Lumen de Lumine

Name: Lumen de Lumine
Author: Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

A New Magical Light · The Complete 1651 First Edition

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Lumen de LumineThe Philosophical Fire · Modern English

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Modern English Page · Branch 117 of 200

The Philosophical Fire · Modern English

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Original English

This fire is at the Root, and about the Root (I mean about the Center) of all things both Visible, and Invisible. It is in water, earth, and ayr; It is in Minerals, Herbs, and Beasts; It is in Men, Stars, and Angels; but Originally it is in God himself: for he is the Fountain of Heat and fire, and from Him it is derived to the rest of the Creatures in a certaine streame, or Sun-shine. Now the Magicians affoord us but two Notions, whereby we may know their fire: it is as they describe it, Moyst, and Invisible.

Modern English

This fire is at the root and around the root—by which I mean around the centre—of all things, visible and invisible. It is in water, earth and air; in minerals, herbs and beasts; in human beings, stars and angels. Originally, however, it is in God himself, the fountain of heat and fire, from whom it passes to the other creatures in a certain stream or sunshine. The magicians give us only two concepts by which to recognise their fire: they describe it as moist and invisible.

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.