On the Mysteries of the Egyptians - Pimander - Asclepius

...therefore, they are not changed along with these things Referring to the physical elements or bodies discussed on the previous page., nor are they distributed according to the distribution of those bodies. For they are not merely the "habits" original: "habitus." In this context, it refers to a state or disposition of a physical body rather than an independent existence. of bodies, nor are they material forms; rather, they are self-subsisting and separable—indeed, they are already separate and exist before bodies.

Separate and separable substances original: "Substantiæ separatæ." In Neoplatonic philosophy, these are entities like gods or pure intellects that exist independently of physical matter. do not become what they are because they chose or were assigned a certain "lot" or province. On the contrary, according to the kind of life and form that the soul brought into action within itself before entering a body, it is allotted a corresponding organic body and a nature following from it. This nature is subjected to the more perfect life of the soul itself. The rational soul original: "anima rationalis" enters into a body that is already alive, but only imperfectly so.

Divine beings naturally produce the whole of their distinct work within themselves before they bring it forth. By the power of those things which possess the nature of a universal principle original: "uniuersalis principij", lower things are produced within higher things, corporeal things within incorporeal The OCR reads "corporeis," but in this philosophical context, Iamblichus is arguing that physical things are contained within spiritual/incorporeal ones. things, and the works within the makers; they are guided within those superior principles that contain them in a circular embrace.

Therefore, the celestial circuits original: "circuitus cælestes" are traced back to the circuit of celestial souls. The souls of the worlds—that is, of the spheres and the stars—as they enter into their own Intellect, are entirely encompassed by it and are first generated within it. The particular intellect is contained within the universal intellect, and that universal intellect is similarly contained within things even higher. Since, therefore, subsequent things are always turned back toward...