13 months of war. No reason to fear thirteen

The 13th card of tarot is a good one and associated with powerful transformation

The number 13 has been associated with misfortune and bad luck in many cultures throughout history. Today, we recall 13 months since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, and it seems that this superstition has been confirmed for the Ukrainian people. As we cry for the Ukrainian soldiers who died in combat, mourn for the Ukrainian cities that were wiped off the map, and remember all our citizens who are in exile or internally displaced, we cannot do anything but reflect on the significance of this number.

While the number 13 is such a feared number, we should remember today that the real tragedy is of a number too high to comprehend: thousands of Ukrainian military and civilian lives that have been lost due to the conflict. Millions of Ukrainian children who had to leave behind everything they know and love in pursuit of safety and security. No one knows exactly the exact amount of these numbers. Maybe we will never know. 

We only know it's much more than merely 13.

Everything seems to have started as a biblical connotation, as it is said that there were 13 guests at the Last Supper, and the 13th guest, Judas, betrayed Jesus. This story highlights the theme of betrayal and treachery, something that correctly depicts the Russian character with us along these 31 years of Ukrainian statehood and hundreds of Russian intimidations. 

By the way, 31 years of independence. 31 years of freedom from the Soviet Union and Russian rule. Being 31 the transposition of 13, may it be a sign the feared thirteen doesn't necessarily mean bad luck for us? 

There are cultures where 13 is considered to be a lucky number because it is the number of lunar cycles in a year, others regard it strength and power by the fact that it is considered a prime number. Additionally, it has been attributed to some curious beliefs, such as the existence of 12 steps to achieve something important in life, making 13 the lucky number that brings success. Meanwhile, the 13th card in a tarot deck is a good one and associated with powerful transformation.

Impossible to forget that 13 is also the number of original states of the United States of America.

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It’s adequate to remember that the number 13 is statistically no scarier than any other number. The superstitions surrounding it are merely the product of a culture’s need to make sense of the unfairness and tragedy of life— a need that we feel especially keenly on this sad day of remembering February 24th of 2022. Rather, we can embrace the good qualities that surround 13 and use it as motivation.

Thirteen is also often associated with endings and beginnings. This date, therefore, is an opportunity, one more opportunity, to wonder when this conflict will finally come to an end. Will it be a new beginning for Ukraine, or will the country be left to pick up the pieces of a shattered nation? Maybe we are still distant from the end, but decisions made today have good chances to be critical.

The fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia, which is derived from Greek roots meaning “thirteen” and “fear”. We Ukrainians are a superstitious people, but given the positive examples related to the number, we definitely have no reason to be triskaidekaphobes today.

We have enough bad luck by sharing a border of almost 2,000 kilometers with a country so hateful as Russia. No number is capable of reaching this level of misfortune. Thirteen months of war can only indicate our enemy will be in a hard time and mean that the tide is turning in our favor.

In favor of democracy and freedom. In favor of Ukraine.