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Iamblichus, De Mysteriis 3.17.141-142: But if this divine power extends in its predictions to inanimate objects, such as little pebbles, rods, or certain woods, stones, wheat, and barley meal, this is itself the most astonishing prognostication by divine divination, because it gives life to inanimate things and motion to things motionless, and makes all clear, knowledgeable, and participating in reason, and definable according to the measures of intelligence, and yet having no reason in themselves.
At the same time, the god manifests to humans that the signs shown are worthy of credence, and that they are superior to nature, and that the god is exalted above it. So he makes things unknown in nature known; things not knowledgeable he makes knowledgeable, and through these he implants wisdom in us, and by means of all beings in the cosmos he moves our mind to the truth of things that are, have been, and will be.
Source (list of abbreviations)
Iamblichus, De Mysteriis 3.17.141-142
Bibliography
Clarke, Dillon and Hershell 2003, 163-165 | Clarke, Emma C., John M. Dillon and Jackson P. Hershbell. Iamblichus, De Mysteriis. Translated with an Introduction and Notes. Writings from the Graeco-Roman World 4. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature 2003. |
Amar Annus
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