Three Books of Occult Philosophy/Book 1/Chapter 50
CHAP. L.
Of Fascination, and the Art thereof.
FAscination is a binding, which comes from the spirit of the Witch, through the eyes of him that is bewitched, entering to his heart. Now the instrument of Falcination is the spirit, viz. a certain pure, lucid. subtile vapour, generated of the purer blood, by the heat of the heart. This doth alwaies send forth through the eyes, rayes like to it sels; Those rayes being sent forth, do carry with them a spirituall vapour, and that vapour a blood, as it appears in bleer, and red eyes, whose raies being sent forth to the eyes of him that is opposite, and looks upon them, carries the vapour of the corrupt blood, together with it sels, by the contagion of which, it doth insect the eyes of the beholder with the like disease. So the eye being opened, and intent upon any one with a strong imagination, doth dart its beams, which are the Vehiculum of the spirit into the eyes of him that is opposize to him, which tender spirit strikes the eyes of him that is bewitched, being stirred up from the heart of him that strikes, and possesseth the breast of him that is stricken, wounds his heart, and insects his spirit. Whence Apuleius saith, Thy eyes sliding down through my eyes, into mine inward breast, stirs up a most vehement burning in my Marrow. Know therefore that men are then most bewitched, when wich osten beholding they direct the edge of their sight to the edg of their sight that bewitch them, and when their eyes are reciprocally intent one upon the other, and when raies are joyned to raies, and lights to lights, for then the spirit of the one is joyned to the spirit of the other, and fixeth its sparks: So are strong ligations made, and so most vehement loves are inflamed with the only raies of the eyes, even with a certain sudden looking on, as if it were with a dart, or stroke penetrating the whole body, whence then the spirit, and amorous blood being thus wounded, are carried forth upon the lover, and enchanter, no otherwise then the blood, and spirit of the vengeance of him that is slain, are upon him that slayes him. Whence Lucretius sang concerning those amorous bewitchings.
So great is the power of Fascination, especially when the vapours of the eyes are subservient to the affection. Therefore Witches use collyries, ointments, alligations, and such like, to affect, and corroborate the spirit this or that manner. To procure love, they use venereall collyries, as Hippomanes, the blood of Doves, or Sparrows, and such like. To induce sear, they use Martiall Collyries, as of the eyes of Wolves, the Civer Car, and the like. To procure misery or sickness, they use Saturnine, and so of the rest.