«One could even say that it is the principle of the principles, the son of God, the word, that one whose thoughts and feelings come also from the Holy Spirit.» — Voz de Zósimo en un texto siríaco traducido por Rubens Duval y citado por Abt en el prefacio: la identificación de lo que el espejo muestra con el principio de los principios, el hijo de Dios, el verbo.
Alquimia
What does this tradition say about experience, knowledge and transformation? We approach these questions with consciousness as our centre, listening to the language of each source.
Gonzalo Olivares Velázquez · Spiritus Mundi
1 · Listen to the sources
How these passages were chosen: from the works assigned to this tradition, in alphabetical order, the first passage of each whose quoted words name consciousness, awareness, soul, spirit or knowledge (in English or Spanish); one per work, up to four. The choice is by vocabulary only: a passage may agree with our reading, disagree with it, or leave the question open.
«This little volume has been prepared under great difficulties, due to the immense scope of the subject matter and the consequent necessity of abbreviating so much valuable material. And yet it is almost impossible to condense this presentation of arcane knowledge without running the risk of causing greater confusion in the reader's mind.» — el problema de escala con que abre el prefacio a la primera edición: la materia obliga a abreviar, y abreviar arriesga confundir más al lector
«Distinct from the light of the Holy Spirit, which is to be read in the holy scripture, Paracelsus postulated a lumen naturae that may be read only in the "Book of Nature."» — la distinción paracelsiana que Newman expone: aparte de la luz del Espíritu Santo, que se lee en la escritura, hay un *lumen naturae* que solo se lee en el libro de la naturaleza
«La música es una diversión agradable y muy honorable, muy digna de espíritus liberales» — La teoría de los modos que sostiene las fugas: el frigio belicoso, el jonio que despierta amor; Pitágoras ordenaba con conciertos los espíritus de sus discípulos.
2 · Ask what each source declares
Who knows, and what is transformed? Is the relationship between inner experience and the world declared, disputed, or left open? Let the passage determine the answer before bringing it into dialogue with our reading.
Explore documented argument maps →3 · Return to the centre
For us, these paths meet in consciousness. Which passage converses with that reading, and which qualifies or contradicts it? Save it with your own note.
Read the position of the house →Open your notebook →