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:

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. 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. 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. 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.