Mystics, Healers & Alchemists

Empedocles of Agrigentum
Empedocles was a Greek philosopher (c. 490-430 BC) who was interested in the study and practice of natural history, medicine and mystical religion. He was purported to be a prophet, physician, religious teacher and worker of miracles. He introduced the theory of the four roots or elements namely fire, air, earth and water.

The following translation of a work attributed to Empedocles could be used as a modern-day nature charm. This translation comes from Arthur Fairbanks book The First Philosophers of Greece which was published in 1898.

“Cures for evils whatever there are, and protection against old age shalt thou learn, since for thee alone will I accomplish all these things. Thou shalt break the power of untiring gales which rising against the earth blow down the crops and destroy them; and, again, whenever thou wilt, thou shalt bring their blasts back; and thou shalt bring seasonable drought out of dark storm for men, and out of summer drought thou shalt bring streams pouring down from heaven to nurture the trees…”

Hildegard von Bingen
Saint Hildegard (1098-1179) was a 12th century Benedictine abbess. She wrote about the healing powers of natural materials such as herbs for their curative properties. She worked on the books Physica (Medicine or Book of Medicinal Simples) and Causae et Curae (Causes and Cures or Book of Compound Medicine) between 1151 and 1158.

Hildegard was a healer, saint, mystic and poet. Her book Physica is divided into 9 parts the largest of which is the 90 page section entitled Plants. The other sections cover elements, trees, stones, fish, birds, animals, reptiles and metals. This book was originally published in Latin. A modern-day English translation was published by Priscilla Throop in 1998. See the bibliography for further information.

Hildegard recommended having a supply of lavender on hand because: “It curbs many evil things and, because of it, malign spirits are terrified.” And she mentioned that one should always have a supply of pimpernel on hand: “…you should always have it hung from your neck. This enables you to withstand demonic invocations, magic formulas, and other enchantments which are not caused by something you have eaten or drunk.”

Paracelsus
Paracelsus, whose full name was Auroleus Phillipus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, was a Swiss occultist, healer, alchemist, astrologist, writer, philosopher and physician who practiced the doctorine of signatures. The doctorine of signatures was the theory that like cured like. That is, the plant was supposed to resemble its cure. For example daisies which resembled eyes were thought to be useful in curing complaints of the eye.

Paracelsus lived from 1493 to 1541 and was a contemporary of Henry Cornelius Agrippa. He believed that “there is nothing dead in nature, everything is organic and living, and therefore the world appears to be a living organism.“ He thought that disease was caused by external agents which attacked the body. Although he often relied more heavily upon chemical drugs than herbal remedies a study of this interesting man should be of interest to the hedge witch. His teachings and ideas were an interesting mixture of magical mysticism and science.

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