---
title: "Corpus Hermeticum and the Asclepius"
author: "Hermes Trismegistus (attributed)"
translator: "G. R. S. Mead"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Hermetica & Gnostics"
section: 28 of 45
url: https://scriptura.si/works/corpus-hermeticum-mead/28/
cite: "Hermes Trismegistus (attributed), tr. G. R. S. Mead, Corpus Hermeticum and the Asclepius, section 28. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/corpus-hermeticum-mead/28/"
---

# Corpus Hermeticum and the Asclepius

*Hermes Trismegistus (attributed), tr. G. R. S. Mead*

Poimandres and the other Hermetic tractates, with the Latin Asclepius, in Mead's 1906 English.

## 28. (XVI.) The Definitions of Asclepius unto King Ammon · 2 of 2

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/corpus-hermeticum-mead/28/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/corpus-hermeticum-mead/28/#p-N

[¶0] For they do shape our souls like to themselves, and set them moving with them,—obsessing nerves, and marrow, veins and arteries, the brain itself, down to the very heart.

[¶1] 15. For on each one of us being born and made alive, the daimons take hold on us—those [daimones] who are in service at that moment [of the wheel] of Genesis, who are ranged under each one of the Stars.

[¶2] For that these change at every moment; they do not stay the same, but circle back again.

[¶3] These, then, descending through the body to the two parts of the soul, set it awhirling, each one towards its own activity.

[¶4] But the soul’s rational part is set above the lordship of the daimons—designed to be receptacle of God.

[¶5] 16. Who then doth have a Ray shining upon him through the Sun within his rational part—and these in all are few on them the daimons do not act; for no one of the daimons or of Gods has any power against one Ray of God.

[¶6] As for the rest, they are all led and driven, soul and body, by the daimons—loving and hating the activities of these.

[¶7] The reason (logos), [then,] is not the love that is deceived and that deceives.

[¶8] The daimons, therefore, exercise the whole of this terrene economy, using our bodies as [their] instruments.

[¶9] And this economy Hermes has called Heimarmenē.

[¶10] 17. The World Intelligible, then, depends from God; the Sensible from the Intelligible [World].

[¶11] The Sun, through the Intelligible and the Sensible Cosmos, pours forth abundantly the stream from God of Good,—that is, the demiurgic operation.

[¶12] And round the Sun are the Eight Spheres, dependent from Him—the [Sphere] of the

[¶13] Non-wandering Ones, the Six [Spheres] of the Wanderers, and one Circumterrene.

[¶14] And from the Spheres depend the daimones; and from these, men.

[¶15] And thus all things and all [of them] depend from God.

[¶16] 18. Wherefore God is the Sire of all; the Sun’s [their] Demiurge; the Cosmos is the instrument of demiurgic operation.

[¶17] Intelligible Essence regulateth Heaven; and Heaven, the Gods; the daimones, ranked underneath the Gods, regulate men.

[¶18] This is the host of Gods and daimones.

[¶19] Through these God makes all things for His own self.

[¶20] And all [of them] are parts of God; and if they all [are] parts—then, God is all.

[¶21] Thus, making all, He makes Himself; nor ever can He cease [His making], for He Himself is ceaseless.

[¶22] Just, then, as God doth have no end and no beginning, so doth His making have no end and no beginning.

[¶23] * * * * *