95. For the similitude of the eternal centre was indeed already before the creation of the sun and stars in the outward substantiality: but it was not figured and kindled. [As a limner, before he draweth a picture, hath an image in his mind, but not framed exactly.]
96. Thus God's Heart of the Number Three put its will into the astringent Fiat, into the matrix of nature, into the heart of the out-birth, into the firmamental heart, viz. into the place of the sun, and created with the spirit of his mouth [the spirit of the soul] through the Fiat round about on the wheel, the seven forms of the centre of nature; for as the wheel turneth and windeth, so went the Fiat also, magically, in the midst, in the willing of the wheeling.
97. And seeing the out-birth of the earth was a sinking down of death, therefore the life turned away from that death upwards. And you see that the three planets, viz. the forms of the centre of nature, (which make the spirit of the centre and the house of the spirit), stand upwards above the sun, as the life in its beginning taketh its original: and the three which belong to the body and to mobility, beneath the sun, one under another, even as the corporising taketh its original; and the heart, viz. the sun in the midst; and the form standeth right upwards toward the firmament, as a man.
98. Which you are to understand thus: Observe; above the heart, the sun, standeth Mars, which is the striker up of the fire, and a kindler of the heart, and a breaker in pieces of the essences, that the thick substantiality may not remain covered and stifled; it breaketh that, so that the spirit can awaken the faculties [or senses], for it maketh the tincture in the sun. Mars is poison and anger, and denoteth the fierceness of the fire, as is mentioned before concerning the centre; it is the bitter raging form in the wheel, and causeth the essences in the flash of the fire: It is a cause of the life. The Sun and Mars have together the tincture-life; and Venus with Mercury and the
Sun have the spirit-life, viz. the air; that is, the feminine life; understand, the matrix, viz. a female life of all kinds.
99. And above Mars standeth Jupiter, which is the power and virtue of the heart, (to which Mars giveth its fire-life, which it receiveth out of the heart of the sun); that maketh the brain, wherein Mars can dwell.
100. And above that, standeth Saturn, which attracteth the virtue, and maketh for the spirit a house, viz. the brainpan [skull], and maketh the substantiality, as the skin upon the body; thus the outward life upwards from the sun [or heart] is the head, a house for the spirit, which taketh its original in the heart in the fire, and dwelleth in the head in the five senses in the air-life.
101. And under the sun, downwards, is Venus, which taketh its original from the pressing forth out of the fire, out of the tincture, and therefore hath its peculiar lustre; it maketh water and love, and is a sinking down, for it is a cause of the sun's substantiality, and a beginner of the inferior body; also it hath the tincture, and is a cause and beginner of the seed to another centre to propagation; for it strengthened itself with the superior power and virtue, and receiveth therewith the form of the spirit, both from the heart, and from the brain: for all forms desire to have it, and do mingle with it: for it is love and meekness. Thus it hath the power and virtue of all forms, and is a pleasant lutist: for it singeth a song that they all love to hear and relish [feel], which ought to be well considered.
102. And below Venus, is Mercury, to whom Venus giveth its virtue, together with its sinking, and therefore Mercury is so pleasant, and loveth to talk of all the ingenuities of nature, it is a nimble sudden awakener of the seed which Venus giveth to it: for it will [needs] awaken the body [or bring the body into being] : and because it hath much skill, therefore it will wander into every thing, and giveth speech to the body, and awakeneth the body, and giveth it senses, especially in the brain, and in the matrix of the seed.
95. For the similitude of the eternal centre was indeed already before the creation of the sun and stars in the outward substantiality: but it was not figured and kindled. [As a limner, before he draws a picture, has an image in his mind, but not framed exactly.]
96. Thus God's Heart of the Number Three put its will into the astringent Fiat, into the matrix of nature, into the heart of the out-birth, into the firmamental heart, viz. into the place of the sun, and created with the spirit of his mouth [the spirit of the soul] through the Fiat round about on the wheel, the seven forms of the centre of nature; for as the wheel turns and winds, so went the Fiat also, magically, in the midst, in the willing of the wheeling.
97. And seeing the out-birth of the earth was a sinking down of death, therefore the life turned away from that death upwards. And you see that the three planets, viz. the forms of the centre of nature, (which make the spirit of the centre and the house of the spirit), stand upwards above the sun, as the life in its beginning takes its original: and the three which belong to the body and to mobility, beneath the sun, one under another, even as the corporising takes its original; and the heart, viz. the sun in the midst; and the form stands right upwards toward the firmament, as a man.
98. Which you are to understand thus: Observe; above the heart, the sun, stands Mars, which is the striker up of the fire, and a kindler of the heart, and a breaker in pieces of the essences, that the thick substantiality may not remain covered and stifled; it breaks that, so that the spirit can awaken the faculties [or senses], for it makes the tincture in the sun. Mars is poison and anger, and denots the fierceness of the fire, as is mentioned before concerning the centre; it is the bitter raging form in the wheel, and causes the essences in the flash of the fire: It is a cause of the life. The Sun and Mars have together the tincture-life; and Venus with Mercury and the
Sun have the spirit-life, viz. the air; that is, the feminine life; understand, the matrix, viz. a female life of all kinds.
99. And above Mars stands Jupiter, which is the power and virtue of the heart, (to which Mars gives its fire-life, which it receives out of the heart of the sun); that makes the brain, wherein Mars can dwell.
100. And above that, stands Saturn, which attracts the virtue, and makes for the spirit a house, viz. the brainpan [skull], and makes the substantiality, as the skin upon the body; thus the outward life upwards from the sun [or heart] is the head, a house for the spirit, which takes its original in the heart in the fire, and dwells in the head in the five senses in the air-life.
101. And under the sun, downwards, is Venus, which takes its original from the pressing forth out of the fire, out of the tincture, and therefore has its peculiar lustre; it makes water and love, and is a sinking down, for it is a cause of the sun's substantiality, and a beginner of the inferior body; also it has the tincture, and is a cause and beginner of the seed to another centre to propagation; for it strengthened itself with the superior power and virtue, and receives therewith the form of the spirit, both from the heart, and from the brain: for all forms desire to have it, and do mingle with it: for it is love and meekness. Thus it has the power and virtue of all forms, and is a pleasant lutist: for it sings a song that they all love to hear and relish [feel], which ought to be well considered.
102. And below Venus, is Mercury, to whom Venus gives its virtue, together with its sinking, and therefore Mercury is so pleasant, and loves to talk of all the ingenuities of nature, it is a nimble sudden awakener of the seed which Venus gives to it: for it will [needs] awaken the body [or bring the body into being] : and because it has much skill, therefore it will wander into every thing, and gives speech to the body, and awakens the body, and gives it senses, especially in the brain, and in the matrix of the seed.
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