An Explanation of the Seven Properties of Nature
The First Property (Saturn *> )
70. The First property is a desirousness, like that of a [1] magnet, viz. the compression of the will; the will desires to be something, and yet it has nothing of which it may make something to itself; and therefore it brings itself into a receivingness of itself, and compresses itself to something; and that something is nothing but a magnetical hunger, a harshness, like a hardness, whence even hardness, cold, and substance arise.
[1] or loadstone
71. This compression or attraction overshadows itself, and makes itself a darkness, which is indeed the ground of the eternal and temporary darkness: at the beginning of the world, salt, stones, and bones, and all such things were produced by this sharpness.
The Second Property ( Mercury i )
72. The Second property of the eternal nature arises from the first, and it is the drawing or motion in the sharpness; for the magnet makes hardness, but the motion breaks the hardness again, and is a continual strife in itself.
73. For that which the desire compresses and makes to be something, the motion cuts asunder and divides, so that it comes into forms and images; between these two properties arises the bitter [1] woe, that is, the sting of perception and feeling. [1] or pain
74. For when there is a motion in the sharpness, then the property is the [1] aching, and this is also the cause of sensibility and pain; for if there were no sharpness and motion, there would be no sensibility: this motion is also a ground of the air in the visible world, which is manifested by the fire, as shall be mentioned hereafter.
[1] or painful
75. Thus we understand that the desire is the ground of somethingness, so that something may come out of nothing; and thus we may also conceive that the desire has been the beginning of this world, by which God has brought all things into substance and being; for the desire is that by which God said, [1] Let there be. The desire is that Be it, which has made something where nothing was, but only a spirit; it has made the Mysterium Magnum (which is spiritual) visible and substantial, as we may see by the elements, stars, and other creatures.
[1] or Fiat.
76. The Second property, that is, the [1] motion, was in the beginning of this world the separator or divider in the powers and virtues, by which the Creator, viz. the will of God, brought all things out of the Mysterium Magnum into form; for it is the outward movable world, by which the supernatural God made all things, and brought them into form, figure, and [2] shape.
[1] or stirring [2] or images.
The Third Property ( Mars <? ) 77. The Third property of the eternal nature is the anguish, viz. that [1] will which has brought itself into the receivingness to nature and somethingness: when the own will stands in the sharp motion, then it comes into anguish, that is, into sensibility; for without nature it is not feelable, but in the movable sharpness it becomes feeling.
[1] orVelle
78. And this feelingness is the cause of the fire, and also of the mind and senses; for the own natural will is made volatile by it, and seeks rest; and thus the separation of the will goes out from itself, and pierces through the properties, from whence the taste arises, so that one property tastes and feels the other.
79. It is also the ground and cause of the senses, in that one property penetrates into the other, and kindles the other, so that the will knows whence the passiveness comes; for if feeling were not, the will could know nothing of the properties, for it were alone: and thus the will receives nature into it, by feeling the sharp motion in itself.
An Explanation of the Seven Properties of Nature
The First Property (Saturn *> )
70. The First property is a desirousness, like that of a [1] magnet, viz. the compression of the will; the will desires to be something, and yet it has nothing of which it may make something to itself; and therefore it brings itself into a receivingness of itself, and compresses itself to something; and that something is nothing but a magnetical hunger, a harshness, like a hardness, whence even hardness, cold, and substance arise.
[1] or loadstone
71. This compression or attraction overshadows itself, and makes itself a darkness, which is indeed the ground of the eternal and temporary darkness: at the beginning of the world, salt, stones, and bones, and all such things were produced by this sharpness.
The Second Property ( Mercury i )
72. The Second property of the eternal nature arises from the first, and it is the drawing or motion in the sharpness; for the magnet makes hardness, but the motion breaks the hardness again, and is a continual strife in itself.
73. For that which the desire compresses and makes to be something, the motion cuts asunder and divides, so that it comes into forms and images; between these two properties arises the bitter [1] woe, that is, the sting of perception and feeling. [1] or pain
74. For when there is a motion in the sharpness, then the property is the [1] aching, and this is also the cause of sensibility and pain; for if there were no sharpness and motion, there would be no sensibility: this motion is also a ground of the air in the visible world, which is manifested by the fire, as shall be mentioned hereafter.
[1] or painful
75. Thus we understand that the desire is the ground of somethingness, so that something may come out of nothing; and thus we may also conceive that the desire has been the beginning of this world, by which God has brought all things into substance and being; for the desire is that by which God said, [1] Let there be. The desire is that Be it, which has made something where nothing was, but only a spirit; it has made the Mysterium Magnum (which is spiritual) visible and substantial, as we may see by the elements, stars, and other creatures.
[1] or Fiat.
76. The Second property, that is, the [1] motion, was in the beginning of this world the separator or divider in the powers and virtues, by which the Creator, viz. the will of God, brought all things out of the Mysterium Magnum into form; for it is the outward movable world, by which the supernatural God made all things, and brought them into form, figure, and [2] shape.
[1] or stirring [2] or images.
The Third Property ( Mars <? ) 77. The Third property of the eternal nature is the anguish, viz. that [1] will which has brought itself into the receivingness to nature and somethingness: when the own will stands in the sharp motion, then it comes into anguish, that is, into sensibility; for without nature it is not feelable, but in the movable sharpness it becomes feeling.
[1] orVelle
78. And this feelingness is the cause of the fire, and also of the mind and senses; for the own natural will is made volatile by it, and seeks rest; and thus the separation of the will goes out from itself, and pierces through the properties, from whence the taste arises, so that one property tastes and feels the other.
79. It is also the ground and cause of the senses, in that one property penetrates into the other, and kindles the other, so that the will knows whence the passiveness comes; for if feeling were not, the will could know nothing of the properties, for it were alone: and thus the will receives nature into it, by feeling the sharp motion in itself.