Chap. liii. That no Divination without Astrology is perfect.

We have spoken in the foregoing Chapters of the divers kindes of Divinations: But this is to be noted that all

these require the use and rules of Astrology, as a key most necessary for the knowledge of all secrets; and

that all kinds of Divinations whatsoever have their root and foundation in Astrologie so, as that without it

they are of little or no use; yet Astrological Divination, in as much as the Celestials are causes and signs of

all those things which are, and are done in these inferiors, doth give most certain demonstrations by the

situation, and motion onely of Celestial bodies, of those things which are occult or future; of which we shall

in this place speak no further, since of this Science huge Volums have been wrote by the Ancients, and are

everywhere extant. Therefore whether the Physiognomists look upon the body, or countenance of forehead,

or hand, or the Soothsayer, searcheth by dreams or Auspicia, that the judgment may be right, the figure of

heaven is also to be enquired into. From the judgements whereof, together with conjectures of similitudes

and signs, are produced true opinions of the significators. Also if any prodigie shall appear, the Figure of the

heaven is to be erected; also such things are to be enquired after, which have gone before in the revolutions

of years from great conjunctions, and Eclipses: then also the Nativities, beginnings, intronizations,

foundations, and revolutions, perfections, directions of Princes, Nations, Kingdoms, Cities, when these shall

appear, and upon what place of the Celestial figure these fell; that by all these at length we may come to a

rational and probable signification of these things. After the same manner, but with less labour, we must

proceed in the Expofition of dreams. Moreover, they that being distempered foretell future things, do it not

but as they are instigated by the stars, or inferior instruments of these, whence their Predictions must at

length be imputed to the Celestials, as we read in Lucan the old Prophet Tuscus,

The Light'nings motion, and the veines which are

Fibrous, and warm, and motion of a fair

Plume wandring i'th aire, being taught -----

After the City was viewed, the Sacrifice slain, the inspection into the intrals did at length by the dispositions

of the Celestial stars pronounce judgement. Also Geornancy it self the most accurate of Divinations, which

divines by points of the earth, or any other superfices, or by a fall, or any other power inscribed, doth first

reduce them to Celestial figures, viz. to those sixteen which we above named, making judgement after an

Astrological manner, by the properties and observations thereof: and hither are referred all natural

Divinations by lots whatsoever, the power whereof can be from no where else then from the heaven, and

from the minde of them that work them. For whatsoever is moved, caused or produced in these inferiors,

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa: Occult Philosophy. Book II. (Part 4, excerpts)

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must of necessity imitate the motions, and influences of the superiours, to which, as to its roots, causes, and

signs it is reduced, the judgement whereof is shewed by Astrological Rules. Hence Dice, Tetracedron

[tetrahedron], Exacedron, Octocedron, Doderacedron [dodecahedron], Icocedron being made by certain

Numbers, Signs, and Stars at opportune times, under the influencies of the Celestials, and being inscribed,

obtain a wonderful vertue of Divining, and foretelling by their castings, such as those Dice Preneste had, in

which we read the Destinies of the Romans were contained.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 846