Complete Hermetica (1505 Paris Edition)

MERCURY.

Air also, light and yielding to the spirit, took the middle region between fire and water. Truly, earth and water lay so mixed together that the face of the earth, overwhelmed by the waters, was nowhere visible. These two were then set in motion by the spiritual Word original: "spiritali verbo"; this refers to the Logos, the divine reason or speech that brings order to chaos which was carried over them, echoing in their ears. Then Pimander said: "Do you perceive what this vision means?" "I shall know it," I replied.

Pimander then said: "That Light is I, the Mind, your God, older than the moist nature original: "natura humida"; the watery primordial chaos which shone forth from the shadow. The shining seed of the Mind is the Son of God."

"How so?" I asked. He replied: "Think of it this way: that which sees and hears within you is the Word of the Lord original: "verbū domini", but the Mind is God the Father. For they are not separated from each other, and their union is Life."

TRISMEGISTUS: I give thanks to you.

PIMANDER: But first, meditate upon the Light and know it.

TRISMEGISTUS: When these things were said, I prayed to him for a long time that he would turn his form original: "ideam"; here meaning the divine archetype or visual essence toward me. When he had done so, I suddenly perceived in my mind a Light existing in countless powers, an infinite world of fire original: "ornatum sine termino ignem"; literally an 'unlimited arrangement of fire,' referring to the celestial cosmos surrounded by a mighty force, yet ruling in its own stability. These things I perceived through the word of Pimander, who spoke to me again while I was struck with amazement: "Have you seen in your mind the primary form, which prevails with infinite power?"

"So it seemed to me, Pimander," I replied. Then I asked him: "From where did the elements of nature flow?"

PIMANDER: From the will of God, which, having embraced the Word and gazed upon the beautiful world, imitated it, adorning the rest of itself with its own elements and life-giving seeds original: "vitalibusq; feminibus"; the generative principles of life. But the Mind—God, who is most full of the fecundity of both sexes A reference to the androgynous nature of the divine source in Hermetic thought, being Life and Light—gave birth by his Word to another Mind the Craftsman original: "mētem alteram opificem"; the Demiurge who shapes the physical world, who is the god of fire and the power of the spirit. Next, he fashioned seven governors original: "gubernatores"; the planetary spirits who rule over destiny and the visible world who encompass the sensible world The physical world perceived by the senses in circles...