There exists in nature a mysterious mathematical sequence or code that keeps recurring everywhere from the arrangement of leaves, branches, flowers or seeds in plants, to the structure of fruit and vegetables, to the proportions of the human body. It is known as the Fibonacci Code or Fibonacci Sequence and it is one aspect of Sacred Geometry, an ancient science that examines the codes or blueprints of creation. The Fibonacci Code is also responsible for the distinct spirals and designs found in plants, seashells and even in storms and some galaxies (spiral galaxies). These spirals grow outwards in the proportions of the Fibonacci sequence.
The mathematical sequence looks like this:
0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55.... and so on into infinity. As you can see, each new number is the sum of the previous two numbers, so for instance 8=5+3. Another feature of the code is that when you divide any Fibonacci number, (say 21) by its preceding number (say 13) the result will always be 1:1.618, which is also called 'Phi'. Because of the beautiful wonders of nature created in this ratio, it is also referred to as the Golden Ratio or Golden Mean.
The Fibonacci code was named after a 12th century mathematician called Leonardi Pisano also known as Fibonacci. He developed this sequence to provide a solution to a mathematical problem but did not give it any particular significance. It was only in 1877 when the mathematician Edouard Lucas published several important studies on the sequence that its significance started to become apparent.
Let us now look at some examples of where you would notice the Fibonacci Code.
Flower Petals. Almost all flowers have a certain number of petals which correspond to the
Fibonacci Sequence. Examples include the lily, which has 3 petals, buttercups which have 5, delphiniums have 8, cinerianas have 13, asters have 21 and field daisies have 34 petals.
Seed Heads. The coneflower has orange seeds which seem to form spirals curving to the right and
left. There are 55 spirals at the edge and 34 spirals towards the centre. Many other similar flower heads (eg. sunlflowers) have the same arrangement. The number of spirals in each direction are (almost always) neighbouring Fibonacci numbers. The spiral designs on pine cones also illustrate a perfect example of the Fibonacci Sequence.
Fruit and vegetables. Similar spiralling patterns can be found on pineapples and cauliflower.
Shells. Fibonacci spirals can clearly be seen on snail and sea shells.
Hurricanes start compact in the centre and spread out in the proportions of the Fibonacci spiral.
Spiral Galaxies. The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51 is a classic spiral galaxy which can be viewed in
the night sky with a pair of binoculars.
Human Body. Most body parts follow the numbers one, two, three and five. You have one nose, two eyes, three segments to each limb and five fingers on each hand. The proportions and measurements of the human body can also be divided up in terms of the golden ratio. DNA
molecules follow this sequence, measuring 34 angstroms long and 21 angstroms wide for each full cycle of the double helix.
Art. Famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo appear to have recognised that the Fibonacci spiral is an expression of an aesthetically pleasing principle - the Rule of Thirds. This is used in the composition of a picture; by balancing the features of the image by thirds, rather than strictly centering them a more pleasing flow to the picture is achieved. Leonardo da Vinci explored the human body involving the ratios of the lengths of various body parts. He called the ratio 'divine proportion' and featured it in many of his paintings.
Architecture. Ancient Greek architects appear to have been aware of the Golden Ratio (Phi) as it is
seen in some famous buildings such as the Parthenon and the Acropolis. These buildings are formed using a rectangle whose sides are in the golden proportion (1:1.618 which is the same as 0.618:1).
Music. The notes in the musical scale follow the numbers of the Fibonacci sequence as can be seen clearly on a piano keyboard. The 13-note chromatic musical octave consists of eight white keys (whole tones) and five black keys (sharps and flats) arranged in groups of threes and twos making one full ocatve.
The Fibonacci Code in Nature and the Human Body
The Fibonacci Code in Art
Although there has been extensive research into the topic, scientists and mathematicians are still not completely sure why the Fibonacci phenomenon seems to pop up everywhere. I would have thought the reason is obvious. The Fibonacci code clearly indicates an intelligent design, a design that is not only efficient but beautiful. The question is who or what is responsible for this intelligent design? The ancient Druidic/Celtic religion regarded the beauty of nature as evidence for the existence of an intelligent creator. Hence they had a deep respect for nature and they lived in harmony with it. We could have a lot to learn from them.
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