Agrippa v. Nettesheim - De Occulta Philosophia. Vol. I - Natural Magic

Translated and introduced by Paul Summers Young
Cover Design by Alice Rocchetti
 
In "Natural Magic," Agrippa discusses how virtue, or power and energy, is present in everything and flows down from the divine to the physical world. He believed that matter and mind are not separate but part of a single substance. The book explores how the virtues of one thing can be transferred to another, either by drawing power from celestial bodies or through thoughts, words, signs, or gestures.
Agrippa emphasizes that cultivating virtue is not a simple matter of practice but involves a deeper connection with the mystical and supernatural. He explains how virtues can blend with the mind and body, becoming a natural part of a person.
The book is full of examples of how the virtues of one thing can manifest in another, with a focus on both medicine and magic.
 
Agrippa argues that the world cannot be fully understood through reason alone and that the occult must be discovered through experimentation and observation, much like the early days of scientific discovery.
Agrippa also delves into divination and the influence of lower things on each other. He discusses the power of language, signs, and gestures in magic. The book concludes by introducing the concept of a magical alphabet and the significance of Hebrew in Qabalistic magic, setting the stage for Book Two — Celestial Magic.