Hermes Trismegistus is in deep contemplation, wandering over rugged and lonely terrain. By the secret guidelines of the Temple, he liberates his higher consciousness from limits of the physical senses. His divine essence unveils visions of spiritual spheres.
In his vision, Hermes encounters a creature of blazing majesty - the Great Dragon, whose wings span the heavens and emanate radiant light. The esoteric teachings of Hermeticism hold the sublime Dragon as a symbol of the essence of Universal Life.
Addressing Hermes Trismegistus by name, the Great Dragon questions his focus on the mysteries of the world. Overwhelmed by the sight, Hermes humbly bows before the Dragon, entreating it to reveal its true nature.
"Who are you?" I asked.
The majestic being responds, "I am Poimandres, the Mind of the Universe, the Creative Intelligence, and the Supreme Ruler of all." Hermes then implores Poimandres to unveil the universe's essence and the composition of the divine entities.
"I said, "I wish to learn about the things that are, to understand their nature and to know god. How much I want to see!"
Then he said to me: "Keep in mind all that you wish to learn, and I will teach you."
Saying this, he changed his appearance, and in an instant everything was immediately opened to me. I saw an endless vision in which every thing became light - clear and joyful - and in seeing the vision I came to love it."
The Dragon reveals a mystery concealed until now. "When nature united with man," Poimandres says, "she gave birth to an incredibly marvelous being. This being possesses the essence of the cosmic structure of the seven, composed of fire and spirit."
Nature brings forth seven "men", both male and female, of divine nature, resembling the seven rulers. These are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Sun and Moon who master the fate of mankind.
"After a little while, darkness arose separately and descended - fearful and gloomy - coiling sinuously so that it looked to me like a (snake). Then the darkness changed into something of a watery nature, indescribably agitated and smoking like a fire; it produced an unspeakable wailing roar. Then an inarticulate cry like the voice of fire came forth from it.
The darkness below, receiving the hammer of the Word, was fashioned into an orderly universe. The elements separated into strata and each brought forth living creatures. Earth and water mixed with one another, so (earth) could not be distinguished from water, but they were stirred to hear by the spiritual word that moved upon them."
At the Word of the Dragon the heavens open and innumerable Light Powers soar through Cosmos on pinions of streaming fire. Hermes beholds spirits of the stars, celestials controlling the universe, and those Powers which shine with the radiance of the One Fire, the glory of the Sovereign Mind.
"But from the light... a holy word mounted upon the (watery) nature, and untempered fire leapt up from the watery nature to the height above. The fire was nimble and piercing and active as well, and because the air was light it followed after spirit and rose up to the fire away from earth and water so that it seemed suspended from the fire."
Hermes realizes the sight he beholds is revealed to him only because Poimandres spoke a Word. The Word was Reason, and by the Reason of the Word invisible things were made manifest. Divine Mind - the Dragon - continued its discourse:
“Before the visible universe was formed its mold was cast. This mold was called the Archetype, and this Archetype was in the Supreme Mind long before the process of creation began.
Beholding the Archetypes, the Supreme Mind became enamored with Its own thought; so, taking the Word as a mighty hammer, It gouged out caverns in primordial space and cast the form of the spheres in the Archetypal mold, at the same time sowing in the newly fashioned bodies the seeds of living things.
The Supreme Being–the Mind–male and female, brought forth the sublime Word; and the Word, suspended between Light and darkness, was delivered of another Mind called the Workman, the Master-Builder, or the Maker of Things.
There is more to this tale, from the Corpus Hermeticum, at this site. Also several versions are floating around the internet. Happy Iosis!
Non-Fiction Books:
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