The Equinox (Volume I, Number X)

FIRST BOOK MAGNETIC MYSTERIES CHAPTER I THE KEY OF MESMERISM MeEsme_Er rediscovered the secret science of Nature; he did not invent it. The first unique and elementary substance whose existence he proclaims in his aphorisms, was known by Hermes and Pythagoras. Synesius, who sings it in his hymns, had found it revealed in the Platonistic records of the School of Alexandria: Mia raya, pia ila Tpupdns Braye poppe Tepi ‘ep ondpewa Tro Xbovds e&dwoe poipas Tlorvdarddrowt pdpars “A single source, a single root of light, jets out and spreads itself into three branches of splendour. A breath blows round the earth, and vivifies in innumer- able forms all parts of animated substance.” (HyMN Il—Synesius.) Mesmer saw in elementary matter a substance indifferent to movement as to rest. Submitted to movement, it is volatile; fallen back into rest, it is fixed; and he did not understand that movement is inherent in the first substance; that it results, not from its indifference, but from its aptitude, combined with a movement and a rest which are equilibrated 110