Domenico Ghirlandaio, Zachariah in the Temple, 1486-1490.
Eros and magic operate through the
all-permeating pneuma that flows
through each and every part of the cosmos, just as the human soul flows through
each and every part of the human body. Eros is the almighty attractive power
that holds all things as one, from the stars of the Heavens above through to
the Earth below; and magic is the philosophy and gesture of understanding and manipulating
these attractive relationships between the parts of the cosmos, between the
parts of the human soul and body. Take for instance the ritual employment of
talismans inscribed with images of the stars drawing down the life of the
particular stars. Ultimately, the Magos is able to know and control these
attractive forces through the cosmos as power, with the Magos being the male
principle and power the female principle responding to his virility and charm,
or neglecting him if he finally reveals himself as being impotent. The Magos is
the lover, and power is the beloved, for “the lover and the magician both do
the same thing: they cast their ‘nets’ to capture certain objects, to attract
and draw them to them.”[1] According to Marsilio Ficino, the powers of eros and magic are entwined beyond
belief, for both eros and magic work by the principle of attraction, which is
the very force that holds the cosmos together,
The whole power of Magic is found
on Eros. The way Magic works is to bring things together through their inherent
similarity… In our body, the brain, the lungs, the heart, liver and other
organs interact, favour each other, intercommunicate and feel reciprocal pain. From
this relationship is born Eros, which is common to them all; from this Eros is
born their mutual rapprochement, wherein resides true Magic.[2]
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