The Number 333

Comments 36

333

I see the number sequence 333 a lot.

Like, a lot.

And I don’t know what it means. Maybe nothing. Maybe something.

This has been happening for two years straight—right about the time my life started to fall apart at home.

The vast majority of the time, I see it on the clock. 3:33 p.m., typically. But sometimes, I wake up at 3:33 a.m. and see it. It’s enough to be unsettling, but not enough to really scare me.

I’m not like Jim Carrey’s character in The Number 23, or anything.

I see it on email and blog comment time stamps. I see it during football and basketball games. On data analytics spreadsheets at work. On odometers. On my iTunes. I’m surprised how many songs I have that are three minutes and thirty three seconds long.

Is It Signifying a Person?

This was my first working theory.

I’ve shared this 333 phenomenon with three people.

The first used the number 9 a lot. And 3+3+3=9. Once I called it to her attention she noticed it a bunch too.

And maybe the “phenomenon” is that simple. Once your mind is tuned to a particular number sequence, you simply take note of it with greater frequency.

But I don’t think in this case that can be true. I’ll just be running around my house not paying attention to anything, then I glance at the clock and—BAM—3:33. It’s kind of uncanny.

The second person I shared it with, as far as I know, doesn’t have any numerical ties. But she was seeing it a lot too.

The third person I shared it with is someone I have a rich history with. We’re childhood friends. I mention her a lot, but not by name. She’s having marital problems. And she’s my best female friend in the world. I can count on very few people to support me as much as she does.

We’d lost touch for a while over the past couple years. She had some traumatic things happen to her and her family. And I was dealing with my own family crisis here.

We reconnected after I told her that my soon-to-be ex had finally pulled the trigger and moved out.

In the Strange Things are Happening Department, this friend dreamed the night before my wife left that it was going to happen. So when I called her with the news, she thought I was playing a practical joke and that her husband had told me about her vivid and detailed dream.

I jokingly call her the Dream Prophet now. I don’t know whether or not she likes that. I also don’t know whether or not she’s an actual dream prophet. Jury’s still out.

But she has always used 33. Dating back to our childhood. She was a Boston Celtics fan. A huge Larry Bird fan. He wore #33. So, 3 and 33 were always her go-to numbers. For anything.

So I asked her one day: “Does the number sequence 333 mean anything to you?”

Her: “Are you kidding? Did someone tell you to ask me that?”

Me: “No. I’m serious. I keep seeing it. A lot. Does it mean anything to you?”

Her: “It means everything. Those numbers are my life.”

Could this be a sign of some kind? Something I need to think about, or worry about, or prepare for? Could it have anything to do with someone or something specific?

Maybe the Internet Knows

I’ve looked it up a few times.

The “consensus” on Urban Dictionary seems to be it means “half-evil” (half of 666) OR something along the lines of “I love you.” Because those two things have a lot in common.

If you type “333” into Google, you’ll find a blog called Sacred Scribes. The author comes off a little too New Age-y for my personal tastes but I’m guilty of liking the idea that angels might be sending me a message.

The blog reads:

“When Angel Number 333 appears consistently it implies that the Ascended Masters are near you. They have responded to your prayers and wish to help and assist you in your endeavors and with serving your Divine life purpose and soul mission.”

I know. It’s weird as shit. Settle down. I’m just exploring ideas here.

The blog continues:

“The message of Angel Number 333 is to have faith in humanity and the Universal Energies. The angels and Ascended Masters are working with you on all levels. They love, guide and protect you—always. When the Angel Number 333 repeats in your life you are asked to call upon the angels and Masters for love, help and companionship.

“They will give you guidance along your path, and if feeling perplexed or confused as to your life purpose, call upon the angels and Ascended Masters to assist. They are waiting for your call.”

The post closes with:

“Use your natural communicative and lightworking skills to aid, assist and serve others in positive and uplifting ways.”

Well, I do try to be uplifting and positive when I’m not being a whiny douchebucket.

Questions to Self: 

  1. Do I really believe I’m being delivered a supernatural message? I don’t know. I don’t think so. But I’m not so close-minded that I’m not open to the possibility. It’s legit. I see it more than what I deem to be the statistical likelihood. But maybe I’m just shitty at math.
  2. If it is a message, what am I going to do about it? Hell if I know. But if I can use it as a reminder to be strong. To be courageous. To try to be a light in an often-dark world. Isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t that helping me grow? Isn’t that using whatever gifts I have to try to help others? I say yes.
  3. If it’s not a message, am I some kind of Freaky McFreakerson? Mmmhmm. Probably. Scary? Sure! But it could make for some interesting writing material.
  4. If I’m currently a target of messages from angels and “Divine Masters,” what should I ask them about? Maybe I’m an angel medium. Ooooohhhh. The Angel Medium! Maybe that’s my calling! My purpose! “Oh, what’s that you say, Soon-To-Be Ex Wife? You want to take half of my furniture now? I’m the mother-effing Angel Medium and I’m about to sic some Seraphim on your ass. Prepare to have your shit ruined!”

Do you think that’s what the Angel Blog Lady meant when she wrote: “Use your natural communicative and lightworking skills to aid, assist and serve others in positive and uplifting ways”?

Yeah, me neither.

But we can’t be good all the time.

Update: I just hit “Publish” and read “This is the 33rd post published on your blog!” I swear on all that is good and right in the world that I didn’t know that was going to be the case. Freaky! I might be an angel medium!

Or just a stupid asshole. I’m sticking with the latter until I get a clearer message from the Great Beyond.

36 thoughts on “The Number 333”

  1. Jesus was 33 when he died. Or at least that is generally accepted to be the case. I believe god, or angels, or the beyond, send us messages and breadcrumbs, so no I don’t think you’re crazy.

    1. Well, I may be crazy. But I’m not convinced it’s because I see 333 all the time.

      Though, that’s EXACTLY what a crazy person would say.

      😉

  2. Matt, this has also happened to me a few times in my life. With this exact number. I haven’t noticed it in a while, but I when it shows up, i see it everywhere without having to look. I still don’t quite understand its meaning for me (if any at all) and I have only brought it up as a running joke with people so I don’t feel like quack. It hit me like a brick, though, when I was scrolling through your blog just now for the first time. (I am one of the people you messaged today on FB – thank you for sharing your personal stories, even though you don’t know me that well). Your writing is very compelling, so I was looking for more than your two most recent posts, and then there was the number. Just as I’d almost forgot about it. Now that I think about it, your 333 post was the third one I read. Weird. Anyway, I am not sure where I am going with this, exactly… I hope the number means good things are coming your way.

    Also, your letter to your parents made me stand up and cheer (because it articulates so many of the thoughts I have had about how my folks chose to parent me and my sisters). Lies do not protect children from the difficult and complex aspects of life- they only make it harder for them to understand how things are…

  3. d’oh! The reply I just tried to post may or may not have been vaporized by the Internets. Or maybe its the damned number…

  4. OK, so here it was in a nutshell, although I am very salty that my previous reply to you is now gone (or maybe it’ll show up in 333 days…?). Either way, I’ve tried to reconstruct it as elegantly as I could here:

    This number finds me from time to time too, especially when I am NOT looking for it. Very strange. I don’t know what it means for me (if anything) but I was really surprised to find it staring me in the face when I started to explore your blog today. (I am one of the people you messaged today as part of your “social experiment.”) I had just finished reading your two most recent posts before seeing the huge 333 (which is, in addition to being your 33rd post, it is the 3rd from the top of your page at the moment). Anyway, I am not sure where I am going with this… so I will change course and then maybe wrap back around to the numbers)

    Your writing is so candid and compelling, Matt, and your posts read like you are talking, not writing. Effortless. (Well, not to trivialize the great effort of living, thinking, and creating – it is just an impressive quality of your writing here). The letter to your parents resonated with me especially, as it articulates so many of the frustrations I have with my own parents and the mistakes they made raising me and my sisters, as good-intentioned as they may have been. Point is: I am looking forward to reading more of what you have/had to say (I had to stop here to comment, though. The numbers, man.).

    Finally, thanks for having the balls to reach out like you did today. Not sure I coulda done that. When crises hit my life, I usually isolate myself to deal with it – to stew in the chaos alone. But you’ve turned your chaos into some damned good writing/thinking and risked putting it out there publicly. I am sorry that you are having a rough go of it right now, but I hope that if 333 means anything, it is that good things are ahead.

    1. I’m flattered you took the time to read at all. I appreciate your thoughtful comments. Immensely. May the number 333 bring us something amazing and unstained by life’s bullshit.

      Cheers. 🙂

      1. https://biblicaltimes.wordpress.com/meaning-of-333/

        Although this link is coming from a man who’s found God by going through your same experiene of seeing 333, I understand my link will be and should be looked at as biased. I’ve studied your link as well. However, I can tell you exactly what was going on in my life at the exact time I started seeing this number sequence, but again…I would be labeled “crazy.”

        Cheers! Now pass me a Pliny.

  5. I live in Korea. these day, I seen number 333. so strange. And find 333 in google. this site suprise theory. I interest it. Thank you. That number is positive thing.

  6. I named my album 333 in part because i saw it all the time, and so did my producer. its a very special number, for many reasons. Other numbers for me are 111 and 1111 i still research 333, and thats how i found your article. thanks for writing about your experience with 333 http://dekorah.com/

  7. you could check out ‘the reconnection” it’s a energy healing system that works with the number frequenty of 333. It’s realy deep and beautifull.

  8. This made me laugh out loud (and no I am not a boring doctor!) … Just a married girl enjoying your blog!

  9. trust me buddy I seen it and I know the meaning and that is that this number is telling you yes on what you are thinking at the moment so keep doing whatever it is so this angel will guide you to success
    trust me

  10. I saw 333 for the first time 2 days back in a dream while I dozed off on a sofa on Saturday morning around 10-11am

  11. Ha ha, you’re not a stupid asshole. Recurring numbers are a positive sign and a law of attraction thing. Usually when you see them you’re in a state of what a lot of LOA gurus call “the place of non-resistance” which means you’re not worrying about or trying to figure out how something you want will come about–you’re relaxed and following the right path and the numbers are letting you know the universe is working it out for you.

    Great blog here! Will definitely be back for another visit soon.

  12. I started seeing 333 right after I prayed to God for help, real help (I wasn’t even religious), I was just in a desperate situation. My life changed after that in a good way, so I believe 333 is a good omen. That was 3 years ago and I still see 333 everyday, sometimes twice!

    1. Wow the same exact thing has happened to me too. A few nights ago I prayed to god for help and since then I have been seeing 333 as well. I don’t pray often besides thanking god every now and then for what I have in life but I have been going through some tough times recently and decided to pray. In the past I have seen 1111 and never knew it meant something, would always make a wish because thats what I was told to do when I was young. So when I started seeing these 3s so often and for the first time ever, I started looking it up. I have to agree with you and some others that it is a good omen. Thanks to you and everyone else for the insight. YAY! Good things are coming to us all 🙂

  13. Pingback: The Number 333, Vol. 2 | Must Be This Tall To Ride

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  15. I have seen that same sequence – 3:33 specifically for the last 10 years (approx). I wake up in the morning at that time often or I happen to look at my work clock at that time. I see 3 or 33 a lot in just every day life. I’ve always felt it meant something but not sure what. Maybe it’s my biological clock is wired to have aha moments at that time. But you are definitely not alone in it. A roommate of mine used to see 222 all the time. It would freak her out. I don’t think it’s coincidental but I don’t know that it’s entirely cosmic either. Just an “other” that adds spice to life. Good luck on your quest to the truth – maybe that’s the point. Enjoy the quest!

    1. Thank you for reading and taking a moment to comment. I still see 333 a lot. It doesn’t weird me out anymore, though. I just use it as a reminder to try and be better. Not sure it’s working! 😉

      1. Woooow empeze a ver este post exactamente porque me volví a despertar a las 333am !! Tengo más de 10 años viendo este número en todos lados , sobre todo despertando en la madrugada a esta hora sin ninguna razón , o bien hace exactamente 7 años después sólo por algunos meses después de la muerte de mi abuelita , mi perra una golden parecía alarma!!! Todos dormidos y ella aullaba y ladraba a las 3:33am exactamente , parecía k lloraba a veces , pero siempre a la misma hora , la grave en varias ocasiones porque ya desde antes veía yo la hora al despertar. A mi mama se le hizo extraño la coincidencia , en fin dejamos pasar eso .. A mi perra de la robaron ? en fin , eso no fue todo … Pasan años hasta ahora lo sigo viendo , pero ahora no es mi preocupación , ahora por lo cual vuelvo a ver el porque de este número es porque mi hijo menor lo esta viendo !!! Se despierta en la madrugada tiene sólo 10 años !!!! Me dice que siente algo y no lo deja dormir !! No se qué hacer , no se a quien recurrir si a un cura, a un psicólogo o a un brujo !! Que hago estoy desesperada, no puedo escribir todo lo k me a ocurrido a esta hora , son años y años con lo mismo , a veces nada a veces me asusta … Pero ahora no sólo soy yo , que hago ? Por favor alguien k me diga que hacer !! No kiero k mi hijo pase lo k yo pase please ayuda !!

  16. So I have been interested in numerology for some time. My kids dad had a number he saw everywhere all the time everyday it was 720 now we’ve remained friends and it’s not way I really know it’s him I’ll never forget but my new well of over a year man has 11:11 or 1:11 all the time when he was younger a friend told him they were prison bars. He’s a bull rider and there was a bull whose number was 111 and his name was twin towers I believe before 911 . Now we’ve been thinking bout starting a small little farm and pigs seem profitable given they produce so many offspring so I just went to look up the gestation period for swine and guess what 3 months 3 weeks and 3 days. Now I’ve never posted any thing on a blog or asked a question iv read plenty but that just trips me the F*** out ! wtf. so why are pigs the unholy or inedible of all the land mammals for the “chosen” and why do pigs eat ppl like silence of the lambs if 333 is the holy trinity. I don’t know I don’t know at all but it’s got to be nit just a MUTHERf*** coinkidink (sorry for all the fbombs it’s just when I’m really fired up bout something normally I prefer fudgciclez. Anything Ya I’d like to hear.

  17. Minnie gehrig

    I’ve been experiancing this for years now it’s much more persistent now it leaves me with a sense that this is important somehow…..

    1. Yeah. I’m not saying it makes sense (and it has slowed down a lot for me since I first wrote this post) but this is really happening to me. It wasn’t a figment of my imagination.

      Lots and lots of people find this post looking for reasons, probably just like you did.

      This is a phenomenon.

      Thanks for reading and leaving this note.

  18. To save some time, you may want to avoid getting involved in numerology or anything New Agey, and skip straight ahead to the part about waking up.

    Call it an alarm clock. It’s just a matter of heightened sensitivity, the numbers themselves mean nothing. It’s a reminder to seek, but don’t just fall for the first question that presents itself.

    Some good paths are Zen, Taoism or Buddhism, or modern teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Ram Dass or Alan Watts. Mixing and matching is fine. So is making up your own path, if you’re stubborn. Avoid cults.

    Any kind of meditation will do.

    Fun fact: you could also go with the occult, 333 being the number for Choronzon, demon of chaos and dissolution. The possibilities!

  19. On waking up one morning, I had the recollection of seeing threes in big bold black numbers. 3 3 3 and prayed for a sign from my deceased boyfriend who died 7/13/2010. Have also prayed about careers and school in my late life and other issues concerning health issues with me and my aging parents.

    The next night I had a similar dream but on waking I remember seeing 4 4 4.

    I began looking up Information about dreaming numbers and was surprised to discover so many people having similar experiences and that’s how I found your blog.

    1. 333 goes in phases for me. I’m currently in one. I see it a lot. Hasn’t stopped. That’s been my only number to seem almost supernatural in terms of how often I’m seeing it.

      I continue to be amazed at how many people are looking it up because they’re experiencing the same thing.

      As always, it feels good to not be the only one.

  20. Robert Phipps

    I’ve been seeing 333 for over 18 years. It varies in frequency.Sometimes it’s multiple times a day. It’s not just the time either although both a.m. and p.m. are the most common occurrences,. I’ve noticed after the fact that I’ve been on public transportation that is numbered 333. I’ve been pumping gas and glanced at all regulatory stickers on the pump and discovered the gasoline tax rate in my state was 3.33%. My total at check out when making purchases has totaled $3.33, which I find most odd because it’s been in different states or counties with different tax rates and purchasing different items.

  21. 5 years after you posted this but w.e. i wonder how you feel about this number and what you learned in the past 5 years. I just started seeing it at a very interesting time in my life. When i started to do graphic design which after looking into 333 i saw a video where someone explains of how 333 is meant your on the true soul path and Most content creators see it. That blew me away becasue thats exactly was my situation lol. I see the number in my 3d software i use 2 which just amazes me. Ive came to the absolute conclusion that the number is a way of your higher self telling you youre on the right path. Btw not only did i see it after starting graphic design but also after i started becoming awoken to some profound truths about reality.

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