Magia Adamica

literal. “The three mothers, Emes,” says the great Abraham—or, as some think, Rabbi Akiba—[New translation of the Latin:] “are air, water and fire: still water, hissing fire, and air as the middle spirit.” [Vaughan’s English:] the three mothers, Emes, or aleph, mem and shin, are air, water and fire: a still water—mark that—a hissing fire, and air the middle spirit. The same rabbi says again: “The three mothers, Emes,” [New translation of the Latin:] “in the world are air, water and fire. The heavens were created from fire, earth from water, and air came forth from the spirit that stands between.” [Vaughan’s English:] the three mothers, Emes, in this world are air, water and fire. The heavens were made from fire, earth from water—observe this Kabbalistic teaching carefully—and air proceeded from a middle spirit. Speaking of the three mothers’ generation, the Kabbalist introduces ten secret principles, which I think not ten people have understood since the Sanhedrin: I find such nonsense in most authors who attempt to discuss them. The first principle is a spirit seated in its original, incomprehensible fountain retreats, like water in its underground channel before it springs forth. The second principle is the first Spirit’s voice. This breaks out like a spring, where water flows from the earth and becomes visible to the eye. They call