If you take a calculator, using the first example mentioned at the top of the page, divide 34 by 21 and then divide 233 by 144 you will see that the ratios approach the decimal 1.61803 to five places. Over and over in nature, in both living and non-living realms, this particular number comes up again and again. Why? This number, known as the "Golden Ratio" (Golden Mean) is related to a mathematical series and a certain spiral shape that is found in nature in surprising ways. The famous astronomer, Johannes Kepler who said that scientists were "thinking God's thoughts after him" called this special number the Divine Proportion.