This is the 3rd volume in a 4-volume work entitled The Mages Images. The work provides the first in-depth examination of the life and works of Heinrich Khunrath (1560-1605), one of the great Hermetic philosophers, whose Amphitheatre of Eternal Wisdom (1595/1609) has been described as one of the most important books in the whole literature of theosophical alchemy and the occult sciences. Khunrath is best known for his novel combination of scripture and picture in the complex engravings in his Amphitheatre. In this richly illustrated monograph, Forshaw analyses occult symbolism, with previously unpublished material, offering insight into Khunraths insistence on the necessary combination of alchemy, magic, and cabala in Oratory and Laboratory.
Contents
Acknowledgements
List of Figures
List of Tables
Introductory Note
5 Magic: Physical, Hyperphysical and Divine
1Occult Forebears
2Hermes Trismegistus
3Reuchlins Threefold Art of Miracles
4Agrippas Three Books
5Paracelsuss Sagacious Philosophy
6Giovanni Battista Della Porta
71) Natural (or Physical) Magic
8Theo-magia of the Macro- and Micro-cosm
9Signatures of Natural Things
10Phytognomonica
11Character Reading: Physiognomy, Metoposcopy & Chiromancy
122) Mathematical, Celestial or Astral Magic
13i) Heavens: Meteorology, Astrology, & Astral Divination
14The Most Accurate Observations of King Zebel
15Image Magic: Talismans and Gamahaea
16Khunraths Practical Applications
17ii) Earth: Geomantic Divination and the Casting of Lots
18Sortilegia of the Apostles
19Liber Albedachi
20Liber Almachbale
21Compendiaria Secretissimaque Operatio Geomantica
22iii) Oratorium, Auditorium, Laboratorium: Magic, Music, and Alchemy
23Oratory as the Sensorium, the Space or Place of Magic
24Counsel concerning Vulcans Magical Forging of the Arms of Achilles
253) Ceremonial or Ritual Magic
26Hyperphysical Magic
27Divine Magic
28Theurgy or Angel Magic
29Necromancy
30Addressative Magic and Intermediary Beings
31Seven Oracular Laws at the Entrance
32Consilium Dei
33Naming Demons
34Condemning Nigromancy
35Reformation of Magic
36Magical Prayer
37A Hymn to the Generator and Craftsman of Everything
38Sigillum Dei: Virtuous Pentacle of Solomon
39Almadel or Liber Intelligentiarum
40Tabulae Theosophicae Cabbalisticae Cabbalistic Theosophical Tables
41Do Not Speak of God without Light
42A Concealed Illustration
43Five Letters: I.V.A.O.V.
44From Majorca to Nettesheim: a Lineage of Magicians
45Circulus seu Tabula Veritatis the Circle or Table of Truth
46Ars Crucifixi Art of the Crucifix
47De proprio Angelo on Ones Own Angel
48Peri Anacrisen ton hypnoticn on Visions of Secret Things in Dreams
49Dormiens Vigila: in Oratorio, Laboratorio, Dormitorio
50Conclusion
6 From Physico-Chymistry to Supernatural Alchemy?
1Khunraths Terminology
2Alchemia, Alchymia and Halchymia
3Chrysopoeia Goldmaking
4On Primaterial Chaos
5Universal Magnesia of the Philosophers
6The Athanor: Khunraths Design for a Furnace
7Physico-Chemistry in the Amphitheatre
8The Influence of Paracelsus: Chymiatria, Iatrochymia, Spagyria
9Ratio & Experientia
10Khunrath the Paracelsian
11Three Questions
12Vulcans Art of Fire
13Solar Fire and the Paracelsian Archaeus
14Higher and Lower Astronomy: Alchemy and Astrology
15Operations: Chrysopoetic and Spagyric
16Equipment in the Laboratory
17On the Table
18Under the Table
19Equipment in Khunraths Portrait
20Reagent Bottles and Khunraths Alchemical Glyphs
21Substances: Animal, Vegetable and Mineral
22Khunraths Rebis and the First Secret of the Art
23The Subject or Matter of Our Stone
24 Chaos
25Magnesia
26Azoth
27Neither Mercury, nor Antimony, but Salt
28 Mercurialists
29 Antimonialists
30 Vitriolists
31g & j There Is Nothing More Useful in the World Than Sun and Salt
32The Second Secret of the Art: the Threefold Regimen
33The First Regimen: Preparatory Work
34The Second Regimen: After-Work
35Colour Changes & the Bird of Hermes
36Plusquamperfectio: Surpassing Perfection
37The Third Regimen: the Stones Union with the Macrocosm
38The Philosophers Stone & Its Triune Use
39Types of Stones
401. The Macrocosmic Stone
412. The Microcosmic Stone
423. The Divine Stone
43The Elixir: Elixeir
44Religion and Alchemy
45Book of the Holy Trinity
46The Dawn Rising
47Cabala and Alchemy
48The First Cabalchemist: Giovanni Agostino Pantheo
49Cabala, Cabalia, sive Cabalistica Ars: Theophrastus Paracelsus
50A Vexed Question: Spiritual Alchemy
51Some Problems with Some Problems?
52A School of Supernatural Alchemy
53The Occult Laboratory and Spiritual Chymists
54The Vast Majority: Material Substances and Material Goals
55A by No Means Insignificant Minority: the Influence of Gerard Dorn
56Ascetic Practice and Alchemical Inspiration
57Religious Dimensions: Khunraths Theo-Alchemy
581) Alchemical Theology: the Alchemical Exegesis of Genesis
592) An Analogical Harmony: Christ and the Stone
60Regeneration, Rejuvenation, Rebirth
61A Philosophical Song on the Incorporation of the Spirit of the Lord in
Salt
62Alchemy and Theurgy: Philosophers Stone in the Service of Divine Magic
63Father of All Talismans
64Artificially Fashioned Magical Stones
65Alchemy, Self-Perfection & Transformation in the Amphitheatre
66Spiritual Transmutation of Man
67Conclusion
Index
Peter J. Forshaw, Ph.D. (2004), London University, is Associate Professor in History of Western Esotericism at the University of Amsterdam. He was editor of the journal Aries (2010-2020), has edited essay collections and published articles and chapters on esotericism and occult philosophy.
