Hermes wandered through the desert, seeking the source of all wisdom. For seven days and seven nights he walked, taking neither food nor water, until his body weakened and his mind grew still. On the eighth day, as the sun set, the heavens opened.
A vast dragon appeared, its scales like burnished bronze, its eyes like twin suns. It spoke: "I am Nous, the Divine Mind, the first emanation from the One. I have come to show you what was, what is, and what shall be."
"Why do you wander in the waste places?"
"I seek the truth," said Hermes.
"The truth is not in the waste places.
It is within you.
But you cannot see what is within
Until you have exhausted what is without.
Now you are ready. Look."
And Hermes saw a vision: first, infinite darkness — not the darkness of night, but the darkness before creation, the womb of all possibility. Then a point of light appeared, smaller than the smallest seed. It expanded, slowly at first, then with gathering speed, until it filled all space with radiance.
"This light is Mind," said the dragon. "It is the thought that thinks all things into being. Every star, every grain of sand, every soul — all are thoughts in the mind of the One. And you, Hermes, are such a thought. But you are also a thinker. This is the mystery."
"You are a thought that thinks.
A dream that dreams.
A word that speaks.
In you, the universe becomes aware of itself.
Through your eyes, the One sees.
Through your heart, the One loves.
This is why you were made."
The vision continued, showing the descent of souls through the seven spheres, each taking on a garment of matter, each forgetting its origin. "This forgetting is necessary," the dragon explained. "How can you seek what you already have? How can you yearn for home if you never left? The exile is the condition of return."
"Then what must I do?" asked Hermes. "Remember," said the dragon. "Remember what you are. Strip away the garments of forgetting. Ascend through the spheres, leaving behind what you borrowed from each. Return to the source."
As the vision faded, the dragon spoke once more: "Go now and teach. Write what you have seen. Some will mock, many will ignore, but a few will understand. For them, your words will be keys. For them, the door will open."
Teaching 27
You are a thought that thinks, a dream that dreams. Through your awareness, the universe becomes conscious of itself. The forgetting that veils your origin is necessary — exile is the condition of return. Remember what you are. Strip away the garments. Ascend to the source.