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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Anonymous (traditionally attributed to Anton Joseph Kirchweger)

The Golden Chain of Homer

A New Translation from the German Edition of 1723

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The Golden Chain of HomerII.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

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Facing Pages · Branch 342 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 270–271

Nun möchte einer fragen, so man dann die Aquas recolaceas davon distilliret, ob denn die Natur solche vergebens hat, oder aber solche von dem Geist, Krafft und Tugend völlig entäussert seyn, daß sie zu nichts solten gebraucht werden? Weiter, ob der Geist oder Samen nicht auch zu einem Recolaceo, oder das Recolaceum zu Samen werde? Diesem kurtz abzuhelffen, weil es zu der Haupt-Substantz nicht so gar nothwendig und mehr eine Speculations-Belustigung als nutzbringender Discours ist, so sage ich, daß das Aqua recolacea nimmermehr kan totaliter & absolute von dem Geist oder Samen geschieden werden, daß sie nicht einige verborgene Kräffte oder Strahlen des Geistes oder Samens in sich enthalten solte; und hinwieder ist unmöglich, daß der Geist oder Same totaliter & absolute kan geschieden werden von dem Aqua recolacea, daß er nicht allezeit, er sey so stein-fix und trocken coagulirt, als er immer wolle, etwas von dem Aqua solte participiren. Denn Wasser und Geist ist eins, wie ich oben gesagt, daß das allerkleinste Tröpfflein Wasser und das allerkleinste Stäubgen Erde durchaus gefüllet sey mit dem Geist, und der Geist ist durchaus gefüllet mit dem Wasser.

1723 pp 270–271

The Golden Chain of Homer: II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

1723 pp 270–271

Someone may ask: if recolaceous waters are distilled away, does nature possess them in vain? Are they wholly deprived of spirit, power, and virtue, so that they should serve no use? Further, does spirit or seed ever become recolaceous, or the recolaceous become seed? To answer briefly—since this is less essential to the main substance and more a pleasure of speculation than a profitable discourse—I say that recolaceous water can never be separated totally and absolutely from spirit or seed so as to contain none of its hidden powers or rays. Conversely, spirit or seed cannot be separated totally and absolutely from recolaceous water: however stonily fixed and dry it is coagulated, it always participates in some water. Water and spirit are one. As I said above, the smallest drop of water and smallest speck of earth are filled throughout with spirit, and spirit throughout with water.

1723 pp 270–271

About This Reading Edition

The two-book alchemical work of 1723 in German with a new English translation, 399 notes, eight historical diagrams, chapter outlines, keyword essays, a glossary, bibliography, subject index, and 400 discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Aurea Catena Homeri. Frankfurt and Leipzig: Johann Georg Böhme, 1723. Traditionally attributed to Anton Joseph Kirchweger; the attribution remains uncertain. Historical diagrams from the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung copy digitized by e-rara.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The supplied edition identifies the 1723 German source and historical diagrams as public-domain material. Its new English translation and editorial apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization. The complete original files are retained unchanged.