The leaves that hung but never grew

from Of the Imagination, and how the same cometh into it's exaltation

It becometh him that desireth to be an old Souldier, or to gain Knight-hood or any honour in war, to fix and fasten his minde and Imagination firmly upon some most excellent stout Head and leader of an Army, such as Julius Caesar, and many amongst the Romans have been; and by so doing, if he know how to use this Imagination well, and be of a firm and constant minde, and as if he would attain to and accomplish all the heroick noble acts of such a man; he shall not onely attain to be an old Souldier, but shall accomplish his desires in attaining to the like honours.

This hath suddenly happened to many who have followed the process of their Imagination, so that they have attained to great honour and Riches.

Object. But some may Object, that fortune, strength and industry hath helped them, and promoted such men; also, that some have worne herbs, rootes and stones, &c. by reason of the virtue whereof, they could not be overcome nor wounded.

Answ. I say that all these things are consorts and helpers with the Imagination, which is the chiefe and general ruler over all the others; although I grant that there are many such things, which do preserve in the greatest necessity against all enemies and their Armes, so that he that wears them, could not be wounded; whereof I shall make no mention in this place, but reserve it to another. Nevertheless faith is the exaltation and confirmation of all those things: for without faith these things and all such like are vayne and void of strength.

from Of the great abuse of the Magicke Art by them that use it for Negromancy and Witch-craft

The Magicke Art in it self, is the most secret and occult science of all supernatural things in the world: That those things which are impossible to be searched out by humane reasons, by this Art, to wit, Magick, it may be found out and known: wherefore it is the most occult and secret wisedom; and reasoning against it, is nothing else but extream folly.
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Magicke is therefore a most necessary and pure Art; not defiled nor corrupted with any Ceremonies or Conjurations, as Nigromancy: for in Magicke there is no use of Ceremonies, Consecrations, Conjurations, Blessings or Curses; but of faith alone whereof Christ speaks, saying that by it we shall be able to remove Mountains and cast them into the Sea; And to compel, loose, and binde all Spirits: This is the true foundation and Instrument of Magicke.

'Paracelsus': Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (1493–1541)

imagination | magic


trans. Robert Turner, 1655

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