The Life and the Doctrines of Paracelsus

by Franz Hartmann

This is a verbatim reprints of Hartmann's biography of Paracelsus. It includes a broad yet detailed survey of his teachings on a wide range of subjects, including Cosmology, Anthropology, Pneumatology, Medicine, Magic, Alchemy, Astrology, Philosophy and Theosophy or Occultism. Paracelsus (1493-1541), born Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, was a Swiss German philosopher, physician, botanist, astrologer, and general occultist. He is credited as the founder of toxicology. He is also a famous revolutionary for utilizing observations of nature, rather than referring to ancient texts, something of radical defiance during his time. He is credited for giving zinc its name, calling it zincum. Modern psychology often also credits him for being the first to note that some diseases are rooted in psychological conditions. Paracelsus' most important legacy is likely his critique of the scholastic methods in medicine, science and theology. According to Mme. Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society, he was an "Adept-Initiate." She calls him "the great and unfortunate physician-Occultist . . . the greatest Alchemist of the age." http: //www.theosociety.org/pasadena/path/v02... http: //www.theosociety.org/pasadena/path/v02... http: //www.wisdomworld.org/setting/paracelsu... http: //www.wisdomworld.org/setting/paracelsu... https: //www.theosophytrust.org/316-paracelsus http: //theosophy.wiki/w-en/index.php?title=P...

Genres: Spirituality, Occult, Magic, Esoterica, Alchemy

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1887

About the author

Franz Hartmann was a German medical doctor, theosophist, occultist, geomancer, astrologer, and author.

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

 
Fascinating. Reading Paracelsus was like revisiting Synesius of Cyrene in many ways https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... . Hartmann (1838-1912) is clearly also an adept and therefore able to present Paracelsus soundly. These are wonderfully intuitive minds who despite rejection, ridicule, and even hatred from their contemporaries, dared to speak their truth, often against the Church and other distorted structures and establishments. This is the beloved heart of the gnostic – better, the theosophist, Paracelsus would say – ever bridging what might feel like a terrible chasm between these and the upper realms, and reminding us that, in truth, there is no chasm.
 
Topics covered include wisdom to be found in Nature; magic, sorcery, and alchemy; holistic medicine, false medicine, and the nature/causes of disease; “signatures”; astrology; theosophy; reincarnation; elementals and other beings; phenomena; knowledge, wisdom, and faith; the interconnectedness of All things. His exploration on the powers of malcontented women seems… a bit extreme, but fascinating still. Interesting dreams these writings are bringing. Someone has been talking talking talking through the night in wise phrases that I note in a perpetual half-wake state, only to forget them upon waking fully. All that remains is, “Everything is preparatory; there is no end goal,” and “Flow with everything, and everything will flow through you.”
 
This morning, while opening a bean pod from the garden, I noticed one tiny bean clinging to the inside of the pod that hadn’t fully grown. “Not developed,” I said aloud. “Underdeveloped,” the Voice, which has been following me all the day, corrected. Then we enjoyed the miracle of beans in January.
 
Paracelsus - “But if this is incomprehensible to you, remember that only he who desires with his whole heart will find, and to him only who knocks strong enough the door shall be opened.
 
… many a man kicks away with his foot a stone that would be more valuable to him than his best cow, if he only knew what great mysteries were put into it by God by means of the spirit of Nature.”
 
Hartmann - “But this physical body, which is believed to be of so little importance by those who love to dream about the mysteries of the spirit, is the most secret and valuable thing. It is the true ‘stone which the builders rejected,’ but which must become the corner-stone of the temple. It is the ‘stone’ which is considered worthless by those who seek for a God above the clouds and reject Him when He enters their house. This physical body is not merely an instrument for divine power, but it is also the soil from which that which is immortal in man receives its strength.”
 
(( thank you to a Beautiful Being who walks the planet for re-membering me and reminding me ~ ))

[aaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite a passing century, Hartmann's effort is still the definitive work on anything Paracelsus. Wizard's Bookshelf still publishes an excellent edition, much better than the Kessinger.

[Signor Mambrino · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to give up with this one. It's just too stupid to waste my time on. I wrote a fairly in-depth review comparing this work to the book on Paracelsus by Pachter if you're interested.

[Mariasole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Con questo libro Hartmann ha creato un compendio di idee e principi che Paracleso affrontò nei suoi vari libri, i quali sono, non solo difficili da reperire, ma che non hanno nemmeno una traduzione in italiano. Qui vengono trattati temi di magia, alchimia, astronomia e medicina. Paracelso fu avversato dai suoi contemporanei perché lui affermava che i medici non capivano nulla delle malattie, intenti solo a guarire un sintomo invece che capirne la causa. Ogni elemento in Natura è contenuto nel corpo umano, che è suddiviso in tre corpi: quello fisico, costituito dai corpi elemetali, quello astrale, interno, che è collegato con le forze magnetiche della natura, piante, animali, stelle e poi la parte divina, collegata con Dio. Ogni cosa in questo mondo è connessa l'una con l'altra attraverso legami simpatetici o antipatetici, e hanno differenti effetti sul nostro corpo. La magia è la vera sapienza e ci viene da Dio, così come il nostro pensiero e collegato con la Mente Universale. Il libro non è facile e l'ho trovato anche un po noioso, ma ciò non toglie il valore degli argomenti di Paracelso che ha cercato di dare una visione olistica dell'uomo, secondo i dettami della ben più antica disciplina ermetica, (che ha tra i suoi più famosi esponenti Ficino e Agrippa), definendo il suo ruolo nel microcosmo e il suo collegamento con il macrocosmo. Paracelso non ha avuto una vita facile, venne perseguitato in qualunque paese andasse, quando lui voleva solo aiutare gli umani. Qualunque idea abbiate a riguardo, questo uomo merita almeno un gran rispetto.

[mono · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes - I'm 100 pages in & the only thing Paracelsus has gotten right is that most thought experiments produce bullshit. I'm inclined to think most of his supernatural claims were made tongue in cheek - blaming evil thoughts for birth defects, claiming women's blood is akin to boors'.

I kind of expected this when he vehemently objects to humanity originating from the stars, but I was hoping he would still be interesting in an Aleister Crowley way. I suppose he is in an almost heroic way - going against the grain of willfully ignorant powerful Christians.

[Jared Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

[CA Ram Melam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book Paracelsus contributed by Franz Hartmann. A great book to read and read.

[Gabriel Campisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

For seekers of Light.