Page 32 - Paracelsus Three Books of Philosophy

without a present essence, but the things that shall then abide will be more temperate
and incorrupt. This must not be understood of the spirit, but of nature, with this
evidence, that something eternal comes in the room [place] of that which is mortal. For
if an insensible plant perish, its place is supplied by that which is eternal. Nor is there
any one frail or mortal thing in all the world which doth not substitute something that is
eternal in its place. Nothing is empty or vain, no corruptible thing was created without
a succession of that which is eternal. When all creatures come to an end, then those
things that are eternal shall meet and come together, not only as nourishment, but
rather to the office or chief rule of nature both in the mortal and eternal. Thus the
eternal is a sign or token of the dissolution of nature, and not the beginning or principle
of things created; it is in all things which no nature is destitute of. And though the
Fatalls20 also, as the Melusines and Nymphs shall leave the eternal behind them; yet we
shall say nothing of their corruptions at this time. As there are four worlds, so we must
know that there is a manifold putrefaction. Every thing, and what was created with it,
together with the eternal that remained, is brought and turned to destruction. Yet those
four putrefactions shall bring back their eternal into one similitude with renown and
glory, not with its works, but with its essence. A solitary habitation is a kind of eternity,
but abounding in many separations or distinctions.

We are come now to speak of the Evestrum21, which according to its essence is
either mortal or immortal. The Evester is a thing like a shadow on the wall. The
shadow rises and waxes greater as the body doth, and continues with it even unto its
last matter. The Evestrum takes its beginning at the first generation of every [thing].
Things animate and inanimate, sensible and insensible, and whatsoever casts a shadow,
all of them have their Evester. Trarames22 is the shadow of an invisible essence. It
springs up with the reason and imagination of intelligent and brute creatures. To
discourse rightly or philosophically of the Evestrum and Trarames requires the highest
wisdom. The Evester makes to prophesy. Trarames gives sharpness of wit. To foretell
what shall befall a man, beast, tree, etc. is by the shadowy Evester; but the reason why
it should be so, is from the Trarame. Some Evesters have a beginning, some have not.
Such as have a beginning may be dissolved, with the surviving eternal. That which is
without beginning hath power in the understanding to whet or provoke that which hath
a beginning towards the Traramium. The mortal Evester knows the eternal. This
knowledge is the mother of a prophet. The ground of every understanding is extracted

20 Fatalls - Fata morgana, will o’ the wisps, wandering lights.
21 Evestrum – The eternal heavenly substance in the region of the four elements. Man’s astral body
which may act to him as a guardian angel and warn him of dangers.
22 Trarames - Spirits who are not seen but heard only, as poltergeists which rap or throw things.

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