POÈMANDRÈS IV

. . . When he had said these things, he was changed in his idea or form, and straightaway, in the twinkling of an eye, ALL things were opened unto me. And I saw an infinite sight, all things were becoming light, both sweet and exceedingly pleasant; and I was wonderfully delighted in seeing it.

But after a little while, there was a darkness made in part, coming down obliquely, fearful and hideous, which seemed to me to be changed into a certain moist nature, unspeakably troubled, which yielded a smoke as from fire; and from which proceeded a voice unutterable, and very mournful, but inarticulate, inasmuch as it seemed to have come from the light.

Then from the light, a certain holy word joined itself into nature, and then came the pure and unmixed fire from the moist nature upwards on high; it was exceeding light, and sharp, and dynamic as well. And the air, which was also light, followed the spirit and mourned up to fire insomuch that it seemed to hang and depend upon it.

And the Earth and the water stayed by themselves so mingled together, that the Earth could not be seen for the water, but they were moved because of the spiritual word that was carried upon them.

Then said Poèmander to me, Do you understand this vision, and what it means? I shall know, said I. Then said he, I am that light, the mind, thy God, who am before the moist nature that appeared out of the darkness; and that bright and shining word from the mind is the Son of God.

How is that, I asked?
Thus, he replied, by understanding it:

That which in you that sees and hears the word of the Lord and the mind of the Father. God, differs not one from the other; and the union of these is Life.

I said, I thank thee.
He said, but first conceive well the light in your mind, and know it.

When he had said thus, for a long time we looked steadfastly one upon the other, insomuch that I trembled in his Idea or form.

But when he nodded to me, I beheld in my mind the light that is innumberable, and the truly indefinite ornament or world; and that fire is comprehended or contained in by a great moist power, and constrained to keep its place and form.

These things I understood, seeing the word, or Poèmander; and when I was mightily amazed.

he said again unto me, Have you seen in your mind that archetypal form which was before the indeterminate and infinite beginning?
Thus said Poèmander to me.

But how, I said, or from what substance are the elements of nature made?

He said, Of the Will and Counsel of God; which taking the word and beholding the beautiful world imitated it, and so made this world, by the principles and vtial seeds or soul-like productions of itself.

– The Hermetist