hermes trismegistus

The Hermetic literature added to the Egyptian concerns with conjuring spirits and animating statues that inform the oldest texts, Hellenistic writings of Greco-Babylonian astrology and the newly developed practice of alchemy. In a parallel tradition, Hermetic philosophy rationalized and systematized religious cult practices and offered the adept a method of personal ascension from the constraints of physical being, which has led to confusion of Hermeticism with Gnosticism, which was developing contemporaneously. ^{As a divine source of wisdom, Hermes Trismegistus was credited with tens of thousands of writings of high standing, reputed to be of immense antiquity.}

« Prøv å være klar over dette,

en for alle ganger:

at du er ikke enda er unnfanget,

at du er i mors magen,

at du er ung,

at du er gammelt,

at du har død,

at du er en verden som ligger hinsides graven.

Grip fatt i din bevissthet i alt dette nå,

og alle tider og steder,

utvider og samler deg

i alle kvaliteter

av denne grenseløse storheten

og så du begynner å ser,

og blir en del av

det store kosmiske spillet. «

Hermes Trismegistus i en fri oversettelse av Olaf Rademacher