Ok, enough ground work.
Now for my interpretations / impressions of the wood cuts.
.....
Ah, yeah, about that. Just found this bit, in Paracelsus' Epilog.
'He does not indeed each year do away with one symbol, but simultaneously fulfils them all and
altogether as one, until all is completed and accomplished.
'Who may understand who it is that is hereby intended?
'Hence may none be named, and none be suspected, until all has come to pass. For thus it shall be.
' Whoever therefore may read this Prediction should read it bearing in mind that he inform no one. For no one is in the
knowledge.
'But when a thing has been accomplished and has come to pass, everyone can afterwards understand it, but it is then no more of use.
'Many a one will think to himself that it does not concern him, and yet perchance it may do so.
'For it is usual for everyone to. wish to protect himself but no one is willing to know himself.
Which is strange because,
I read each passage as bad news for me.
By woodcut three I was thinking to myself "Ah crap, how does this guy know so much about me?" And it only got worse from there.
So, in conclusion I'll respect Paracelsus' wishes and not give my interpretation of each individual woodcut/paragraph. Instead I'll just summarize my
total impression of the whole.
And that is...
Science used to be called Magic.
David Grouchy
edit on 31-12-2011 by davidgrouchy because: (no reason given)
