Curious History of the Life of Jean de Labadie

A vertical woodcut with a dark background shows a stylized human figure diving through water. The figure reaches toward a glowing sphere or pearl at the bottom. Wavy lines at the top represent the surface of the water. Below the image, a cryptic phrase is printed: "cobi, birza, trimpe." This imagery likely refers to the search for spiritual truth or the "pearl of great price."

cobi, birza, trimpe This is a cryptic phrase often associated with Jean de Labadie’s childhood and early spiritual development. Its exact meaning remains a subject of historical debate.

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A circular emblem is centered on the page. It features an Ouroboros, a snake consuming its own tail, which represents the infinite cycle of nature and eternity. Inside the circle, a pelican is shown "in her piety," a term for the bird piercing its own breast to feed its young with its blood. This is a common symbol for self-sacrifice and the work of the alchemist. The bird rests on a cube decorated with roses, combining symbols of stability and the secret "Rosicrucian" mysteries. The words "Hermetic Philosophy" encircle the image.

[Daniel des Marets]

Hermetic Philosophy: A tradition of knowledge based on the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, focusing on the connection between the human soul and the cosmos.
Pelican in her piety: A symbolic image of a mother bird feeding her chicks with her own blood, representing Christ’s sacrifice or the purification of matter in alchemy.
Ouroboros: An ancient symbol of a serpent eating its own tail, signifying the unity of all things and the cycle of birth and death.