The Sorcerers’ Stone: Alchemical Poems by Angelus Silesius

By Rachel A. Lott

Johann Angelus Silesius (1624-77) was a famous poet and mystic of the seventeenth century. This volume is the first to present his poems about the sorcerer's stone and spiritual alchemy. The sorcerer's stone appears alongside other alchemical images in Angelus's masterwork, the Cherubinic Wanderer, as a metaphor for transformation in the Christian life. Just as alchemists transform lead into gold, so God can transform the human soul. This translation keeps Angelus's original poetic forms while using accessible, colloquial modern English. The original German text is included.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Oct 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781666749786

Rachel A. Lott

Rachel Lott holds a PhD in medieval philosophy from the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto.

Book preview

The Sorcerers’ Stone

Alchemical Poems by Angelus Silesius

The Poetry of Angelus Silesius

Translated and Arranged by Rachel A. Lott

The Sorcerers’ Stone

Alchemical Poems by Angelus Silesius

The Poetry of Angelus Silesius

Copyright ©

2022

Rachel A. Lott. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers,

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paperback isbn: 978-1-6667-4976-2

hardcover isbn: 978-1-6667-4977-9

ebook isbn: 978-1-6667-4978-6

03/20/20

Table of Contents

Title Page

Note on the Translation

Part 1: The Sorcerers’ Stone

What Is Good Is What Endures

Was fein ist das besteht

Spiritual Gold-making

Die geistliche Goldmachung

On the Same Topic

Auch von derselben

Still On the Same Topic

Noch von jhr

Love Is the Sorcerers’ Stone

Die Liebe ist der weisen Stein

There Must Be Union

Es muß vereinigt werden

The Tincture

Die Tingierung

The Old Has Passed Away

Das alte ist hinweg

The Real Union

Die genaue Vereinigung

Goldhood and Godhood

Die Goldheit und Gottheit

As Goldhood, So Godhood

Wie die Goldheit also die Gottheit

The Cornerstone Is Best

Der Ekstein ist das beste

The Sorcerers’ Stone Is Within

Der weisen Stein ist in dir

The Cornerstone Makes What Lasts

Der Ekstein macht was ewig wehrt

The Best Potion

Die beste Tingirung

With the Cornerstone is Treasure

Jm Ekstein liegt der Schatz

The True Sorcerers’ Stone

Der wahre weisen Stein

The Working of the Holy Sacraments

Die würckung deß heiligen Sacraments

The Spiritual Ark and Its Manna

Die geistliche Arch und’s Manna-Krüglein

God Brings to Perfection

Gott macht Vollkommen seyn

The Tincture

Das Tingiren

Accident and Essence

Zufall und Wesen

It Must Be Turned to Gold

Es muß Vergoldet seyn

The Gold-Making of the Wise

Deß Weisen Goldmachung

The Face of God Makes Blessed

Das Antlitz Gottes ist seeligmachend

The Eagle Flies High

Der Adler fleuget hoch

Become a Phoenix

Ein Phoenix sol man seyn

The Weak Must Wait

Die Schwachen müssen warten

You Must Try

Es wil geübet seyn

To Each Its Own Element

Eins jeden Element

The Transfiguration

Die Verklärung

The Soul Comes from God

Die Seele kombt von Gott

God Works Like Fire

Gott würket wie das Fewr

There Must Be Separation

Die scheidung muß geschehn

You Can Deal with the Enemy

Du kanst dem Feind vergeben

Man Is Coal

Der Mensch ist eine Kohle

How Love Consumes Sins

Wie die Lieb die Sünden verzehrt

The Spiritual Lighter

Der Geistliche Feuerzeug

As You Are, So You Are Affected

Wie du bist, so wirstu gewuerket

The Cross is the Test of Love

Das Kreutz probirt die liebe

A Rich Sinner is a Gold-Covered Piece of Coal

Ein reicher Sünder ein vergoldter Koth

The Fire in God’s Smithy

Gottes Schmiede Feuer

How to Become Wise

Wie man Weise Wird

Part 2: The Wise Man

The House of Eternal Wisdom

Der ewigen Weißheit Hauß

The Wisdom of Solomon

Die Weißheit Salomons

A Fool Seeks Many Things

Ein Narr sucht vielerlei

Wisdom is a Wellspring

Die Weißheit ist ein Qual

The Three Spiritual Wise Men

Die Drey Geistliche Weisen

The Firm Rock

Der steiffe Felsenstein

Negligence Does Not Reach God

Nachlässigkeit komt nicht zu Gott

The Fool Chooses