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Open (More or Less) Post on Covid 193
We are now in the fourth year of these open posts. When I first posted a tentative hypothesis on the course of the Covid phenomenon, I had no idea that discussion on the subject would still be necessary more than three years later, much less that it would turn into so lively, complex, and troubling a conversation. Still, here we are. Crude death rates and other measures of collapsing public health are anomalously high in many countries, but nobody in authority wants to talk about the inadequately tested experimental Covid injections that are the most likely cause; So it's time for another open post. The rules are the same as before:
1. If you plan on parroting the party line of the medical industry and its paid shills, please go away. This is a place for people to talk openly, honestly, and freely about their concerns that the party line in question is dangerously flawed and that actions being pushed by the medical industry and its government enablers are causing injury and death on a massive scale. It is not a place for you to dismiss those concerns. Anyone who wants to hear the official story and the arguments in favor of it can find those on hundreds of thousands of websites.
2. If you plan on insisting that the current situation is the result of a deliberate plot by some villainous group of people or other, please go away. There are tens of thousands of websites currently rehashing various conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 outbreak and the vaccines. This is not one of them. What we're exploring is the likelihood that what's going on is the product of the same arrogance, incompetence, and corruption that the medical industry and its wholly owned politicians have displayed so abundantly in recent decades. That possibility deserves a space of its own for discussion, and that's what we're doing here.
3. If you plan on using rent-a-troll derailing or disruption tactics, please go away. I'm quite familiar with the standard tactics used by troll farms to disrupt online forums, and am ready, willing, and able -- and in fact quite eager -- to ban people permanently for engaging in them here. Oh, and I also lurk on other Covid-19 vaccine skeptic blogs, so I'm likely to notice when the same posts are showing up on more than one venue.
4. If you plan on making off topic comments, please go away. This is an open post for discussion of the Covid epidemic, the vaccines, drugs, policies, and other measures that supposedly treat it, and other topics directly relevant to those things. It is not a place for general discussion of unrelated topics. Nor is it a place to ask for medical advice; giving such advice, unless you're a licensed health care provider, legally counts as practicing medicine without a license and is a crime in the US. Don't even go there.
5. If you don't believe in treating people with common courtesy, please go away. I have, and enforce, a strict courtesy policy on my blogs and online forums, and this is no exception. The sort of schoolyard bullying that takes place on so many other internet forums will get you deleted and banned here. Also, please don't drag in current quarrels about sex, race, religions, etc. No, I don't care if you disagree with that: my journal, my rules.
6. Please don't just post bare links without explanation. A sentence or two telling readers what's on the other side of the link is a reasonable courtesy, and if you don't include it, your attempted post will be deleted.
Please also note that nothing posted here should be construed as medical advice, which neither I nor the commentariat (excepting those who are licensed medical providers) are qualified to give. Please take your medical questions to the licensed professional provider of your choice.
With that said, the floor is open for discussion.
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."
Re: Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
Here is a fascinating paper entitled: "Venetian treacle and the foundation of medicines regulation", J. P. Griffin, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2004.
https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2004.02147.x
Re: Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
(Anonymous) 2025-04-16 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)Re: Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
Apparently, they were sometimes prepared in long, complicated, public ceremonies, which may have been a great help to said Imaginations. Also, things that we pay a great deal to obtain sometimes do work on our Imaginations in a beneficial way - we have made our bargain, and some part of us may strive to keep our part of it.
Re: Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
Excellent read, thanks for sharing!
I'm also reading Paracelsus. I have a hard time understanding his writings. Your quote above about the plague is unusally clear. What can you share about recommended editions or translations?
Re: Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
Anyway, the books I purchased are:
1. the one I cite from above - from Ibis Press, Berwick, ME, 1975 (reprinted 2004) a facsimile reprint of Robert Turner's 1656 translation of "The Archidoxes of Magic." This is literally a facsimile reprint of pages as they appeared in 1656 - complete with the "s" that looks like an "f"... so, a little difficult at first, but you get into the swing of it, and it is not very long. The last part of it is about constructing talismans from various metals under various astrological influences, with various symbols inscribed on them, which means very little to me personally just now. Still, I am finding lots of passages worth contemplating.
2. From the Johns Hopkins University Press, 1941 (reprinted 1996), an edited, and freshly translated set of treatises, entitled "Paracelsus: Four Treatises." Henry E Sigerist is the main editor, and also the translater of "A Book on Nymphs, Sylphs, Pygmies and Salamanders and on the Other Spirits" which he also introduces. The other three treatises, each translated and introduced by a different scholar, are as follows: "Seven Defensiones, The Reply to Certain Columniations of his Enemies" (C. Lilian Tempkin). This is a well written and passionate rant on the subject of "those trying to cancel me are wrong, and here's why" - which is interesting because 600 or so years later, he is still known and indeed famous, and those who at the time really did try to cancel him for his "misinformation" and other heresies are no longer remembered. There is "On the Miners' Sickness and other Miners' Diseases" (George Rosen). This is possibly the first treatment of occupational disease risk, incidence, and its treatment. It is detailed, and discusses the different ways in which different aspects of mining and metallurgy expose people to disease via vapours and via direct handling. His concept of both disease and appropriate treatment develops his personal theme of "separating the pure from the impure" - the first leading to health, the second to disease, and the fact that both are present in every substance. Finally, there is "The Diseases that Deprive Man of his Reason, such as St Vitus' Dance, Falling Sickness, Melancholy, and Insanity and their correct treatment" (Gregory Zilboorg), which I have not yet read, but which I gather tried to put mental/emotional illness and health into the domain of medicine, rather than leave it entirely within the domain of the clergyman.
So, no, I cannot make general recommendations, but, for what it is worth, this is the project I am in the middle of. Be well. :)
Re: Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
Thank the Gods for banishing rituals that strengthen thy Skin and keepeth far off the Plague that poysoneth the Aire! The Imagination striketh back not long after the circle casteth and worketh the minde to the highest degree for freight none to see. So doth the Pestilence consumeth the affreighted, and sure they were, salvation hath being handed by the pierceth Skin, or so the fetith Imagination whispereth and comforthed the freight that twisteth the mindes unto the shapes only the corrupthed recognizeth.
Re: Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
And it might be the case that piercing the skin *is* an effective route to a person's Imagination - for good or for ill - that is more direct than otherwise might be thought.
And, as you say, that which strengthens the Skin, may also strengthen the Imagination. :)
Re: Paracelsus, On the Imagination (as a cause of Pestilence)
Given that objects take on the astral imprint of the intention, and the energy of the ones who make it and administer it; and the blood is the bodily equivalent of the astral light... I can see it.