I have copied an entire passage from my copy of a 1975 facsimile reprint of the 1656 "Englished" edition of The Archidoxes of Magic by Paracelsus.
This passage is entitled "On Imagination" and grouped with others under the general heading of "Occult Philosophy".
It contains alchemical stuff which goes over my head, but personally I was struck by the image of fearful news "piercing through the skin" and in that way, entering the imagination. Also, by the way the passage confirms the wisdom of keeping news and social media off (or at least well turned down low). And finally, how it emphasises the value of this forum (and any other similar gatherings) for "comforting" one another and easing us out of our fearful imaginings. However the "joy and mirth" that is also commended is worth pursuing. :)
Without further ado:
Archidoxes of Magic, by Paracelsus, Englished by R. Turner, 1656
"What powerful operation the Imagination hath, and how the same cometh to its exaltation, may be seen by an example taken from experience in the time of pestilence, wherein the Imagination poysoneth more than any infected Aire; and against which, no Antidote, neither of Mithridate nor Treacle, nor any such preservative, can exhibit any helpe; unless that such an imagination do pass away and be forgotten, nothing else will helpe. So quick and swift a Runner and Messenger is the Imagination that it doth not onely fly out of one house into another, out of one streete into another, but also most swiftly passeth from one City and Country into another; so that by the Imagination onely of one person, the Pestilence may come into some whole City or Country, and kill many thousands of men: as may be understood by this example.
"Put case there were two brothers dearly loving one another, and one of them lives in France and the other travels into Italy, who is taken away by Pestilence in the middle way, and newes should be brought to the brother living in France, that his brother in Italy was dead of the Plague; at which he being affrighted, it pierceth through his Skin, into his imagination, so that he cannot forget it; and it is kindled in him, and this fire doth so long reverberate and worke, as it may be seen in the tryal of Gold and Silver, which do send forth their flowers so long, until they shine bright again; which is not until they are perfectly cleare, and separated from the other impure Metals: After the same manner also the Imagination striketh back, and worketh itself unto the highest degree, and there will be a relucency thereof, now it is received in a vessel in the man, as the sperme of a man is received in the Matrix of the woman, whereby the conception of the woman immediately follows.
"So doth the Pestilence go from one to another, so long till it spread over a whole City or Country: It is good therefore to keep far off; not because of any corrupt or infected Aire, for it infects not the Aire (as some ignorant people say), but that they may not see or heare the operations of the Pestilence, which may infect their mindes. But those people to whom any such newes is reported as beforesaid, ought not to be left alone, neither must they be suffered to muse silently within themselves, whereby Imagination may labour in their mindes; but they are to be comforted, and the Imagination is to be expelled from their mindes, by exciting them to mirth and joy.
"Neither let any think I speak of this as a fable, as though it should seem to be a light business; neither is the remedy so easie for opprest Imaginations; for the Imagination is, as it were, pitch, which easily cleaveth and sticketh, and soone taketh fire, which being kindled, is not so easily extinguished: wherefore the onely remedy to resist the Pestilence in such men is to quench and expel the force of the Imagination."
Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
I have copied an entire passage from my copy of a 1975 facsimile reprint of the 1656 "Englished" edition of The Archidoxes of Magic by Paracelsus.
This passage is entitled "On Imagination" and grouped with others under the general heading of "Occult Philosophy".
It contains alchemical stuff which goes over my head, but personally I was struck by the image of fearful news "piercing through the skin" and in that way, entering the imagination. Also, by the way the passage confirms the wisdom of keeping news and social media off (or at least well turned down low). And finally, how it emphasises the value of this forum (and any other similar gatherings) for "comforting" one another and easing us out of our fearful imaginings. However the "joy and mirth" that is also commended is worth pursuing. :)
Without further ado:
Archidoxes of Magic, by Paracelsus, Englished by R. Turner, 1656
"What powerful operation the Imagination hath, and how the same cometh to its exaltation, may be seen by an example taken from experience in the time of pestilence, wherein the Imagination poysoneth more than any infected Aire; and against which, no Antidote, neither of Mithridate nor Treacle, nor any such preservative, can exhibit any helpe; unless that such an imagination do pass away and be forgotten, nothing else will helpe. So quick and swift a Runner and Messenger is the Imagination that it doth not onely fly out of one house into another, out of one streete into another, but also most swiftly passeth from one City and Country into another; so that by the Imagination onely of one person, the Pestilence may come into some whole City or Country, and kill many thousands of men: as may be understood by this example.
"Put case there were two brothers dearly loving one another, and one of them lives in France and the other travels into Italy, who is taken away by Pestilence in the middle way, and newes should be brought to the brother living in France, that his brother in Italy was dead of the Plague; at which he being affrighted, it pierceth through his Skin, into his imagination, so that he cannot forget it; and it is kindled in him, and this fire doth so long reverberate and worke, as it may be seen in the tryal of Gold and Silver, which do send forth their flowers so long, until they shine bright again; which is not until they are perfectly cleare, and separated from the other impure Metals: After the same manner also the Imagination striketh back, and worketh itself unto the highest degree, and there will be a relucency thereof, now it is received in a vessel in the man, as the sperme of a man is received in the Matrix of the woman, whereby the conception of the woman immediately follows.
"So doth the Pestilence go from one to another, so long till it spread over a whole City or Country: It is good therefore to keep far off; not because of any corrupt or infected Aire, for it infects not the Aire (as some ignorant people say), but that they may not see or heare the operations of the Pestilence, which may infect their mindes. But those people to whom any such newes is reported as beforesaid, ought not to be left alone, neither must they be suffered to muse silently within themselves, whereby Imagination may labour in their mindes; but they are to be comforted, and the Imagination is to be expelled from their mindes, by exciting them to mirth and joy.
"Neither let any think I speak of this as a fable, as though it should seem to be a light business; neither is the remedy so easie for opprest Imaginations; for the Imagination is, as it were, pitch, which easily cleaveth and sticketh, and soone taketh fire, which being kindled, is not so easily extinguished: wherefore the onely remedy to resist the Pestilence in such men is to quench and expel the force of the Imagination."