LIBER CHAOS Bl. Raymond Lull Doctor Illuminatus

Part I

The Simplicity and Composition of Chaos

2. Now Chaos is an aggregate of several forms and matters. As a compound of these forms and matters, Chaos exists within one universal form composed of several simple forms, and one universal matter composed of several simple matters. Thus, as Chaos is comprised of simplicity and composition, the elements proceeding from Chaos are also situated in simplicity and in composition. 

3. Simple fire, we say, is a substantial being in which simple fiery form and matter crave to be joined together in simple unity, in one number and one substantial being entirely apart from the other elements. We understand that compound fire arises as the forms of all the elements are mixed and make up a compound under one common form, and all their matters aggregate under one common matter in one fiery elemented entity. And the substantial elemented being exists as one simple number within common form and matter, even if it is composed of the said common form and matter. 

4. As the ignificative receives dryness in its own ignificable, it also receives the subject of dryness, which is the terreificable. And consequently, fire also receives the terreificative that exists everywhere in the terreificable. Further, as fire receives earth, it also receives the subject of simple water in the aqueificable and aqueificative that come with earth. In turn, as earth receives simple water, it receives coldness. Likewise, the subject of air is carried over into fire along with the moisture infused by air into water, and through water into earth, and from earth into fire, and thus fire and earth form compounds in substantial beings. The same applies likewise to the other elements. 

5. In a peppercorn, and also in air in the region of heat, while the form of fire moves its  ignificable toward the aerificable, and thence toward the aqueificable and the terreificable, it also causes the aerificative to move the aerificable to convert to the ignificable. The aerificative, ignited or moved by fire, in turn moves the aqueificative which then moves the aqueificable to transmute into the ignificable. Likewise, the terreificative is moved by the aqueificative, moved in turn by the aerificative which is moved by the ignificative, and the terreificative moves the terreificable to transmute into the ignificable, and this is how the composition of hot and dry elements takes place. 

6. In the composition of the elements, each part of each element must enter into all the other parts. In this way, composition can result from their simple parts. Hence, in the essence of fire, there is form in matter, and this form cannot exist in matter, nor vice versa, unless the form and matter of the other elements be present in the form and matter of fire and vice versa. Therefore the ignificative and the ignificable are simple things in themselves, even though they enter into composition with alien parts. And the same likewise follows regarding the other parts of the compound, as each part exists simply in itself, but as a composite in the other parts. 

7. The rationale observed in substantial simplicity and composition also holds for accidental simplicity and composition. Now the ignificative simply has in itself intensive and active quantity, quality etc. And the ignificable, likewise, has intensive and passive properties, namely quantity, quality etc. And if the ignificative and the ignificable enter into substantial composition, then composition follows from active and passive intensity, whence extended and compound quantity, quality etc. can result. And this happens in all compounds and in all of Chaos as the accidents all exist within each other throughout all substance composed of form and matter. 

8. In elemented beings, there is both simple and compound fire. Now simple fire exists as the ignificative, the ignificable, the ignification and the ignificatum, all of one essence and in one essence of simple fire. But because the ignificative ignites the ignificable of other essences, namely the essence of air, etc., compound fire is subsequently produced. And this happens because the integral parts, namely the simple elements are mixed, and once they have been mixed, they are digested, and once digested, they are composed under the essential parts, namely the form and matter belonging to some compound. And whatever has been said about fire, likewise applies to the other elements. 

9. In the first degree of Chaos, there are causal seeds existing in their simplicity, such as genus, species etc. But in the second and third degrees, they enter into composition, for without their composition, it would be impossible to produce any substantial elemented beings. 

10. Fire is simpler in its own sphere than in the spheres of the other elements. Now the ignificative and the ignificable of the same fiery essence are closer to a simple mutual conjunction when in their own sphere, than in the spheres of other elements. And this is because of the strong dominance of fire over the other elements, and because in its sphere all four elements are present in greater or smaller proportions, since every essence of Chaos is extended into it to a greater or lesser degree. Thus it follows that fire is composed of the other elements, otherwise, Chaos would not have each and every one of its essences in each and every one of its parts. And consequently, there would be no causal seeds, because any seeds of a cold complexion would be destroyed by the predominant heat of fire. And the same likewise follows for the qualities of the other elements.