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On magic<br />
resulted in a tremendous loss, first of memory, and then of divine science<br />
and magic.<br />
Like those Egyptians, magicians today formulate images, written symbols<br />
and ceremonies, which consist of certain actions and cults, and<br />
through which they express and make known their wishes with certain signals.<br />
This is the language of the gods which, unlike all other languages<br />
which change a thousand times every day, remains always the same, just as<br />
natural species remain always the same.<br />
For the same reasons, the spirits speak to us through visions and dreams,<br />
but we claim that these are enigmas, because of our unfamiliarity and ignorance<br />
and weak capacities, even though they are the very same sounds and<br />
very same expressions used for representable things. Just as these sounds<br />
elude our grasp, likewise our Latin, Greek and Italian sounds sometimes<br />
fail to be heard and understood by the higher and eternal spirits, which<br />
differ from us in species. Thus, it is no easier for us to be able to communicate<br />
with the spirits than it is for an eagle to converse with a human. Just<br />
as there can be conversation and agreement only by means of gestures<br />
between two groups of humans who do not share a common language, likewise,<br />
there can be communication between us and certain types of spirits<br />
only by the use of certain signs, signals, figures, symbols, gestures and other<br />
ceremonies. The magician, especially when using the kind of magic which<br />
is called ‘theurgy’, can hardly accomplish anything without such sounds<br />
and symbols.<br />
On the communion and interaction of things<br />
From the above, one can understand and explain how interaction occurs<br />
not only between things which, to the senses, are near each other, but also<br />
between things which are far apart. For, as was said above, things are united<br />
by a universal spirit which is present as a whole in the whole world and in<br />
each of its parts. As a result, just as different lights come together in the<br />
same space, likewise, the souls of the universe, whether they be finite or<br />
infinite in number, interact in their powers and activities. However, this<br />
does not happen to bodies, because they are limited and circumscribed by<br />
their surfaces and surroundings, and because they are composed of innumerably<br />
different parts in different bodies and places (if we can speak of<br />
place rather than space.) Therefore, no body can act on another body, and<br />
no matter on other matter, nor can the material parts of one body act on the<br />
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