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Planetary Correspondence

As above, so Below – One of the most famous of alchemical axioms. But, we can also
translate this to: As within, so without. This relationship of inside to outside or, above to
the below, is known as the Law of Correspondence. You may also hear it referred to as
the doctrine of signatures.

The simplest way that alchemists had to relate the inside to the outside was by pairing
heavenly bodies and their associated archetypes with their corresponding centers in man,
or in other realms of matter, such as the plants, animals, minerals, and metals. What does
that mean? It means that anything is related to everything else. Lines can be drawn to
connect any two perceived things, weaving together a fabric of reality so tightly knit that
you experience it as a really real thing. Knowing the correspondence of any one thing is
to capture the power of understanding, unity, and truth.

In ancient times the “heavens” or the space out there was known as the Macrocosm. In
contrast, life on Earth was considered to be the Microcosm. The Macrocosm was the
Above in the axiom of "as Above, so Below." It was considered to be the Heavens, space
beyond our earthly realm, the home of the giant star beings of the sky, the abode of the
Gods, and was also considered to be an invisible, internal, and immortal realm. In
contrast, the Below was synonymous with the Microcosm. It was the earthly realm of
form and matter. It was the residence of mortal existence, and was a direct reflection of
the Macrocosm. The below could be seen as the stage for 'Gods creation.'

The Macro and the Micro were reflections of one another. Since the above is the
internal invisible landscape of the immortal soul, and the below is the external, visible
form, then it is found that all that is out there is reflected in here through a system of
correspondence. Considering that the abode of God is related to the internal plane, and
that the external stage of form is where God places his creations, then we can see how we
can relate the internal experience of awareness and thought to being the generator of our
external experience. It must be remembered that we continuously find the theme
of consciousness as all within alchemy. Since consciousness is all, that means that
consciousness is the only thing that actually exists. If you can validate for yourself right
now your own existence, then that would also mean that you are this one thing that exists,

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which is consciousness. With all things as consciousness, this leads to the conclusion that
all things are you, since you exist and consciousness is all. Everything in your reality is a
reflection of your Self. This is where and how the Law of Correspondence really comes in
to play - when we begin to understand the patterns that our consciousness morphs its
thinking process in to so as to shape our external experience.

Traditionally it was the Heavens that reflected its archetypical patterns down to the forms
of Earth. These reflections give rise to the many forms we experience in our reality - All
of the plants, animals, mountains of stone, people, or stars you might perceive. Each one
of these objective experiences could be classified into one of four categories. Within
alchemy, we find that there are four realms. The first realm is the Metallic realm. The
Metallic realm is our foundation and was said to give life to the Mineral realm. The
mineral realm gave life to the vegetable realm, and the vegetable realm gave life to the
animal realm. These are our four realms – Metallic, Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal.
Each one of these realms reflected within itself the stars of the heavens.

The stars that are referred to here are mostly/actually planets. From Earth, where the
alchemists resided, there appeared to be stars that moved across the sky. The positioning
of these stars/planets, against the backdrop of the constellations that they moved across,
gave rise to clear, concise, and obvious reflections regarding this physical manifestation.
The study of tracking and translating these motions of the sky is known as Astrology.
Alchemy and astrology should be seen as tangled intimately together.

Planetna korespondencija
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Kao i gore, pa ispod - Jedna od najpoznatijih alhemijskih aksioma. Ali, možemo i to
prevesti na: Kao i unutar, tako bez. Ovaj odnos je poznat kao Zakon korespondencije.
Takođe možete čuti da se odnosi na doktrinu potpisa.

Najjednostavniji način na koji su alhemičari morali da se odnose na spoljni svet svojim

parom i njihovim povezanim arhetipovima sa odgovarajućim centrima u čoveku, ili u
drugim oblastima materije, kao što su biljke, životinje, minerali i metali. Šta to znači? To
znači da je sve vezano za sve drugo. Linije se mogu izvući za povezivanje svake dve
percepirane stvari, tkanje zajedno tkanine stvarnosti tako čvrsto pletene da ga
doživljavate kao stvarno stvarno. Poznavanje prepiske bilo kojih stvari je da uhvati moć
razumevanja, jedinstva i istine.

U drevnim vremenima "nebesa" ili prostor tamo poznat kao makrokozam. Nasuprot tome,
život na Zemlji se smatra mikrokosmosom. Makrokozm je bio gore u aksiom "kao gore,
pa ispod." Smatralo se da su nebesa, dom džinovske zvezde neba, prebivalište bogova i
takođe se smatralo nevidljivim, unutrašnjim i besmrtnim kraljevstvom. Nasuprot tome,
sledi je bio sinonim za mikrokosmos. To je zemaljska oblast formi i materije. Bila je to
prebivalište smrtnog postojanja, i bila je direktna odraz Makrokozma. Dolje bi se moglo
posmatrati kao scena za "stvaranje bogova".

Makro i Mikro su bili refleksije jedni drugih. Od gore navedenog je nevidljiva interna

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pejzaž besmrtnu dušu, a ispod je vanjski, vidljivi oblik, onda je naći da je sve što se tamo
se ogleda u tu kroz sistem prepiske. S obzirom na to da je Božije prebivalište vezano za
unutrašnji avion i da je stažiranje tamo gde Bog stavlja svoje kreacije, onda možemo
videti kako možemo povezati unutrašnje iskustvo svesnosti i misli sa generatorom našeg
spoljnog iskustva . Moramo se zapamtiti da kontinuirano pronalazimo temu svesti kao i
sve u alhemiji. Pošto je svest sve, to znači da je svest jedina stvar koja zapravo postoji.
Ako možete sami da potvrdite svoje sopstveno postojanje, to bi takođe značilo da ste vi
jedna stvar koja postoji, što je svesnost. Uz sve stvari kao svest, ovo vodi do zaključka da
ste sve stvari, pošto postoje i svjesnost je sve. Sve u tvom životu je odraz svog Sebe. Ovo
je mesto i način na koji Zakon o korespodenciji stvarno dolazi u obzir - kada počnemo da
razumemo obrasce na kojima naša svest morfira svoj proces razmišljanja.

Tradicionalno, to je nebesa koja su odražavala svoje arhetipske obrasce prema oblicima

Zemlje. Ova razmišljanja dovode do mnogih oblika doživljavamo u našoj stvarnosti - Sve
biljke, životinje, planine od kamena, ljudi, zlatne zvezde možda Sagledajte. Svaki od ovih
ciljeva može se svrstati u jednu od četiri kategorije. U okviru alhemije nalazimo da
postoje četiri polja. Prva oblast je metalsko područje. Metalno područje je naša osnova i
rečeno je da dati život Mineralnom području. Mineralno područje daje život biljnoj sferi,
a biljno područje daje život životinjskoj sferi. Ovo su naša četiri područja - metalik,
mineral, povrće i životinje. Svako od ovih oblasti se odražava unutar zvezda nebesa.

Zvezde koje su ovde navedene / uglavnom planete. Iz Zemlje, u kojoj su živeli

alhemičari, činilo se da postoje zvezde koje se kreću preko neba. Pozicioniranje Ove
zvjezdice / planeta, protiv backdrop konstelacija To su se kretali preko dao povoda za
jasan, koncizan, i očigledne refleksije o ovom fizička manifestacija. Studija praćenja i
prevođenja ovih pokreta neba poznata je kao astrologija. Alhemiju i astrologiju treba
posmatrati kao tesno povezani zajedno.

There were seven basic planets or heavenly bodies utilized by ancient Alchemists for the
purpose of self- reflection – the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
The Earth too is also considered at times. The Chart above relates the planetary symbols

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to their appropriate planets for reference. Each of these seven planetary bodies was
considered to be a major reflection of the archetypical patterns that the mind creates the
effectively express consciousness through form. Each planet is essentially a reflection of
an aspect of your mind. These reflections of mind then of course shape the physical
reflection that you see as your body and your external reality. Each planet had a
corresponding organ, and mental archetype. If you factor in eastern alchemy as well then,
the planets also have corresponding chakra centers, which also relate to corresponding
endocrine system glands.

If we then overlay this information over the body, we can get the following image

Alhemičari imaju sedam osnovnih planeta ili nebeskih tela u svrhu samorefleksije -
Sunce, Mesec, Merkur, Venera, Mars, Jupiter i Saturn. Zemlja se takođe smatra raznim.
Gornja grafika se odnosi na planetarne simbole za njihove odgovarajuće planete za
referencu. Svako od ovih sedam planetarnih tela se smatra glavnim odrazom arhetipskih
obrazaca da um stvara efikasnu ekspresnu svest kroz oblik. Svaka planeta je u suštini
odraz aspekta vašeg uma. Ovi refleksiji uma tada, naravno, oblikuju fizičku refleksiju da
vidite svoje telo i vašu spoljašnju stvarnost. Svaka planeta ima odgovarajući organ i
mentalni arhetip. Ukoliko razmišljate o tome, planete takođe imaju odgovarajuće čakre
centre, koji se takođe odnose na odgovarajuće žljeme endokrina.

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Although this image may be relatively simply, it encodes into itself a wealth of
knowledge. Each colored orb represents a specific manifestation of mind (archetype) and
where it seats itself energetically within the body. You can relate these energetic or mental
centers to the basic eastern chakra system. Each center also relates to a planet. If we
understand the translation of these planets through the lens of astrology, then we can
understand the over-arching mental archetype that they represent. Each archetype of mind
seats itself into specific areas of the body, and in return creates physical mechanisms by
which they may then express themselves and also seat themselves into a physical reality
(organs and glands).

Your body is just a smaller reflection of the larger body that makes up you – the universe.
Because you believe you reside here, in this solar system, your current physical
manifestation is most relevant to the astrological organs (planets) that make up you. Your
body reflects this. Everything exists as a reflection of you, because you is all that exists.
The largest physical bodies you have, and are aware of, relate to astrological objects.
These astrological bodies are what make up the bigger picture and that which creates
foundations for your physical existence. This is why the planets relate most readily to
your mental patternings, because it is the mind, which organizes its thoughts and

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structures them to give the illusion of a concrete reality. From there, these mental patterns
create physical houses (structured thought) for themselves. These “houses” are your
organs and endocrine glands, which are just reflections of the archetypes of your mind.
These Archetypes of course being patterns that your consciousness readily creates which
are the foundational platform from which you think from. Consciousness is the
programmer, the mind and archetypes are the program, and this reality is the appearance
the program projects - the game that you interact in.

When engaging in alchemy, we can use the Law of Correspondence to relate to anything
in our reality, and then understand its underlying archetype or theme. It was believed that
the metallic realm was the foundation from which all other realms rested upon. If we
think about it, our planet gives life to a plethora of mineral, plant, and animal life. Its
center is believed to be an iron core. Without this metallic molten core, life on this planet
would not be possible. All of the metal on this planet has come from the stars. A star lives
for billions of years. When it finally collapses in on itself due to its own gravity and dies,
its lighter atoms of helium, hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen press into each other with so
much force and energy that they fuse together (nuclear fusion) and create new elements
during the blast (supernova) that sends the stars guts hurling out into space. These newer
fused elements are the elements that we find today on our planet - all of the metals, and
carbons that make up the diverse rock and organic life of Earth. Metals are truly our
foundation. Made from stars and grounding us in this vacuum of space. Because metals
are so dense and are very much their own elements rather than a series of complex
molecules, we find that they have only one planetary correspondence.

Iako ova slika može biti relativno jednostavna, ona kodira bogato znanje. Svaka obojena
kugla predstavlja specifičnu manifestaciju uma (arhetip) i tamo gde se energično sjedi
unutar tela. Ove energetske ili mentalne centre možete povezati sa osnovnim sistemom
istočne čakre. Svaki centar se odnosi i na planetu. Ako shvatimo prevod ovih planeta kroz
objektiv astrologije, onda možemo shvatiti preveliki mentalni arhetip koji predstavljaju.
Svaki arhetip uma postavlja se telu, iu fizičkoj stvarnosti (organima i želijama).

Vaše telo je samo manji odraz većeg tela koji vas čini - univerzuma. Zato što verujete da
ste ovde, u ovom solarnom sistemu, vaša trenutna fizička manifestacija je najvažnija za
astrološke organe (planete) koji vas čine. Vaše telo promeni ovo. Sve postoji kao odraz
tebe, jer svi vi to postojite. Najveća fizička tijela koja imate i znate su vezana za
astrološke objekte. Ova astrološka tela su ono što čine veću sliku i ono što vas čini jačim
za vaše fizičko postojanje. Zbog toga se planete odnose na vaše mentalne obrasce, jer je
to um, koji organizuje svoje misli i strukture iluziji konkretne realnosti. Odatle, ovi
mentalni obrasci stvaraju fizičke kuće (strukturisane misli) za sebe. Ove "kuće" su ti
organi i endokrine rese, što su samo refleksije arhetipova u vašem umu. Ovi arhetipovi
su, naravno, šabloni za koje mislite da su osnovna platforma iz koje vi mislite. Svest je
program, um i arhetipovi su program, a ova stvarnost je izgled programskih projekata -
igra u kojoj se interaktivno dešava.

Kada se bavimo alhemijom, možemo koristiti Zakon korespondencije da se odnosi na

našu stvarnost, a zatim razumemo njegov osnovni arhetip ili temu. Verovalo se da je

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metalna oblast bila temelj na kojem se počivale sve druge oblasti. Ako razmislimo o
tome, naša planeta daje život raznim mineralnim, biljnim i životinjskim životima. Veruje
se da je centar jezgro željeza. Bez ovog metalnog taljenog jezgra, život na ovoj planeti ne
bi bio moguć. Sva metala na ovoj planeti dolaze od zvezda. Zvezda živi milijarde godina.
Kada se konačno sruši u sopstvenoj gravitaciji i umre, njegovi lakši atomi helijuma,
vodonika, kiseonika ili azota eksplozija (supernova) koja šalje čudesne zvezde koje
bacaju u svemir. Ovi noviji spojeni elementi su elementi koje danas nalazimo na našoj
planeti - svi metali, i čine različite stene i organski život Zemlje. Metali su zaista naša
osnova. Napravljen od zvezda i uzemljenja u ovom vakuumu u svemiru. Zbog toga što su
metali toliko gusti da su prilično složeniji od niza složenih molekula, smatramo da imaju
samo jednu planetarnu korespondenciju.

If you take the metallic kingdom and pair it with another element, such as: Nitrogen,
Oxygen, or Sulfur, you will get a mineral. Any mineral tends to be an ore that
incorporates metal into its structure. Quartz crystals are made with metal
(silicon), turquoise is Copper and Aluminum. Most minerals have a metallic backing.
This dual nature gives Minerals dual planetary correspondences. Sometimes minerals can
even have more than two planetary correspondences if they incorporate a multitude of
elements.

Since plant life relies on the mineral kingdom – the minerals of course relying on that
metallic kingdom for their existence – means that the plant life has a plethora of planetary
correspondence. When working with an herb, you can understand where it goes in the
body medicinally, and how it affects the mind and emotions by understanding the plants
planetary correspondence. Most herbal medicines are found to do a multitude of things
that have effects over the entire body, this is because of their multi-layered influences
from the planets. Plants are Microcosms in their own right, but it is the animal realm that
includes the signature of all of the solar system in its expressed nature. One of most
significant differences with animals amongst the realms is that animals incorporate the
planet Earth. This aspect is reflected in animal life as having a stomach and full digestive
system. Possessing this organ has given the animal realm the ability to take the putrefying
nature of the Earth with it, so that it no longer has to be stuck to the soil. Plants must be
rooted to the ground because they rely on the putrefying nature of the earth to break
necessary nutrients up into smaller parts so that they can be absorbed. Animals however
take this quality with them by embodying the earth energies. The animal realm is a full
microcosmic reflection of the macrocosm that is the heavens.

Understanding the archetypes of the planets is a big part of being able to identify the
qualities of different medicines found throughout the realms. There are many charts out
there that pair herbs with their planetary counterparts. Many of the lists you will find
differ. This is due to the multi-layered planetary influences that plants have as described
above. Many authors do not take this into consideration and instead attribute a certain
herb as only having one planetary influence. The best way to truly know and understand
what planetary energies are working with the material of any realm is by studying that
things qualities.

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Researching a material and understanding its character is vital to pinpointing its major
planetary influences. Knowing what environments and conditions it prefers,
understanding its traditional and modern medicinal uses, looking into the chemistry, or
researching any associated mythologies are all great methods for better knowing the
character of any one thing. There is also working with that substance physically. Imbibing
its essence and paying close attention to how it makes you feel, think, or experience
reality. Engaging in practical alchemical will cause you to build close relationships with
the natural world. You may find yourself personally cultivating, harvesting, or extracting
the materials that peek your interest. The more you understand about the materials you
choose, the better you understand yourself and your relationship to this reality.

For detailed breakdowns of the planetary archetypes, explore the pages we have featured
here concerning our different metallic oils. Each metal embodies one archetypical pattern
that is directly related to your mind, body, and soul making it a concise study in the
orientation that astrological systems have to you.

When it comes to metallic essences, each one fully embodies the planet
that it corresponds to. This makes for very clear reflections in regards
to those archetypes of mind. Each page will inform you of the physical,
mental, and emotional qualities that the planet represents. These
qualities can be applied to any realm of matter, since these planetary
archetypes are visible in all things.

Azot, kiseonik ili sumpor, dobićete mineral. Bilo koji minerali imaju tendenciju da budu
inkorporirani u njegovu strukturu. Kvarcni kristali su izrađeni od metala (silikon),
tirkizna je bakar i aluminijum. Većina minerala ima metalnu podlogu. Ova dvostruka
priroda daje Minerals dvojnim planetarnim korespondencijama. Ponekad minerali mogu
čak imati više od dve planetarne korespondencije ako uključe mnoštvo elemenata.

Budući da je biljni život povezan sa mineralnim kraljevstvima - minerali sveta života i

njihovo postojanje - znači da biljni život ima puno planetarne korespondencije. Kada
radite sa biljkom, možete razumjeti gde se to nalazi u telu medicinski, i kako to utiče na
um i emocije razumevanjem planetarne korespondencije biljaka. Većina biljnih lekova se
nalazi u mnoštvu stvari koje utiču na telo, zbog njihovih višeslojnih uticaja sa planeta.
Biljke su samo mikrokosmički, ali je životinja koja uključuje potpis svih njih. Jedna od
najvažnijih razlika između Zemlje i Zemlje. Ovaj aspekt se ogleda u životinjama i ima
pun gastrointestinalni sistem. Posedovanje ovog organa ima životinjsku oblast sposobnost
da se brine o prirodi Zemlje sa njom, tako da se ne mora zaglaviti u tlu. Biljke moraju biti
ukorenjene na zemlju, jer se oslanjaju na prirodnu zemlju kako bi razbile hranljive
materije, tako da se mogu apsorbovati. Životinje međutim uzimaju ovaj kvalitet sa sobom
tako što uključuju zemaljske energije. Životinja je puni mikrokozmički odraz
makrokozma koji je nebesa.

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 Alchemical Theory

To go anywhere with or in the realm of alchemy, the basic alchemical principles must
first be understood. Alchemical theory functions in such a way so that the mind can
intellectually hold paradoxical information and infinite expansions. By doing so,
consciousness is embodied and expressed in and through form to the highest degree.
These fundamental principles of the nature of reality are the keys to both the knowledge
and power that the alchemists of old employed in their practices. For millennia, these
concepts have been kept hidden, or mystified, as to keep the supposed profane of
humanity ignorant of their true nature and personal power. Kymia Arts expresses the view
that all individuals inherently have the right to their full potentials. The mystification of
truth has been a fundamental stumbling block in the development of the human psyche -
both personally and collectively. Doing our best to make alchemical knowledge known,
we present articles and informational pieces that help to chase the shadows off the face of
clarity and present truth back to the public so that anyone can take up their inherent
faculties and "know thy self."

Featured below are articles that further elaborate on the philosophical understandings and
practices alchemists throughout the ages had in regards to their relations with the visible
and invisible universe.

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It is encouraged that you take your time in reading and then in contemplating the
meanings and implications that this information might hold.

Questions and comments are also encouraged.

What is Alchemy?
Alchemical Sulfur: Consciousness in Matter
The Acetate Path: Obtaining Consciousness from Metal
Truth of the Matter - The Three principles of alchemy
Alchemical Mercury: Mind in Matter

What is Alchemy
4/12/2014

Comments

Modern students researching the practices and philosophies of Alchemy will often read
the general definition of alchemy as “the art of transformation.” In actuality, there are
various definitions and explanations attempting to define just what it is that Alchemy is.
There are definitions that represent Transmutation, chemical marriages, raising of
vibrations, and so on. These varying definitions lead many to misuse the term Alchemy
and attribute it to many new age philosophies or healing practices that may or may not
reflect the true nature of the word. Muddying up the practice, and inaccurately defining
the word, we now see things in our society like: “Alchemical Massage, Alchemically
prepared chocolates, Alchemy in Business, etc.” In no way do I wish to diminish these
practices or modes of thinking, but taking something and using it to make something else
is not necessarily what Alchemy truly is.

This article, “what is alchemy,” is an exploration into the definition of the word alchemy.
This defining is intended to help make alchemical practices and theories clear, distinct,
and relevant. Through explanation and exploration of the word alchemy I wish to define
alchemy, and also call for a standardization of the definition throughout the alchemical
community, and beyond, into adjacent realms of study – which, when understood and
applied, can be found to be relevant to all things, all people, and areas of interest. To
uncover the true essence of the art of alchemy, it is necessary to explore ancient

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alchemical texts themselves. The exploration of these texts reveals what the alchemists of
old believed their Art to be. To do this, two of the most authoritative texts from eastern
and western alchemical traditions will be used - the Emerald Tablet and the Rig Veda.
The Emerald Tablet is reported to be more than three thousand years old and was
referenced by alchemists of the west. Even today it is considered a corner stone in the
beginning studies of any fledgling alchemist, and is quoted in almost every modern book
pertaining to the study and practice of alchemy. The Rig Veda is believed to be at least six
thousand years old and was the text used primarily by Indian alchemists. Indian alchemy
and the studies of rasashastra are becoming more widely recognized and studied, making
this a worthy resource for understanding alchemy on whole.

Though these texts come from vastly different places and different times, when compared
side by side there are remarkable similarities. Although many ancient and sacred texts can
be referenced and quoted for the sake of this exploration, only the two will be used as to
maintain an air of simplicity.

Enough with prefaces, let’s explore how ancient alchemists thought of their own study
and practice so that we may define and understand Alchemy.
From the Emerald Tablet:

“That which is below corresponds to that which is above, and that which is above
corresponds to that which is below, in the accomplishment of the miracle of one thing”

And from the Rig Veda:

“He who knows the Father of this world as that which is below, associated with that
which is above, and that which is above associated with that which is below, will have the
mind of a sage.”
-Mandala 1, hymn CLXIV: 18

What does all that mean? And how does this talk of above and below explain what
alchemy is?

Pulling apart these verses helps to isolate the truths that these texts are woven from.

We see that the Rig Veda describes the “Father of this world” as the Association of that
which is above to that which is below. The Emerald Tablet also states that “all things
have come from this one thing” (the association) - that “one thing” in the Emerald Tablet
is the “father” we hear of in the Rig Veda.

What is this “one thing?” who or what is the “father?”

As stated above, the Father (the One thing) is defined as the Association of the “above
corresponding to that which is below.”

ok, the “one thing/Father” is the association. But what is the “above and below” that are

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being referred to in these texts, and that our “one thing” is associated to and with.

The above was seen as the “heavens” - the macrocosm - that which is bigger than the
biggest, or infinity. It was an inner world, a divine world, which gave birth to all that is.

The below was seen as the “Earth” – the physical manifestation - the microcosm - that
which is smaller than the smallest – or the infinitesimal. It was the physicality of reality
that was born from the Above.

In the Vedic perspective, the concept of below was known as point, and in contrast the
concept of Above was known as infinite. To the Vedic sages, both of these concepts – the
above and the below – were considered to be aspects of the self. Defining these in
Sanskrit we see them named as Ananta – the infinite self, and Jiva – the point self or
individual self.

Applying ancient Vedic perspective to our readings and understandings of the Emerald
tablet helps to shed light on just what this thing called alchemy is.

Knowing the Above and below as aspects of the self we can see that when the infinite self
(above) adopted a “point of view” to know itself, it became an individual (Jiva – the
below) while still remaining infinite. This was known classically to the Vedics as
Kshetragyah – the knower of the field. The “knower” was the one who has adopted a
point of view as an individual to see itself as an infinite being of pure and unbounded
consciousness. So then the “knower” becomes everything in between point and infinity.
The Knower becomes the association between the above and the below.

The “one thing” who is the “father of this world” this “association” has now become the
self. It is you. The self is not only the individual self and surely not the individual body,
but rather the association between the individual and infinite, which is the whole. Whole
can be defined as: Undivided, entire, or total. Whole signifies no separation, and no
separation means there are no divisions between you and “it.” The world and the self.
You, the association are the inside and the outside, the above and the below.

The association of the above and the below is the consciousness (which is you) - the
awareness of the individual that proclaims to the self (consciousness) that “I exist – I
am.” Consciousness in alchemical perspective was understood as Sulfur, which
constitutes the soul of any individual form found in the universe. (Further readings
pertaining to this topic – sulfur/soul - can be found in Truth of the Matter.)

Possessing true and unadulterated consciousness, one is made aware of both the
individual self and infinite consciousness as the source of all. This individual, this
knower, stands in-between point and infinity. His feet planted in the below and his head
reaching into the above.

Understanding this association between the above and the below is the key to
understanding the relationship between consciousness and matter which is the true

12
essence of the science of Alchemy. By first understanding the association between
consciousness and matter, one can then move on to the next step and become that
association, becoming the “knower” of all that lies in-between point and infinity. The art
and practice of alchemy is an avenue in which one can come to know that association and
“know thy self.”

To answer the question of “What is alchemy?” in plain language: Alchemy is the

understanding of the relationship between consciousness and matter. When these
understandings are employed practically in the laboratory work, and internally to the
psyche, the science and art of alchemy become manifest. Then the creations that come
from the alchemist’s laboratory become the tools that he may use to direct his
awareness back towards divine consciousness.

It is this definition of alchemy that must be standardized for truth to root into the minds
and being of all. If alchemy is at all an “art of transformation” it is one that understands
how consciousness creates and transforms itself into matter. Knowing alchemy as a
practice and theory that recognizes the relationship of consciousness to matter, we can
then unlock the general principles that structure alchemical theory (sulfur, mercury, &
salt – The 4 elements – prima materia – etc.) Opening the doors to these understandings
gives the power of wisdom back to every individual. Alchemy is just one of many paths
that can be walked to know this and all as so. Understanding and incorporating this
definition of alchemy is one step in recognizing the truths that alchemy points to and
embodies.

alchemical sulfur: consciousness in matter

4/21/2014

Comments

During the 8th century a man by the name of Jabir ibn Hayyan (A.K.A Geber), a well-
known alchemist of Persian descent, wrote of two alchemical principles: Sulfur and
Mercury. These two principles revolutionized the understandings that future alchemists
would gain on the nature of matter and its origins. But Geber was a very cryptic author
and was careful to conceal the true principles of alchemy. He encoded his writings with a
veiled style of language. Due to this coded language, we now have our modern word
“jibberish”,which refers directly to Jabir and his style of writing which appeared to be
pure jibberish to those unaware of the principles of alchemy. But don’t be confused by
these titles of Sulfur and Mercury. Understanding the nature of Jabir’s writing style, we
can see beyond the code words of Sulfur and Mercury which would lead us to believe
these two properties to be elemental sulfur with its pungent smell and liquid mercury or
quicksilver. Understanding Sulfur as a code word for a deeper principle, we can now

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begin to answer the question of “what is Sulfur?” For the sake of this article let us forget
about the principle of Mercury and focus specifically on the alchemical Sulfur and what it
truly is.

Alchemists studying the works of Jabir knew their Sulfur as an oily substance. This oil
could be extracted and concentrated out of their choice of any substance (Plant, animal,
mineral, or metal). Frater Albertus, a widely known and respected modern alchemist also
points this out by saying: “Sulfur, that is, the alchemical sulfur, is usually found in its oily
form adhering to the Mercury.” Although we can pin-point alchemical sulfur as an oil, it
functioned as a much deeper symbol to ancient and modern alchemists. In Paracelsus’s
book “Concerning the Nature of Things,”he writes that “Sulfur is the soul.” But how can
an oil now become the Soul of the substance in question?

The Webster dictionary defines Soul as: The immaterial essence, animating principle, or
actuating cause of an individual life. To the alchemists, the oily characteristics of their
Sulfur were described in just the same manner. The Sulfur was seen as the individual
signature of the plant, animal, mineral, or metal in question. It was what gave each form
of life its own unique characteristics. It was the closest material manifestation of a
universal principle that gave all of life its spark and being. This source of all was known
to the alchemists as Prima Materia. It was the alchemists “First Matter”, or that from
which all things originated from and gained life through. Ancient Indian alchemist called
this First Matter Adrishta, which translates as “unseen influence.” To ancient
philosophers the unseen influence behind the physical cosmos could be attributed to pure
and unbounded consciousness.

Referring back to our definition of Soul, we can now attribute consciousness to the
“actuating cause of an individual life.” In all ancient philosophies, consciousness
proceeded matter. It created matter by interacting with itself in an internal dialogue
known to the Greeks as Logos. The alchemists Sulfur became the soul of the material
they were working closely with in their laboratories. This Soul was understood as the
Consciousness of that material, and that consciousness was seen as the source of that
particular material. Not only was consciousness the source of the material being explored,
but that same consciousness was the source of all. Universal and infinite in its expression
this one consciousness gave life to all forms.

Freeing the Sulfur from its corporeal body made the universal life giving force of
consciousness more available to the alchemists. Further research and study into this
substance as the “actuating cause” of life would later lead alchemists into deeper
understandings of the nature of all life. In time this would gift the alchemists the ability to
extend life indefinitely in any body (Plant, animal, even Human) by creating a direct and
permanent link with the subject and the unbounded consciousness residing in all life.

With closer examination the alchemists deepened there knowledge of the relationship of
consciousness to matter. Diligent study and practice would eventually lead some to
awaken infinite consciousness - acting as the source of life – in matter, and in effect
finishing their “great work.” The Magnum Opus of the alchemists. The confection of the

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philosophers stone.

“He who does not know the Sulfur knows nothing, and can accomplish nothing,
neither of medicine, nor of philosophy, nor any of the secrets of Nature.” -
Paracelsus

The acetate path: Obtaining Consciousness from metal

5/10/2014

Comments

The Acetate Path is one of the Methods employed by alchemists to obtain the soul
(sulfur) and Spirit (mercury) of metals and minerals. The acetate path was made most
public by past alchemists such as Issac Hollandus in his Work on Saturn, George Ripley
in his Bosom Book, and many others. It was considered a viable path and option for
obtaining the Sulfur of metals.

Outlined below is a step by step, showing and explaining this method. It is to be

remembered that these process were created and employed with recognition to the matter
in use, in this case metal, as containing in it the same principles that all life embodied -
namely a soul and a spirit. These metals contained consciousness. This process was one
of many that was used within the alchemical laboratories to work with and actualize this
consciousness.

Step 1: Trial by Fire

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To begin the extraction of the soul and spirit of a stone or metal, it was first necessary to
secure a source of ore. In this example copper will be used.

Traditionally raw ore was taken from which the pure metal could be smelted out.
Smelting processes will not be elaborated on in this article so we will skip ahead to
having our pure metal.

Once the pure metal is obtained it is ground down to a fine powder. This powder can then
be placed into a cast-iron pan and set over a fire to oxidize. Exposure to the elements and
various other methods were employed by alchemist to obtain an oxide. The oxidization of
any material is essential the burning of that substance. the ultimate goal was to let your
matter "burn", be "killed", and to obtain its oxidized form, or dead body.

In alchemical philosophy the body (metal) had to be killed and turned "inside out" so that
the spirit and soul of the given metal could be captured and used for alchemical purposes.
This killing was done in the fire. The oxide version of the metal was considered the dead
body, from which its spirit and soul would be resurrected.

After the philosophical killing of the metal, the dead body had to be awakened and
brought back to life. this was done by using specially crafted menstruums which were
essentially the spirits of other metals, minerals, or plants. In this example distilled vinegar
will be used, but as stated above a wide variety of menstruums could be used to obtain
the desired effect.

The metallic oxide is taken and mixed in a flask with our chosen menstruum (vinegar).
When an oxide is mixed with an acetic solution a metallic acetate is formed. The acetate
Solution is then hermetically sealed and allowed to digest for 2 weeks to a month

Step 2: Breath of Life

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when ready, the alchemist then takes his digested solution of acetate and distills it down
to get a highly concentrated version of the acetate solution. The concentrated solution of
acetate is taken outside to evaporate slowly and remove the remaining liquid that is
holding it in solution. The solution is placed in a glass dish and put over a heating
element on a gently heat or allowed to evaporate in the sun. Over the course of a few
days the remaining liquid evaporates leaving pure and dry crystals of copper acetate.

Once dry, the crystals are dissolved into distilled water, filtered, and placed back in the
glass dish to evaporate off the moisture again. This process of "washing" removes any
residual corrosive materials. This step of washing is repeated multiple times to achieve a
highly purified acetate crystal.

Step 3: Preparation for Rebirth

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Once enough dried and washed crystals are secured they can be crushed and funneled
into a flask to be dry distilled.

Dry distillation is a process of distilling by using a dry starting material rather than a
liquid which is commonly the case.

Roughly 1/3 of the flask is filled with crushed crystals.

Step 4: Rising from the Ashes

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With the crystals of copper acetate in a flask, they are ready to be dry distilled.

The flask on the far left holds the crystals. this flask is placed in a heating mantle that is
capable of reaching high temperatures. The flask containing the crystals is attached to a
long Liebig Condenser. This condenser has cold water running through it and is intended
to condense the majority of the fumes that will issue forth from the heated crystals. This
condenser is then attached to a receiving flask. The receiving flask sits in a bowl of ice
water to help further condense the fumes into our sulfur and mercury. The receiving flask
has two necks. From the second neck, another condenser is attached. In-case any of the
fumes are not trapped and condensed into liquid, this second condenser helps to do so. At
the end of the second condenser tube a receiving flask is attached. The adapter connecting
the second condenser and receiving flask has a vacuum tube attachment. A hose runs
from this last receiving flask to a set of Gas Washing Bottles. The first Gas Washing
Bottle is left empty. This bottle acts as a pressure release so that during the heavy heating
of the crystals heat and fumes can escape and the risk of exploding any glassware is
avoided. A hose runs from the first Gas Washing Bottle to a second bottle. This second
bottle is filled with Rectified Spirit of Wine (Alcohol) and acts as a bubbler and trap.
Incase any of the volatile spirits were not trapped during their contact with the two
condensers, the bubbler will trap the remaining spirits so that no product is lost.

When the dry distillation is adequately assembled the heating element can then be turned
on to a moderate temperature. The crystals are allowed to slowly heat up until they begin
to fume.

Step 5: Life

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After the crystals of copper acetate have stopped fuming during the dry distillation, the
heating mantle is allowed to cool slowly before the sulfur and mercury can be retrieved.
Any liquid caught in the two receiving flasks are combined, filtered, and then put into a
clean distillation apparatus, a retort works best for this. A gentle distillation is run to
separate the mercury (acetone. in this case the Radical Vinegar) from the sulfur (Oil). the
acetone is more volatile and will be captured in the receiving flask. The oil thickens and
is left behind in the heating flask. A small bit of alcohol is added to the oil to make it
runny and easy to work with, otherwise the oil is rather sticky. Dry distillation of copper
acetate yields a green oil, pictured above. The color can vary between each distillation,
but always stays a color of green.

This general process can be performed to extract the oils of Copper, Iron, Lead,
Antimony, Tin, Zinc, Mercury, etc. To produce the oils of Gold and Silver, other methods
are employed.

Truth of the Matter - an alchemists study of the 3

principles

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2/16/2015

Comments

Alchemy had a unique and beneficial perspective in understanding the nature of reality.
One that is of great value to us today. Especially in regards to our evolution - individually
and collectively.

Incorporating a theory of what was known as the 3 principles was fundamental in

creating a foundation for the pursuit of alchemical works. This theory split all forms of
matter into a trinity so that everything consisted of these three essentials. They were
known as the soul, spirit, and body - or in alchemical terms the sulfur, mercury, and salt.
We have these divisions with us today, and many people recognize themselves as having
a spirit or a soul. But ask someone to define what these immaterial substances are and
they will most likely fumble with their words.

In looking to help myself define these words so as to be resolved in my answer - if ever

asked - I discovered some rather interesting information that helped to shed light on my
understanding of nature, reality, and alchemical works. Practicality and application of
alchemy and it's constituent theories and understandings became apparent as I explored
the answers to these questions. With integration of this new found knowledge my world
was truly transformed by the art of alchemy, which in essence can be seen as the
transmutative flow of life itself.

It's easy for a person, with their mind and intelligence, to recognize that there is an
immaterial backing to their being. This we might call our spirit, or our soul. In alchemical
view, it was also crucial to recognize that not only moving, thinking, animate life was
composed of an immaterial counter part, but that the inanimate rocks and plants also
contained these substances of soul and spirit. Many of the alchemical works have made
this knowing tangible through experimentation. The alchemist could separate any
substance, plant or stone, to reveal three basic materials, which came to be labeled the
salt, sulfur, or mercury of that material in use. The separation of these principles helped
the alchemists of old to conceptualize this understanding - that all matter originated from
one source and was comprised of the same basic building blocks. The source was the
Prima Materia, the first matter of all. The building blocks were the 3 principles, and the
four elements which won't be elaborated on in this article.

To understand the alchemical sulfur, mercury, and salt you must first understand what a
soul, a spirit, and a body really are. The terms sulfur, mercury, and salt are just code
words used to describe the body, soul, and spirit any given substance. In the past,
alchemy and it's practitioners were seen to have gone through their fair share of
persecution and discrimination. Many ancient manuscripts used coded language to hide
the true meanings of valuable information. Information that might be used to condemn a
practicing alchemist or grant power to the greedy. For now, this is history, and what
matters most, here and now, is defining and resolving our understandings of the spirit, the
soul, and the body.

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First it is best to explore the body and define it so a foundation can be built to help grasp
the spirit and the soul and their relationship to the body. The body was known in alchemy
as the Salt - but let's stick with the word body and explore it's definition.

(Please read the following carefully and slowly.)

Istina materije - studija alhemičara o tri principa

16.2.2015

Alhemija je imala jedinstvenu i korisnu perspektivu u razumevanju prirode stvarnosti.

Ono što nam je danas veoma vredno. Posebno u vezi sa našom evolucijom - pojedinačno
i kolektivno.

Uvođenje teorije onoga što je bilo poznato kao 3 principa bilo je od fundamentalnog
značaja u stvaranju temelja za ostvarivanje alhemijskih radova. Ova teorija podelila je
sve oblike materije u trojstvo, tako da se sve sastojalo od ova tri osnovna. Bili su poznati
kao duša, duh i telo - ili u alhemijskom smislu sumpor, živa i so. Danas imamo ove
podele sa nama, a mnogi se prepoznaju kao da imaju duh ili dušu. Ali zamolite nekoga da
definiše koje su ove nematerijalne supstance i najverovatnije će se onesposobiti s
njihovim riječima.

U potrazi da pomognem sebi da definišem ove reči kako bih bio rešen u mom odgovoru -
ako sam ikada pitao - otkrio sam neke vrlo interesantne informacije koje su pomogle da
se rasvetli moje shvatanje prirode, stvarnosti i alhemijskih radova. Praktičnost i primena
alhemije i njegovih konstitutivnih teorija i shvatanja postale su očigledne dok sam
istraživao odgovore na ova pitanja. Integracijom ovog novog saznanja moj svet je zaista
transformisao umetnost alhemije, koja se u suštini može posmatrati kao transmutativni
tok samog života.

Lice je, svojim umom i inteligencijom, lako prepoznati da postoji bitna podrška njihovom
biću. To bi mogli nazvati našim duhom, ili našom dušom. U alhemijskom pogledu bilo je
ključno i priznati da se ne samo da se pomeraju, razmišljaju i živi život sastojalo od
nematerijalnog kontrasta, već da su nežive stene i biljke sadržavale i ove supstance duše i
duha. Mnogi od alhemijskih radova učinili su to znajući opipljivim kroz
eksperimentisanje. Alhemičar je mogao razdvojiti bilo koju supstancu, biljku ili kamen,
kako bi otkrio tri osnovna materijala, koji su označili sol, sumpor ili žive tog materijala u
upotrebi. Razdvajanje ovih principa pomoglo je starijim alhemičarima da konceptualizuju
ovo razumevanje - da sva materija potiče iz jednog izvora i sastoji se od istih osnovnih
građevinskih blokova. Izvor je bila Prima Materia, prva stvar svega. Osnovni elementi su
bili tri principa i četiri elementa koji neće biti razrađeni u ovom članku.

Da biste razumeli alhemijski sumpor, živu i sol, prvo morate da shvatite šta su duša, duh i

22
telo zaista. Termini sumpora, žive i soli su samo kodne reči koje opisuju telo, dušu i duh
bilo koje dane supstance. U prošlosti, alhemija i njegovi praktičari su vidjeli da su prošli
kroz njihov dobar deo progona i diskriminacije. Mnogi drevni rukopisi su koristili
kodirani jezik kako bi sakrili istinsko značenje dragocenih informacija. Informacije koje
se mogu koristiti za osudu praktičara alhemičara ili odobravanje pohlepe. Za sada, ovo je
istorija i ono što je najviše važno, ovde i sada, jeste definisanje i rešavanje našeg
razumevanja duha, duše i tela.

Prvo je najbolje istražiti telo i definisati ga tako da se može izgraditi temelj kako bi se
pomoglo uhvatiti duh i dušu i njihov odnos prema telu. Telo je poznato u alhemiji kao
Salt - ali držimo se tela reči i istražujemo njegovu definiciju.

(Molimo pažljivo i polako pročitajte sledeće).

Salt: The Body

We all have a body. We can see it, touch it, feel it; Our body is our material vessel. It is
the tool we utilize to interact with our world. The houser of our mind, our thoughts,
emotions, and memories. We all know the body. It's simple for us to intellectually grasp
an understanding of the body. Not only our own, but the bodies of other life forms or
objects. We all seem to known it, but I wondered what was the best way to define it. I
then did what any other person would do to get a definition of a word - I looked it up in
the dictionary. Here is how our dictionary defines the word Body:

Body:
A material structure that embodies or gives concrete reality to something abstract.

That definition seems straight forward, but it actually threw me off. Especially the second
half that states: "gives concrete reality to something abstract."

I then decided to dissect this definition of it's larger words to simplify the message at
hand. I started by splitting the definition into two halves

First half: "a material structure that embodies or...."

Second half: "gives concrete reality to something abstract."

Starting with the second half I defined the larger words.

Concrete: Solid.
Reality: The state of things as they actually exist.
Abstract: Existing in thought or as an idea, but not having a physical or concrete
existence.

This intrigued me. By picking apart the definition I began to see what was hiding behind
these words. The second half of the original definition for Body was telling me that the
body "gives a concrete reality to something that has no 'physical or concrete existence.'"
The definition was essentially telling me a lie by stating that something that doesn't exist

23
(abstract) actually exists (reality). A lie is defined as: "an intentional untruth", and that is
exactly what we have here. My own dictionary was telling me the body was a lie. But
let's explore the first half of the definition to further illuminate what a body might
actually be.

The major words of the first half of the definition for Body are:
Material: The matter from which a thing is or can be created.
Structure: construct or arrange according to a plan; give a pattern or organization to.
Embodies: To give visible form to an idea, quality, or feeling.

These words shed substantial amounts of light on to the true nature of the body. These
definitions are telling us that the body organizes (structure) something (material) to make
an idea visible (embodies). What is the matter being structured to achieve this illusion -
one of making something appear to exist that actually has 'no concrete reality?' The
definition of embodies spells it out clearly: "To give visible form to an idea..." What is an
idea? Many dictionaries use a simple definition of 'a thought' - so an idea is a thought.

With that in mind, we can see then that the body is actually an organization of thought
to give a concrete reality to something that does not actually exist.

That is our true definition for Body - hiding behind our own English words the entire
time.

Since the alchemical term Salt and body are synonymous we can then also apply our new
definition of the body to the alchemical salt. The salt associated to the 3 principles of all
matter.

The body, which basically defines the existence of all forms of matter, and the majority of
objective reality is being painted as an illusion with use of that definition. Physicality is
an illusion - That sounds a lot like eastern philosophy, and can even correlate to certain
understandings in quantum theory.

Our definition for Body gains ground as authentic as the definitions of spirit and soul are
also dissected.

Sol: Telo
Svi imamo telo. Možemo ga videti, dodirnuti, osjetiti; Naše telo je naš materijal. To je
alat koji koristimo za interakciju sa našim svetom. Dom za um, naše misli, emocije i
sećanja. Svi znamo telo. Jednostavno je da intelektualno shvatimo razumevanje tela. Ne
samo naša, već i tela drugih životnih oblika ili predmeta. Izgleda da smo svi to znali, ali
sam se pitao koji je najbolji način da ga definišete. Ja sam onda uradio ono što bi bilo
koja druga osoba napravila da bi definisala reč - pogledao sam je u rečnik. Evo kako naš
rječnik definiše reč Body:

Telo:

24
Materijalna struktura koja otelotvoruje ili daje konkretnu stvarnost nečemu apstraktnom.

Ta definicija izgleda direktno, ali me je zapravo odbacila. Naročito druga polovina koja
kaže: "daje konkretnoj stvarnosti nečemu apstraktnom".

Zatim sam odlučio da razjasnim ovu definiciju većih riječi kako bih pojednostavio
poruku. Počeo sam da podelim definiciju na dve polovine

Prva polovina: "materijalna struktura koja oličava ili ...."

Druga polovina: "daje konkretnoj stvarnosti nečemu apstraktnom".

Počevši od druge polovine sam definisao veće reči.

Beton: čvrsta.
Stvarnost: Stanje stvari kakve stvarno postoje.
Sažetak: Postoji u mislima ili kao ideja, ali nemaju fizičko ili konkretno postojanje.

Ovo me je zaintrigiralo. Izbegavajući definiciju sam počeo da vidim šta se krije iza ovih
reči. Druga polovina prvobitne definicije Tela mi je rekla da tijelo "daje konkretnu
stvarnost nečemu što nema" fizičku ili konkretnu egzistenciju ". Definicija je u suštini
govorila meni lažima navodeći da nešto što ne postoji (apstraktno) zapravo postoji
(stvarnost). Laž je definisano kao: "namerna neistina", a to je upravo ono što imamo
ovde. Moj vlastiti rečnik mi je rekao da je telo laž. Ali, hajde da istražimo prvu polovinu
definicije kako bismo dodatno osvetlili ono što bi telo zapravo moglo biti.

Glavne riječi prve polovine definicije za Telo su:

Materijal: stvar od koje se stvar može ili može stvoriti.
Struktura: izgraditi ili urediti prema planu; dati obrazac ili organizaciju.
Embodije: Dati vidljivu formu ideji, kvalitetu ili osećanju.

Ove reči propuštaju značajnu količinu svetlosti na pravu prirodu tela. Ove definicije nam
govore da telo organizuje (strukturira) nešto (materijal) kako bi ideja bila vidljiva
(oličenje). Šta je struktuirano da bi se postigla ta iluzija - izgleda da postoji nešto što
zapravo nema "konkretnu stvarnost"? Definicija oličenja jasno govori: "Da vidimo vid na
formu ideje ..." Šta je ideja? Mnogi rečnici koriste jednostavnu definiciju "misao" - tako
ideja je misao.

Imajući to na umu, tada možemo vidjeti da je telo zapravo organizacija mišljenja koja
daje konkretnu realnost nečemu što zapravo ne postoji.

To je naša istinska definicija za telo - koja se krije iza sopstvenih engleskih reči sve
vreme.

S obzirom da je alhemijski izraz Salt i telo sinonim, možemo onda primeniti i našu novu
definiciju tela alhemijskoj soli. Sol je povezan sa 3 principa svake materije.

25
Telo, koje u suštini definiše postojanje svih oblika materije, i većina objektivne
stvarnosti, naslikava se kao iluzija sa upotrebom te definicije. Fizikalnost je iluzija - To
zvuči slično kao istočna filozofija, a može se čak i povezati sa određenim shvatanjima u
kvantnoj teoriji.

Naša definicija za telesne dobitke je osnova kao autentična kao što su i definicije duha i
duše takođe razdvojene.

Mercury: The Spirit

In alchemical works the spirit of a given material was known as the Mercury. Staying
with our theme of using common language instead of alchemical code let's define spirit.

Spirit: The nonphysical part of a person that is the seat of emotions and character; the
mind and ego.

The second half of this definition says it most plainly, telling us that the spirit is the mind
and the ego. The first half helps us to build a more holistic image to understand the mind
and the ego. The most interesting word to me in the first half of the definition of spirit
was character, so I looked it up to define it.

Character: the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some
person or thing.

With previous understanding of the ego, I found similarities to its definition with the
definition of character, so I also looked to define ego and make those similarities more
apparent.

Ego: the individual self of a person; a person as thinking, feeling, willing, and
distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.
- that which identifies with thought, feelings, and desires as self.

Essentially, identification with thoughts and feelings gives rise to individuality or

character. The mechanics of this function are found within the mind, which the spirit was
defined as. Getting to the bottom of spirit is also then getting to the bottom of mind. To
define mind...

Mind: the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their
experiences, thoughts, and feelings; the faculty of consciousness.

If spirit is our mind, and our mind is what enables us to experience the world and
ourselves, what then are we? What is the self that the mind is helping us experience? Are
we our thoughts? No. We are not our feelings either. The mind is not our source, and the
definition of mind is telling us this.

We identify with our thoughts, which also hold our memories, and this identification

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gives rise to character or individuality. It makes us believe an untruth - that we are our
thoughts and emotions, that we are the part that thinks. But we are not our thoughts, or
our emotions, we are not our individual selves that we thought - at least not entirely.

The first half of the definition of mind is telling us that the mind is just an element that
enables us to be aware of our world and thoughts. But the mind itself is plainly defined as
a "faculty of consciousness." What does it mean to be a faculty of consciousness?

Faculty is defined as:

An inherent mental or physical power

Spirit is the mind and

The mind is an inherent power of consciousness.

Consciousness inherently has the power to think. Consciousness is responsible for the
mind. The mind is then responsible for the creation of thought. The mind identifies with
that thought, organizes it, and embodies it's ideas to create conceptually a concrete reality,
even though those realities don't actually exist (other than in the mind).

Sulfur: The Soul

This leaves us to define our final word that we set out to understand. Soul. The
alchemical sulfur was the soul of any given material. (Read more on the alchemical
sulfur.)

What is the soul?

The Soul is: The actuating cause of an individual life.

In the previous study of the definition for spirit, the answer to what the actuating cause
was is presented to us.

- Consciousness -

The mind is an inherent power of consciousness. Consciousness is the actuating cause for
an individual life. That answer holds true for all individual lives and for all forms of
existence. All matter was known to be composed of these 3 basic principles -soul, spirit,
and body- so all of existence knows consciousness as the actuating cause of its individual
life. Every rock, plant, animal, star, atom, galaxy, etc.

Consciousness is the true Prima Materia of the alchemists. The seed from which all forms
grow and are rooted in. It is the spark of life.

Life can be defined as: a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence

conceived of as belonging to the soul.

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Life and existence belong to the soul, and the soul is consciousness.

Consciousness is life, and in all life is consciousness.

Consciousness is the Key.

This is the fundamental truth that alchemy was built upon. Any subsequent
experimentation is merely just an exploration of this singular truth, or validation of that
truth through any physical or spiritual alchemical practice. The understanding of this fact
automatically granted the understanding of the truth of all things and gave true alchemists
a fantastic power - The power to be - living freely as and in eternity.

Merkur: Duh
U alhemijskim radovima duh datog materijala bio je poznat kao Merkur. Ostajemo sa
našom temom korištenja zajedničkog jezika umjesto alhemičkog koda, definišemo duh.

Duh: nefizički deo osobe koja je sedište emocija i karaktera; um i ego.

Druga polovina ove definicije to jasno kaže, govoreći nam da je duh um i ego. Prva
polovina nam pomaže da izgradimo sve holističniju sliku kako bi razumjeli um i ego.
Najinteresantnija reč za mene u prvoj polovini definicije duha bila je karakter, tako da
sam ga pogledao da ga definišem.

Karakter: zbir karakteristika i osobina koje čine individualnu prirodu neke osobe ili
stvari.

Sa prethodnim razumevanjem ega, nalazio sam sličnosti sa svojom definicijom sa

definicijom karaktera, pa sam takođe tražio da definišem ego i učinim te sličnosti
očiglednijim.

Ego: individualno samopouzdanje osobe; osoba kao razmišljanje, osećanje, voljstvo i

odvojenost od sebe drugih i od predmeta svoje misli.
- ono koje identifikuju sa mislima, osećanjima i željama kao ja.

U suštini, identifikacija sa mislima i osećanjima donosi individualnost ili karakter.

Mehanici ove funkcije nalaze se u umu, koji je duh definisan kao. Došljavanje do dna
duha takođe potiče do dna uma. Da definišete um ...

Um: element osobe koja im omogućava da budu svesni sveta i njihovih iskustava, misli i
osećanja; fakultet svesti.

Ako je duh naš um, a naš um je ono što nam omogućava da osjetimo svet i sebe, šta smo
onda? Koji je to osećaj koji um pomaže da doživimo? Da li smo mi naše misli? Ne.
Nismo ni naša osećanja. Um nije naš izvor, a definicija uma nam to govori.

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Mi se identifikujemo sa našim mislima, koje takođe zadržavaju naša sećanja, a ova
identifikacija dovodi do karaktera ili individualnosti. To nas tera da verujemo u neistinu -
da smo mi naše misli i emocije, da smo mi deo koji misli. Ali mi nismo naše misli, niti
naše emocije, mi nismo naša individualna osećanja za koja smo mislili - barem ne u
potpunosti.

Prva polovina definicije uma nam govori da je um samo element koji nam omogućava da
budemo svjesni našeg svijeta i misli. Ali sam um je očigledno definisan kao "sposobnost
svesti". Šta znači biti sposobnost svesti?

Fakultet je definisan kao:

Ujednačena psihička ili fizička moć

Duh je um i
Um je inherentna moć svesti.

Svest sam po sebi ima moć da misli. Svest je odgovorna za um. Um je tada odgovoran za
stvaranje misli. Um se identifikuje sa tom misljenom, organizuje i oličava ideje da
konceptualno stvara konkretnu stvarnost, iako te stvarnosti stvarno ne postoje (osim u
umu).

Sumpor: duša
Ovo nas ostavlja da definišemo našu poslednju reč koju smo podesili da razumemo. Soul.
Alhemijski sumpor bio je duša bilo kog datog materijala. (Pročitajte više o alhemijskom
sumporu.)

Kakva je duša?

Duša je: Pokretni uzrok individualnog života.

U prethodnoj studiji o definiciji duha, odgovor je na koji je način predstavljen uzrok.

- Svesnost -

Um je inherentna moć svesti. Svest je pokretački uzrok za pojedinačni život. Taj odgovor
važi za sve individualne živote i za sve oblike postojanja. Sva ta materija je bila
sastavljena od ovih 3 osnovna načela - duša, duha i tela - tako da svako postojanje zna
svesnost kao aktivni uzrok njenog individualnog života. Svaka stena, biljka, životinja,
zvezda, atom, galaksija itd.

Svest je prava Prima Materia alhemičara. Seme iz koje sve vrste raste i ukorenjene. To je
iskra života.

Život se može definisati kao: odgovarajuća država, postojanje ili načelo egzistencije koji

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je zamišljen kao pripadajući duši.

Život i postojanje pripadaju duši, a duša je svesnost.

Svest je život, iu celom životu je svest.

Svest je ključ.

To je osnovna istina na kojoj je izgrađena alhemija. Svako kasnije eksperimentisanje je

samo istraživanje ove jedinstvene istine ili potvrđivanje istine kroz bilo koju fizičku ili
duhovnu alhemijsku praksu. Razumevanje ove činjenice automatski je omogućilo
razumijevanje istine svih stvari i dalo istinitim alhemičarima fantastičnu moć - moć da se
- slobodno živi kao i u večnosti.

Standardization of definition
In looking to explore and understand the 3 principles of alchemy, I read through many
alchemical texts - ancient and modern. The majority of the texts seem to agree that Sulfur
is the Soul, Mercury is the Spirit, and Salt is the Body. These texts seemed to be written
as if to assume that the student reading them already had prior knowledge of what a soul,
spirit, and body are. Feeling that it is never safe to assume, it felt appropriate to seek out
fully defining these terms.

To summarize and define the body, soul, and spirit:

Body: Organization of thought to give a concrete reality to something that does not
actually exist.
Spirit: The mind - an inherent power of consciousness
Soul: Consciousness - the actuating cause of life

I encourage others to contemplate on the implications this presumes on the nature of

reality.

To end here and to honor an old tradition that many alchemists followed of starting or
finishing their writings with a prayer, I quote St. Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek

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To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Standardizacija definicije
U potrazi za istraživanjem i razumevanjem 3 principa alhemije, čitao sam mnoge
alhemijske tekstove - drevne i moderne. Većina tekstova izgleda da se slažu da je sumpor
duša, da je Merkur Duh, a Salt je telo. Čini se da su ovi tekstovi pisani kao da
pretpostavljaju da je učenik koji ih je čitao već imao prethodno znanje o tome šta su duša,
duh i telo. Osjećajući da nikada nije sigurno pretpostaviti, bilo je prikladno tražiti u
potpunosti definisati ove uslove.

Da sumira i definiše telo, dušu i duh:

Telo: Organizovanje misli da konkretnu stvarnost donese nečemu što zapravo ne postoji.
Duh: um - ustvari moć svesti
Soul: Svest - pokretački uzrok života

Podstičem druge da razmišljaju o implikacijama koje to podrazumijeva na prirodi

stvarnosti.

Da završimo ovde i da poštujemo staru tradiciju koju su mnogi alhemičari pratili da

započnu ili završe svoja pisma molitvom, citiram sv.

Gospode, učinite mi instrument o tvom miru;

Gde postoji mržnja, pusti me da sejem ljubav;
Gde je povreda, pomilovanje;
Tamo gde postoji greška, istina;
Tamo gde postoji sumnja, vera;
Tamo postoji očaj, nada;
Gdje je tama, svetlost;
A gde je tuga, radost.

O Božanski majstor,
Grant koji možda ne tražim mnogo
Da bude utešan, kako konzolirati;
Da se shvati, kako razumeti;
Da bude voljen kao da voli.

Jer to je dajemo to što primamo;

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U pomilovanju je da smo pomilovani;
I umire da smo rođeni u večni život. Amen.

alchemical mercury: mind in matter

2/28/2015

Ancient alchemists were wise in coding their texts with words that can be so easily
mistaken for their elementary counterparts (sulfur, mercury, salt, etc.). Even today many
fall short of the authentic alchemical experiments described in these old manuscripts due
to this confusion. Of all of the multifaceted words found within alchemy, it seems that
none are more commonly misunderstood than Mercury.

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In the alchemical perspective, Mercury was considered the spirit of any given material.
Paracelsus explained it simply as such, saying:

"For Mercury is the spirit, sulfur is the soul, and salt is the body." [1]

Exploration of the word spirit, featured in the article Truth of the Matter, helped to define
spirit as the mind - an inherent power of consciousness. It is the part of any given
material that organizes the Logos, which inherently exists within consciousness - our
alchemical sulfur. To the Greeks, Logos was considered to be a divine dialogue that God
had within himself. This dialogue, in effect, was the beginnings of the creation of matter
and our known reality.

"In beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word." John
1:1

It is found then that Mercury is intimately tied to Sulfur - Consciousness and the mind
acting as one to manifest nature. Frater Albertus pointed to this relationship, noting:

"Sulfur, that is, the alchemical sulfur, is usually found in its oily form adhering to the
Mercury."[2]

Made for one another, alchemists viewed these two aspects - Sulfur and Mercury- as
lovers, intimately bound together in union. These principles embodied archetypical
patterns of masculinity & femininity, existing in a natural state of union unless separated
by art. Manfred M. Junius wrote:

"Mercury... Represents the feminine and passive principle. Sulfur is the...masculine or

active principle."[3]

These general archetypes of masculine and feminine inspired alchemists to use words that
were synonymous with these terms, once again further coding the alchemical principles
of Mercury & Sulfur. Junius, describing these literary synonyms saying:

"Mercury is occasionally called the Moon, the Lunar, or Diana, Sulfur is the Sun, the
Solar, Apollo, the original potency, the formative principle, the active, the principle of the
"invisible fire" and also of love."[4]

These principles, being so closely tied, made it difficult at times for alchemists to
distinguish between one or the other, and many times these principles were considered to
be two sides of the same coin. The image of two snakes, wrapped in a circle, biting each
others tails served as a symbol to describe this and helped paint a picture of the motion
going on within the realm of consciousness.

Recognition of the affinity that the principles of Mercury and Sulfur have towards each
other, gave rise to another crucial observation: Sulfur coagulates Mercury. When brought

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together, the union of Sulfur and Mercury has the power to create salt, or a body. Francis
Bacon starts out his essay- Experiments Touching Sulfur and Mercury- by saying:

"There bee two Great Families of Things; You may terme them by severall Names;
Sulphureous and Mercureall, which are the Chymists Words: (as for their Sal, which is
their Third Principle, it is a Compound of the other two;) Inflammable, and Not
Inflammable; Mature and Crude; Oily and Watry."

Sulfur and Mercury - consciousness and Mind - existing together, naturally gave birth to
the third principle - Salt.

Sulfur is the soul, the consciousness in matter. Consciousness being the actuating cause
of an individual life. The Spirit is the mind, an inherent power of consciousness - this is
our sulfur and mercury bound together - consciousness and mind. Consciousness, using
the power of the mind, organizes and embodies thoughts, giving concrete reality to these
thoughts, which have no concrete existence - it births Salt. This in turn makes all forms of
matter, a matter of Soul and Spirit. Paracelsus defines this precisely, explaining in his
book Concerning the Nature of Things:

"It should be known that the life of things is none other than a spiritual thing. On this
account there is nothing corporeal but has latent within itself a spirit and life, which as
just now said, is none other than a spiritual thing. But not only the lives which move and
act, as men, animals, worms in the earth, birds under the sky, fishes in the sea, but also
all corporeal and substantial things. For here we should know that God, at the beginning
of the creation of all things, created no body whatever without its own spirit, which spirit
contains after an occult manner within itself. For what is the body without the spirit?
Absolutely nothing. So it is that the spirit holds concealed within itself the virtue and
power of the thing, and not the body."

Confirmed to us by Paracelsus, all matter, and the alchemical Salt, are a manifestation of
Spirit. All things have been made real by and through the Spirit, and the Spirit is made
real by the Soul, Our Sulfur. This Spirit is our Mercury, the Mercury of the 3 principles.
The mind of matter.

Mercury is the bridge or the medium through which invisible and immaterial
consciousness can be placed within and reside in matter.

Applying the knowledge that Sulfur and mercury in union together gave rise to the third
principle, Salt, alchemists employed these philosophical understandings in pursuit and
finalization of every alchemists Magum Opus, the confection of the philosophers stone.

In Search of the stone, alchemists often referred to Mercury as Argent Vive. Another code
word further mystifying the materials they were harnessing in their laboratories. Under
this pseudonym -Argent Vive - Mercury was recognized in its metallic form as
quicksilver. It's union with the masculine metallic seed/Sulfur, would in time coagulate
into a Salt if incubated properly. Copulation between the masculine and feminine gave

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birth to a new form of metallic matter, a red powder - the famed philosophers stone.

At times, alchemists would also refer to quicksilver as Our Mercury, as if to show their
own intimate philosophical understanding of the secrets hidden within this amazing and
luminous liquid metal - this water which does not wet the hands. Prefacing mercury with
the word Our pointed to the relationship the alchemists had with this matter. It showed
possession, and a depth of understanding - One of knowing a material, inside and out, for
its true nature and not just its surface level appearances. Much like how referring to a
specific person as my wife or my husband shows others your intimate connection and
understanding with that person, alchemists too had Our Mercury and Our Gold.

References to this relationship that Mercury facilitated between the soul and the body are
prevalent amongst Greek and roman mythology as well. The name Mercury originally
comes to us from the God Mercury that existed within the roman pantheon. Often
considered one of the most favorited gods, Mercury was known as the son of Maia and
Jupiter (Maia and Zues). It is believed that the name Mercury comes from a Proto-Indo-
European root - merĝ- which stands for "boundary or border."

In Greek mythology Mercury was known as Hermes and similar to the etymological
meaning of Mercury in the roman language, Hermes gets his name from the Greek word
Herma which meant a heap of stones, or a boundary marker.

In the mythical stories of Ancient Greece and Rome, Mercury/Hermes was known as a
messenger between the realm of immortal gods and the realm of mortal man. Mercury
bridged this gap between creator and created - God and Man. He resided within the gap
between the two and facilitated contact between their borders. He was the boundary
marker.

Mercury's mother Maia is also of particular interest in these stories, and helps illuminate
much of the nature that is attributed to Mercury. Maia was one of the seven Pleiades, all
of which were considered sea-nymphs and daughters of the Titan Atlas, who was
associated with the Moon. This watery nature of his sea-nymph mother and the lunar
nature of her father Atlas seem to have been passed along to Mercury/Hermes.

Also of interest, is the linguistic similarity that Mercury's mother Maia has to the Vedic
god of Illusion, Maya. Taking into consideration the fact that earthly matter and reality is
an embodiment of thoughts - imagination taken as reality - produced by the Spirit/Mind,
a thread connecting illusion to Mercury begins to be revealed. Mercury/Hermes was
recognized as a trickster god, outwitting other gods for the satisfaction of mankind. This
makes the thread between Mercury and illusion become even more apparent. What more
is an illusion than a fancy trick? And certainly it can be seen that the Mind can play tricks
on us all. Mind, being of course synonymous with Mercury, the connection of illusion
thickens.

In ancient symbology, water embodies the moon, the feminine and the mercurial nature;
alchemical mercury often being called Luna, or the feminine. Alchemy also considered

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Mercury to be composed of the elements air and water, And when found within any given
material (plant, animal, mineral, metal) it was recognized by its watery consistency and
Airy volatile nature. Mercury was always any humidity, moisture, or fluid found within
different materials. For plants it was their inherent water, and liquor if fermented, in
minerals and metals it was their acetones, and in animals it was their blood and semen.
Physically, Mercury was always a liquid substance.

In many ancient traditions there is a great sea that separates the realm of immortality
from the realm of mortality - Men from Gods. The ancient Egyptians spoke of this ocean
as the "sea of death", a place that no mortal man could venture past and return from. In
Greek/Roman mythology Mercury/Hermes was known to be a conductor of souls
between these two abodes, helping to ferry individuals into the afterlife. Mercury himself
was seen as this medium, this water/sea, spreading far and deep between the two lands of
mortality and immortality.

Mercury was, and is, always the water, in all facets of study. The messenger and
communicator standing between these two lands. Mercury bridged the gap between what
appeared to be two separate worlds. The Presence of Mercury, Mind, or Spirit, unified
and made what appears to be separate, whole, placing soul into Body - Mind into matter -
immortal into mortal.

[1] Concerning the Nature of Things: Book One - Concerning the Generation of natural
Things
[2] The Alchemists Handbook
[3] Spagyrics
[4] Spagyrics

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