While the day may seem just like any other day, several people are hoping you’ll remember June 6, 2006, the so-called “number of the beast,” by doing something a little hellish, and maybe picking up an item or two along the way.

Celebrate June 6, 2006

For starters, The Omen ^[1] remake, starring Julia Stiles, opens today in theatres. The film centers on the concept of the apocalypse and the antichrist; the official site caters to the mythos behind the film rather than give a historical representation of the number 666. To commemorate the film, the studio is offering a contest for aspiring filmmakers. So follow the rules, post your film short on MySpace through their website, and win stuff!

Nox Arcana launches their scary musical offering in the form of “Carnival of Lost Souls” available here ^[2]. We managed to get our hands on a copy of the CD, you can read a full review of it.

Hell, Michigan ^[3] is opening its gates and plans to sponsor a party according to this Associated Press article ^[4]. It’s the only town in the entire United States named after heaven’s counterpart, and it’s taking full advantage of the day by offering wares that cost $6.66.

Chances are, if you look around you’ll find a concert or two tonight like the one advertised on Seattle’s KGRG 98.8 FM ^[5] website. If you consider yourself a “666” expert, you might want to check out a night of devilry with female performance artist/musician/fire goddess Betty X ^[6] at Studio Seven ^[7].

Origin of the Number 666

For the curious, the net has some very good articles on the origin of the number 666 and why the number has come, in this age, to represent the devil. We’ve checked our sources and found some similarities. Fate Magazine ^[8] in its October 2005 edition explains that the first and only reference of the number was in the christian bible, specifically in the 13th book of the Book of the Revelations. “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”

Numerology has dictated that the number representing man is six—therefore triple sixes are really bad. If you’re a math junkie, you’ll be interested to know that 666 is the sum of the squares of the first seven primes and, oddly enough, the sum of all the numbers on a roulette wheel according to MathWorld ^[9]. Whatever you believe, there is a deeper history behind the meaning of the number than merely the Christian interpretation.

According to Harper’s Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience, the number 666 represented the “Mortal Mind” in Greek Mysteries. Some sites, like 666 man ^[10] explains that: The number 666 comes directly from the worship practices of the city of Babylon about the time of the Bible prophet Daniel. Ancient babylonians had one supreme god and 36 lesser gods. You guessed it, if you add up the numbers one through 36 individually you’ll get 666.

Regardless of what you believe, if you’re interested in reading up on the occult be sure to reference books like The Occult: A History written by Colin Wilson that address society’s views from the mind of a historian. Much of what we think we know today about things like witchcraft, unlucky thirteen, and 666, stem from older traditions that had nothing to do with satanic rituals, demons and blood sacrifices. Some of these concepts predate modern religious traditions, yet have been demonized to encourage and foster new beliefs. Out with the old and in with the new, so to speak. So remember, when it comes to the occult, there’s always more to the story than meets the eye and it can’t hurt to do a little more reading on the subject.

Whether you’re going out-on-the-town to commemorate today’s date or not, we here at Flames Rising hope you have a great day.

Other 666 Products Worth Checking Out:

Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Return (DVD) ^[11] * Witchcraft 666: The Devil’s Mistress (DVD) ^[12]

The AntiChrist Version 666 (Hardcover) ^[13] * Apocalypse 666 (Paperback) ^[14]

666 – Aphrodite’s Child (CD) ^[15] * Greatest Lovesongs, Vol. 666 (CD) ^[16]