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A Special Report from The Institute for Hermetic Studies
hieroglyphs and their sacred writings. To substantiate his claims, Reuchlin references the
Zohar and the magical text, Sefer Ratziel (Book of Ratziel) said to have been written by
the Archangel Ratziel. Sefer Ratziel describes the Fifty Gates of Wisdom of which even
the great King and magus Solomon was only able to penetrate unto the 49th, with the final
gate being closed even to him.
Johannes Trithemius (1462 - 1516)
The life of Johannes von Heidenberg, aka, Johann Trithemius, is a mysterious
one. Surprisingly, it was only after his death that any real knowledge of his occult
activities came to light. As for his life, Trithemius had an unpleasant childhood, and was
abused by his stepfather. To escape from this situation he was enrolled in the University
of Treir, with the help of his maternal uncle, and established a fraternity called, Sodalitas
Celtica or the Celtic Brotherhood .
He entered monastic life after having arrived unexpectedly at a Benedictine
monastery during a snow storm while traveling home to see his mother. He decided to
become a monk and took vows on his twentieth birthday.
The monastery was in sad repair upon Trithemius arrival, and a year after taking
holy orders he was running the place. Under his direction buildings were repaired, a
library of 2,000 volumes was established. The fame of his collection quickly attracted
attention from both religious and secular authorities. Johann Reuchlin was among the
many visitors to Sponheim and its famous library and abbot.
Trithemius also attracted the attention of Maxmilian I when in 1505 he was
summoned to appear before him and answer questions concerning his occult interests. It
appears that Trithemius has written his friend Arnold Bostins several years earlier, 1498,
and described to him his new book Stenographia. In the letter he told Bostins that
Stenographia would contain many little known and never before revealed secrets.
Unfortunately for Trithemius the letter was intercepted and talk of his occult interests
began to flourish. It is said that Trithemius summoned the shade of Maxmilian s deceased
wife, Mary of Burgundy, to appear in a darkened room during his interrogation.
His other writings include, De Septem Secuneis, or The Seven Secondary
Powers which described the seven angelic intelligence s that influence the earth from the
seven ancient planets. Each angel takes its turn ruling the world from the beginning of
creation until the end of the world in 2235. Each cycle is 354 years and 4 months in
duration. In Stenographia (1676), a work which the English occultist Dr. John Dee had in
his possession, Trithemius describes in coded form the alphabets and techniques he
claims will make the angels obey us.
Drawing Down the Life of Heaven: Magic in the Renaissance
A Special Report from The Institute for Hermetic Studies
Email: info@hermeticinstitute.org; Phone: 570.693.1731; Website: www.hermeticinstitute.org.
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Drawing Down the Life of Heaven: Magic in the Renaissance
A Special Report from The Institute for Hermetic Studies
Agrippa - Prince of the Magicians (1486 - 1535)
Henricus Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheimxxvi was born on 14 September 1486 in
Cologne. His family was lesser nobility engaged in serving the royal house of Austria.
This was a position the von Nettesheims had done for generations, and to which Agrippa
himself aspired from as early as the age of seven. It was Agrippa shortened his name,
referring to himself as Cornelius Agrippa. Agrippa s intellect was astounding, and as a
boy, for a period of time, refused to speak anything but Latin.
His disposition towards magic showed itself at an early age, and he was fortunate
to live near the home and burial place of the great Medieval magician, and philosophy
teacher, Albertus Magnus (1193/1206 - 1280).xxvii One of Agrippa s first primers on magic
was Albertus Speculum. Agrippa attended the University of Cologne, and received his
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