This is a extract of the Poetry from CRATER HERMETIS, by Lodovico Lazzarelli, Translated by Wouter J. Hanegraaff. Rendered into English Poetry by Mo.
Key Ideas of the Poems.
- Creation. God (referred to as "Father," "Lord," "King," "Mind," and Pimander) creates the world through the spoken Word. He sets the stars, Sun, Moon, and planets in motion. He also creates mankind in his image, giving them mind and Reason or Speech [as opposed to voice].
- Fall of Man. Humans stray from God's path, forgetting their divine origins and the "glory they once held." They become focused on idols and worldly vanities. They become associated with a "harlot" and "Babel" leaving "Zion" to lament.
- Divine Intervention (Multiple Stages).
- The Virgin Birth. God, in his mercy, sends his son, born of a Virgin, to guide people back to the light.
- Prophets. God sends prophets to teach and guide humanity, giving them wisdom and laws. Figures like Moses are referenced.
- Redemption. Despite further failings, God sends a Redeemer to restore the lost domain and cleanse people of their sins.
- Restoration. God is working to bring about a new age where humanity will be restored to its former glory, united with the divine. This will involve a new understanding of God and of mankind's divine nature. "Two becomes one flock" under one shepherd.
- Eschatology/Future. The poems anticipate a time when the divine will be fully revealed, a new kingdom established, and human beings will be "transformed," acting as gods under the Father. Earth will be a holy ground
- Key Themes.
- The central theme of these poems revolves around the relationship between humanity and the divine, exploring concepts of creation, fall, redemption, and the ultimate union with God. They depict a cycle where humanity, initially created in divine likeness and residing in glory, falls into a state of ignorance and separation, ultimately yearning for reconnection with the divine source through a transformative process led by Christ. The poems also emphasize the importance of divine wisdom, the power of the spoken word, and the role of light in dispelling darkness.
- Light and darkness.
- Light and darkness are powerful metaphors representing knowledge and ignorance, divine grace and separation from God, and spiritual enlightenment and sin. Light is consistently associated with God, truth, wisdom, and salvation. It is the source of life and the path to understanding the divine plan. Conversely, darkness represents ignorance, sin, being led astray by worldly temptations, and separation from God. The poems depict a constant struggle between the two, with the ultimate goal being the triumph of light over darkness through divine intervention.
- Christ.
- Christ is presented as a central figure in the process of redemption and the restoration of humanity to its original glory. He is depicted as the Son of God, the embodiment of divine love, and the bridge between the divine and human realms. Through the Virgin birth and his actions, he embodies a return to righteousness, and his sacrifices are seen as a means for humanity to reconnect with the Father. He is the one who guides humanity back to the light, offering salvation and the promise of eternal life.
- "Fall" of humanity.
- The "fall" is depicted as humanity's departure from their divine state, a loss of their original glory, and a turning away from God. This is expressed through metaphors like forgetting the "divine image," chasing "empty praise," and becoming entangled in the chaotic "streets of Babel." It's a movement from the “tree of life” to the “tree of knowing”, associated with sin and mortality, leading to a state of ignorance and spiritual degradation where they choose “mire” over “pure waters” thus needing a messiah to restore them. The poems describe this fall as a consequence of human free will, a choice that led them into separation from the divine.
- Fallen state of humanity.
- The poems use several powerful images to describe the fallen state of humanity. They are depicted as having "defiled" the divine image, "forgetful of glory," and chasing after "vanity's empty praise." Other powerful images include being "bound in Babel's bustling streets", consuming "whorish wine," and becoming lost in "shadows." They are described as wallowing in “mire” and rejecting pure “waters”, highlighting their entanglement in sin and separation from God. These images convey the idea that humanity has lost its true nature and purpose, embracing worldly pleasures and ignoring the divine.
- Ultimate destiny for humanity.
- The ultimate destiny for humanity is to achieve union with the divine, transcending their fallen state and returning to their original glory. This is portrayed through images of being "transformed by virgin eyes," having "lost powers restored," and being part of a unified "one flock" led by a single shepherd. The poems suggest that through faith, love, and the grace of God (particularly through Christ) humanity will be purified, becoming like gods, and will ultimately share in the eternal kingdom of God. The aim is to return to a spiritual state that reflects God’s will, fulfilling His divine plan.
- Significance of the Virgin. The Virgin Mary is depicted as a critical figure in God's plan, her virgin birth being the means by which the "Son" is brought into the world to redeem humanity. The idea of being "transformed by virgin eyes" suggests that the Virgin has a key role in the spiritual renewal of the human form. Her act becomes the crucial turning point for reestablishing the pathway to God, showcasing how a return to virtue is tied to the divine. Thus, the virgin is a symbol of purity and the instrument of salvation.
- Concept of creation and the spoken Word.
- The poems emphasize the power of God's spoken Word as the primary force behind creation. It is described as the means by which everything was brought into existence from void. The poems repeatedly praise the "Father's Word," highlighting its transformative ability to shape the world and give life. This emphasizes the active nature of God's creative power, manifested through His divine speech and intention, with the “mind” and “word” being co-joined in divine origin.
Poem 1.
O You, who sit above the cherubim bright,
Residing high on the throne with might,
You judge the world with a gaze so fair,
To heaven, O Lord, I send my prayer.
With humble words from a heart that's meek,
To the invincible God of Hosts I speak.
Father of gods and men, so dear,
Lend me, I pray, a kind and listening ear.
I beg you not to take away,
The splendid rays that light my way.
O King, O God of Israel's land,
Fill this house with your radiant hand.
Make this place a dwelling true,
Chase darkness away, let light ensue.
God of might, dispel Hell's bane,
Transport me high on your holy flame.
Join with me, O Father divine,
As the moon with her brother's rays does shine.
So let me shine with your glorious face,
In your light, may I find my place.
Take away the Tree of Knowing's snare,
Guide my feet to the Tree of Life, so fair.
Let me taste the eternal Good,
With you forever, as I should.
Your light, O Lord, let me see today,
Reveal it to your children on their way.
Though I tremble at my lack of piety,
Your love calls me, "Fear not, come to me!"
You justify the sinner's heart,
With mercy and grace, you set us apart.
To know you, God, is the truest salvation,
The path to the heavens, our destination.
See, you are my son in whom I'm pleased,
Be bold, my child, let all judgment be seized.
My words I give, to create anew,
Heaven and sea, all vast and true.
The clouds shall bow, fish and bird will heed,
At your voice, they tremble and proceed.
In the sky, erect your dwellings high,
While earth's axis you build, reaching the sky.
Zion calls you Lord above,
Sinai and Tabor, in reverent love.
Jordan's waters agile and free,
Shall hail you, God's own progeny.
Behold, my kingdom comes so soon,
Reign with Christ, beneath the moon.
Sanctify the saints who stay,
Let steadfast faith light your way.
I shall rejoice in my Lord, the King,
Who on David's throne, forever to sing.
His servant crowned, in glory abide,
With wisdom and faith, our guiding tide.
Poem 2.
How futile are the labors of men,
Their efforts vain, time and again.
Departed from their sacred God,
They’ve cast aside the path once trod.
How forgetful of glory they once held,
A gift from the Father, now dispelled.
The divine image, from heaven sent,
Defiled in shadows where they went.
They see the shadow as their kin,
Forgetting light that dwells within.
Once born from a luminous flame,
They’ve lost the dignity of their name.
No good deeds now do they pursue,
Not even one in all they do.
None seek the Lord with honest mind,
None their true Father do they find.
Alas, idols hold their gaze,
Chasing vanity’s empty praise.
Bound in Babel’s bustling streets,
The holy city they’ve left to weep.
Contaminated by a whorish wine,
They spurn the call of the virgin’s line.
Zion’s daughter laments her kin,
A widow’s cry amidst the din.
“Why be swayed by the harlot’s song,
Beneath death’s heel, where you don’t belong?
You leave behind what’s pure and sweet,
For poison disguised in honey’s retreat.
She offers wine that muddles minds,
Leading you to sinful binds.
She sets traps with hidden bait,
Ambushes you to a woeful fate.
Her allies are giants, fierce and wild,
Building Babel, defiant, reviled.
But in tempest flames they fall,
Supper served in a pool, bitter for all.
Come back to me, your Mother true,
Who nursed and nurtured, caring for you.
I mix for you wines pure and rare,
Fit for those who seek God’s care.
Heed these final words I share,
Embrace the light, Christ’s light to bear.
Keep your glow away from blight,
For I call with love each night.
Yet, to my voice they turn away,
Ignoring guidance day by day.
They wallow, refusing to see,
The marshy depths they choose to be.
Rejecting the waters pure and clear,
They stay in mire, captive to fear.
My call remains, a constant plea,
For them to return and be free.”
Poem 3.
Rise up, my mind, and now reflect,
On wonders vast, we must respect.
Who brought forth all from void and space?
Just the spoken Word, full of grace.
Blessed be the Father's Word,
Praise it, all things, let it be heard.
Who set the stars in their eternal flight,
To guide the world through day and night?
Only the Mind, from God it came,
Praise Pimander, in His name.
Sing, O mind, the Mind so grand,
Creator of the sunlit land.
Who made the Sun, that glowing sphere,
A beacon bright, to us so near?
It's the light from the Father's birth,
Blessed be the light on Earth.
Who ordered the Moon and stars afar
To borrow light from the Sun, their star?
God, who gives light to all that glows,
Blessed be the source that flows.
Let the stars sing a song of praise
To Him who set the heavens ablaze.
Who taught the planets their backward dance,
And set them all in ordered stance?
Only God, the world's true Maker,
Blessed be the world's caretaker.
All ye bodies, in harmony, sing,
For the power of life that He does bring.
God, the life for all things bright,
Blessed be the Father's light.
May all that lives express their cheer,
To He who made the world appear.
Who raised man's eyes to heaven's view,
Above all beings, a gift so true?
The Father who created we,
Blessed be He who set us free.
Speak, born of Earth, in grateful tone,
A hymn to the Father, well-known.
Who, to man, did grant both mind and speech,
The truthful image, within reach.
Blessed be the Mind and Word,
By whom the world's design was stirred.
Who perfects creation, raising man,
Drawing us to the divine plan.
Praise the spirit-giving God,
Who fills the world and casts the rod.
Sing for Him, who cleanses with breath,
Delivering from corporeal death.
Blessed be He, our temple's core,
Sing His praises, evermore.
Who, when man strayed the wrong way,
Led him back to the light of day?
Born of a Virgin, the Son's embrace,
Blessed be the Virgin's grace. Odes,
O man, sing for the child,
The holy dispensation mild.
Who, when man defiled again,
Reached out a hand to cleanse the stain?
The Holy and Righteous of Israel's fame,
Blessed be the Redeemer's name.
Behold, He restored the domain,
When all was lost in a shadowed plain.
Who gifts a new age to this place,
Rising from the stench's trace?
The Mind of God, alone, is He,
Blessed be the Father's decree.
In all ages His hymns shall rise,
Resounding praise to the skies.
Behold, who restores us to splendor's throne,
Submitting all to the Son, alone?
The Counsel of the Father on high,
So rise, my mind, break chains and fly.
Sing for the Father, right and just,
Sing for the Son, with love and trust,
Sing for the Holy Spirit's source,
Offer tunes with heartfelt force.
Blessed be He, mover of all,
Three and one, answering the call.
In unity, let praises blend,
For Him, the beginning and the end.
Poem 4.
Oh Father, where do you transport me now,
To the realms of Enoch, who followed your vow?
Is this the place where he found delight,
In walking your path, in your holy sight?
Are these the peaks of Horeb or Sinai so grand,
Where prophets like Moses once took their stand?
Hidden to bring down the laws from above,
The sacred commands, given with love.
Or do I stand by the river divine,
Where sins were washed, in waters that shine?
Is this the mountain, holy Tabor's crest,
Where man witnessed glory, divinely blessed?
He shone brighter than snow's pure gleam,
Whiter than clouds in a heavenly dream,
From there your voice declared with power,
Your son of old, born before the hour.
Love tears me apart, fueled by your fire,
Opening secrets, lifting me higher,
Revealing the heavens to your children true,
Guiding the faithful in all that they do.
No humble request or mortal song,
But wonders to share, to souls they belong.
Forbidden to ancients, now told clear,
In verses to teach, for all to hear.
In the end days, it is sung in the light,
Revelation will come, in piety's sight.
Listen, I begin, silence will fall,
As divine words flow, answering the call.
This novelty shines, a miracle great,
Man knows of God and the divine state.
As the Lord creates, so does true man,
Bringing forth souls, fulfilling the plan.
Prophetic dreams, and help in need,
Punishment for the godless, the rewards decreed.
They follow the will of the Father above,
Responding to fate with wisdom and love.
Man's mind like God's, with speech to proclaim,
Creating as gods, in the Father's name.
Happy is he, who knows fate's gift,
Among gods, his spirit will lift.
Poem 5.
Light of the Father, radiant and bright,
Pimander's wisdom, an eternal light.
Fountain of all things, maker of dreams,
Power and triumph in your glowing beams.
With feet that tread on shadows, dark and deep,
You unravel the snake's curved creep.
Praise to you in honor and might,
Glory and dominion, beauty in sight.
Your Word revives the humid lands,
As birds tend eggs with gentle hands.
Elements flow from your holy breath,
In your power, triumph over death.
All creation dances to your tune,
Life's vibrant orchestra, a sweet boon.
Fire, water, earth, and air,
Praise to you, beyond compare.
Join the human race with divine light,
Turn us to gods, fill the night.
Dissolve the darkness with your grace,
In your triumph, we're embraced.
Lost powers restored to starry skies,
Flesh transformed by virgin eyes.
Praise to you, for all creation's length,
Glory and dominion, beauty and strength.
When fallen again, your gaze returned,
Prophets spoke of lessons learned.
Praise to you, in wisdom's flow,
Glory and triumph, all shall know.
Oracles speak, both great and small,
Admonishments no more, we heed your call.
Praise to you, for all things right,
Glory and dominion, beauty and light.
The six days' work shall pass away,
Sabbath's stillness in earth's sway.
Joined with the mind, mankind shall be,
In your power, eternally free.
Voice of God, we all shall hear,
From human lips, silence near.
Earth becomes a holy ground,
Praise to thee, with triumphant sound.
All will rise in former glow,
Kingdom's near, as you foreknow.
Praise to thee, eternal guide,
Glory and dominion by your side.
What was two becomes one flock,
One shepherd leads, their path unlock.
In green pastures sweet and pure,
Praise to thee, forever sure.
Drink from wells of living streams,
Harm and fear are washed in beams.
Praise to you, in love's embrace,
Glory and dominion, beauty and grace.