Theurgy,Theophany,andtheMundusImaginalis:

CarlosSchwabe,
LeDestin
,1897.

The manifested dynamic cosmos, populated with myriads of occult correspondences, mythic realities,
and host of nonmaterial beings, exists on various levels of perception, with the senses perceiving the
world, the active imagination the soul, and the daimonicconsciousnessthroughtheintellect.
[1]
Asthe
active imagination conveys events of thedynamiccosmosthroughimages,theveryactofimaginingis
in a sense an act of theurgic union, if one is to treat the dynamic cosmos as divine. Yet, it must be
clarified in the most vehement manner that this senseofactiveimaginationisverydifferentfromthe
modern view of reality where imagination is merely a mode of separating ones state of mind from
everyday mental perceptions and processes. In a state of active imagination,corporealreality,which
we conceive as being real, is in fact enveloped and consumed by the reality ofthepureforcesofthe

cosmos, and is determined by it. To quote Tom Cheetham,it is the mode of being, the mode of
Presence,ofthehumanpersonthatdeterminesthenatureoftime,nottheotherwayround.
[2]

According to Henry Corbin, the active imagination partakes, dwells, and embodies the
mundus

imaginalis
, which is the mesocosm of visionary revelation and events that experienced more vividly
real that mundane reality. This is a place of constant metaphysical experience, theophanic visions,
meditativeconsciousness,ritualgesture,contemplativeprayer,artisticinspiration,andthesensationsof
eros. The function of the active imagination transmutes sensible forms into living symbols, and as
Corbinwrites,

The active imagination guides, anticipates,moldssenseperception, that iswhy it transmutessensory datainto

symbols. The Burning Bush is only abrushwoodfire if it is merelyperceivedby the sensory organs.In order
that Moses may perceive the Burning Bush and hear the Voice calling him an organ of transsensory
perceptionisneeded...
[3]
So thattheintelligiblerealitiesperceivedonthe imaginallevelmay bereflectedinthe
mirror ofthesensesand betranslatedintovisionary perceptionthevisionoftheangeldoesnotemergefrom
thenegativityofanunconscious,butdescendsfromalevelofapositivelydifferentiatedsuperconscious.
[4]

This is the theurgic endeavour of purification and liberation, the attempt toperceive traces ofdivine meaning
behindappearancesperceivedbythesenses.

Theintensity of the active imagination thatresonatesthroughoutthemesocosmcancreatechanges intheworld,

initiated through the occult correspondences of
Indras net
, transforming the possessor of such an active
imaginationintoa divinecreatorwhoestablishedthepatternsfromwhichmaterialformsevolve. AndasAngela
Voss concludes,whatwecallamiracleistheresult ofsuchacapacitytobringspiritualpowertobear onmatter
andcutthroughtheliteraldimensionofcauseandeffect.
[5]