MINGLED STAR ACTION ONLY PROMOTES OR RETARDS PROCESSES ALREADY NATURAL.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Plotinus and Guthrie, Kenneth Sylvan
12. The influences proceeding from the stars commingle; and this mixture modifies all generated things, determining their nature and qualities.238 It is not the celestial influence which produces the horse, it is limited to exercising an influence upon him; for,239 the horse is begotten from horse, man from man; the sun can only contribute to their formation. Man is born from the (seminal logos), or reason of man; but the circumstances may be favorable or unfavorable to him. In fact, a son resembles the father, though he may be formed better or worse; but never does he entirely detach himself from matter. Sometimes, however, the matter so prevails over nature that the being is imperfect because the form does not dominate.240