Alchemy & philosophy · 15 June 2026 · Charlotte Himsworth
Pythagoras and the Music of the Spheres
Harmony, number and the idea that the cosmos sings.
Pythagoras of Samos lived in the sixth century BCE and founded a community devoted to philosophy, mathematics and a disciplined way of life. Much of what we know of him comes from later writers, but his influence is unmistakable.
Number and harmony
The Pythagoreans discovered that pleasing musical intervals correspond to simple ratios of string lengths: an octave is two to one, a fifth three to two. For them, this revealed that number underlies harmony.
The music of the spheres
They went further, imagining that the planets, moving in their courses, sound a cosmic music too vast for the ear but known to the soul. The idea inspired thinkers for two thousand years, including the astronomer Johannes Kepler.
Our own rhythm
The Principle of Rhythm echoes this vision. We carry our own music: the heartbeat and the breath, keeping time without our effort.
A practice
Listen to a piece of music you love with your eyes closed. Notice how it changes your breathing and mood. Harmony outside invites harmony within.