Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter XXIII — How We Shall Know What Stars Natural Things Are Under, and What Things Are Under the Sun, Which Are Called Solary · 3 of 3 · tr. Henry Morley; L. W. de Laurence ed.
Chapter XXIII, Section 1c
Also, amongst birds, these are Solary: The phœnix, being but one of that kind; and the eagle, the queen of birds; also the vulture, the swan, and those which sing at the rising Sun and, as it were, call upon it to rise, as the cock and crow; also the hawk, which because it, in the divinity of the Egyptians, is an emblem of the spirit and light, is by Porphyrius reckoned amongst the Solary birds.
Moreover, all such things as have some resemblance of the works of the Sun, as worms shining in the night, and the beetle.
Also, according to Appious’ interpretation, such things whose eyes are changed according to the course of the Sun are accounted Solary; and things which come of them.
And amongst fish, the sea-calf is chiefly Solary, who doth resist lightning; also shell-fish and the fish called Pulmo, both of which shine in the night; and the fish called stella, for his parching heat; and the fish called strombi that follow their king; and margari, which also have a king, and, being dried, are hardened into a stone of a golden color.
Themes
◆Correspondencecosmology
The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.
The passage explicitly links celestial bodies (Sun) to terrestrial creatures (birds, fish), reflecting the Hermetic axiom that cosmic and natural structures are mirrored.
All passages →Related passages · 5 parallels
◆neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter VIII
“But the Egyptians honoured the asp, the weasel, and the beetle, in consequence of observing in them certain dark resemblances of the power of the Gods, like that of the sun in drops of water.
For at present, many believe and assert that th…”
Both passages discuss the symbolic significance of animals in relation to divine or cosmic principles. Iamblichus describes how various animals are seen as symbols of divine powers and natural phenomena, while the second passage lists animals associated with solar symbolism. Both texts share a common theme of attributing spiritual or cosmic meaning to the natural world.
◆western_esoteric|The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall)|Fishes, Insects, Animals, Reptiles and Birdsa
“Part 1 THE creatures inhabiting the water, air, and earth were held in veneration by all races of antiquity.
Realizing that visible bodies are only symbols of invisible forces, the ancients worshiped the Divine Power through the lower king…”
Both passages discuss the symbolic significance of animals, particularly birds and fish, in religious and mystical traditions. They share the insight that these creatures represent deeper spiritual truths and divine principles, though they do so within different cultural contexts.
◆western_esoteric|The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall)|Fishes, Insects, Animals, Reptiles and Birdso
“*** Although admitting that he had not seen the phœnix bird (there being only one alive at a time), Herodotus amplifies a bit the description given by Clement: "They tell a story of what this bird does which does not seem to me to be credib…”
Both passages discuss the phoenix as a solar symbol and its association with immortality and regeneration. They share the conceptual insight of the phoenix representing rebirth and spiritual transformation, though they come from different traditions and contexts.
◆western_esoteric|The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall)|Fishes, Insects, Animals, Reptiles and Birdsp
“This is the mystery of initiation to which Christ referred when he said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John iii.
3).
The phœnix is a fitting symbol of this spiritual truth.
European mysticism was not dea…”
Both passages discuss the symbolic significance of the phoenix, highlighting its mystical and regenerative qualities. Passage A focuses on the phoenix as a symbol of initiation and rebirth in Western esoteric traditions, while Passage B lists the phoenix among other solar symbols in a broader context of natural and mythological entities associated with the sun. The shared conceptual theme is the phoenix as a symbol of renewal and divine connection.
◆western_esoteric|The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall)|Fishes, Insects, Animals, Reptiles and Birdsq
“The sacred emblem of the ancient initiates, here composed of 13 stars,, also appears above the head of the "eagle." The motto, E Pluribus Unum, contains 13 letters, as does also the inscription, Annuit Cœptis.
The "eagle" clutches in its r…”
Both passages discuss the symbolic significance of animals and birds in mystical traditions, particularly focusing on solar symbolism. Passage A elaborates on the phoenix and the eagle as symbols of spiritual victory and the sun, while Passage B also highlights the phoenix and eagle as solar symbols, along with other animals and birds. The shared theme of solar symbolism and the use of specific animals as emblems of divine qualities create a genuine conceptual parallel.