42 PARACELSUS 



person may exercise over another in his dream. A person may 

 tlius make another person dream what he desires him to per- 

 ceive ; or the astral body of one sleeping person may converse 

 with that of another ; or such astral bodies of living persons 

 may be impressed or be made to promise to do certain things 

 after awakening, and they will then keep such promises when 

 they awake. 



Spirit. — This term is used very indiscriminately, a fact that may 

 cause great confusion. In its true meaning spirit is a unity, a 

 one living universal power, the source of all life ; but the word 

 spirit and spirits is also used very often to signify invisible, but 

 nevertheless substantial things — forms, shapes, and essences, 

 elementals and elementaries, shades, ghosts, apparitions, angels, 

 and devils. 



Spiritism. — The dealing with spooks, ghosts, elementals, &c., and 

 believing them to be the immortal spirits of departed human 

 beings. 



Spiritualism. — The science of that which is spiritual, the contrary 

 of " materialism ; " the understanding of religious truths, based 

 upon spirituality. 



Spiritus vitae. — The vital force ; a principle taken from the ele- 

 ments of whatever serves as a nutriment, or which may be 

 imparted by " magnetism." 



Spiritus animalis. — Astral power, by which the will of the inner 

 principles in man is executed on the sensual and material plane ; 

 instincts. 



Sylphes. — Elementals residing in mountainous regions (not in the 

 air). 



Sylvestres. — Elementals residing in forests ; the Dusii of St. 

 Augustine ; fauns. 



Syrenes. — Singing elementals. Melusinae, attracted to and often 

 keeping in the waters ; half women, half fishes. 



Thkosophia. — Supreme wisdom, acquired by practical experience, 

 by which it is eminently distinguished from merely speculative 

 philosophy. Theosojjhy, or divine self-knowledge, is therefore 

 not to be confounded with theosophical doctrines that are the 

 result of theosophical knowledge ; to say nothing about the idle 

 dreams and vagaries which are often dealt out under the name 

 of " theosophy," and which have brought this term into general 

 disrepute. 



Trarames. — An invisible power that may communicate with man 

 through sounds, voices, ringings of bells, noises, &c 



