Paracelsus: Selected Writings

by Norbert Guterman, Jolande Jacobi (Editor)

The enigmatic sixteenth-century Swiss physician and natural philosopher Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, called Paracelsus, is known for the almost superhuman energy with which he produced his innumerable writings, for his remarkable achievements in the development of science, and for his reputation as a visionary (not to mention sorcerer) and alchemist. Little is known of his biography beyond his legendary achievements, and the details of his life have been filled in over the centuries by his admirers. This richly illustrated anthology presents in modernized language a selection of the moral thought of a man who was not only a self-willed genius charged with the dynamism of an impetuous and turbulent age but also in many ways a humble seeker after truth, who deeply influenced C. G. Jung and his followers."The importance of Paracelsus lies in the link which he provides between medieval and scientific thought. Believing in and practicing alchemy, magic, astrology and various divinatory techniques, he was also 'the first modern scientist, ' and the 'precursor of microchemistry, antisepsis, modern wound surgery, homeopathy and a number of ultra-modern achievements.' In this readable anthology a full picture of the man and his thought is presented. . . in the form of a cleverly constructed mosaic of direct quotations from the fifteen volumes of his collected works."--The Times Literary SupplementJolande Jacobi was an analytical psychologist and the author of Complex/Archetype/Symbol in the Psychology of C. G. Jung (Bollingen Series, Princeton).

Genres: Philosophy, Occult, Alchemy, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Mysticism

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

paracelsus haters include me & i

[actual thoth]

Went wayyy over my head, but otherwise a pretty boring book. Cannot be rated since its secrets are most likley not understood by the people who read it

[Ioseph Bonifacius (Ioannes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a fine book. Interesting, but only the surface of Paracelsus's thinking.

[Jim George · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written in the 1500s by a Swiss physician, he was a bit of a mystical Christian sage. Much of what he has to say is too tripped out to wrap your brain around, while some of his insight is profound. Not the easiest book to read, nothing so insightful that your life will be changed, but still it contains some spiritual seeds of enlightenment. I like his opinions on the physicians professional role and his God given responsibilities to his patients. I equally enjoyed his synopsis on death, our preordained time, and our spiritual purpose on earth.

[Alienne Laval · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...(Angel's Trumpet) is a very dangerous plant, we advise that only used to smoke it in cigarettes against asthma, because it is a remedy that always relieves..."
- Paracelsus

[CA Ram Melam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about mystical aspects of natural cures in the medicinal discipline.