Seeking meaning behind 41

We asked Diana McKanas, a psychic and numerologist at the Salem Psychic Center, about the meaning of the number 41. She did not know Nick O'Neill and was told only that he was 18 when he died.

One way of interpreting 41, she said, is to add the numbers together. ''4 plus 1 equals 5, and 5 represents a time of change," she said. ''If a person sees that number a lot around him, they like change and challenge. They are also very creative, extremely creative. There's a lot of creativity around this young man. They are also very sensual people, very sensitive with anything to do with the five senses, color, sound, fragrance, food, touch."

Another way of interpreting 41 is to separate the 4 from the 1. The numeral 4, McKanas said, ''I always equate to a brick, which has four sides. Bricks are used to withstand a lot of pressure and stress; these people are usually hard workers." The numeral 1, she said, represents new beginnings, new steps. ''I would say that when this person was here on earth, he was a hard-worker, grounded and creative, and the new beginnings could represent a spiritual journey."

BELLA ENGLISH