The Divine Pymander

The Divine Pymander is one of the earliest English translations of the Corpus Hermeticum by John Everard in 1650. The mysteries of Hermes Trismegistos outlined in this book are extraordinary. The previous reviewer may have been expecting instant revelation and was disappointed. I would suggest that the reader delve and meditate, and also have a good sense of just when the Corpus Hermeticum was composed - in late Classical Antiquity, probably around 2nd century AD. This is the place to start with any hermetic studies. Make it your own by opening at random and reading, just as Paul does in L.Fredericks wonderful novel, Farundell.

For anyone interested in the history of religion this is a key text which seems to have informed the development of the Abrahamic religions while having its roots in the philosophy and religion of the pagan Egyptian and Greek civilisation. It is an intriguing blend of deductive reasoning and ethical constructs. However this 17th century translation is not easy to read and seems to obscure rather than clarify meaning.