are of greater significance, the birth date, or the primary number, is generally considered to be your most influential number. Your primary number will apply to you in every aspect from the lottery to significant anniversaries, such as births, weddings, and important career events.

Determining your primary number is a snap. It's simply the day you were born. If a person was born on December 8, 1950, his or her primary number is 8. If a person was born on a double-digit date, such as December 17, 1950, for example, the primary number is still 8; in numerology, numbers are always reduced to their lowest value: 1 + 7 = 8.

Your Secondary Number

Another significant number in your life is your secondary number. As mentioned above, some numerologists consider it of greater importance than your primary number. Through trial and error, you can use them both, and over a period of time decide for yourself which one to use when picking your Lotto numbers.

Determining this number is only slightly more complicated than figuring your primary number. To determine your secondary number, add the numerical values of the month, day, and year of your birth together. Then reduce the total number as previously shown. The months of the year have the following values: January = 1, February = 2, March = 3, April = 4, May = 5, June = 6, July = 7, August = 8, September = 9, October = 10, November = 11, and December = 12.

The person born on December 8, 1950, will compute the secondary number like this: month + date + year. The number for December (12) reduces to 3 (1 + 2 = 3). Now add 3 (month) + 8 (day) + 1 + 9 + 5 + 0 (year); this equals 26. Then reduce the double-digit total as follows: 2 + 6 = 8. This person's secondary number is 8.

But what happens if you forget to reduce the numbers before you add them up? You'll find that no matter how you add up the numbers, and then reduce them, the result will always be the same. Using the same date, if we were to add the numbers like this -- 12 + 8 + 19 + 50 -- we'd get 89. Then we would add 8 + 9 = 17, which then reduces to 8 (1 + 7 = 8).

Of course, we're just scratching the surface of what numerology has to offer. Move on to the next section for more tips and tricks using numbers.

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How to Find Your Lucky Numbers

You can use the formula from the previous page -- adding and reducing the numbers in your birth date -- to pick some additional lucky numbers for yourself. In fact, you can use it to obtain a single digit from any double- or triple-digit number or even from a long series of numbers.

The formula is simply to add each digit in a numerical series. Then add the digits of the sum until you've reduced it to a single digit. For example, you can calculate the numerical value of a telephone number. Let's say the number is 123-555-6789. Adding all the digits, we get 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 51. Use the formula again to reduce the number: 5 + 1 = 6. The phone number has a value of 6.

Now let's try a social security number: 111-22-3456. Adding all the digits together, we get 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 25. Then reduce that to 2 + 5 = 7. The social security number has a value of 7.

Remember, the result is always the same no matter how you add it. Instead of adding each single digit, you could add 111 + 22 + 3,456, which equals 3,589. Now add 3 + 5 + 8 + 9, which equals 25. Then 2 + 5 = 7.

This process works in reverse, also. Suppose your primary number is 3, and you want to choose three lucky Pick 3 numbers. Simply choose any combination of three digits that, when added and reduced, will equal your primary number of 3. The number 408 is a good choice: 4 + 0 + 8 = 12. This reduces to 3 (1 + 2 = 3). Or how about 057 for your Pick 3 numbers? Add 0 + 5 + 7 = 12, which reduces to 3. You can use this process for choosing your Pick 4 numbers as well. If your primary number is 3, try: 1 + 0 + 6 + 5 = 12. Reduce this to: 1 + 2 = 3.

Happy Birthday

If, as numerologists believe, numbers are important in our lives, then what more significant number could you have than the day you came into existence -- your birthday?

As for trying to win a Lotto jackpot with your primary number, you can play the number itself in combination with other numbers. A person born on August 15 might play her primary number, 6, with five other numbers.

You could even use several or possibly all numbers with a value of 6 when playing Lotto. As was illustrated previously, you may use any compound number that, when added and reduced, equals your primary number. Our August 15 birthday person could play 6, 15 (1 + 5 = 6), 24 (2 + 4 = 6), 33 (3 + 3 = 6), 42 (4 + 2 = 6), or 51 (5 + 1 = 6). (One thing to keep in mind when using this technique is to try to avoid popular numbers or popular series of numbers. )

Another common way of using your birthday numbers is to simply list the day, month, and year. The person born on August 15, 1970, would play 8 (August), 15 (day), and 70 (year). Seventy, of course, is too high to use in most games, so you could reduce the double-digit number and play 7.

Other Nifty Numbers

Although your birth date numbers are of greatest importance -- numerologically speaking -- other personal numbers can also be lucky. You can use any significant anniversary in your life, such as a wedding. Family members' birthdays are also significant to you, since your life is most certainly intertwined with theirs.

Other personal numbers might be your age, social security number, address, phone number, and bank account number. Use your imagination to come up with even more significant numbers. A couple from Ohio, both doctors, struck it rich to the tune of $8 million in the Ohio Super Lotto. Drs. Angelito Belardo and Orpha Belardo used a combination of birthdays to win. Who says the number 13 is unlucky? Not Wendell Hobbs. He was born on the 13th and always plays number 13. Lucky Mr. Hobbs won $100,000 in the Oregon Powerball. Californian Linda Ramos wanted to get her father a unique gift for Father's Day. She decided to use family members' special dates on the Lotto ticket she gave him. It turned out to be a truly special gift of $10 million. Her father, a retired agricultural laborer, agreed that it was the most extraordinary Father's Day present ever.

A System of the Ancients

Along with the numerology formula, there's also an ancient alphabet technique that comes to us from the Hebrew Kabala and the Chaldeans. This technique assigns numerical values to each letter of the alphabet. You can use these figures to calculate your name number. Next to the date you came into being (your birthday), what else can be more personal and significant than your name?

Numerologists and astrologers don't always agree on which alphabet number system to use (there are several), but most of them believe this is the most powerful one:

A = 1
H = 5 O = 7 
V = 6
B = 2 I =  1 P = 8 W = 6
C = 3
J = 1 Q = 1
X = 5
D = 4 
K = 2
R = 2
Y = 1
E = 5
L =  3
S = 3 Z = 7
F = 8
M = 4 
T = 4  
G = 3
N = 5 U = 6  


To use this system, write out your name as you usually sign it. Place the corresponding number from the alphabet key shown above beneath each letter of your name. Here's how we'd get the name number of Elizabeth E. Jones:

 E  L I
Z
A
B
E
T
H
E
J
O
N
E
S
 5 3
1
7
1
2
5
4
5
5
1
7
5
5
3

Now, use the formula to add up the numbers: 5 + 3 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 5 + 4 + 5 + 5 + 1 + 7 + 5 + 5 + 3 = 59. Then reduce the total: 5 + 9 = 14. Keep reducing the total until you obtain a single digit value: 1 + 4 = 5. The name number of Elizabeth E. Jones is 5.

If Elizabeth Jones decides not to use her middle initial, she'll have a different name number.

 E L
I
Z
A
B
E
T
H
J
O
N
E
S
 5 3
1
7
1
2
5
4
5
1
7
5
5
3

Adding and reducing these numbers gives us a different figure: 5 + 3 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 5 + 4 + 5 + 1 + 7 + 5 + 5 + 3 = 54, and 5 + 4 = 9. Thus the name number of Elizabeth Jones is 9.

But suppose she commonly goes by the name Lizzy Jones? She would have yet another name number. The name number of Lizzy Jones, using the formula above, is 4.

So what does all this mean? Certainly no one's going to suggest you change your name. But numerology -- like astrology -- is an esoteric art. This means that understanding your numbers is a very personal affair.

For instance, if, like Lizzy Jones, you happen to have a nickname, you may find that the nickname number is luckier for you than your full name. So experiment with your primary and secondary numbers, and combine them with your name numbers derived from various spellings of your name. Buy a few Pick 3 tickets. You may discover that one or even two of the spellings of your name may be luckier for you than the others.

Birthdays played a large role in numerology. They will also be a significant factor in our next alternative strategy. Read on to learn how to use your astrological sign and lunar cycles when you play the lottery.

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Astrological Signs and Lunar Cycles

Have you ever wondered just how those predictions in newspapers, magazines, and on online are made? Astrology is based upon the theory that our daily lives are affected by the movement of the sun, moon, and planets. If you were to have a natal chart (horoscope) done, it would represent a snapshot of the heavens at your moment of birth. The astrologer then studies the chart to determine your traits and predict your future.

Since the astrologers who write this have no way of determining your complete horoscope, they use the second-best method -- sun signs. That is, they write sections on each of the signs, and you look up the correct sign for your birthday. Your sun sign is determined by the position of the sun when you were born. For example, if you were born between March 21 and April 20, your sign is Aries since the sun is in Aries at that time.

According to astrologists, sun sign astrology can't be as accurate as studying one's natal chart, but it can provide some advice for your activities, such as trying to win the lottery. Check out your sign:

ARIES (March 21--April 20)
Traits: impulsive, individualistic
Buy tickets: in a skyscraper; in or near a hardware store
Best games: Instant Games; bonus ball-type games, such as Powerball
Best instant games: red-colored, with words Beat, Strike, Hot, or Fever
Best methods: use personal numbers; play a police officer's or a soldier's birthday; tracking; play hot numbers

TAURUS (April 21--May 21)
Traits: patient, stubborn
Buy Tickets: in an adobe or brick building; in a florist shop
Best Games: ones with large jackpots, such as Lotto or Powerball
Best Instant Games: copper-colored, with words Treasure, Bank, or Vault
Best Methods: play same series of numbers repeatedly; mainstream systems such as wheeling

GEMINI (May 22--June 21)
Traits: versatile, adaptable, restless
Buy tickets: at a neighborhood store; in a bus or train station
Best games: Little-Lottos (Fantasy 5, Cash 5)
Best instant games: yellow-colored, with words Fast, Quick, or Double
Best methods: buy two tickets; buy Quick Picks; play a sibling's birthday or your car license plate numbers

CANCER (June 22--July 22)
Traits: security-minded, moody
Buy tickets: at a grocery store; near a river, lake, or beach
Best games: Dailies; $2 instant games
Best instant games: silver-colored, with words Money, Cash, Monopoly, or Millionaire
Best methods: make use of numerology, lucky charms, and hunches

LEO (July 23--August 22)
Traits: bold, generous, fun-loving
Buy tickets: where kids congregate; where your sweetheart shops; in or near a sporting goods store
Best games: Lotto; bonus ball-type games, such as Powerball
Best instant games: gold-colored, with words Cat, Joker, or Gold
Best methods: track and play hot numbers; play a child's birthday

VIRGO (August 23--September 23)
Traits: practical, observant
Buy tickets: at a newsstand; in a brick building
Best games: Little Lotto; Dailies
Best instant games: yellow-colored, with words Bingo, Tree, or Combination
Best methods: tracking; pooling; play a coworker's or a doctor's birthday

LIBRA (September 24--October 23)
Traits: logical, romantic, indecisive
Buy tickets: in a florist shop; in or near a beauty shop; where your spouse shops
Best games: Pick 3; Lotto
Best instant games: copper- or pale blue-colored, with words Sweetheart, Diamonds, or Two
Best methods: wheeling; pooling; Quick Picks; play with a partner

SCORPIO (October 24--November 22)
Traits: intense, emotional
Buy tickets: in basement of a building; in a dimly lit place
Best games: Lotto; instant games
Best instant games: red- or black-colored, with words Life, Bonus, or Second Chance
Best methods: the paranormal; play your insurance policy numbers

SAGITTARIUS (November 23--December 21)
Traits: happy-go-lucky, impulsive
Buy tickets: at out-of-state lotteries; near a college
Best games: multistate games; Pick 3
Best instant games: purple-colored, with words Lucky, Happy, or Triple
Best methods: Quick Picks; use personal numbers; play an in-law's birthday

CAPRICORN (December 22--January 20)
Traits: serious, practical
Buy tickets: at a store near your job; in a wooden building
Best games: Pick 4; Little Lotto
Best instant games: green- or brown-colored, with words Green, Cold, Cool, or Tree
Best methods: track and play cold (overdue) numbers; use a lucky charm; play your boss' birth date

AQUARIUS (January 21--February 19)
Traits: intellectual, eccentric
Buy tickets: at an airport; where your friends shop
Best games: Lotto; Powerball, or other bonus-ball games
Best instant games: dark blue-colored, with words Wild, Seven, or Surprise
Best methods: join a small pool; use a computer to track and analyze odd/even numbers

PISCES (February 20--March 20)
Traits: sensitive, emotional
Buy tickets: at a gas station; near a lake, river, or beach
Best games: Lotto; Little-Lotto; Pick 3
Best instant games: turquoise-colored, with words Nine, Fishing, or Fantasy
Best methods: play numbers in your dreams; the paranormal; wheeling

Lunar Cycles

There are other timing techniques you can use when you play the lottery, astrologists say. In addition to picking lucky times in certain days or months, you can calculate lucky cycles. How do you do it? Just as your astrological sign is determined by the position of the sun when you were born, your lucky cycles can be determined by the position of the moon.

According to astrology, the moon governs growth. In fact, some farmers plant by the phases of the moon, checking when the moon is in a fertile or fruitful sign. Since the water signs (Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio) are the most fertile signs for planting, a farmer would want to plant crops when the moon is in a water sign. The earth signs (Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo) are also considered to yield a prosperous harvest. So why not follow the farmers' example and plant your lottery "seeds" (numbers) during a fruitful time?

Now, in what sign of the moon will you be luckiest? At the sign under which you were born, according to astrologists. Leos, for instance, will want to choose their numbers and buy that stack of Pick 3 tickets on the days when the moon is in Leo. The moon stays in each sign of the zodiac for approximately two and a half days. So how can you determine what sign the moon is in?

Astrological magazines give the moon's precise position. You can also check out the farmer's almanac and some calendars. Keep in mind that if you use a calendar, your calculations may not be precise.

If your calendar lists the moon as being in Taurus for November 5, 6, and 7, you'll have no way of knowing precisely when the moon leaves Taurus and enters the sign of Gemini. You'll only know that it does so at some time on the seventh. You may have to use some educated guesswork, but that may be all you need to know in order to play your lucky numbers. Moreover, you can check out different astrological Web sites that will sometimes give you the moon's position.

Astrology and Numerology are fairly common practices, but in the next section we will dive a little deeper into the unknown. Read on to learn about lucky charms, superstitions, and prayer.

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Lucky Charms, Superstition, and Prayer

Sometimes all the numbers and astrological charts in the world won't give you any more peace of mind when it comes to playing the lottery. Sometimes, you might want to have a little faith.

Lucky Charms and More

Charms, amulets, and talismans are believed by some to have magical powers. Traditionally, they are carried on one's person, or around one's neck, or the object is touched in some way in order for it to work. This touching of the lucky object is a belief in many cultures. In Mexico and other Latin American countries, you must touch a person or item that you verbally admire or risk invoking El Ojo, the Evil Eye. For instance, don't tell a woman in a grocery store that her baby is cute unless you give the child a small pat or tweak his toe.

American Indian lore is filled with charmed objects, such as the Navajo mandalas--which are amulets composed of feathers, leather, and fur -- and the shamanic or totem animals.

Traditional folklore includes some common charms you've probably seen or used before, such as an old copper penny, a silver coin, a four-leaf clover, a rabbit's foot, or a horseshoe. Even another person can be a lucky charm. Virginia resident Andy Bownnleur rubbed the shoulders of a friend who'd already won the Lotto and then became a $2 million winner himself.

A car turned out to be a lucky charm for Johnny and Becky Taylor. They bought a GMC van that had been previously owned by a Florida Lotto winner. Now they themselves are $7.9 million Lotto winners, and they give credit to the car for their good fortune.

Divination

Divination is the art of foretelling the future by means of auguries, signs, and omens. In ancient times, soothsayers inspected animal bones and entrails to make predictions. This was called haruspication. Ancient Greeks threw wine into a basin and then observed the splash pattern. This was called kottabos. Polynesians would spin a coconut or niu to determine one's fate. And ancient Romans used knucklebones or astragali, which are similar to our dice.

What are some methods you might try (in case you dislike wasting good wine or are fresh out of entrails)? Create your own divination techniques. You could toss a coin, throw dice, pick cards from a deck of playing cards, or try bibliomancy. This is the system of using a favorite book or the Bible to pick your numbers. You open it to any page and then use numbers found on that page. Bernie Bobowicz of Clifton, New Jersey was going through his mother's old Bible and saw some numbers. Then he got a funny feeling -- a voice inside telling him to play those numbers. He won $7 million in the New York Lotto.

Superstitions

Many people today consider superstitions quaint. Some had their beginnings in ancient religions or the occult arts. Others were based on logic, according to what was then believed as fact. For instance, your reflection was considered part of your soul; thus breaking a mirror would be a disaster. Other beliefs originate in the folklore of different lands. The origins of still others have become lost in the dim past. Here are some common and not-so-common superstitions you might use when picking numbers:
  • Knock on wood as you select those numbers. The Druids believed that spirits dwelt inside of trees, so they knocked on wood to summon the spirits.

  • Cross your fingers for luck. This was most likely derived from the Christian cross.

  • Wear red clothing when you buy your ticket. In Chinese folklore, the color red (along with loud noises) frightens evil spirits away.

  • Never play all odd numbers on one play. Chinese custom says the world is ruled by two principles, Yin and Yang. Odd numbers are Yang and belong to the gods, while even numbers are Yin and belong to humans. If you select all odd numbers, you would anger the gods.
Shawnda Kilpatrick, a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., was temporarily working in her hometown of Houston. She was one of the eight lucky winners of the Win for Life instant game that pays $1,000 a week for life. She says her mother had made her and her brothers put black-eyed peas in their pockets on New Year's Day.

Here are some more superstitious ways to pick numbers:
  • When you fill your car with gas, check out the numbers -- price and gallons -- on the pump. Use those digits on the ticket you buy at the gas station.

  • While filling out the play slip, look at the clock and play the current time.

  • If you take your temperature or take your blood pressure, play those numbers.

  • Try the jersey numbers of your favorite athletes.

  • If there's a blue moon (a second full moon in a month), buy an extra ticket.

  • Play the address of the lottery retailer.

  • Brides are considered lucky. If you attend a wedding, ask the bride to pick some numbers for you.

  • Use a Chinese version of Quick Picks -- play fortune cookie numbers.

  • Try your license plate or vehicle ID numbers.

  • If you become stuck in a traffic jam, play the numbers on the license plate of the vehicle ahead of you.

  • If you're the parent or grandparent of twins, play numbers with the value of two.

  • Horse racing fan? Use your favorite horse's race number, prerace odds, starting position number, or finish position. If he wins, places, or shows, play the payoff amount.

  • Wear your birthstone while picking numbers and buying lottery tickets. Rub the gem for luck. This is an especially lucky thing to do on your birthday.
Praying

Not everyone would think it appropriate to appeal to a deity for something as mercenary as winning the lottery. Then again, maybe you feel you have a special use for the money. When it comes to the long odds of beating the lottery, you can certainly use a little help from high places.

While these methods might seem a little extreme to you, wait till you see our next section. Read on to learn about ESP, dreams and other unexplained mysteries.

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ESP, Dreams, and the Unexplained

The easiest scientific explanation for why one person wins the lottery while others don't is random chance. But past winners have credited paranormal factors for their big-ticket wins.

ESP

There are those who believe that extrasensory perception (ESP) is not the exclusive property of seers. The believers say that everyone probably has it -- to some degree. For instance, the phone rings, and you know who's calling before you even pick it up -- and you don't have Caller ID.

Telepathy is the purported ability to send or receive thoughts from others without using any of the five senses. It's commonly called mind-reading. Even if you did have telepathic power, it wouldn't be likely to win you a jackpot. Why? Because no one would know what those numbers would be before the drawing; therefore, there would be no information to be sent or to receive.

Clairvoyance is the ability to perceive objects or events in the past, present, or future without using any of the five senses. It's commonly called "seeing the future." If someone did possess clairvoyance, it obvioiusly would help him or her win the lottery.

There are those who believe that certain unique individuals' extrasensory powers operate more or less at a high level throughout their lifetimes. These people are known as sensitives, mentalists, seers or psychics. Most of us, however, are limited to an occasional flash of intuition -- if even that. Still, if you ever have a hunch that you should play a certain number or series of numbers, it can't hurt to just do it.

For example, Richard Jacobs of Mirimar, Florida, had played the Lotto only once before, but he "had a hunch" that he should play again. He ended up with over $4 million.

Dreaming

Of course, you can't control the things you dream about, but if you do happen to dream about a specific number, there's no harm in playing it. If you dream about a certain number of people or objects, you can play that number also. Your subconscious often gives you clues in riddles, so become adept at interpreting hints from your dreams. For instance, if you dream of buying eggs at the convenience store, play the number 12 (a dozen). Or instead, play numbers with the same value as the one you dreamed of. For example, if you dream of the number 6, play the numbers 15, 24, 33, 42, or 51.

A Texas woman dreamed about dancing feet on three consecutive nights. Later she bought an instant Texas Two-Step ticket that depicted a pair of cowboy boots dancing. She won over $1,000.

Even though you may not be able to control your dreams, you can keep track of them. Sleep researchers recommend this method to help you remember your dreams: Keep paper and pencil within reach of your bed. Before you fall asleep, tell yourself that you will remember your dreams. When you wake up in the morning, try to recall the night's dreams while they're still fresh in your mind. Think about your dreams, and then write down as much as you can remember before you forget. And definitely jot down any numbers you see in your dreams.

The Unexplained

Carl Jung had an interest in numbers. He also made a lifetime study of coincidence. Jung attributed these occurrences to unknown forces seeking to bring order to a chaotic world. He wrote that coincidences happen more frequently than probability theories would predict. He called the phenomenon synchronicity -- when seemingly unrelated events occur in some unexpected association with each other. Certainly, when it comes to lottery games, some very strange things indeed have occurred. As to whether they are random occurrences or synchronicity, pure chance or fate, only you can decide.

Fred Thompson of North Haven, Connecticut, had played 111 in the Pick 3 Game for days with no luck. But when he went to the store, he bought a Lotto ticket on a whim and forgot his usual Pick 3. That night he watched in dismay as the winning Pick 3 numbers -- 111 -- were announced. He wasn't disappointed for long, though. Shortly afterward, he found his Lotto ticket had won him $3.2 million.

Remember Bernie Bobowicz, who won the New York Lotto? Several years before he found the six winning numbers in the Bible, he had won more than $3 million using his old army dog-tag numbers. And on the day he won using the Bible, he also picked five of six on another ticket.

In July 2000, Lotto Texas changed its field of numbers from 50 to 54. On the very first night, the six numbers drawn were 9, 28, 35, 51, 53, and 54. In a seemingly incredible coincidence, three of the four new numbers were drawn. Some people were skeptical, believing the drawing results were too coincidental. At the time, an assistant professor of statistics at Rice University, Keith Baggerly, said, "It's rare, but not that rare." He said the odds were 1 in 330 that three of the new balls would be drawn.

If Jung's theory appeals to you, then your challenge is this: Assimilate what you read in this article about numerology, astrology, dreams, charms and so forth. Then use all those ideas creatively in connection with people and things that are personally significant to you, such as your family members, house, job, and hobbies. Who's to say that the people who used a toy spinner to win $14 million weren't actually making use of the ancient art of divination?

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