A Pansophic Diagram on Letters.
Abraham von Franckenberg (1593 – 1652) was a Silesian mystic, Boehmenist and pansopher. In 1651 his Sphaera mystica was published with three interesting emblems accompanied by a text in Latin. Here is an English translation of the text to Figura I – on letters
What does Abraham von Frankenbergs book: Sphaera mystica, deal with? What is it all about? Well it is a book written in Latin, so it would take quite some time to translate it all. But the title page and the first couple of pages might give us some hints. Also Figure 1 on page 25 ff , the globe with the whole alphabet in seven circles, seems quite telling. Is this letter magic? Inspired by Jacob Boehmes Mysterium Magnum? Amongst other things. So lets go on an exploration.
SPHAERA
MYSTICA
Or
MIRROR
of the universal principles:
of which the mode is shown
of their manifestation
and their concealment
(how they show their manifest and hidden way)
in
the universe
Author
A.FRANC. de MONTE. S. (Abraham von Frankenberg)
Anno
1651
Some Bible quotes (in Latin) at the very beginning may tell us what the author had in mind:
Letter of St. Paul to the Romans Ch. 1 v. 19 and v. 20:
Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. v. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Book of Wisdom chap. 19 v. 18:
For the elements[1], in ever-changing harmony,
like strings of the harp, produce new melody,
while the flow of music steadily persists.
And this can be perceived exactly from the appearance of the facts.
THREE
MYSTERIES
wherein
- The Apocalyptic Mirror
- The Metapsychic Mystery
- A Chronometric (subesequent?) epistle[2]
To
THE CHURCH
that is in
PHILADELPHIA
and
LAODICEA[3]
Editor
A.FRANC. de MONTE. S. (Abraham von Frankenberg)
——————–
One is enough for me
AMSTERDAM
Printed by GEORGIUS TRIGG
1651
Page 3:
It shows this GREAT MYSTERIUM[4]
or the MIRROR of the universal principles, in the universal SPIRIT of God, considered harmonically and pansophically, the MICROCOSMIC, that is the true, pure and righteous, and even Divine, natural and mental MAGIC[5] (?); or that knowledge of GOD, in GOD’S Word, with the soul and spirit of the WORLD, or with the reliance, mind and sense of MAN, in its seed secret; or the truth, at the bottom of the fountain, of the living and seeing, hidden waters: whereby & the universes are created out of the non-apparent ( Ebr. 11.3.) from God; and the Word becomes flesh, and MAN, cleansed, illuminated and united, returns to his principle and also to this summum BONUM (the highest good), as to its proper CENTRE, in which alone is given rest, and the fulfilment of all wishes.
However this our sacred MAGIC[6] is worked on (turned into) preferably three operations, grounded in universal nature as well as in proper experiment.
SPECULUM
APOCALYPTICUM
Page 25
There follows the evolution and interpretation
of the special
and systematic FIGURE
FIGURA I. PRINCIPLE
Our MYSTICAL SPHERE.
It is itself one, with two hemispheres, three centrics and four eccentrics, that is seven hypothetic circles, with one cross formed diameter, described and circumscribed, as well as an intellectual memory mirror, which denotes the universal structure of the threefold WORLD[7] ….
Page 28
SPECULUM
The explication and application of the figure
follows by remarks
By A is marked the ALL (written in Greek and then Latin) which is in the single parts, considered affirmatively within God , or as small things (?) from HIGH.
By B is denoted the NOTHINGNESS (written in Greek and Hebrew and Latin), which are all from God, outside of God, negatively predicted: like the downfall in the HIDDEN.
By C is signified the Light of NATURE (the inferior Centre), insofar as it is raised in cognition and glorification of God.
By E is understood the Light of GRACE (the superior Centre), insofar as it descends for the cooperation and manifestation of Nature.
By D is indicated this perceptible WORLD and habitable EARTH; (the Middle Centre); where the mighty works of grace and the wonders of nature are joined together; and also as in the public temple or theatre, where the constant sacrifice and entertainment is instigated.
In the CENTRE of this whole ORBIT, the centre particularly microcosmic and through a continual regeneration cleansed of all the things that are ascending from the darkness and by holy-spirited gratitude reverently secured, there is almost a PLACE (town) of harmony, peace and unity; a CASTLE of justice, virtue and truth and a TEMPLE of holiness, knowledge and piety; (for sure ALL in JESUS CHRIST is in the centre of all) indeed in all the epicycles and eccentrics secretly hidden; but in the encyclic and concentrics, manifestly open, with admiration and jubilation, to the true children of GOD, the spirit and light, to the minds of the highest bliss, in the degradation of the exalted and in the exaltation of the degraded.
The Heart of the Redeemer One Centre of Salvation: Visita Interiora Terra – Visit the Interior of the Adamic, Microcosmic World: THERE the Christian is appointed to be born again.
Blessed are those who have their dwelling THERE (in the HOUSE of GOD), you see, this is the very MONA of the ancient sages, which is called the insula of the happy ones; and it is the MONAS Hieroglyphica[8]: the Pantheon (written in Greek); the Heart of the Earth (Psal. 74, 12 Math. 12, 40), the MIDDLE of the universe; indeed the centre of all things…
page 29
And this is the place WHERE
the power of the FATHER
purifies the body & all the senses by (through) nature
& the knowledge of the SON
illuminates the soul (anima-female) and the soul (animus-male) through grace
& the clemency of the SPIRIT
unites the spirit and the mind through glory
& the whole Godhead, nay DEITY
exists, lives & acts through Justice &
Mercy!
SUMMA.
…
TABLE OF THE UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES[9]
GROUND: A superior B inferior
ABYSS: A: mercy B: misery
AGE: A grace B judgement
GOD: A peaceful B wrathful
GOD in: A the light B the dark
THRONE: A of Christ B of Antichrist
ALEPH: A light B dark
THE HIGHEST: A good B bad
POLE: A Antarctic B Artic
POINT: A zenith B nadir
CENTRE: A vertex (NB. top of the head) B: calx (NB . heel)
ENDING: A south B north
FACE: A of the man B of the lion
POWER: A of life B of death
ETERNAL: A LIGHT B NIGHT
SOURCE: A fountain of light B well of the dark
GOD: A open B hidden
WOMBS: A rising from the high B. setting in the low
MOTHERS: A: Jeru-Salem B Ba-Bel
EGO: A first B last
CHERUB: A Alpha B Omega
CHRISTUS: A God B man
OF GOD: A to the right B to the left
HARBOUR: A of the happy ones B of the damned ones
THE WORLD: C inferior D middle E superior
HOME: C of hell D of the earth E of heaven
PRINCE: C devil D man E Angel
DOMESTICS: C dragon D woman E Michael
KINGDOM: C of the dark D of the shadow E of light
VAULT: C of death D of sleep E of the Vigil (watch)
TESTIMONY: C of the Father D of the Son E of the Spirit (Holy Ghost)
LIGHT: C of nature D of grace E of glory
TIME: C of the law D of the gospel E of the restoration
SCHOOL: C sensory D rational E mental
MAN: C Cain E Able E Seth
PART: C body D soul E spirit
PRINCIPLE: C sal D sulphur E mercury
MYSTERY: C flesh D word E spirit
UNION: C of man E of Christ E of God
DWELLING: C Maria D Jesus E Jehova
TOOL: C faith D word E God
TABERNACLE: C of Elias D of Moses E of Messiah
ROAD: C purgative D illuminative E uniting
TO LIVE: C level-headedly D just E piously
SYZYGY: C of earth & water D water & air E air & fire
also: C of earth & fire D water & aura E air & light
S.U.M: C Matter ( written MaterIAH) D אבן (Hebrew aleph beth nun = stone) E Ruach
BOOK: C Hyle D mind E God
SEAL : C faithful ח (Hebrew chet) D really מ (mem) E master א (aleph)
HORIZON: F of the dragon G of Michael (written MichaELis)
PORT: F to the Paradise G to hell
BOND: F of grace G of nature
SPIRIT: F of awe G of tremor
CENTRE: F of spirit G of flesh
DWELLING: F superior G inferior
OF MAN: F spirit G body
NODE: F of light G of the dark
SOCIETY: F of the angels G of devils
VOICE: F of love G of torment
POINT: B lowest D medium A highest
PORT: B of hell D of paradise A of heaven
CENTRE: B of nature D of grace A of glory
LOCATION: B infinite hell D soul (written AnimA) A sum of heaven
NODE: B of the inferiors D of the inferiors & superiors A of the superiors
SPIRIT: B of tremor D of awe A of love
ASCENT: B beginning D middle A end
DECENT: B end D middle A beginning
COGNITION: B false D doubtful A true
ACTION: B bad D mixed A good
HAND: V right X left
ENTRANCE: V of the winner X of the lictor (body-guard)
VICTORY: V of the angel X of the devil
A OF THE LIGHT: H contact I conflict K victory
E OF THE ANGELS: O triumph P glory Q rest
VAULT: Y of relief Z of abuse
ROD: Y of the consoler Z of the tormenter
B OF THE DARK : L access M entrance N excess
C under the guidance OF THE DEVILS: R rejection of the summit (or vertex – NB. top of the head) S sealing up of the heart T torment of the heel (or calx – NB. body reference)
ETERNAL: W (written in red): well W(written in black): woe
VII
HEMISPHERES: A. E. F. superior D. G. C. B. inferior
SPIRITS: A. E. F. of the fiery D. G. C. B. of the watery
TIMES: A. E. F. 1. 2. ½ D. G. C. B. ½ 2. 1.
Ascent OF THE SNAKE: T. G. O: L. G. K.[10] strong S. D. P: M. D. I. stronger R. F. Q: N. F. H.[11] strongest
Fall OF THE DRAGON K. G .L: O. G. T. heaviest I. D. M: P. D. S. heavier H. F. N: Q. F. R. heavy
POINTS: of rest / of work VII A. E. F. (red) D. G. C . B. (black)
FOR THE MYSTICAL SPHERE TO BE UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY
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[1] Note: the Latin word “elementa”, which in the Bible quote is translated as “elements” can ALSO be translated as letters or the alphabet
[2] Note: The works 2 and 3 are not written by Frankenberg, only edited. Mysterium Metapsychicum and Epistolium are an interpretation of Jacob Boehme texts and a Latin translation of them by Johannes Angelius Werdenhagen.
[3] The churches Philadelphia and Laodicea are mentioned in the Revelation: one only praiseworthy, a church faithful to Christ, the other only to be rebuked as it is neither faithful nor true.
[4] Here Frankenberg is clearly inspired by Jacob Boehmes Mysterium Magnum
[5] The text says MAGEIAM (accusative of mageia). But this word mageia does not exist, so I suppose what acually is meant here is the word MAGIA –or magic.
[6] Again it says Mageia , but this must be magia
[7] Again inspired by Jacob Boehme
[8] This for sure is the famous Monas hieroglyphica of John Dee. The sign that contains everything.
[9] The table gives the letters in red and black colour – the red appear to be meant on the positive, light side, the black on the negative, dark side. D – in the middle – is written in both red and black
[10] These are perhaps circle movements: follow the sequence of the letters on Figura I
[11] The writing is a bit confusing, but there must be a misspelling, since the logic sequence of the letters must be N. F. H. – see the sequence of the letters in the next line where the order is the other way round
