© linda falorio, 1978, 1996, 1998

B = 5

B, the letter Beth, is for beginnings. The Old Testament itself begins with the Hebrew word Berashith, meaning: "In the Beginning . . ."  The letter B, the first consonant, and letter of the first lunar month after the Winter Solstice, was anciently assigned the value 5, for U's suppressed value had elided to the letter B, which began the Sacred Year on the first full day following the Winter Solstice. This begins the New Year with the dynamic energy of Geburah, the fifth Sephira of the Tree of Life, and the active energy of Mars.  Five, the number of Mars reminds us of the Pentagon, which is a five-sided temple built to Mars, the God of War; while the lower case b suggests Mars' astrological symbol, as well as the biological symbol of masculine gender.