Maker and Master

Someone must be the maker and master of all this.

It couldn’t just happen.

All order must be created.

It is only that which is out of measure

which is accidental.

yet even disorder is subject to the Master,

who has yet to impose order upon it.

If only it were possible to grow wings

and soar into the air-

poised between heaven and Earth,

you would see the solid ground,

the flowing rivers,the wandering air,

the penetrating fire, the circling starts,

and the encompassing heavens.

 

What joy to see all this,

borne along by the one impulse-

to perceive the unmoved mover

moving in all that moves.

He who is hidden,

manifest through all his works.

 

Hermes Trismegistus

 

Photo by Woodland Gnome 2014

Universal Forms

The universal forms do not change,
just as the constellations remain the same.

But instant by instant,
the particular forms transform,
as the sphere of heaven
changes as it turns.

The sky is wet then dry,
cold then hot,
bright then dark.

But these rapidly alternating forms
are all subsumed
under the universal unchanging form
of the sky.

The Earth is every-changing,
generating, producing,
yielding different crops-
yet it remains the Earth.

Water may be standing or flowing-
but it is still water.

Hermes Trismegistus, Thoth

From, The Hermetica
translated by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

Photo by Woodland Gnome 2013

Light and Life

The sun continuously pours forth

Light and Life.

Ra nurtures all vegetation,

gathering the first fruits

produced by the power of his rays,

as if in his mighty hands,

bringing out sweet perfumes from the plants.

In the same way,

our souls, like heavenly flowers,

are nurtured by the Light of Atum’s wisdom,

and in return,

we should use in his service

all that grows within us.

Hermes Trismegestus, Thoth

From, The Hermetica

translated by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

Photo by Woodland Gnome 2013

The All Encompassing Author of Entirety

Atum is the all encompassing author of entirety,

weaving everything into the fabric of reality.

Because creation is visible,

we can see the Creator,

and this is the purpose of his creation.

Since he is always creating,

He can always be seen,

so we should think and marvel,

and realize that we are blessed

with Knowledge of our Father…

Look at matter filled full with Life,

and see Atum

pulsating with all he contains.

Hermes Tresmigestus, or Thoth

From, The Hermetica

Translated by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

Photo by Woodland Gnome

Circle of Time

In a sense, the Cosmos is changeless,

because its motions are determined

by unalterable laws

which cause it to revolve eternally

without beginning and end.

Its parts manifest, disappear

and are created anew,

again and again

in the undulating pulse of time.

Through the process of time,

life within the Cosmos

is regulated and maintained.

Time renews all things in the Cosmos,

by the circling process of change,

measured by the heavenly bodies

returning to their former positions

as they revolve around the heavens.

Hermes Tresmigestus, or Thoth

from The Hermetica

Photo by Woodland Gnome 2013

Skill

Chance is movement without order,
and skill is the force which creates order.
The Earth is kept in order
by means of humanity’s knowledge
and application of the arts and sciences-
for Atum willed that the universe
should not be complete
until man had played his part.

Hermes Trismegistus
from, The Hermetica
translated by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

Photo by Woodland Gnome

Study

The student of pure philosophy
studies the sciences,
not as fanciful theories,
but as devotion to Atum-
because they reveal a universe
perfectly ordered by the power of number;
because measuring the depths of the sea
and forces of fire
and magnitudes of physical things
leads to a reverent awe
at the Creator’s skill and wisdom;
because the mysteries of music
bear witness to the unsurpassed talent
of the supreme Artist
who has beautifully harmonized
all things into a single Whole,
suffused with sweet melodies.

To simply love Atum in thought
with singleness of heart,
and to follow the goodness of his will-
this is philosophy,
unsullied by intrusive cravings
for pointless opinions.
But I foresee that , in times to come,
clever intellectuals
will mislead the minds of men,
turning them away from pure philosophy.
It will be taught that
our sacred devotion was ineffectual
and the heart-felt piety
and assiduous service
with which we Egyptians honour Atum
was a waste without reward.

Hermes Trismegistus, or Thoth
The Hermetica
Translated by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

Photo by Woodland Gnome 2013

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