On the Mysteries

...they manifest in the walls, others in the open air, others in the sun, or in some other body among those that are celestial. Some already have fabricated an art of predicting the future through entrails, through birds, or through stars, according to their portion original: "τῆς λήξεως".

I inquire what is the mode of divination, and what kind it is? Since all the prophets vates seers claim that they attain the foreknowledge of the future through Gods or demons alone, and that it is not possible to know it otherwise than from those who have this power in their own control. Therefore, I doubt whether the divine is drawn down to the service of men to such a degree that there are even some who practice divination by means of flour original: "ἀλφιλομάντεις".

Furthermore, it must be asked regarding the causes of divination, whether a God, or an Angel, or a Demon, or anyone of this sort is present in the manifestations, or in the divinations, or in any sacred operations whatsoever, as if drawn by you through the necessities of the invocation.

As to how the soul speaks and envisions these things, and whether they are affections of the soul stirred up from small enigmas, as some think.

As to whether there is some mixture of the essence, consisting partly of our own soul, and partly of divine inspiration from without.

As to how the soul, through its imaginative faculty phantastikê the power of forming images, knows the future. Through what movements, or if that which is brought forward from matter constitutes demons through the powers existing within it, and especially that which is derived from animals.

That we sometimes attain the future while sleeping, having performed no ritual work.

That the evidence that the soul is the cause of all divination is that which is grasped by the senses, or the vapors that are brought in, or the seizures, or those who are not all, but rather the more tender and young, are the ones desired for it.

That ecstasy is the cause of the intellect.

...they imagine, some through water, others through a wall, others in the open air, others in the sun or under some other of the celestial bodies; and indeed, others still have devised an art for foreseeing the future through entrails, through birds, and through the stars.

I further ask concerning the mode of prophecy, what it is and what kind it is, since all seers vates prophets affirm that they attain foreknowledge of the future either through Gods or through Demons alone, and that the future cannot be known except by those who have it in their own power. So I rightly doubt whether divinity can be brought down to the service of men to the extent that there are even divinations performed with flour.

I also ask about the causes of prophecy, whether a God, or an Angel, or a Demon, or some such being is present in the manifestations, and in the prophecies, or in sacred operations of this kind, drawn by you priests and compelled by the necessity of the invocation to perform these things.

Whether our soul perhaps prophesies by its own power and imagines (apparitions), so that all these things are nothing other than certain sparks of its own, from time to time aroused from certain hidden things.

Whether perhaps a certain mixed species of essence brings about all these things, consisting partly of our soul and partly of divine inspiration.

Whether it must also be said that our soul generates from such motions and sparks the power of foreknowing the future, or whether those things which are taken from matter (I mean matter which has primarily been of animals) constitute Demons through certain powers hidden within.

To this must be added that sometimes, while we are at rest and doing nothing, a foreknowledge of the future is presented to us.

That the cause of this should be referred to some passion of the soul, that can be taken as evidence: that the senses are restrained; that vapors, fumigations, and invocations are employed; to which is added that not all are suited for prophecy, but rather those who are more tender and younger.

But that passion which effects prophecy or...