Three Books of Occult Philosophy

struck from steel original: "chalybis excuritur": it is in the earth, which fumes when it is dug up: it is in the waters, heating springs and wells: it is in the deep sea, which grows warm when agitated by the winds: it is in the air, which we often see glowing with heat: and every animal, all living things, and all plants are nourished by heat: and everything that lives, lives because of the fire enclosed within it. The properties of the Supernal fire are a heat that makes all things fruitful, and a light that grants life to all. The properties of the Infernal fire are a burning that consumes all things, and a darkness that fills everything with sterility. Therefore, celestial and bright fire puts to flight dark demons: and even our fire made of wood original: "ligneus"; referring to common terrestrial fire puts them to flight, insofar as it possesses an image and is a vehicle of that higher light. Indeed, it is a vehicle of Him who said, I am the light of the world original: "Ego sum lux mundi", who is the true fire, the father of lights original: "pater luminum", from whom every best gift comes, sending out the splendor of his fire and communicating it first to the sun and the other celestial bodies, and through these—as if through intermediate instruments—pouring that light into our own fire. Just as the demons of darkness are more powerful in the darkness itself, so the good demons—who are angels of light—receive an increase of power from light, not only from the divine, solar, and celestial light, but even from the fire that is among us. For this reason, the first and wisest founders of religions and ceremonies decreed that prayers, psalm-singing, and all sacred rites should not be performed except with lamps lit. From this comes that symbol of Pythagoras: Do not speak of God without light. They also commanded that, to drive away evil demons, lights and fires should be lit near the bodies of the dead, and not be removed until the earth covers them after the sacred rites of expiation are finished. The Almighty himself, in the Old Law A reference to the laws of the Torah or Old Testament, required all his sacrifices to be offered by fire, and that a fire should always burn upon the altar—a tradition which the priests of Vesta The Roman goddess of the hearth, whose priestesses maintained a perpetual flame among the Romans also kept and guarded perpetually.

The basis and foundation of all elements, however, is the Earth. For she is the object, the subject, and the receiver of all celestial rays and influences. She contains within herself the seeds original: "feminas," likely a typo for "semina" and feminine virtues of all things. Therefore, she is said to be animal, vegetable, and mineral: fertilized by all the other elements and the heavens, she is the mother of all things generated from herself. She is the receiver of all fertility, and like a first parent, she is the source of all budding growth, the center, the foundation, and the mother of all. If you take from her any amount of her secrets—washed, purified, and refined—and leave them for a time under the open sky, she will soon be fertilized by celestial powers; becoming pregnant, she will produce plants from herself, produce little worms and animals, produce small stones and bright sparks of metals. In her are the greatest secrets, if she is ever purified by the art of fire and reduced to her simplicity by a proper washing. She is the first matter original: "materia" of our creation and the truest medicine for our restoration and preservation.

On the wonderful natures of water, and air, and the winds. Chapter VI.

A decorative woodcut initial N featuring a figure seated at a desk or table, possibly a scholar or monk engaged in study.

No less powerful are the remaining two elements, namely Water and Air: nor does nature cease to work wonders in them. For the necessity of Water is so great that without it no animal could live: no herb or plant of any kind could grow without the moistening of water...