Paracelsus Opera (Huser Edition)

Book Two 15

The Twentieth Text.

To understand the Prophetic Evestrum original: "Evestrum Prophetum" is the most necessary task of all: For the Great Turban original: "Turban magna"; in Paracelsian philosophy, this refers to the collective "Great Mystery" or a cosmic spirit that contains the archetypes of all events is such an essence that it presages everything that happens in the four worlds. And whatever wonder occurs, whether against Nature or against common thought and life, is recognized through the Prophetic Evestrum, which is taken from and foreshadowed by the Great Turban. And it is necessary for the prophet to recognize the Great Turban, for it possesses great reason and unites itself with reason. Therefore, it is possible for a mortal to recognize the Great Turban until his final passing. From it, all prophets have spoken, for within it are all the signs of the world. All Evestra come from it; from it the comets are cast as shadows, as well as the significant stars that arise against the course of the heavens; and all impressions original: "Impressiones"; referring to meteorological or astrological phenomena that leave a "mark" or sign on the world take their beginning from the Turban and not from the firmament or the stars. For when an unheard-of, strange thing is to happen, heralds go forth to make such things known to the people, from which a following evil may be announced: these are not testimonies from Nature, but rather indicated by the Prophetic Evestrum. All deaths, all wars, all mutinies send their heralds before them, which arise from the Turban. And whoever is a knower of the property of the Evestra is a prophet and a soothsayer of all future things. For the Highest of all things does not speak with mortals, nor does He send

The Great Turban original: "Turban magna". Held by Pagans, etc., to be God.

His angels out from His dwelling to announce things; rather, such things are understood from the Great Turban, which many Pagans and Jews have held to be God, having been blinded in their understanding of the Godhead.

The Twenty-First Text.

B

Since the overshadowed Evestrum original: "Evester obumbratus"; the spiritual "double" or astral body that mirrors the physical person grows and is born with every creature, it is further possible to predict the course and life of that same thing from its Evestrum. Just as when a child is born, the Evestrum is born with it, and is always formed within it, so that it shows all things concerning the child from infancy until its final days, and reveals what is to be done. For example, when someone dies, death does not occur unless the Evestrum first gives a sign: such as through knocking, shaking, falling, or some such sign related to that person's trade. If the Evestrum is noticed in this way, it may be understood as a herald of death, belonging to such a trade.

The Evestrum is also united with the eternal: for after the death of a human, the Evestrum remains on Earth and gives an indication of whether the person is in joy or pain through its manifestation. One should not say, as the simple-minded do, that these are spirits or souls, or that those who have died are walking there. It is the Evestrum of that same person, which does not depart until the "empty stable" An idiomatic reference to the final judgment or the ultimate gathering of all things at the end of time where all things come together. The Evestrum performs signs, for the Saints alone make understood and work miracles through their Evestrum. Just as the sun through its shine makes known its heat and its nature and essence: so are the presaging and prophetic Evestra original: "Euestra præsagientia vnnd prophetica" within us, and they are to be believed; for they govern sleep and dreams, prefiguring and portraying future things, indicating their nature, reason, essence, desires, and thoughts.

The Twenty-Second Text.

C

Since future things are thus recognized in the elements, in which the Evestra have their dwelling: some Evestra are in water, some in mirrors, some in crystals, some from polished fingernails original: "Vngues"; referring to onychomancy, the practice of divining the future by watching reflections on oiled fingernails, some through the movement of waters, some through song, some through the mind—all of these may be "evestrated." For the highest and most benevolent God has a Mysterial Evestrum original: "Evestrum mysteriale" in which His essence and properties are seen; and through this Mysterial Evestrum, all good and all enlightenment are recognized. But on the other hand, the damned also has an Evestrum in the world, in which evil is recognized, and everything that then breaks the law of Nature, and the like. Although things are "evestrated" from these two, it is nothing other than their meeting our life: for only through our own Evestrum shall we recognize ourselves. In all creatures there are Evestra; alongside this, they are all prophets—rational and irrational, sentient and insentient. For the Evestrum is a spirit that teaches astronomy In Paracelsian terms, this is "sidereal science," the knowledge of how celestial and spiritual forces influence the earthly realm. Not that such things are recognized from nativities or prognostications from the stars, but they have their being original: "Esse" and their existence in the Evestra, like an image in a mirror, or a shadow in water, or on the earth. And in the same way that a plant grows and declines, and is meant to go, so the stars show themselves: not that they have their course thus by their own nature, or that moisture and cold are encountered from the earth, but only because the essence of the earth is such. Thus there are prefigurations in the heavens and in parts, but only as an Evestrum, and not as a power original: "potentia".

The Twenty-Third Text.

Such Evestra shall also be broken, and yet they shall not pass away without an eternal element, and the Evestra shall not be looked upon [separately], but shall dwell entirely with all those to whom they belong. By this, everyone shall have the understanding to warn and recognize themselves above all things. For the great...

Vol. II. b ii