The Sacred Art:
An explanation of Lilly’s "Letter to the Student"
© Copyright Sue
Ward 2003. All rights reserved.
This paper offers
a commentary and explanation of Lilly’s "Letter to the Student"
[1] with particular attention paid to the English for those students
for whom English is not their first language. This is done to
encourage the serious student to examine his or her own thoughts
concerning astrology and its practice.
In our secular and
materially-based culture, it can be difficult to understand the
sentiments so eloquently expressed in Lilly’s "Letter to
the Student". It is in very recent times that astrology has
become secularized. We might see this as a product of our age,
with the decline of organised religion, and an increasing lack
of respect for, or knowledge of the sacred. In many ways, the
scientist and the psychologist have replaced the priest or holy
man. The principle of Divinity rarely arises in everyday conversation;
such notions being placed in the category of superstition. We
cannot wonder then at astrology’s intellectual separation from
its Divine source.
In ages preceding
our own, the belief that everything owed its existence to a Divine
Cause was commonplace. Many methods of attempting to perceive
that Cause have arisen through the millennia, astrology being
on one. We should make no mistake: astrology is divination; it
was constructed as such. Even though many have tried to eradicate
such notions from the practice of astrology and from its education,
the priestly role of the astrologer is clearly seen in today’s
practice of the art. It is this role to which Lilly alludes in
his "Letter".
Lilly was not the
first to write these or similar lines. We find a longer version
in Firmicus Maternus’s (4th century AD) work "Ancient
Astrology Theory and Practice: Matheseos Libri VIII" [2],
(commonly known as "The Mathesis"). While not exactly
the same, the spirit and tone of the address are identical. Where
Lilly mentions "God", Firmicus uses the terms "divinity"
and "gods". Firmicus, too, is more pointed in his references
to judging upon the future of the "Emperor" or the nation.
We immediately find
evidence from Firmicus of the concept of the astrologer as priest: Try with your training and principles to outdo the training
and principles of worthy priests. For it is necessary that the
acolyte of the Sun and Moon and the other gods, through whom all
earthly things are governed, should so educate his mind always
that it be proved worthy by the attestation of all mankind. In this way, the astrologer should strive to be more priestly
than the best of priests. We find similar instruction in Lilly’s
"Letter", although it is less specifically demanding
of the student.
We will examine each
part of Lilly’s "Letter", in order to draw your attention
to its depth and complexity. Although the ornate prose does not
belong to our age, its sentiments do. Just as astrological lore
applies today as it did in previous millennia, so to does its
philosophical foundation.
To the Student
in Astrology [3]
My Friend, whoever
you are, that with so much ease shall receive the benefit of my
hard Studies,
Here Lilly alludes
to his compendium of astrology which brings together the works
of the ancients for the first time in English. While we students
of the modern era complain about the difficulty of the language
of Lilly’s day, we do not now require a classical education in
order to understand his sources which were written in Greek and
Latin. He has done that work for us.
and does intend
to proceed in this heavenly knowledge of the Stars, wherein the
great and admirable works of the invisible and alglorious God
are so manifestly apparent.
Knowledge of astrology
is "heavenly", it allows us to observe Divinity through
Divine Cause or Creation; the Divine itself being invisible to
mortal eyes. Not only did the Divine create the stars, but also
the heavens were arranged so that through them we might know the
Divine.
In the first place,
consider and admire your Creator, and be thankful unto him,
Before beginning
to learn, it is necessary to "consider and admire" the
Creator, and note that this is the first thing that we should
do. To appreciate and marvel at that which created us is of prime
importance.
be you humble,
Humility is prerequisite
to the study of astrology.[4]
and let no natural
knowledge, how profound and transcendent soever it be, elate your
minde to neglect that divine Providence,
However much you
learn, to whatever depth, do not believe yourself to be so clever
that you forget the Divine source of that knowledge, and under
whose protection you are.
by whose all-seeing
order and appointment, all things heavenly and earthly, have their
constant motion;
All of Creation is
ordered and appointed through that Divinity who sees everything.
but the more your
knowledge is enlarged, the more do you magnifie the power and
wisdom of Almighty God, and strive to preserve your self in his
favour; being confident, the more holy you are; and more neer
to God, the purer Judgment you shall give.
Instead, as you learn
more be aware that you serve God and increase the power and wisdom
therein. Do what you can to remain in His protective care, and
be sure that the purer your intentions, and the closer you draw
to the Divine, the truer the astrological judgement you will give.
Beware of pride
and self-conceit,
He refers again to
the need for humility and then proceeds to exemplify this.
and remember how
that long ago, no irrationall Creature dared offend Man, the Microcosm;
but did faithfully serve and obey him, so long as he was master
of his own Reason and Passions, or until he subjected his Will
to the unreasonable part.
While humankind remained
in control of its logical sense and emotions, nothing could bring
harm to it, and humanity remained in control of its environment.
This section might also refer to the building of the Garden of
Eden.
But alas! When
iniquity abounded, and man gave the reins to his own affection,
and deferred reason, then every Beast, Creature and outward harmful
thing, became rebellious and unserviceable to his command.
Humanity preferred
desire to reason and became subject to Nature, rather than master
of it. Again, perhaps a reference to the Fall of Adam.
Stand fast, oh
man! to your God, and assured principles, then consider your own
nobleness, how all things created, both present and to come, were
for your sake created; no for your sake God became Man: you are
that Creature, who being conversant with Christ, lives and reigns
above the heavens, and sits above all power and authority.
Lilly now exhorts
his readers to return to that previously blissful condition and
refers to the Divine within humanity, albeit from a Christian
perspective. By recognition of Divinity within, humanity can then
transcend all earthly concerns and authority.
How many pre-eminences,
advantages has God bestowed on you? you range above the heavens
by contemplation, conceive the motion and magnitude of the stars;
you talk with Angels, yes with God himself;
Take full account
of what God has given you: your meditations enable you to surmount
the heavens; you understand the workings of the universe; you
talk with Angels, even with God. All of these things are Divine
gifts.
you have all creatures
under your dominion, and keep the Devils in subjection: Do not
then for shame deface your nature, or make yourself unworthy of
such gifts, or deprive yourself of that great power, glory and
blessedness God has allotted you, by casting from you his fear,
for possession of a few imperfect pleasures.
These gifts return
the powers of Eden, never make yourself unworthy of such power
and blessedness, risking another Fall. Maintain respect and wonder
for the Divine and the sacred.
Having considered
your God, and what you yourself are, during your being Gods servant;
Having recognised
the Divinity within and the Divinity without – the Microcosm and
the Macrocosm – as a Servant of the Divine in this sacred Art,
you may now proceed.
now receive instruction
how in your practice I would have you carry yourself. As you daily
converse with the heavens, so instruct and form your mind according
to the image of Divinity;
This phrase "as
you daily converse with the heavens", is one to be specially
noted, because it sums up the mystical process of astrological
judgement.
learn all the
ornaments of vertue, be sufficiently instructed therein;
It is necessary to
be well-versed in moral excellence, which reminds us of the words
of Firmicus when he refers to priestly principles.
be humane, curteous,
familiar to all, easie of access, afflict not the miserable with
terror of harsh judgment; in such cases, let them know their hard
fate by degrees; direct them to call on God to divert his judgments
impending over them: be modest, conversant with the learned, civil,
sober man, covet not an estate; give freely to the poor, both
money and judgment: let no worldly wealth procure an erroneous
judgment from you, or such that may dishonour the Art, or this
divine Science: Love good men, cherish those honest men that cordially
Study this Art: Be sparing in delivering Judgment against the
Common-wealth you live in.
In this passage,
Lilly specifies those principles of moral excellence: be kind
and polite, be available to those who need your help. Do not frighten
people with harsh astrological judgements. In these cases, be
gentle and encourage them to prayer, or to seek help to try to
ameliorate the worst that is predicted. Choose your friends and
associates carefully from those who are educated, polite, and
moderate.
Do not fall prey
to material envy, and be generous to those less fortunate than
yourself. Never corrupt the Art by altering a judgement to secure
money. Cherish those who also study the Art honestly.
Restrict your judgements
which oppose the government of the country in which you live.
Here we note that Lilly is less severe in his advice than was
Firmicus, …no astrologer is able to find out anything true
about the destiny of the Emperor. For the Emperor alone is not
subject to the course of the stars… (p.69). Lilly was politically
active, and had friends of high political rank. He did give political
judgements, but he was also careful, although this did not prevent
his being called to account on a number of occasions, some of
which resulted in his imprisonment.
Give not judgment
of the death of your Prince; yet I know experimentally, that Reges
subjacent legibus Stellarum , [5]
Lilly’s words run
entirely contrary to those of Firmicus. Lilly knows by experience
that kings are subject to the law of the stars.
marry a wife
of your own, rejoyce in the number of your friends, avoid law
and controversie: in your study be totus in illis [6] that you may be singulus in arte [7]; be not extravagant
or desirous to learn every Science, be not aliquid in omnibus [8];
Lilly continues with
various other qualities required of the student: marrying a wife
of one’s own might refer to not stealing another man’s wife, and
therefore precludes adultery. Be happy with the number of friends
you have, do not want for more. Avoid public arguments and legal
proceedings, and in this we might compare Lilly’s public life
which included a great deal of controversy and legal actions.
However, we might assume that he did try to avoid it, as he advises.
Restrict yourself
to the study of astrology, nothing will be gained if you dilute
your energies by pursuing other subjects. We might read in this
a specific reference to his friend Elias Ashmole whose interests
were many and varied, but included astrology.
be faithful, tenacious,
betray no ones secrets, no, no I charge you never divulge either
friend or enemies trust committed to your faith.
Remain true to your
beliefs and to your friends, and never divulge confidences, even
those of an enemy if they have been entrusted to you.
Instruct all men
to Live well, be a good example yourself, avoid the fashion of
the times, love your own Native Country:
Advise others to
live an upright and moral life, and set such an example by your
own behaviour. Do not become embroiled in trends and fads (and
here we might associate this with astrology’s own dalliance with
New Age fashions in thought and philosophy and with psychology),
and be loyal to your country.
exprobrate no
man, no not an enemy: be not dismaid, if ill spoken of, Conscientia
mille testes [9]; God
suffers no sin unpunished, no lye unrevenged.
Never reprimand anyone,
even if they are your enemy. If someone speaks badly of you, do
not worry because your conscience knows the truth. Trust in God
because God allows no sin to go unpunished, and no lie to go unchallenged.
In this last sentence
we observe Lilly’s trust in the Divine to provide and keep the
Law of Truth.
In such few words
the reader perceives great meaning, and this is not simply because
of Lilly’s eloquence, but through his ability to express the depth
of his belief in the Divine. We should also note that as these
words hark back to much earlier times through its link with ancient
astrologers, Lilly is making it plain that he stands firm with
those principles and that in essence nothing had changed. We would
do well to try to recapture and understand that knowledge of the
sacred, and contain it within all we do. For with such understanding,
we become better astrologers, because what we attempt to do with
our astrological judgements is to "talk with Angels", and "with God himself;".
We might close with
the words of Firmicus who underlines these principles [10].
For the planets
have their own faculties and divine wisdom. Animated by pure reason
they tirelessly obey that highest divinity, the ruling God who
has organized all things under the rule of law to protect the
eternal pattern of creation.
No one is driven
by rash impiety to say that true wisdom exists on Earth where
all things are mortal; or to claim that wisdom, reason, and predetermined
order do not exist there,
where everything is immortal forever.
Who doubts that
by the same law divine Mind is transfused into earthly bodies,
that descent allotted through the Sun, ascent prepared through
the Moon?
For the divine
Mind is diffused throughout the whole body of the universe as
in a circle, now outside, now inside, and rules and orders all
things. Conceived by self-begetting it is preserved by the everlasting
fiery motion for the procreation and preservation of all things.
It never lays down this duty through weariness but maintains itself
and the world and everything that is in the world with its everlasting
motion.
Out of this Soul
the everlasting fires of the stars accomplish the swift completion
of their orbits, quickenedby the power of the living Mind. They
bring part of this Soul to earthly bodies and in turn take it
back to the perpetual fires of the great Soul.
In this way Immortal
Soul endows the frail earthly bodies with confidence in its power.
The individual soul corresponds in every way to its author and
source which is diffused through all living things born on Earth
and quickens them by divine fire. Therefore, since we are kin
to the planets, we should not deprive them of their powers by
impious arguments, since we are shaped and created by their daily
courses.
Endnotes
Translated by Jean Rhys Bram, Noyes Press. P.68.
The pronouns “thy” and “thou” have been replaced by their modern
equivalents “you” and “your”. Also, “hath” has been replaced by
“has”.
See the article Divination and Ego www.sue-ward.co.uk .
