THE HERMETIC POIMANDRES

fearful and gloomy, twisted in its progression, as I imagined it when I knew it changed into some water-like nature, ineffably disturbed, giving off smoke as if from a fire, and producing an inexpressible, wailing sound. Then a cry was sent forth from it, unarticulated, as if it were the voice of light. From the light, the holy Logos Word/Reason stepped upon the nature, and unmixed fire leaped out from the moist nature up into the height. It was light and sharp and at the same time active. The air, being light, followed the spirit as it ascended from the earth and water up to the fire, so that it seemed to hang from it. Earth and water remained by themselves, mixed together, so that they were not distinguished from the water. But they were moved well because of the spiritual Logos Word/Reason being carried to the hearing. Poimandres said to me, "Have you understood this vision, and what it means?" "I shall know," I said. "That light," he said, "is I, the Nous Divine Mind, your God, who existed before the moist nature that appeared from the darkness. The luminous Logos Word/Reason from the Nous is the son of God." "What then?" I said. "Know it this way: that which in you sees and hears is the Logos Word/Reason of the Lord; but the Nous Divine Mind is the Father, God. For they are not separated from one another, for the union of these is life." "I thank you," I said. "But now understand the light, and recognize it." Having said these things, he gazed at me for a longer time, so that I trembled at his appearance. But when he looked up, I behold in my