What Does 11:11 Mean? The Significance Of This Time, Why People Wish On It, & What It Really Means

Repeating numbers seen continuously are often referred to as “angel numbers,” and many believe they hold a special significance.

Perhaps you notice that you keep seeing the same time on the clock, or the same repeating numbers on license plates or houses. This is a somewhat common phenomenon, but many people have various interpretations of what it means.

Your brain sees more than what you consciously focus on. It does this important filtering process so that you can keep your attention on one thing at a time. Psychologically speaking, this has been called a number of things, including The Baader-Meinhof Complex, selective attention, and confirmation bias. Basically, your brain seeks out what it wants to see to affirm itself.

So why does it keep seeking out repeating numbers? The first reason could be because you’re priming yourself to want to see them, because they have a significance to you. This is your own way of affirming yourself, and it is very powerful. However, other people call these “angel numbers,” because it is believed that subtle nonphysical energies can call your attention to them when they want to send a message.

Angel numbers are imbued with a lot of meaning for many people. Here, we’ll discuss what numbers like 11:11 mean, why people wish on them, why you see them posted on Snapchat, what different number sequences mean, whether or not angel numbers are in the Bible, and why it is significant to see the numbers 11:11 when you’re in love.

What does 11:11 mean?

The numbers 11:11 have a lot of superstition and belief around them.

Specifically, it is is believed to be the number associated with spiritual awakenings and powerful new beginnings.

Many people believe their eyes are drawn to the clock at this time, and that they see these numbers repeated throughout their lives as a form of numerology. More commonly, many people will “wish” when they see that it is 11:11, given that they believe the number holds special significance.

According to Truth Theory, it was the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras who first popularized the idea that all numbers have different vibrational properties. “Since then, modern science and mathematics have proven that the world conforms to precise geometric mathematical principles,” they explain. “These principles govern everything from gravity to the movements of animals and the habits of humanity.”

They continue: “It was from Pythagoras’ discoveries about the world that the ancient system of Numerology was developed. Some scholars even believe that Numerology pre-dates Pythagoras and derives from the ancient mystical Hebrew Kabbalah which is thousands of years old.”

The AstroTwins refer to angel numbers as the “master numbers” and actually believe that repeating 1s signifies a “wake up call” in the works.

“1:11 or 11:11 is certainly a magical sign. In fact, The Magician card is number 1 in the major arcana of the tarot. When you see repeating 1s it’s like a wakeup call from the mystical realm,” they explain.

“Look around and really pay attention to where you are and who you’re with. This is a cosmic confirmation that you’re moving in the right direction. There’s further to go as 1 is the first step, but you can be assured that you are on your path—and things will evolve so you won’t stop here.”

They conclude:

Eleven is a master number in numerology, and connotes a spiritual path. Many believe that 11:11 is a confirmation that you are a lightworker or earth angel, here to uplift human consciousness and restore a sense of oneness and harmony to the world. You are a bridge, someone who can bring together people from disparate factions of society, or weave together opposing energies into a beautiful blend. As above, so below. Without darkness there can’t be light. You are strong enough to hold paradoxes and understand that we are all dual in nature, yet singular at the same time. (Read more about 11:11 in our longer piece about it.)

Despite slight differences in interpretation, it is pretty much always agreed upon that repeating numbers are a sign of something.

Many people will use 11:11 as a means of making a “wish,” or setting a positive intention with the Universe. Others regard it with high superstition, consistently posting it, or at least, noticing it when those numbers appear. It’s a phenomena that conjures up a lot of meaning for people, for better or worse.

What is the significance of 11:11 in love?

The numerology of 11:11 takes on an even deeper meaning when it comes to love and romance.

In fact, some people believe that the appearance of 11:11 is actually associated with the presence or meeting of a “twin flame,” or the alternative word for what’s commonly known as a “soulmate,” the other half of our beings who we grow the most in relationship with.

According to Conscious Reminder, 11:11 in love means this:

11:11 is related to the twin flame relationship. It signifies meeting someone extremely special. The number sequence holds the characteristics of a twin flame relationship like loyalty, honesty, love, unity and openness. 11 mirrored, represent the souls of the twin flames which are also mirrored. All these characteristics are unique and attributed to the twin flame relationship. Therefore, when we see synchronicity around us with the number sequence 11:11 we should really slow down and pay attention to the details around us to understand what message the Universe is trying to convey to us.

If you are struggling with a relationship, waiting for a relationship, or wondering whether or not someone is right for you, if you are seeing the repetition of 11:11 surrounding it, we might want to pay closer attention to who, or what, is passing through our lives at that time.

Why do people wish on 11:11?

The way you have probably heard of 11:11 is through friends or family who tell you to “make a wish” at that time.

In fact, some people are religious about ensuring that they always set a positive intention at that time. For many people, this is simply a ritual, but others believe there is a deeper purpose. On a Quora thread which inquired why people wish on this number, one user explained: “It’s a common belief that 1111 means that your thoughts are manifesting quickly, so choose your thoughts (make a wish) when you see 1111. I think that’s a bit simplistic.”

They continued: “I first started seeing 1111 when I decided to become a positive person after a lifetime of being a pessimist. When I was positive and hopeful, I would see the number all the time. When I dropped back into despair, the numbers stopped appearing. About four years ago, I committed to learning about manifesting and entered onto a spiritual path of awakening, I began seeing the numbers again. Everywhere!”

Ultimately, wishing on 11:11 is a personal ritual that can bring the individual practicing a sense of peace, routine, and comfort. It can also be a means of returning to a set intention regularly, and watching it manifest over time.

Regardless of why people do it, it’s clear that 11:11 is highly meaningful for so many, and if you’re seeing it consistently, there may be a reason.

Why do I keep seeing the time as 1:11?

An extension of 11:11 is 1:11, which is another numerological sequence that people believe has a lot of power.

If you are seeing 1:11, it has a similar meaning to 11:11. It could relate to any of the following happening in your life at present.

  • The beginning of a new journey.
  • Reminding you that angels are with you.
  • Affirming your choice is the right one.
  • Affirming that you are in the right energy or headspace.
  • Affirming that you are indeed awakening.

But as for why your eyes are drawn to the clock at the same time, a part of your brain is likely responsible. At any given time, you are scanning your entire environment with your peripheral vision. Your brain is absorbing thousands of cues. This is why ambiance is so important for relaxation, or getting people excited — we take in far more information from our surroundings than we think.

Be this as it is, our point of focus allows us to tend to one task at a time. Even though we are aware of what’s in our peripheral vision, our brain is sorting that information out in real-time, ensuring we are focusing on what’s important, and ignoring what isn’t.

This means that if there’s a clock or time in your peripheral and it says 11:11 — and you already believe this number has significance for you — your brain will sort that as important stimuli and your eyes will go right toward it.

This is, essentially, confirmation bias.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that seeing angel numbers isn’t meaningful. The sheer fact that our subconscious minds determine that these sequences are powerful means could very well mean that there is something present for us to take note of.

For example, perhaps we intuitively feel the presence of a loved one, but because we cannot see or touch them with our five physical senses, we instead subconsciously cue ourselves to notice a “signal” that shows us what we are already picking up on. In other cases, we perhaps already know that a relationship is or isn’t right, and focusing on a “sign” that directs us in one direction or another might be our way of affirming to ourselves that our instinct is correct.

Just because your brain is involved in directing you to seeing angel numbers doesn’t mean that it’s merely a cognitive bias, and nothing more.

As with everything, it depends on what meaning you give it.

Is 11:11 in the Bible?

While specific references to repeating numbers aren’t mentioned in the Bible, there are, of course, verses that correlate to angel numbers.

A great example of this is Hebrews 11:1, which explains that having faith is believing that what is unseen is still very much real. This is associated with the concept of 11:11, given that it is about spiritual awakening and knowing you are on the right path.

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

This is in alignment with the message of the 111 angel number sequence, which is that you are being supported by invisible forces, and you’re on the right path, even if you can’t see it yet.

According to OmTimes.com, the appearance of 11:11 (especially during the 11th hour of the day) are often seen as “prompts” for those who are being encouraged to become a servant of God, or in other words, moving into spiritual service and atonement, and therefore, coming back into divine alignment. “This is probably why people start seeing 11:11 when they begin to wake up spiritually,” they explain. “Many of them also feel compelled to communicate and enlighten others.”

However, the prophecy also comes with a warning: be sure that your intentions are pure. They continue to explain that in Matthew, when laborers become too attached to their monetary abundance rather than actual connection with God, problems arose:

While each laborer gets paid a denarius for his labor, a problem occurs when the 11:11 call becomes overly attached to receiving monetary abundance rather than atonement. Even within the parable of Matthew, workers are cautioned not to be too greedy. Each receives a Denarius no matter how long they labored or how late they received a call. Some begin to grumble against the “goodman of the house” believing they deserve more. Then, the lord of the vineyard says to those who grumble (Matthew 20: 14-16);

In other cases, 11:11 appears in various books with different meanings — their interpretations are, of course, up to you.

What does each number series represent?

Of course, there’s not just 11:11 to look out for.

Some of the most famous sequences are 333 and 666, but every number sequence has significance — though you might not quite know what.

This is what each number series really means.

111 — “You are on the right path.”

When you see 111, consider it your way of telling yourself that if you continue on the way that you are, you will reap the benefits soon enough. 111 is often considered the highest and most divine of all the numbers, because it is the purest (for example, if duality is represented by 2, then oneness, the ultimate truth of the universe, is 1).

222 — “You need to choose wisely.”

The number 2 represents duality (day and night, good and evil, and so on). When you continually see the number 2 pop up, it means that you need to be mindful of focusing more on what you do want than on what you don’t. If you aren’t careful, you may end up holding yourself back more than you realize.

333 — “You are coming into perfect alignment.”

The number 3 represents divinity, and the transcendence of the human condition. Seeing 333 over and over again means that you are on the path to dissolving your suffering and actualizing your true potential. It means you are overcoming your circumstances and choosing the highest, best possible path. It also means you are being supported by the Universe in doing so.

444 — “You are being protected.”

Even if you feel lost, uncertain or dejected at this point in your life, know that 444 means you’re being protected and guided. Instead of asking yourself why you didn’t get something you wanted, ask what you were being shielded from. If you are considering a certain life path or partner when you see 4s, take it as a sign that it is correct. (Read more about 444 here.)

555 — “Things are about to change.”

If you are feeling exhausted, fed up and as though your efforts aren’t being rewarded, don’t worry: seeing 5s means that your life is about to go through a period of transformation. Right now, things are moving, even if you aren’t seeing the results. Keep believing, and more importantly, keep going. 

666 — “Be careful of your thoughts and actions.”

Folklore (and certain religions) believe that the presence of the 6s indicates evil and negativity. In reality, it is a way of communicating that you are not on the right path, and you should monitor your thoughts, ideas and plans when you see these numbers. Take a step back and reconsider what a better plan could be. This is a warning that you are thinking or acting from a place of ego.

777 — “You are stronger than you think you are.”

Seeing 7s is a way of reminding yourself that you have more inner strength than you give yourself credit for. It means that you should release any fear or worry you may have, and get really excited about the future. Only good things are on their way.

888 — “You are receiving divine guidance.”

The number 8 is sometimes flipped to represent the infinity sign, which can also represent your eternal connection to all that is and all that will ever be. Seeing repeating 8s means you are being reminded of your true nature, and are being guided toward your greatest potential. Pay attention to what you hear, see and dream about in the coming hours and days.

999 — “You are beginning again.”

The 9s are a symbol of completion. It means that one part of your life is concluding, but that doesn’t mean it is ending, it is just transforming. This is a way of reminding you that even as things change, it doesn’t mean you’re losing everything you care about. More often than not, certain things are leaving your life in preparation for your true, highest blessings, which are imminent. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

Snapchat and 11:11

If you Snap a lot, you may or may not have friends who send you a black screen with the time at 11:11. You may think it’s so that you know it’s time to make a wish, but actually, there’s another meaning as well.

While, of course, many people likely post their daily 11:11 because it’s meaningful to them and they believe it brings them luck, others may use it as a form of hinting slyly that they are thinking about someone during that time.

People who have a crush on someone will post this at 11:11 to signal that they are “wishing” for that person. It’s a way to (not-so) secretly communicate your feelings. So if you have a certain someone who keeps sending you this Snap, that could be why.

“11:11 (in relation to Snapchat), is the exact time in which everyone lights up your feed in order to let you and the rest of the world know that they’re crushing or dating someone. For example: someone might send everyone a snap saying “OMG (insert name) is so cute!” at 11:11,” one Quora user explained.

Are angel numbers synchronicities?

To put it shortly: yes.

Synchronicities are essentially “meaningful coincidences” that are very specific or pointed. Many people believe that God, the Universe or Spirit speak to you through synchronicities, communicating whether or not you’re on the right path.

For example, constantly seeing a lady bug, or the flower that reminds you of a loved one, is a common synchronicity. However, it can be broader as well, such as being at the right place at the right time to land the job you were wanting. It can also be a way that circumstances in your life come together so seamlessly it feels as though it couldn’t possibly be happening by chance.

Angel numbers are one of the biggest ways that people report experiencing synchronicities, and it will happen anywhere from phone to numbers to license plates.

“Synchronicities are events connected to one another not by strict cause-and-effect, but by what in classical times were known as sympathies, by the belief that an acausal relationship exists between events on the inside and the outside of ourselves, a crosstalk between mind and matter—which is governed by a certain species of attraction,” PsychologyToday reported.

“Jung believed that synchronicities mirror deep psychological processes, carry messages the way dreams do, and take on meaning and provide guidance to the degree they correspond to emotional states and inner experiences.”

All in all, there are signs, signals and symbols all around us… it’s our interpretation of them that determines what they’re going to mean in our lives.

January Nelson is a writer, editor, and dreamer. She writes about astrology, games, love, relationships, and entertainment. January graduated with an English and Literature degree from Columbia University.

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