Of Occult Philosophy, part 1 of 4

Theophrastus Paracelsus OF OCCULT PHILOSOPHY.

The Prologue.

IN this ensuing booke we do intend to treat of the greatest and most occult secrets of Philosophy, and of all those things which do appertain to Magicke, Nigromancy, Necromancy, Pyromancy, Hydromancy, and Geomancy: Clearely and fully demonstrating and setting forth every thing that may be investigated, effected and brought to pass thereby: this Philosophy in the practice thereof is much abused, by Ceremonies and other abuses; and hitherto the foundation thereof hath been built falsely upon the sand; whereby the whole Artifice and instruments thereof are overthrowne with the least winde, and sometimes the Artificers themselves, especially the Nigromancers, are taken away out of the very middest thereof, with the windes, that is, with the Spirits, and are vanquished, overcome and carryed away. It is therefore necessary that the foundation of these and of all other Arts be laid in the holy Scriptures, upon the doctrine and faith of Christ; which is the most firme and sure foundation, and the chiefe corner stone, whereupon the three principal points of this Philosophy are grounded. The first is prayer, whereunto agrees this word of holy Scripture, Ask, seeke, and knocke, &c. By which we are to seeke unto God, and faithfully believe his promises; and doing this with a pure heart and minde, it shall be given unto us, and we shall finde what we seeke after: and those things which before remained occult and secret, shall be made open and manifested unto us. The second thing founded therein, is faith, which is able to remove Mountains into the Sea: for unto the faithful all things are possible, as Christ hath spoken. The third point is founded in our imagination, which afterward is kindled in our hearts, and then aptly agreeth and concordeth with the faith aforesaid.

Therefore all Ceremonies, Conjurations, Consecrations, and such like vanities are to be rejected and cast away, with all vain foundations, & the true corner-stone is the foundation that is onely to be imbraced in our hearts, that is, every thing which proceedeth and springeth from the holy Scriptures, the light of nature, and fountain of truth: we will write therefore in most briefe and plain words, the most occult and secret things, which neither Cornelius Agrippa nor Peter de Abano, much less Tritemius, never understood or wrote of. Neither let any one raise scandall upon this my writing of Philosophy, but first rather let him well peruse and ponder every word; and then it will appeare from whom I speake, and whether I have this knowledge from the Devil, or from the experience of the pure light of nature.

Theophrastus Paracelsus OF Occult PHILOSOPHY.

CHAP. I. Of Consecrations.

SEeing God the greatest of all good did in the beginning of the Creation of the World, plentifully and abundantly bless and sanctifie all things which are therein; both Places, Instruments, and all Creatures, that have their being upon the Earth; There is no need of other Blessings and Consecrations; for he is Holiness himself: wherefore all things that he ordained and made, are also consecrated by and through him. Therefore no humane things do need any more or other Consecrations; but may better, nay best of all, be without them, especially such as setting Crosses in the way, Crosses, Circles, Swords, Vestures, Candles or Lights, Waters, Oyls, Fire, Fumigations, Characters, Writings, Books, Pentacles, Seals of Solomon, Crowns, Scepters, Girdles, Rings, &c. and many other things of the likekinde, which the Ceremonious Nigromancers do use against the Phantastick Spirits, as if they could not be compelled and bound by any other means; whereas Faith is the chief and principal Foundation against them.

As often as the Ceremonial Nigromancers say, that this is consecrated and blessed, or that many Masses are celebrated thereupon. Wherefore they all say, that they are of power against the devil and the malignant Spirits, who are terrified with fear and dread thereof, and flie there-from, &c. and dare not come neer it.

O you very arch-Fools, and ignorant men of no worth! even unworthy of the name of men, who do give Faith and credit to such monstrous and palpable lyes, when you see notwithstanding examples thereof before your eyes; when so much lightning falls upon the Temples, that it burns and destroyes the Altars; which chiefly happens by the Tempests raised with Inchantments; also, when the Devil and the malignant Spirits are seen to raign about these places, and are heard by the Magitians what they speak. Therefore Negromancy with all its Ceremonies, is absolute wickedness, a Viper used amongst Juglers, a wicked work, which blindeth the eyes of the spectators, deceiving them of their Money; but in truth is not to be esteemed worth a halfpenny, scarce a straw or rush: wherefore are not to be induced or made use of herein; as Judeus Solomon in his book hath written, which the Nigromancers call, The Key of Solomon. For God would not have them to be used; but hath given another thing instead thereof, to wit, Faith; which perfectly consecrateth all things. Nevertheless, I would not have all Consecrations to be rejected, but onely those Ceremonies, which are assumed to be used against the phantastick and malignant Spirits. But I do not desire, that any thing should be derogated from those Magical Ceremonies and Operations, which are made for Physical uses: neither, especially the Consecrations in Matrimony, and in the Sacraments of Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, which are to be kept and observed by us in the highest esteem and reverence alwayes, unto the last day. For at that time we are all perfectly consecrated, and sanctified, and clarified with a heavenly body.

CHAP. II. Of Conjurations.

BEfore we come to treat of Conjurations, whence they proceed, and what is the foundation of them; It is first necessary to declare, who invented them, who used them, and what hath been brought to pass by them; and how more and more they came to be abused. Know therefore, that they had their original Spring and fountain from Babylon; and there did mightily increase and flourish: afterwards it came into Aegypt, and from thence to the Israelites; and last of all, to us Christians. Amongst the Nigromancers it is very familiar, and held in great esteeme, so that in their rude and ignorant understandings, they all attribute more efficacy, power and vertue thereunto, then unto prayer and faith. This foundation, which is drawne onely from their opinions, is to be condemned, so that no man almost ought to remain therein; but they all Justly deserve to be punished by the Magistrate who persist therein. Although Conjurations may be able to effect some things in themselves, nevertheless they are not to be usurped by any Magitian or wise man, because they are contrary even to God himself, and to his word and commandments, and also to the light of nature: For nothing of truth can be forced or drawn from the Spirits thereby: although they are sometimes forced to appeare in their greatest and Magnificent pompe, and with terrible pride and haughtiness, nevertheless they are not bound or overcome by this Conjuration; for that can onely be done by faith alone.

I say, those kinde of Nigromancers who desire to perform and effect all things by their Conjurations, so as to compel, binde, afflict and Torment the Spirits, forcing to do what they will have them, are most like and fitly to be compared to thieves and Robbers, that lurk in woods and places to Rob and murder; who can kill and steale so long, and so far forth as God shall permit them, but no longer: But when the time and hour comes, that their villanies and wickedness shall be made manifest; then not one of the most subtil and craftyest of them can escape: whereby it comes to pass, that one for Robbery receives his death, another is accused, and at last comes under the power of the hangman, who renders him a reward according to the desert of his workes: No otherwise are we to judge of such thieves who breake houses and steal so long, till at last they perish at the gallows. So likewise doth the Nigromancer call and invocate Spirits, conjure and afflict them with punishments and Martyrdomes, so long as he shall be permitted by the Lord God; but not without the curse of God: and when the time and hour of his punishment is come, then as the Proverbe is, he receiveth his fruits: he erred in his Conjurations, not drawing his Circle as he ought, out of the will and power of the Spirits, which they often say unto him: To wit, thou hast erred in Conjuring, or thou hast not rightly drawn the Circle, thou hast not Chastised and prepared thy self enough; or that thy Seale and Pentacles are false: wherefore thou receivest this punishment: so thy debts are paid thee in ready money, a long time reserved for thee; and which long since thou oughtest to have had: so he deservedly receiveth his reward from the Spirits, who leave some notable eminent marke remaining upon him; or mayme him in some limbe or member, if not quite breake his necke: and by this he becomes his own executioner.

Therefore let these Ceremonious Nigromancers take heed and looke what they do; let them set this chapter as a looking-Glass before them, lest by their own frivolous and wicked operation they themselves become the servants of the Spirits, and suffer them to rule over them, and be their own executioners: Which being done, the Spirits will not suffer themselves any longer to be forced or compelled by these servants; neither will they do what they will, but now the servants shall be forced to yeeld obedience to the Spirits, who are become their Lords. The hang-man also doth the like, he hearkneth not to him that is to be scourged, neither will he shew any mercy or favor at the prayer of him that is condemned; but he executeth the command of his Master, and what appertains unto his office.

Even so also the Malignant Spirits are the hang-men and executioners of God, who can execute nothing without the commission of their Magistrate, that is, of the divine Majesty.

I say therefore that all Conjurations are against God, and are contrary to his word, the divine law, and the light of nature; which are prohibited to be used not onely to Spirits alone, but also such as are directed to herbs, stones and such-like, and especially those which are made against men; it becometh not us to act like the Heathens, who when they were not able to use men after their own wills, and could not force and compel them, they did Conjure them (as by many examples it is found in the Scriptures) so that they were forced and compelled to execute and act such things as were contrary to their wills and nature. Woe therefore to such wicked Knaves, and to all them whosoever imitate them: how great wickedness do they commit? And what grievous Plagues will come to them at the last, and what fearful and horrible accusations shall they heare the Devil make against them before the wrath of God? If afterwards it were lawful for them to signifie to such kinde of men, their misery which they endure, they who do such things, many thousands of them would be brought to repentance.

CHAP. III. Of Characters.

WE are not to give credit also, neither to Characters nor Words; for the Poets and Negromancers do also much exercise themselves in them, and do fill their Conjuring-Books full of them, which they raise out of their own imaginations, meerly and rashly, without any Foundation, and do feign them against all Truth; whenas many thousands of them are not worth a nut-shell. But in the mean time I will be silent in their Characters, which they draw in Paper & Parchment, which are uselessly blotted with such trifles. It was a custome amongst those kinde of men, which amongst some is hardly left to this day, That by imposing these Characters upon these men, they drew them to admiration of themselves with these Characters, and speaking such words as are wonderful to me, and which were never heard of; yet they say, they are found out and devised by themselves. Wherefore it is chiefly necessary to have perfect knowledge, to discern these Letter, Words and Characters.

There are many such-kinde of words found amongst them, which have no affinity at all with the Idioms of the Latine, Greek, or Hebrew Tongues, neither with any other; which cannot possibly be interpreted by any man, nor rendred into any other Tongue. Therefore I speak not without cause, and say, That we are not to credit all Letters, Characters or Words, but to keep to those onely which are true, and have been often proved, and taken out of the Foundation of Truth.

That we may come to these, and declare what Words or Characters are just and true; we shall onely in the first place detect and unfold two: although there may be found many other, yet nevertheless, these are most especially and principally to be accounted and esteemed of, before all other Characters, Pentacles, and Seals: note the delineation of them, which is thus:

Two Triangular Figures, cutting one another thorow with a cross, are so painted or engraven, that they do include and divide themselves into seven spaces within, and do make six corners outwardly, wherein are written six wonderful Letters of the great Name of God; to wit, Adonay, according to their true order. This is one of those Characters whereof we have spoken.

There is another which excelleth the former in power and virtue, and this hath three Hooks cutting one another through by a cross, and are so delineated, that by their mutual intersection they include six spaces, and outwardly five angles, wherein are written five syllables of the supream name of God; to wit, Tetragrammaton, also according to their true order.

I would have put down the Figures themselves; but because you may happily finde them in many other places and Books, I have the rather omitted them.

By these two Characters some of the Israelites and Nigromancers of Judea, obtained many things; and they are now esteemed of great price amongst very many, and held as great secrets: for they are of so great virtue and power, that whatsoever is possible to be done by Characters and Words, the same may be effected by them or one of them. I would gladly know, where and in what place in all the Books of the Nigromancers may be found any other, wherein there is made the like against the malignant Spirits, Devils, & Inchantments of the Magitians, by all the deceits and devices of the Sorcerers. For they do deliver him that is already inchanted either in his minde or understanding, so that he is forced or compelled to act any thing against his own natural will or nature; or if he suffer any loss or hurt in his body, by the administration of these, made in their just and due time and hour, and being taken in his mouth with a Wafer, Pancake, or such-like thing, in four and twenty hours he shall be free from the Inchantment.

There are also many other thing which are helpful in such cases; as those which shall be by me laid down hereafter, when I come to speak of Tempests, and the Seasons.

Briefly, these Characters are of so great force and power, that if the Nigromancers did but know and believe their power and and virtue, they would forthwith reject and cast away all other things, even all their other Characters, Words, Names, Signs, Figures, Pentacles, consecrated Seals of Solomon, Crowns, Scepters, Rings, Girdles, and such-like Ceremonies whatsoever, and wherein hitherto they have reposed any hope, thinking by them to secure themselves from their dangerous experiments and operations, when they would invoke, conjure, or think to compel and force the Spirits. Truely those which we have spoken of, are the true Pentacles to be had and used against all unclean Spirits, which they do all fear, even they which wander in the Elements. Nevertheless, Faith doth strengthen and confirm all these things.

But some may carpingly object, although undeservingly, and say, That I break the third Commandment of God, of the first Table of Moses, wherein it is forbidden of the Lord God, for any one to take his name in vain. But who amongst any wise men, can be able to say, That I have done this; or, that I have herein offended God? whenas I use not this for that purpose, nor after the same manner, as the Nigromancers and Inchanters; but onely for the extream necessity and help of men, and in those diseases and infirmities wherein no Medicines, no Aurum potabile, nor quintessence of Gold, neither Antimony, nor no such secret can help them, although they are of very great virtue and efficacy.

It becometh a Physitian to know the original cause of all diseases, that he may know which proceeds from evil meat or drink, as from Apples, Herbs, and other fruits of the Earth: and it is expedient for him to know the secrets of Herbs and Roots, &c. whereby the disease may be cured. But if it happen under the cause of Minerals, such diseases are to be expelled by the secrets of those Metals; which the secrets of Herbs and Roots do not admit of, and have not power to do.

In like manner, if diseases do proceed from the influences of Heaven, neither of the secrets aforesaid, are able to profit any thing in the cure thereof, but it must be expelled by Astronomy and the heavenly influences, as it is written of Parsicaria.

Lastly, if any disease or grief happen or be inflicted upon any man in a supernatural manner, by Inchantment or some Magical Sorceries, none of those three remedies aforespoken of, will help them; but there must be a Magical remedy whereby it may be expelled, as we have before delivered.

Many men who have in this kinde been made miserable through inchantments, have also hitherto been forsaken and cast off by the Ignorant Physitians; because these things hitherto were hidden unto them: And if they chance to be told them of others, they will answer, that if they should use them, they should act against God, and take his name in vain; and that this which I have done hath no truth in it. But if I should use these things to the hurt or prejudice of man, I should Blaspheme against God; or if I should Conjure any Spirits, man, herbe, roote or stone, &c. by his name, it might then justly be said that I did take his name in vain, and offend God; but not before. Let the Divines themselves also, and the Sophisters speake what they list to these things, the thing which I speake will not be found contrary to the truth, although herein their opinions may be very contrary unto me: they will call me Inchanter, Nigromancer, and a contemner of the Commandments of God, which Calumnies and reproches I do not at all care for: for it will be most certainly made manifest, that their exceptions against me, will appeare no otherwise then those of the Jews and Pharisees who carped against Christ, because he healed the sicke on the Sabbath day: For they said unto him, that Christ had broke the Sabbath and the commandment of God: the like they did with David when he was forced and oppressed, and did eat the shew-bread; But amongst these fault-finders and slanderers, how or what shall be done that will please them all? But the Ignorant will not cease to talke until the beasts or stones can teach them, which we must expect will be a long time, and then they will hold their peace.