Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter LXVII — How the Mind of Man May Be Joined With the Mind of the Stars, and Intelligences of the Celestials, and, Together With Them, Impress Certain Wonderful Virtues Upon Inferior Things · 1 of 1 · tr. Henry Morley; L. W. de Laurence ed.
Chapter LXVII, Section 1
CHAPTER LXVII. How the Mind of Man May Be Joined With the Mind of the Stars, and Intelligences of the Celestials, and, Together With Them, Impress Certain Wonderful Virtues Upon Inferior Things . The philosophers, especially the Arabians, say that man's mind, when it is most intent upon any work, through its passion and effects, is joined with the mind of the stars and intelligences; and, being so joined, is the cause of some wonderful virtue being infused into our works and things; and this, because there is in the mind an apprehension and power of all things, so all things have a natural obedience to it, and of necessity an efficacy; and more to that which desires them with a strong desire. And according to this is verified the art of characters, images, enchantments, and some speeches, and many other wonderful experiments as to everything which the mind affects. By this means, whatsoever the mind of him that is in vehement love, affects, hath an efficacy to cause love; and whatsoever the mind of him that strongly hates, dictates, hath an efficacy to hurt and destroy. The like is in other things, which the mind affects with a strong desire. For all those things which the mind acts and dictates by characters, figures, words, speeches, gestures, and the like, help the appetite of the soul and acquire certain wonderful virtues; as from the soul of the operator, in that hour when such a like appetite doth invade it, so from the opportunity and celestial influence, moving the mind in that manner. For our mind, when it is carried upon the great excess of any passion or virtue, oftentimes presently takes of itself a strong, better and more convenient hour or opportunity, which Thomas Aquinas, in his third book against the Gentiles, confesseth. So many wonderful virtues both cause and follow certain admirable operations by great affections in those things which the soul doth dictate in that hour to them. But know that such things confer nothing, or very little, to the author of them, and to him which is inclined to them, as if he were the author of them. And this is the manner by which their efficacy is found out. And it is a general rule in them, that every mind that is more excellent in its love and affection makes such like things more fit for itself, becoming efficacious to that which it desires. Every one, therefore, that is willing to work in Magic must know the virtue, measure, order, and degree of his own soul, in relation to the Power of the Universe.
Themes
◆Mystical Unionsoteriology
The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.
The passage explicitly describes how the human mind may be 'joined With the Mind of the Stars' and Intelligences, merging individual consciousness with cosmic intelligences.
All passages →◆Theurgypraxis
Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.
The passage discusses magical experiments involving characters, images, and speeches used to influence inferior things through divine power.
All passages →Related passages · 2 parallels
◆hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 12: The Prayer|Section 1a
“About The Common Mind <The "common mind" discussed in this dialogue is the same Mind which appears as a divine power in other parts of the Hermetic literature.
It is identical, as well, with the "Good Daimon" whose words are quoted at seve…”
Both passages discuss the role of the Mind in human life and its connection to divine or celestial influences. They emphasize the Mind's ability to counteract negative tendencies and guide individuals towards goodness, highlighting the importance of the Mind in achieving a higher state of being.
◆western_esoteric|Transcendental Magic I: The Doctrine (Éliphas Lévi)|12. The Great Worka
“DISCITE CRUX THE Great Work is, before all things, the creation of man by himself, that is to say, the full and entire conquest of his faculties and his future; it is especially the perfect emancipation of his will, assuring him universal d…”
Both passages discuss the concept of the human mind's ability to influence and interact with higher powers or universal forces. Passage A focuses on the mind's connection with celestial intelligences, while Passage B discusses the Great Work and the emancipation of the will to achieve universal dominion. Both emphasize the power of the mind and its ability to effect change in the world.