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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

Lumen de Lumine

A New Magical Light · The Complete 1651 First Edition

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Lumen de LumineThe Prester of Zoroaster · Original

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Original English Page · Branch 143 of 200

The Prester of Zoroaster · Original

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Original English

Now for the better understanding of this Descent of the soule, wee must refer our selves to another placet of the Cabalists, and this is it. Animae à Tertio Lumine ad Quartam Diem, inde ad Quintam descendunt: inde exeuntes, Corporis Noctem subintrant. The souls (say they) descend from the Third Light to the fourth Day, thence to the fifth, whence they passe out, and enter the Night of the Body.

Modern English

To understand this descent of the soul better, we must turn to another pronouncement of the Kabbalists: “Souls descend from the third light to the fourth day, then to the fifth; departing from there, they enter the body’s night.” Souls, they say, descend from the third light to the fourth day, then to the fifth, pass out from there, and enter the night of the body.

About This Reading Edition

The complete 1651 Lumen de Lumine, or A New Magical Light, by Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), with original and modern English, fresh translations of the Latin, Greek and Hebrew passages, the historical emblem and its inscriptions, all twelve Magical Aphorisms, 105 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Lumen de Lumine, or A New Magicall Light. London: H. Blunden, 1651. Governing witness: Wellcome Collection EPB/A/69096.4, digitisation b30340160, Wing V150, ESTC R146. Source credit: Wellcome Collection; Public Domain Mark.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical text and emblem are public domain. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.