Libellus Merlini
(Little Book of Merlin.) A Latin tract on the subject of the prophecies of Merlin written by Geoffrey of Monmouth about 1135. Geoffrey prefaces his account of the prophecies with one concerning the deeds of a supernatural youth named Ambrosius whom he deliberately confounded with Merlin. Vortigern, King of the Britons, asks Ambrose Merlin the meaning of a vision in which appear two dragons red and white in combat. Merlin replies that the Red Dragon signifies the British race which would be conquered by the Saxon, represented by the White Dragon. A long prophetic rhapsody follows, relating chiefly to the Saxon wars, and with this the work, as given in the Seventh Book of Geoffrey's Historia Regum Britanniae, concludes. It was, however, known in Iceland before 1218 in a form independent of the Historia. (H. C. Leach, Modern Philology, viii., pp. 607 et seq.) This tract must not be confounded with the Vita Merlini (1145 or 1148) generally attributed to Geoffrey.
Licking, a Charm: The following was believed to be a remedy for enchantment: to lick the child's forehead first upward, then across, and lastly up again; and then to spit behind its back.
It is said that if on licking a child's forehead with the tongue a salt taste is perceived, this is an infallible proof of fascination.
Life Waves according to Theosophists, are three in number. It is necessary to remember that the Deity, the Logos (q.v.) has three aspects corresponding to the Christian Trinity. These aspects are first that of Will; second, that of Wisdom; and third, that of Activity, and each has its definite scope in the creation of a universe. When the Logos sets about the great work of creation he sends the first life wave through his aspect of Activity into the multitude of bubbles in the ether, and thereby forms the various kinds of matter. The universe having been thus far prepared, he through his aspect of Wisdom sends the second life wave, which bringing with it life as we usually understand that term and penetrating matter from above, Lithomancy gradually descends to the grosser forms and again ascends to the finer forms. In its descent, this life wave makes for an ever-increasing heterogeneity, but in its ascent the process is reversed and it makes for an ever-increasing homogeneity. The work of creation is now far enough advanced to permit of the creation of man, for matter has now been infused with the capacity of form and provided with life, and the Logos, therefore, through his aspect of Will, bears forth the Divine Spark, the Monad, and, along with the form and the life, ensouls man. (See Theosophy, Logos, Ether, Evolution, Solar System, Monad.)