Man is a small cosmos and the cosmos is a great man, in this is reflected the truth that man reflects the image above – and in the same way as the ideas and divine forms take shape in the physical world by intelligible dictate in the same way can man as a small cosmos and divine image create with the aid of the celestial fire. The sages following the path of Hermes Trismegistus will see that the harmonious order follow the circuits of the stars that all that is emanates from the divine and immutable ideas. By linking our reason with the silent fire of the divine mind an avenue is opened that can bring life to matter. When the cosmic fire is tempted to descend by prayers, enchantments, odors, music or the starts of the earth (the plants) a bond is forged for a given daemonic force or celestial virtue to animate matter. This can take form in possession of the human body, a talisman or a statue. The world of matter is essentially moved by the same celestial order. This opens for marvels and the wonderful, and thus by wise aspiration we can understand how to bring the fire of the stars upon earth and bring matter into states more saturated with the celestial virtues. As the Maestro Marsilio Ficino said it so well:
“Yet the Arabs and the Egyptians ascribe so much power to statues and images fashioned by astronomical and magical art that they believe the spirits of the stars are enclosed in them. Now some regard the spirits of the stars as wonderful celestial forces, while others regard the spirits of the stars as wonderful celestial forces, while others regard them as daemons attendant upon this or that star. They think the spirits of the stars – whatever they may be – are introduced into statues and talismans in the same way that daemons customarily use on the occasions when they take possession of human bodies and speak, move themselves or other things, and work wonders through them. They think the spirits of the stars do similar things through images. They believe that the daemons who inhabit the cosmic fire are insinuated into our bodies through fiery or ignited humors, and likewise through ignited spirits and fiery emotions. Similarly they think that through rays caught at the right time and through fumigation, light and loud tones, the spirits of the stars can be introduced into the compatible materials of the images and can work wonders on the wearer or bystander. This could indeed be done, I believe, by daemons, but not so much because they have been constrained by a particular material as because they enjoy being worshipped” (Ficino. Three Books on Life. Book Three; Chapter XX
So much can be said of these mysteries, and so much Ficino said already….