246 PARACELSUS 



Mars represents spiritual power, but also in its lower 

 aspect strength of passion, &c. 



Venus in its higher aspect is divine love, identical 

 with self-knowledge ; in its lower aspect, desire. 



Saturn is the life in the universe, and in another 

 aspect it represents matter. 



The Sun is the fountain of all life. The spiritual 

 sun is the symbol of spiritual life and immortality, the 

 physical sun the source of vitality. 



The Moon in its higher aspect represents spiritual 

 substance, the glorified soul; in its lower aspect it is 

 the symbol of imagination and fancy. 



" Separation is the cause of existence, the birth of 

 things from the Mysterium magnum. It is the greatest 

 wonder known to practical philosophy ; it is a divine 

 art. He who can attract things out of the Mysterium 

 magnum (A'kasa) is a true alchemist." This power is 

 possessed only by those who are spiritually developed.^ 

 Nature continually exercises that art through the organis- 

 ing power of the invisible astral body. " As the fowl 

 produces a chicken with wings and legs out of the 

 small microcosm contained in the shell of an Qgg, so 

 the arcana of Nature are ripened by the processes of 

 alchemy. Natural alchemy causes the pear to ripen, and 

 produces grapes on a vine. Natural alchemy separates 

 the useful elements from the food that is put into the 

 stomach, transforms it into chyle and blood, into muscles 

 and bones, and rejects that which is useless. A physician 

 who knows nothing of alchemy can only be a servant of 

 Nature, however well he may be versed in the science 

 of external things; but the alchemist is her lord. If 

 the physician cannot infuse vitality into decaying parts, 

 he cannot effect a cure, but must wait until Nature 

 accomplishes the task ; but he who can guide the power 

 of life can guide and command Nature." 



Spirittial development is not dependent on intellectual acquirements, 

 and there are sometimes persons that are ignorant in worldly things, but 

 who nevertheless possess great spiritual powers. 



