The Divine Proportion: Golden (Phi)nomena of Nature

There is one proportion that is divine.  A ratio of two numbers, the simplest of which being one.  Paired with unity, there is only one number that is capable of fractal expansion and contraction.  By using the four operations of mathematics: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, this golden number (1.6180339..) is the key to understanding fractality, holograms, life, and the nature of reality.  This is the number (or ratio) the universe uses to become more aware of itself.

The divine proportion is the only mathematical ratio that the Universe needs to intelligently design all life.  Phi, aka the Golden Ratio,  is a truly divine number.  It’s quite a phinomenon.  Along with unity this number creates the perfect proportion.  Let’s demystiphi some of the more esoteric geometric concepts attributed to this golden proportion.

Geometric constructions of Phi, the Golden Number (explored in detail later)

Phi is found everywhere and yet nobody talks about it.  It’s missing from the calculator.  Its importance remains hidden even from the most hard-core math geeks.  Most mathematicians have heard of it, but the mystery surrounding its existence is ineffable, and the complete understanding of it, perhaps insurmountable.

Phi in the Solar System

The Golden Ratio is a universal law in which is contained the ground-principle of all formative striving for beauty and completeness in the realms of both nature and art, and which permeates, as a paramount spiritual ideal, all structures, forms and proportions, whether cosmic or individual, organic or inorganic, acoustic or optical; which finds its fullest realization, however, in the human form.
–Adolf Zeising

“Geometry has two great treasures: one is the theorem of Pythagoras; the other the division of a line into extreme and mean ratio. The first we may compare to a measure of Gold; the second we may name a precious jewel.”  -Johannes Kepler

This ratio is also known as the divine cut, golden mean or golden section.  Other names include Phi, extreme and mean ratio, medial section, divine proportion, divine section, golden proportion, golden cut, and golden number.

(a+b is to a, as a is to b)

A straight line is said to have been cut in extreme and mean ratio when, as the whole line is to the greater segment, so is the greater to the lesser. -Euclid

Fibonacci in Nature

With the golden ratio the whole line is to the large line; as the large line is to the small line.

“Like God, the Divine Proportion is always similar to itself.” –Fra Luca Pacioli

If we were to take a line and divide it, there is only one place where the two separate lines would be in golden proportion with each other.  One side would be 1 and the other, 1.618.  Or one side would be .618 (1/ø) and the other 1.  This is the only ratio that works this way.  It is the only ratio in geometric and mathematical progression.  It’s perfect!

Golden Geometry of Phi

Phi (1.618..) and phee(.618..) are the numbers of fractal expansion and contraction.  Like male and female, these two energies spiral around unity, creating life as we know it.

The golden number, Phi, generated from the Fibonacci Sequence

Powers of Phi

The powers of Phi work just like the Fibonacci sequence.  1 + Phi = Phi squared.   Phi + Phi squared = Phi cubed, and so on.  This is the only number that does this.  Phi is the only number where its square is exactly 1 number larger.  It’s also unique in that its reciprocal (1/Phi) is one less than Phi, which we’ll call phee (0.618..)

Phi is the only number that can do this. Perfect fractal geometric and mathematic expansion and contraction

According to NASA the physical sizes of Earth and Moon reflect the divine proportion.

Jonathan Quinton made this video that beautifully displays the nature of the Golden Ratio.

Geometric Constructions of the Divine Proportion

Phi arises out of simple geometries.  Take three lines of equal length and at their midpoints arrange them in this manner.  Phi originates from the square root of five. (ø = (√5 +1/2).   Being the number of life, Five is closely connected to Phi.  Even here the midpoints are .5 their full length.  Maybe we should spell 5 “Phive“.

The square root of five is the cross section of the double square as seen above in blue.  The square root of 4 (or 2) is the length of the double square.  The square root of three comes from the vesica piscis.  If the circle’s radius is one, the vertical length where they connect is the square root of three.  Phi (seen in gold) arises from the relationship shown.  The radius of the blue circle is the square root of five divided by two, or 1.180339… which is also Phi minus one half. The diameter of the blue circle is the square root of five.

This construction was developed by George Odom and published in American Mathematics Monthly in 1983.  A circle with the simplest shape inside it reveals golden ratios, both in linear and curvilinear representations.

“Phiangle” further expanded upon by Michael S. Schneider

Starting with the circle on the right, divine proportions are derived in this way.

A very basic construction of Phi.  The arc of the circle is needed to create it.

Phi constructed from three circles.  John Michell gets credit for this one.

Phi springs to life from the geometry of five.  Golden proportions are ubiquitous in the pentagons and pentagrams.  It is this “phiveness” that brings Phi to life.

Robert Lawlor, in his book ‘Sacred Geometry’, shows Phi proportions with a circle split into 5×2 sections.

“ Where plants have five-fold patterns, a consideration of their souls is in place. For patterns of five appear in the regular solids, and so involve the ratio called the Golden Section, which results from a self-developing series that is an image of the faculty of propagation in plants. Thus the flower carries the authentic flag of this faculty, the pentagon.”
– Johannes Kepler

The traffic lights, they turn blue tomorrow..

In 2006 Bengt Erik Erlandsen showed that Phi can be represented simply in this way. Whenever you drive down the street you are subconsciously experiencing golden ratios. Again, with the appearance of five.  This time the circles on the top and bottom are cut in half (or .5)

Phi is phound in the phabric of sacred and secular geometry.

In 2002 Kurt Hofstetter published this construction in Forum Geometricorum.  The vesica piscis (the two smaller circles) in combination with circles around the “bladder of the fish”, created phi proportions.  He struck gold on this one.

Constructing the pentagram using circles and phi ratios: Starting with the green square, circles are extended out which define the points of the pentagram.  The radius of the green circle is 1, the yellow 1.618.., and the magenta 1.23..

Vesica Phiscis, well not quite.  The name may be a play on words, but the golden proportion inherent in this geometry is forever accurate.  Phi seems to come up a lot analyzing circles.  It may seem odd then that Phi is not encoded into the relationship of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, (π).  Pi is well-known.  It even has its own day. The day, might I add, this website was launched.

Why then, is Phi not encoded into the ratio known as Pi?  Well some mathematicians think it is.  My Australian mathemagician friend Jain108 has concluded that the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter IS linked to Phi.  He goes on to show that π = 4/√ø.  Four divided by the square root of Phi, which is a little over the accepted value today.  (3.1446..) More on this in an upcoming article.

The green and red circles are in golden proportion with each other.  The blue square and circle have the same perimeters.  Thus Phi encodes the solution to “squaring the circle”.

Blue is to Red; as Magenta is to Green.  Isn’t that phinomenal?!

The Pentagram and the many manifestations of Phi.  One is always needed in between to transition from the higher powers of Phi into the lesser.  These golden numbers Phi and phee, 1.618 and .618, are never without the presence of ONE.

My friend Rhuben Neal made this construction.  If the diameter of the blue circle is 1, the diameter of the golden circle is Phi cubed.

Fibonacci Circles.  Original construction by Sam Kutler.

Gary Meisner’s website GoldenNumber.net explores Phi in depth.

Phi, The Golden Ratio, is the most perfect number in existence.

Phee Phi Pho Phum, I smell the blood of the Golden One.

“Neglect of mathematics work injury to all knowledge, since he who is ignorant of it cannot know the other sciences or things of this world. And what is worst, those who are thus ignorant are unable to perceive their own ignorance, and so do not seek a remedy.”
― Roger Bacon, Mathematics

The Making of the Divine Proportion

This simple drawing reveals a lot, but like Hermes put it, The lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding.  Or in this case, eyes.   The length of the square, in green, is one.  The hypotenuse in magenta is √5 or 2.2360679..   The blue line is double the green.  In red is ‘phee’ sometimes labeled lowercase phi.  In Gold, Phi.  The circle, as it seems in these drawings, is vital to the existence of this divine proportion.

The double square encodes Phi with the help of the circle.  If the length of one square is one, the double-square’s perimeter is six, and the cross section(in magenta) is the square root of five.  This relationship of 5 to 6 is encoded into the fabric of our reality. Five is the number of life, and Six the number of structure.  These two archetypes combine to construct our numerical universe.

‎”He who joins the hexagram and pentagram has solved half of the sacred secret.” –Eliphas Levi (19th century magician)

Another phi construction ^ via George Leoniak

Elliot McGucken discovered a Phi relationship between the 3, 4 & 5 sided polygons^  https://www.cut-the-knot.org/do_you_know/Elliot2.shtml

https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1798843/new-very-simple-golden-ratio-construction-incorporating-a-triangle-square-and

^Here shows the edge relationships of regular polygons from a triangle to the hexagon inscribed in the same size 1 radius circle. [Credit to Hunter Hughes]

The following construction was made by George Leoniak

^ constructed by Hunter Hughes

“Some of the greatest mathematical minds of all ages, from Pythagoras and Euclid in ancient Greece, through the medieval Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa and the Renaissance astronomer Johannes Kepler, to present-day scientific figures such as Oxford physicist Roger Penrose, have spent endless hours over this simple ratio and its properties. But the fascination with the Golden Ratio is not confined just to mathematicians. Biologists, artists, musicians, historians, architects, psychologists, and even mystics have pondered and debated the basis of its ubiquity and appeal. In fact, it is probably fair to say that the Golden Ratio has inspired thinkers of all disciplines like no other number in the history of mathematics.”  -Mario Livio

Patterns in the Fibonacci Sequence

Fibonacci: The Fractions of Life

Hidden Universal Symmetry

Phi in Physiology

Nature By Numbers (Video)

Golden Mean

Maths.Surrey.ac.uk