Follows now an account of a Hermetic Teaching put forward by this learned Abbess in response to our question.

Each soul is born into the world with a unique character - a unique potential. The progressive evolution of the universe requires this - every individual soul has a role to fulfill. Each astrological birthchart maps that role

Viewing the universe as the Supreme Spiritual Intelligence, Hermetic Thought believes the universe does not run itself any more than any intelligently conceived project on earth runs itself. Not only does the human soul need the universe, but the universe needs the human soul.

"But what of free will?" we asked. "Do the planets in the sky determine our behaviour?"

"Not at all" replied the Abbess. "They do not form us. They only by virtue of the principle of sympathetic resonance, stimulate us."