The German shoemaker, mystic and visionary Jacob Boehme’s dense theosophical writings are filled with alchemical references and allusions. These taken together with elements of Gnosticism and the Kabbalah make Boehme one of the most occult inclined of Christian writers.
The following illustrations are taken from the appendix to William Law’s four volume edition of Boehme’s writing translated into English. Law was an Anglican priest who lost his position when he refused to give an oath of allegiance to King George I and therefore become a private tutor. Among his students were Edward Gibbon, author of The Decline and Fall Of the Roman Empire and John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, (though they fell out over Law’s admiration of Boehme).
The illustrations were undertaken by the London based German mystic Dionysuis Andreas Freher, whose work was a major influence upon the English poet, painter and prophet William Blake.
The complete series of emblems included above and below tells of Creation, the fall of Lucifer followed by the fall of Adam and man’s redemption through Jesus. Interestingly Sophia, a figure found in Gnosticism features prominently (the top S contrasting with the S of Sathan down below). The drawings of Hieroglyphica Sacra are unusual with their near geometric abstraction, minimalism and pared down symbolism. It is alchemical art taken to its most cosmic level, an allegory of the War in the Three Realms of Heaven, Earth and Hell
Dionysuis Andreas Freher-Hieroglyphica Sacra 1-William Law edition of Jacob Boehme
cakeordeathsite 
Very interesting stuff.
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Very strange and trippy.
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I will need to do a bit of research on Dionysuis Andreas Freher. I’m a fan of William blake, I only learned about his work over the past five years. This artwork is unbelievably intricate and that in itself is fascinating. Enjoyed, Mr. Cake.
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I love William Blake as you know. Freher was a mystic who was based in London originally from Nuremberg. He was popular as was Boehme, with the non conformist Protestant sects, which was the circle Blake grew up in. The non conformists would have been very politically radical, in one post I outlined Blake’s connections. I think it is Proverbs of Hell. Glad you enjoyed Miss Heart.
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Very much, thanks for the link Mr. C.
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My pleasure. Blake is a Cake favourite.
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With good cause.
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Sometimes I ask myself in a difficult situations what would Blake do? Either that or Alice.
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Smiles, I think I would go with Alice.
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A very wise girl is our Alice.
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Speaking of legacies…she has endured for ages.
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Actually it is this post https://cakeordeathsite.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/auguries-of-innocence/.
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Thank-you Mr. Cake! Fabulous circles and spirals and my favourites, triangles and lightening!
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I thought you would appreciate this. It really is something else.
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Truly fascinating. I agree with Holly, I will be looking into this further. Thanks for posting this!
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My pleasure Kelly I am glad if it leads to further research.
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Sometimes it feels like you know more about Germans than myself… Hehe. I really love the graphics, riveting, elevating.
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Thank you. Well Germany was at the forefront of printing and what would now be called graphic design as well being at the center of all these odd religious mystical currents so I know a little bit. Very strange but beautiful drawings.
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