Sunday, June 28, 2009

On The benefits of the Elixir according to Cyliani





The Legend of the Stone has spread everywhere: who has not heard at least once that the alchemists were looking for that magical elixir which turns vile metals into pure gold, and cures all kinds of diseases, gives youth, perfect health, and and extremely long life?I have just found in Cyliani, a french alchimist who wrote this work in 1831, a most interestic section on how the Elixir works its way in man.
Read carefully, You won't regret it.



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"Everything that exists in the universe that is material or physical or purely mineral, even the gases, note this avowal". "Man is triune. His body or his shape is animated by a soul. This is the junction of diverse forces by the help of which the spirit imprints its shape or matter. The soul is directed by the Celestial Spirit which is an emanation of the divine action and, consequently, imperishable". "Only man’s form perishes. The spirit for which the soul serves as a tie or an envelope, separates itself and man’s form. Deprived of this vital celestial spirit, is delivered to the reaction of its constituent principles. Spirit and soul live then spiritually in seeking the centers that are suitable to them and, after the lapse of a certain time, man or the being or the spirit or the spiritual life which goes on always perfecting itself, separates itself from his soul or from his glorious envelope to enter into its universality. This means that man dies twice. This is to say, twice changes his form. But man or the spirit lives eternally. From what I have told you, you can now no longer doubt the immorality of the soul. "This is all that I am allowed to teach you now to satisfy your desires". "Now do you want to know how the Universal Medicine acts on the animal economy? Consider as I have just told you how only man’s form is mortal and you will see that only the solid aspect perishes. As these latter are all mineral, all can be regenerated by the principle or mineralizing spirit which, by its various modifications, forms the various products of this same principle and by its mysterious power which re-establishes the balance and allows the spirit freely to enter and to leave through our proper form just as water passes through a sponge. Because the upsets of our body only come, excepting mechanical disturbances, because the currents of life cannot circulate freely. But the virtue of the Universal Medicine is purely medicinal and nit surgical.It cannot replace an amputated limb or one that is entirely destroyed, which means that the person who takes it in good time, generally at the two equinoxes, can live without infirmities for several centuries unless nature has predestined a short duration of his life due to his physical make-up which never ceases to combat the efforts of life".



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Original French:Tout ce qui existe dans l'univers de matériel ou de physique est purement minéral; les gaz le sont eux mêmes; prends note de cet aveu.L'homme est un composé triple; son corps ou sa forme est animée d'une âme: celle-ci est la réunion de diverses forces à l'aide desquelles l'esprit régit sa forme ou la matière. L'âme est dirigée par l'esprit céleste qui est une émanation de l'action divine et par conséquent impérissable.L'homme ne périt jamais que par sa forme alors l'esprit auquel l'âme sert de lien ou d'enveloppe s'en sépare et sa forme, privée de l'esprit vital céleste, est livrée à la réaction de ses principes constitutifs. L'esprit et l'âme vivent alors spirituellement en recherchant les centres qui leur conviennent et au bout d'un certain temps l'homme ou l'être ou l'esprit ou la vie spirituelle, qui va toujours en se perfectionnant, se sépare de son âme ou de son enveloppe glorieuse pour rentrer dans son universalité, ce qui fait que l'homme meurt deux fois, c'est-à-dire change deux fois de forme. Mais l'homme ou l'esprit vit éternellement. D'après mon récit tu ne peux maintenant douter de l'immortalité de l'âme.Voilà tout ce qu'il m'est permis de t'apprendre ici pour satisfaire tes désirs.Maintenant veux-tu savoir comment la médecine universelle agit sur l'économie animale? Considère comme je viens de te le dire que la forme ou le corps de l'homme est seule mortelle, tu verras qu'il ne périt que du côté des solides. Comme ces derniers sont tous minéraux, tous peuvent être régénérés par le principe ou l'esprit minéralisateur, lequel par ses diverses modifications forme les divers produits que nous connaissons. Ils se trouvent donc tous ramenés à leur état primitif par l'action de ce même principe et de sa force étrangère, qui rétablit l'équilibre et permet à l'esprit d'entrer et de sortir librement à travers notre propre forme comme l'eau à travers une éponge; car le dérangement de notre corps ne vient uniquement, exception faite des indispositions mécaniques, que des courants de la vie qui ne peuvent librement circuler. Mais la vertu de la médecine universelle est purement médicinale et non chirurgicale, elle ne peut remettre un membre coupé ou détruit entièrement, ce qui fait que la personne qui en prend de bonne heure, habituellement aux deux équinoxes, peut vivre sans infirmités plusieurs siècles à moins que la nature n'ait prescrit une courte durée de son existence par son organisation, qui vient sans cesse contrarier les efforts de la vie.

Friday, May 22, 2009

The valley of the Dead Dry Bones


Talking of "fairy tales", and stories (mythoi) that , albeit seemingly irrational, ring true, are the ones contained in the Bible.
Only a few are more powerful than the prophecy of Ezekiel concerning the Resurrection of the Flesh. This passage, quoted by many but mysterious in the highest degree, is known as "The Valley of the Dead Dry Bones".
PS I think this prophecy contains an important clue as to the very mystery of time. Just notice how the Lord recreates life, playing, as it were, the movie we call death in reverse order..
Ezekiel Chapter 37
הָיְתָה עָלַי, יַד-יְהוָה, וַיּוֹצִאֵנִי בְרוּחַ יְהוָה, וַיְנִיחֵנִי בְּתוֹךְ הַבִּקְעָה; וְהִיא, מְלֵאָה עֲצָמוֹת
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and the LORD carried me out in a spirit, and set me down in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones; ב וְהֶעֱבִירַנִי עֲלֵיהֶם, סָבִיב סָבִיב; וְהִנֵּה רַבּוֹת מְאֹד עַל-פְּנֵי הַבִּקְעָה, וְהִנֵּה יְבֵשׁוֹת מְאֹד. 2 and He caused me to pass by them round about, and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. ג וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי--בֶּן-אָדָם, הֲתִחְיֶינָה הָעֲצָמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה; וָאֹמַר, אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה אַתָּה יָדָעְתָּ. 3 And He said unto me: 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered: 'O Lord GOD, Thou knowest.' ד וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי, הִנָּבֵא עַל-הָעֲצָמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה; וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם--הָעֲצָמוֹת הַיְבֵשׁוֹת, שִׁמְעוּ דְּבַר-יְהוָה. 4 Then He said unto me: 'Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them: O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD: ה כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, לָעֲצָמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה: הִנֵּה אֲנִי מֵבִיא בָכֶם, רוּחַ--וִחְיִיתֶם. 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. ו וְנָתַתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם גִּידִים וְהַעֲלֵתִי עֲלֵיכֶם בָּשָׂר, וְקָרַמְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם עוֹר, וְנָתַתִּי בָכֶם רוּחַ, וִחְיִיתֶם; וִידַעְתֶּם, כִּי-אֲנִי יְהוָה. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.' ז וְנִבֵּאתִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר צֻוֵּיתִי; וַיְהִי-קוֹל כְּהִנָּבְאִי, וְהִנֵּה-רַעַשׁ, וַתִּקְרְבוּ עֲצָמוֹת, עֶצֶם אֶל-עַצְמוֹ. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a commotion, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ח וְרָאִיתִי וְהִנֵּה-עֲלֵיהֶם גִּדִים, וּבָשָׂר עָלָה, וַיִּקְרַם עֲלֵיהֶם עוֹר, מִלְמָעְלָה; וְרוּחַ, אֵין בָּהֶם. 8 And I beheld, and, lo, there were sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them. ט וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי, הִנָּבֵא אֶל-הָרוּחַ; הִנָּבֵא בֶן-אָדָם וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל-הָרוּחַ {ס} כֹּה-אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת בֹּאִי הָרוּחַ, וּפְחִי בַּהֲרוּגִים הָאֵלֶּה, וְיִחְיוּ. 9 Then said He unto me: 'Prophesy unto the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath: {S} Thus saith the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.' י וְהִנַּבֵּאתִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּנִי; וַתָּבוֹא בָהֶם הָרוּחַ וַיִּחְיוּ, וַיַּעַמְדוּ עַל-רַגְלֵיהֶם--חַיִל, גָּדוֹל מְאֹד-מְאֹד. 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great host.

Friday, March 27, 2009

The Two Paths to Freedom

The Old Masters of the Grand Way recognized Four main paths to Freedom, as clearly stipulated in this fragment from the Chemical Marriage of Christian Rosenkreuz (second day):

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Hospes salve: si quid tibi forsitan de nuptiis Regis auditum.Verba haec perpende. Quatuor viarum optionem per nos tibi sponsusoffert, per quas omnes, modo non in devias delabaris, ad Regiamejus aulam pervenire possis. Prima brevis est, sed periculosa, etquae te in varios scopulos deducet, ex quibus vix te expedirelicebit. Altera longior, quae circumducet te, non abducet, planaea est, et facilis, si te Magnetis auxilio, neque ad dextrum,neque finistrum abduci patieris. Tertia, vere Regia est, quae pervarias Regis nostri delicias et spectacula viam tibi reddetjucundam. Sed quod vix millesimo hactenus obtigit. Per quartamnemini hominum licebit ad Regiam pervenire, ut pote, quaeconsumens, et non nisi corporibus incorruptibilibus conveniensest. Elige nunc ex tribus quam velis, et in ea constans permane.Scito autem quamcunque ingressus fueris: ab immutabili Fato tibiita destinatum, nec nisi cum maximo vitae periculo regredi fasesse.


God save thee, stranger! If thou hast heard anything concerning the nuptials of the King, consider these words. By us doth the Bridegroom offer thee a choice between four ways, all of which, if thou dost not sink down in the way, can bring thee to his royal court. The first is short but dangerous, and one which will lead thee into rocky places, through which it will be scarcely possible to pass. The second is longer, and takes thee circuitously; it is plain and easy, if by the help of the Magnet, thou turnest neither to left nor right. The third is that truly royal way which through various pleasures and pageants of our King, affords thee a joyful journey; but this so far has scarcely been allotted to one in a thousand. By the fourth shall no man reach the place, because it is a consuming way, practicable only for incorruptible bodies. Choose now which thou wilt of the three, and persevere constantly therein, for know which soever thou shalt enter, that is the one destined for thee by immutable Fate, nor canst thou go back therein save at great peril to life. These are the things which we would have thee know, but, ho, beware! thou knowest not with how much danger thou cost commit thyself to this way, for if thou knowest thyself by the smallest fault to be obnoxious to the laws of our King, I beseech thee, while it is still possible, to return swiftly to thy house by the way thou camest


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I shall only contemplate here the two main ones, known as the DRY PATH (Via Sicca) and the HUMID PATH (Via Humida), as the other two are mixed ones (the third is the Amalgamated path, and the last one is the Royal Path, the fastest but also the most dangerous). Also, I shall confine myself to their image in the human domain, which is paramount.Both ways tackle the problem of WILL. How can I manage to go beyond my petty self, and escape from my own trap?

The two ways bifurcate.

The Dry Path says: from now on , TAKE FULL CHARGE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL YOU DO. LEARN TO WILL. STOP COMPLAINING, FINDING EXCUSE.SELECT, INVESTIGATE, CHOOSE, AND , STEP BY STEP, BECOME THE MASTER OF YOUR OWN LIFE

The Humid Path says: from now on, RELINQUISH YOUR PETTY LIKES AND DISLIKES, DECIDE NOT, GIVE IN, GIVE UP. THOU SHALT NOT CHOOSE. JUST SAY: LET THY WILL BE DONE, AND LIVE

Striving for full control, striving to lose any control..... what could be more different? Yet, the Sages assure us that the two paths, Fire and Water, both lead us to ultimate perfection.

Two characters: one, the Magician & Doer, the other, the Mystic & Poet.

They shall meet again at the end...

Sunday, March 1, 2009

A sentence by Emile Cioran

Cioran was a consummate master of lapidary aphorisms.
Here is one, dear to my heart:

On ne réfléchit que parce qu'on se dérobe à l'acte.
Penser, c'est être en retrait.

We reflect for no other reason than to avoid doing.
To think, is to be in withdrawal

It is true. I have pondered enough. To me, now, there is nothing else but Doing.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

A sentence by David Lindsay

A couple of years ago, after stumbling upon Colin Wilson' s pronouncement that " Voyage to Arcturus is the greatest novel of the XX Century", I rushed to read David Lindsay's masterpiece, and other works of this neglected master. Lindsay was also a philosopher of sort, and some of his aphorisms are truly sparkling. Here is one, which I shall use in my own autobiography:

The conditions for extreme mental suffering are these; a strong will, a tender heart, and a clear intellect.

A strong will, a tender heart, and a clear intellect. Three pieces, with the middle one loose.
A sure recipe for pain..