Carl Jung: “Paracelsus: Selected Writings”
The author has asked me for some introductory words to the English edition of her book on Paracelsus.
I am more than willing to comply with this request, for Paracelsus, an almost legendary figure in our time, was a preoccupation of mine when I was trying to understand alchemy, especially its connection with natural philosophy.
In the sixteenth century, alchemical speculation received a strong impetus from this master, notably from his singular doctrine of “longevity”—a theme ever dear to the alchemist’s heart.
In her book, Dr. Jacobi emphasizes the moral aspect of Paracelsus.
She wisely lets the master speak for himself on crucial points, so that the reader can gain first-hand information about this strange Renaissance personality, so amply endowed with genius.
The liberal use of original texts, with their vivid, imaginative language, helps to develop a striking picture of the man who exerted a powerful influence not only on his own time but on succeeding centuries.
A contradictory and controversial figure, Paracelsus cannot be brought into line with any stereotype—as Sudhoff, for instance, sought to do when, arbitrarily and without a shadow of evidence, he declared that certain aberrant texts were spurious.
Paracelsus remains a paradox, like his contemporary, Agrippa von Nettesheim.
He is a true mirror of his century, which even at this late date presents many unsolved mysteries.
One excellent feature of Dr. Jacobi’s book is her glossary of Paracelsus’ concepts, each furnished with a succinct definition.
To follow the language of this physician, this natural philosopher and mystic—a language freighted with technical terms and neologisms—is not easy for readers unfamiliar with alchemical writings.
The book abounds in pictorial material which, coming for the most part from Paracelsus’ time and from the places where he lived, rounds out and sharpens the presentation. ~Carl Jung, CW 18, Pages 784-785
Carl Jung Depth Psychology Blog
Paracelsus Quotations:
He who is born in imagination discovers the latent forces of Nature. . . . Besides the stars that are established, there is yet another — Imagination — that begets a new star and a new heaven.
He who knows nothing, loves nothing.
He who can do nothing understands nothing.
He who understands nothing is worthless.
I wonder how the high colleges managed to produce so many high asses.
Man is a microcosm, or a little world, because he is an extract from all the stars and planets of the whole firmament, from the earth and the elements; and so he is their quintessence.
Medicine is not merely a science but an art. The character of the physician may act more powerfully upon the patient than the drugs employed.
Medicine is not only a science; it is also an art. It does not consist of compounding pills and plasters; it deals with the very processes of life, which must be understood before they may be guided.
Once a disease has entered the body, all parts which are healthy must fight it: not one alone, but all. Because a disease might mean their common death. Nature knows this; and Nature attacks the disease with whatever help she can muster.
Poison is in everything, and no thing is without poison. The dosage makes it either a poison or a remedy.
That which the dream shows is the shadow of such wisdom as exists in man, even if during his waking state he may know nothing about it… We do not know it because we are fooling away our time with outward and perishing things, and are asleep in regard to that which is real within ourselves.
The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.
The human spirit is so great a thing that no man can express it; could we rightly comprehend the mind of man nothing would be impossible to us upon the earth.
The physician is only the servant of nature, not her master. Therefore, it behooves medicine to follow the will of nature.