Robert Fludd

From Thelemapedia

Categories: The Gnostic Saints

One of the Gnostic Saints listed in Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass

Robert Fludd (1574–1637), a Gnostic Saint of Liber XV, was a prosperous British physician, alchemist, author, and mystical philosopher. He is known for his occult writings where he was especially interested in the parallels between man and the world, both of which he viewed as being manifestations of God. Fludd did not like the growing influence of rationalism and emperical science, and he often spoke out against them. He had a celebrated exchange of views with Johannes Kepler concerning the scientific and hermetic approaches to knowledge. He was critisized often by his peers for using tools such as astrology and numerology to provide medical insight.

In 1630, Fludd proposed many perpetual motion machines. People were even trying to patent variations of his machine in the 1870s. It worked by recirculation by means of a water wheel and Archimedean screw. Naturally, no one could get the technology to work.

It is alleged that he was the 16th Grand Master of the Prieuré de Sion (Sabazius, 1995). Aleister Crowley considered him to be an Adeptus Exemptus.

Works

• A Compendious Apology for the Fraternity of the Rosy Cross (1616)
• The Apologetic Tractatus for the Society of the Rosy Cross (1617)
• Utriusque Cosmi Historia (1617-19)
• Summum Bonum (1629)
• Clavis Philosophiae et Alchymiae (1633)

References

• Encyclopædia Britannica. (2004). Fludd, Robert (http://80-search.eb.com.content.lib.utexas.edu:2048/eb/article?tocId=9034665). Retrieved on Sept. 21, 2004.
• Sabazius, The Invisible Basilica. (2004). Robert Fludd (http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/fludd.htm). Retrieved on Sept. 21, 2004.
• Wikipedia. (2004) Robert Fludd (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fludd). Retrieved on Sept. 21, 2004.