BOOK TWO
original: "LIBER SECVNDVS"
Vol, II. b

A

In the same way, it is sufficient for us to know that each world stands alone in its own element. Moreover, the light from heaven is an outflowing from the four elements, and the noblest part of their perfect character. Man should not understand this to mean that the sun took its shine and its path from the physical element of Fire, nor the planets likewise; rather, they exist through the Arcanum From the Latin "arcanum," meaning "secret." In this context, it refers to the hidden, spiritual virtue or "inner stars" that give life and power to the physical elements.. Therefore, the shine of the firmament upon the world does not come from the element of Fire itself, but from the Arcanum. For the Earth gives its Tronum A Paracelsian term for the specific spiritual influence or "star" of the Earth., the Water its Turas The spiritual influence or inner essence of Water., and the Air its Samies The spiritual influence or inner essence of Air.. These do not originate from the physical element but from the Arcanum, and yet they reside within the element. From these Arcana, the four worlds harmonize in such a way that they are useful to one another, helping and sustaining each other—but this is not by the physical nature of the elements, for they are simply the elemental containers.

The Fourteenth Text.

That man lives, sees, hears, and the like, is not due to the elements, but comes from the Arcana, and even more so from the Monarchy The divine, overarching order or spiritual government of the universe.. All creatures are the same; only their shelter and nourishment are elemental. Understand also that everything eternal comes from the Arcanum and is the Arcanum itself. Dogs die, but their Arcanum remains; man dies, but his Arcanum remains—and his soul even more so, which makes him so much nobler than a dog. This is true for all growing things. From this arises the potential for error: in the Great Ultimate Mystery original: "Mysterio Magno vltimo"; the final state of the world or the "Last Day" in Paracelsian theology., all creatures that have ever been will appear—not in their physical substance as they are now, but Arcanically. We do not say that the Arcanum is a physical being like that which has not yet died, but rather that it is the perfect version of it. The element of Fire has within it an Arcanum, and from this Arcanum comes the light, the shine, the influence, and the growth for the other three elements, rather than from the physical element of fire itself. For these Arcana could well exist without the physical element, just as the element could exist without them. But note further: the element of Air original: "Aeris" has within it an Arcanum, and from it comes the nourishment of all the other three worlds and itself. This does not pass from one element into the others in a physical way, but Arcanically, through the element.

B

The element of Earth original: "Terræ" has within it the Arcanum of persistence and stability, giving the others the power of their permanence and their ability to bring forth life so that they do not fail. The element of Water original: "Aquæ" gives the Arcanum that sustains all elements and what lies within them, allowing them to progress and remain without being destroyed. Thus, there is a distinction between the elements and the Arcana: one is perishable (the element), while the other is a permanence that remains in the Great Ultimate Mystery, in which all things are renewed, and yet they are nothing other than what they have always been.

The Fifteenth Text.

It must be recognized that the elements do not stand mixed together; they are entirely Airy, Fiery, Earthly, or Aquatic, and are not blended. Furthermore, an element nourishes only its own, so that from it comes its own world. For this reason, medicine from the element of Water does not help those who are from the element of Earth or the others; it helps only the Nymphs, sea monsters, and the like. Earthly medicine also does not help the other three worlds, only the animals in its own world. The Air is the same: for in the Air there are also diseases, physicians, the learned, and the unlearned, within their own world and their own course. It is the same in the element of Fire. And although it happens that Nymphs dwell among earthly people and bear children, this is possible because Rapture original: "Raptus"; a state of being "snatched" or transported from one elemental realm to another. allows it. The same applies to beings of the air, such as when Melusine original: "Melosin"; a legendary female spirit of fresh water, often depicted as a mermaid or serpent-woman. came to the earthly people; all such things are the result of Rapture.

C

Likewise, those who are raptured from the Fire to us are called Tristeres Paracelsian name for fire-spirits or beings belonging to the element of fire.. When these three foreign worlds mingle with ours, as seen above, they are to be recognized in their whole being as "Gods" compared to us, because of the great strangeness and the alien nature they possess. If one of us were raptured to them, that person would be understood by them in the same way we understand those who are raptured to us. Thus, the elements do not need one another, except that each one serves as a "box" or container for the others, or holds the others together like a heap. Just as Water and Earth separate from one another, so do the Air and the Fire; each possesses its own separate part and reaches no further than the walls and the mutual inclination of the Arcana from all four.

The Sixteenth Text.

Since it follows thereafter that there will be a joining together, and all things will return in measure according to the essence they once had, that state is "Arcanic" and according to the appearance of the elements. For in that state, nothing corporeal can appear from birth; instead, the "face" the spiritual appearance or image and the presence of all completed births will suffice to stand there. In this way, everything that happened before and after a person will be known to them, and this will be visible and known to everyone. But in this, there is a secret understanding of the Great Ultimate Mystery. This is not drawn from nature, but from the knowledge of causes—the final separation of the elements and all creatures—wherein an answer will be given to everyone regarding their death. This is the cause of both the perishable and the living or remaining. For there will be a single Judge, who has held power from the beginning, and has been the one and only Judge forever and ever. And this is the origin of faiths and the many kinds of servants of the gods, all of which are a false practice. For there has never been any God other than He who has always been the Judge. And it is a false folly to recognize the—