Paracelsus Selected Writings

Edited by Jolande Jacobi 

Translated by Norbert Guterman

Second Edition, Revised 

"Paracelsus, an almost legendary figure of our time, was a preoccupation of mine when I was trying to understand alchemy, especially its connection with natural philosophy ... {Dr. Jacobi} wisely lets the master speak for himself on crucial points, so that the reader can gain first-hand information about this strange Renaissance personality, so amply endowed with genius." --From C. G. Jung's foreword to Paracelsus

"The importance of Paracelsus lies in the link which he provides between medieval and scientific thought.  Believing in and practicing alchemy, magic, astrology and various divinatory techniques, he was also 'the first modern scientist,' and the 'precursor of micro-chemistry, antisepsis, modern wound surgery, homeopathy and a number of ultra-modern achievements.'  In this readable anthology a full picture of the man and his thought is presented ... in the form of a cleverly constructed mosaic of direct quotations from the fifteen volumes of his collected works ... Believing that man is a trinity of spirit, soul and body, Paracelsus insisted that physicians should be skilled in dealing with spiritual, mental and nervous disorders, and should not rely exclusively on medicine and surgery.  He always treated his patient as a whole ... The section on the works of man covers alchemy, astrology, dreaming and forecasting the future, in each of which he claimed to be proficient, and which he included in his philosophy of life and in his practice as a physician.  ... The book is a valuable contribution as it shows by direct quotation from his works what a strange, cantankerous but lovable paradox was Paracelsus." --The Times Literary Supplement