Franz Kieser - Cabala Chymica

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Franz Kieser
CABALA CHYMICA
PHYSICA NATURALLIS ROTUNDA
VISIONIS CHYMICAE CABALISTICA
At first the Sun and Moon appeared, with the entire firmament, and stood
still, had color, but gave forth no light from themselves. Under these there
stood a ball; it was of an earthy color. In its center was another little ball,
which glistened snow white. When I had seen all of this, there occurred a
terrifying thunderclap, which frightened me extremely. There also came a
great mist, and as this slowly faded, there appeared above the Sun and Moon
and the firmament a star, which shined so brightly that I could not look at it
directly. In color it was redder than the Sun is wont to be. As soon as this star
appeared, the entire firmament with the Sun and Moon, began to move and to
frisle and leap about, while from the Star many fiery rays shot out of the
firmament down upon the ball. Some of these penetrated a little, some halfway, and some completely (though this was the smallest portion) into the
little ball. Those that had penetrated a little or half-way into the little ball
moved the water currents, so that they began to run and all sorts of fish
appeared within them. Others had the effect that the large ball turned green
and brought forth all sorts of trees and fruits. And all sorts of animals and
men also wandered upon it. However, the rays that had penetrated
completely into the little ball moved this to such a degree, that it began to
seethe, like water in a harbor, and gave off a white, clear pure steam, which
then extended in the form of a star into the roots of the trees and the plants.
Then there began to grow forth out of this little ball or white glistening star all
sorts of trees and plants, but very slowly, which rose steadily toward the
circumference of the larger ball. When they had finally come quite close, there
grew out of the two ends of the ball two high, rocky mountains, which soon
opened. But I saw these plants and trees steadily grow and bear to the ends of
the mountains all sorts of flowers of many colors.
These then closed, and turned to buttons; red, yellow, green and white. The
buttons on the mountain to the right were transparent and small, while those
on the one to the left were larger, but not transparent. Rays were shooting
constantly from the uppermost large star, from which more and more trees
and plants grew forth out of each ball. At last there came a voice, which cried
loud and clearly: Praise be to GOD, Who created this Star, which forever
shall be called the Star of Wisdom and the Eternal Light.
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As I watched all this with great astonishment, I did not understand, nor could
I interpret what it meant, when looking around me, I perceived the
PRINCIPAL, who stood near me. He spoke to me:
Do you understand this? I answered, no, that I could not discover the
meaning and then humbly asked if he would interpret the vision for me.
That I will tell you without difficulty, he replied, if you will listen to me.
Therefore attend it with diligence and do not be thoughtless.
The large ball is the earth, from which all kinds of fruits grow, and through
which the waters flow in order to give them moisture. But in the middle is
that water which I call corporeal in distinction to ordinary water, of which I
told you last time that it is the fertile field from which all the minerals take
their origin and which receives the seeds from the heaven and the firmament.
As you can see, above it is the heaven, which courses with its lights around
the earth, and tells the time of the years and the days. However, if you see the
Star as GOD, you are mistaken, for this Star is but a creature of GOD, though
gifted with such virtues that everything in heaven and on earth comes from it.
The Star, which you see, and through which the heaven and the earth are
moved, is no Star, but due to the weakness of human nature it appears to you
as a star, for no bodily creature can see or understand it in and of itself. It is
nothing other than an invisible fire, an eternal light, which is ordered next to
GOD, over all the heavens. It is the power, might, form, life, virtue and
preservation of all things in heaven and on the earth, an eternal movement,
not Nature, but the Lord of Nature, a mistress of Nature, and of all her
powers and, in summa, everything in everything. Therefore it is called the
Star of Wisdom and an Eternal Light. Since it is a light in itself, not borrowed
from anything else, but rather imparted to everything, the foundation of
Wisdom is concealed within
it. I cannot tell you sufficiently what power and might is contained in it, and
even if I were able to do so, it would be impossible for you to comprehend it,
for as little as one can fathom the Mystery of GOD and His Majesty, even so
little is it possible for you or any other man to investigate this. However, can
it not at least be understood that there is a Lord above it, and that it comes
from Him, and that He has thus demonstrated His Almightiness, in order that
one can recognize His works?
I asked: What is the power of this Star, and what does it mean that the other
stars are driven by it, and also that it moves the waters and that the earth
brings forth fruits by means of its rays?
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He answered: Almighty GOD in all of his Works is an archetype of the
future procreation, such that after he created and made the heaven and earth
along with all the creatures, foliage, grass, plants, animals and men, he said:
Be fruitful and multiply yourselves. Behold, through these words this
invisible fire had begun to dominate, to rule and to receive sri impression
(like that of the heaven and earth but of an attractive Astral kind). It impelled
Nature to complete the work that was implanted in her and not only gave the
Sun (and through it the Moon and all the stars) an enduring light, but also
gave a form to the moving power and to the seed through which everything
comes on and from the earth, and is thus begotten as by a bearing-mother,
who attracts everything to herself, as a lodestone attracts iron; just as it had
previously given form to the stars and the firmament. Note also that as the
earth attracted the eternal light to itself, it also attracted the form of the
firmament (which form, however, had previously been a MATERIA, namely
of the Star). Therefore, if GOD the Most High had not spoken the Word, then
all things would have been dead, for in a short time the creatures would have
become corrupted, the created ANIMALIA would have died out, the heaven
would have turned to nothingness, and thus this exalted Work (from which
one can sense Almightiness and Wisdom) would have turned to rubble in a
short time. And although this Fire was the first creation, living and enduring
eternally and imperishable (measured against the world) it still had to be
obedient to its Creator, and would have stood still and not be-friended Nature
and the other creatures. But as soon as the exalted Word was spoken, then
this unconsuining and vitalizing Fire coursed into the heart of Nature, and
made its impression and awakened her. Only then the movement properly
began as an attractive force and was implanted in the firmament and the
sidereal stars, and only then the living power of procreation properly entered
into all creatures.
For this reason the Sun, Moon, stars and everything were first shown to you
as dead, because they would have soon again come to an end. For they were
created frozen, and frozen they would have declined, and thus the earth as
well. But when this powerful Word was heard, the Sun received the seed
whereby it could rejuvenate and purify itself, and likewise the Moon and all
the stars, so that the earth as well could every day awaken that which had
died out. Fur this reason the rays and radii shoot forth constantly anew, day
and night and always, from this Star. Thus these rays are the life of the
firmament, the soul, the preserver or protection from dissolution. From the
Sun, Moon and stars these rays take the seed that is their highest essence, and
mix within it, the living Fire which the seed that has received this changes
into Nature. The seed takes the moving life into itself, and with it a great
power to multiply itself and to give forth to its race uncountable numbers like
itself. When this mixing has occurred in the heaven or firmament, then this
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soul-kingdom of kindled seed separates itself off in the form of stars, and falls
upon the earth, the Bearing-mother, with such vigor and force that it splits the
earth (though invisible) and falls until it arrives at the center of the earth.
However, in such a case, much of it remains on the surface of the earth, and
part deeper in the earth, for much of it separates from the seed as an impurity,
from which all sorts of plants, trees and fruits come forth and grow, each
according to its kind, after its spiritual, volatile and material body has taken a
nature from its star. This is the Form (as was previously mentioned). As soon
as this enters into the earth, it seeks the material that is useful to it, multiplies
itself in it, and is given a corporeal body, even as before it had been given a
spiritual body in heaven. In this body the Fire constitutes its life by means of
the great Star. Thus there appear all sorts of fruit, both large and small, for
everything upon the earth was shaped previously by the Star, and thus
prepared as A Form.
That certain fruits, however may be found in one place, and not in another,
is caused by the fact that the heaven is joined out of two parts, around which
it revolves, as is well known to the astronomers. One part cannot enter into
the other, and the stars that are in each part are not like the others, for there
are as many different species as there are stars. Since one part cannot enter
into the others place, it is not possible, due to the roundness of heaven and the
center of the earth, that the seed of a star in one part can fall on another part
and develop there, but rather it must fall where it can, and this is always
straight downward.
Thus you may infer from this that a seed that comes from a star over India
may not fall into Sweden, for the star does not reach so far. Of course, it is
true that a man can carry a plant or a seed to another place and plant it there,
and even though its star cannot reach to that place, that it will grow equally
well there, but this is due to the inexpressible (power of) Multiplication which
is concealed in the spiritual Fire, and also to the fact that the seed receives its
proper digestion. For again, when a plant grows well at one place and will not
come forth at another, this is due to the fact that it cannot obtain its proper
materials there. Among other factors, the digestion may be too weak or too
strong, for a plant that grows in Arabia cannot grow in Germany, since its
nature is to have a strong digestion. Likewise, a plant that grows in Germany
cannot grow in Arabia, for it would be burned up there and come to nothing.
Thus one now sees how the VEGETABILIA are born by means of the stars of
heaven, and how each has its own influence, how they may die out just like
men, and be stained and receive their VENENA through the stars. Now
should we proceed further and see how man is born and ruled according to
the stars?
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DR GENERATIONE HOMINIS ET ANIMALIUM
in the case of men and animals, however, who have a sensitive life, this has
another significance. When the commingling of man and woman occurs, then
the Astra in the animal or human being rise up, and are so strong that they
master the stars, and the stars again master the Eternal Light (for each
MATERIA attracts the Form to itself). Thus there occurs the introjection of the
stars together with the seed into the MATRICEM. From this comes the
movement, so that the male sperm, as the efficacious part, commingles with
the female part, working within to make a human being or an animal,
according to the form and character that the stars and firmament had at that
time. When this body has been finished, then comes the second introjection,
that is, the astral, material, spiritual and firmamental body with the life.
Now according to the constellation of the stars at that particular time, so the
human being or animal proves to be in sensibility and thought. Through this
the differences in men and animals may be understood, for someone may be a
man in body, but have the disposition of a dog, a wolf or a bear, and some
animals, such as dogs, wolves and bears are more fierce than others of the
species. Thus it is that some pious fathers may have evil sons, or again, that
an evil father may have a pious son.
With this the Physiognomists are refuted, who wish to judge the nature of a
man from his face and the form of his organs, for one man may not be like
another, and yet they both have the same thoughts. For it commonly or most
frequently happens that the second introjection of the stars with the soul or
life into the ANIMALIA is not comparable to or is not of the same kind as the
first. Thus some men may appear sad or wrathful and have a course face, yet
are friendly and humble in their hearts. And again, the same thing may occur
with animals, as when at times the eyes or another subtle organ like the
tongue may make their disposition manifest. Therefore it is not possible from
this alone sufficiently to recognize a man, though many wickedly dare to
attempt it; for the same man is different in one place than another, and is
more fierce or friendly at one time than at another. This is so because he is
under another star and because of the type of land that he is in. For when the
stars and the type of land correspond to his nature, then his disposition and
the impression given to him by the heaven is strengthened; but if they are in
conflict, then his disposition is distorted and repulsive and at times his body
may also be afflicted. Thus one sees how the stars rule men and are either
furthering or impeding to his aims. But this is said only of bestial men, who
do only want the stars wish.
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But in this regard a correct man should consider that he is yet higher than all
the other creatures, that is, that beyond these corporeal and firmamental
bodies, he has received from Almighty GOD His breath and the third and
highest body, namely an anima or psychic body, through which the two other
bodies with their spirit and soul may be begotten. For in him is to be found
not merely an Eternity, but rather a perpetually enduring Eternity, through
which he has become the possessor not only of the earth, but also of the
heaven and the entire firmament, and therefore can master and conquer this.
For this reason all Impressions, Complexions and NatMties are refuted, for
here the Astra should not reign, but rather the psychic body, that is, the Spirit
of GOD. The deeds of men have another name among men than they should;
and this is because man should rule according to the will of Him Who created
him, that is, according to the will of GOD, who forbade him to do evil and
commanded him to hold to the good. Through such a commandment the
entire heaven is refuted, for this commandment pays no regard to the man, of
whatever Complexion he might be of or to whatever he might be inclined.
This commandment overturns everything. For if Almighty GOD had not
known that man could resist the stars, but instead had to act in accord with
that to which he was inclined, then He would have given no Commandment,
no have placed man as a lord over everything. If more rested on heaven than
on man, then no man could be condemned on Judgement Day, but rather the
blame would be placed on luck and the stars, indeed on GOD himself, far be
it for me to suggest it. Thus you men do wrongly in that you say, I am a
child of Venus, a child of the Sun, a child of Mars. That is not to speak
rationally, but rather bestially, that is to make idols, namely, the stars that
have made and created you. Instead you should say I am a child of GOD, the
Most High, Who has given His own Son, for me, that he might redeem me
and save me from the power of the Evil Spirit through his blood, bitter
suffering and death. That would be the proper way to talk, that you give to
Him the honor that He has deserved from you and which He is worthy of.
The heathens have relied on Astronomy, have subjected themselves to the
stars, and have held the same to be their gods. But you should speak and act
like men, not like heathens and irrational beasts. Let this be said as a warning
to you and to everyone, so that GOD should not be caused to make his
punishment more severe.
I asked: Is Astronomy then nothing, and should one reject it completely?
He answered: Astronomy is in and of itself a glorious Art, which is to be
praised and esteemed highly in so far as one uses it correctly. However, it has
become greatly falsified, as I have said, because men want to make gods out
of it. In the second place, the correct calculation has been lost, for the young
Astronomers only make use of that which PTOLOMAEUS has described,
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which is improper and false, since the heavens have now become different
from what he says, and have grown very much lower, slower, sluggish in
their revolution and much reduced in power. He who knows the correct
method uses it as a Christian and not as a heathen, that is, in order to
determine the time of the day and of the year, and in part also to investigate
storms, but not, as some men wish, to announce war, riot, and misfortune,
and to present this as certain. No, that is false, for such things come from the
will of GOD and according to the merit of men. For even though a city might
have the most favorable Ascendent, it would still be possible, if the people of
it led a wicked life, and acted contrary to GOD and His commandments, that
punishment would not fail to appear, and GOD would send his Scourge to
chastise them. You have an example of this in Sodom and Gomorrah, which
neither a good nor a bad planet was able to help, for their sins themselves had
Created a bad star for them, and GOD had to punish them. You may find
many such examples in the Holy Scriptures; and thus a man should ask
nothing concerning the stars and their signification, but rather look to GOD
Himself, Who is the Lord, Who preserved Daniel and Joseph, and is yet able
to preserve others.
But if a man relies on the stars and subjects himself to them, then he has not
only departed from human nature and become a beast, but also has made
false idols of them. If they should now show that he is Malicious, then he
must become malicious, and GOD afflicts him more, so that his foolishness
and ingratitude will become evident. Also, many wish to sow their plants and
other things according to the Influences. This is not merely false, but is a great
error, for what, in their opinion, does the plant have to do with Astronomy or
the course of the heavens? Sow a plant or seed in a good fresh soil in the
sunshine, and then sow the same sort of seed in an and soil which is poor and
lies in shadow; thus you will see that the seed in the fresh soil comes forth
sooner than the other, even though they lie close together. Although
Astronomy commanded you to begin this on a certain day at a certain time,
since the one has grown better than the other the one can rise and the other
declines, how then do you know whether you have chosen the right time?
Thus, as I have said, this doctrine is false and worthless. The ancients
understood Astronomy correctly, but since then it has been greatly falsified. It
is proper that every SIMPLEX should be planted and harvested according to
Astronomy, but that is to be understood as follows. Every-thing has its own
Astronomy within itself, namely its Astra, and you should pay attention to
this. When a favorable Ascendant is present and its highest planet (from
which its seed has come forth) is exalted, then the plant or whatever it might
be is at its best and most powerful. Then a man should harvest it and use it,
and pay no attention to the heaven, neither to the summer nor to the winter,
but rather to the proper summer of the plant. Wait for its own heaven, for its
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proper autumn and the time when it has become best and grown highest
through its own forces. This is the most exalted Astronomy; from the highest
you can learn to recognize the lowest; by means of the time you can learn to
recognize what is before your hand and when a planet is exalted. Therefore,
when you know to which planet a plant is subjected, you can se~ise its
exaltation by means of the Signature.
On the other hand, something even higher follows from Astronomy. That is,
when one perceives the conjunction of certain planets along with their
exaltation, and at the same time also unites their GENERA (that is, metals,
minerals, plants, jewels and stones) together beneath the open heaven, then
the rays of the stars shoot into these bodies and augment the virtues in them,
so that what might seem impossible things can be accomplished with them;
not only curing, where one may heal the sicknesses of men spiritually, that is,
invisibly, merely through touching, but also many wonders may be
performed and accomplished through MAGIA NATURALI.
But as to why one should do this at the time of the conjunction of the planets
and stars, note this. Every new material desires a new form, and, again, every
new form desires a new material. Therefore, as soon as the planets unite with
one another, then this heaveril3 spiritual, and material material desires a form
which is living in everything, and because this of an attractive nature, in an
instant it draws this heavenly Fire, that is, life, into itself and unites with it.
Then spirit and soul are mixed with one another and united Thus the earth,
which is a mother of heaven (which is a father) attracts in an instant such
bodies to itself, so that these two conjunctions thus occur in that instant, from
which all things of the vegetable, animal and mineral kingdoms come. When
such rays fall on water or wood which is of their nature, then their virtues and
spiritual bodies enter into it, through which such magic virtues may be found.
Therefore, if by means of Astronomy, you know these conjunctions
beforehand, prepare your metals and plants. For if these have the same star,
essence, nature and complexion, then the rays will not go into the earth, but
rather into these bodies (for everything loves its own likeness), through which
many wonders may be performed with them PER HOC NATURAE
MIRACULUM. But every philosopher and chymist should also note
something else from this, of which it is not necessary to speak. SAT
SAPIENTIS.
DE GENERATIONE MINERALIUM ET VEGETABILIUM
in the third place it was mentioned that a portion of the seeds and rays given
forth and projected by the Star and the firmament, fall into the center of the
earth and enter into the little ball, that is, into the heart of the earth. Know
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now that such rays, which come and shoot so far, are purer, subtler and more
spiritual than those which have not been able to attain such depths, and that,
in this case, they purge themselves through the earth, as when water is
purged by sand. Why? All things have been cursed by GOD, due to the
falseness of the first man, that is, they are as you and all men are, glutted and
surrounded by filth and impurity. Thus, when such rays shoot into the earth,
the coarser spirit of the seed of the firmament remains in and on the earth,
from which there grow all sorts of plants A portion also falls upon the
animals, from which all sorts of sickness come. But the purged rays go
through the earth, like a ghost through a wall, and reach the end and the
middle-point or heart of the earth, by which the earth is sustained and
strengthened. For the center is more exalted than the circumference, since the
circumference arises from the center, and all the power of the circumference,
which in the circumference is widely attenuated, is concentrated in the center.
As you can see, in the middle of man rests the soul, the spirit of the
disposition, the power and the movement. Likewise, in the middle of the seed
of a plant is the heavenly Fire and the number of the multiplication. The rest
is only a shell and a covering for the powers.
Thus in the center of the earth lies the corporeal water or the mineral earth
(like a yolk in an egg). It is gifted with the purest and, as mentioned, with the
highest, most subtle powers of the earth, for the earth take such water from it,
but it takes nothing from the earth into itself, but rather multiplies itself below
and rejuvenates itself like a Kingfisher. For the Word to multiply was also
directed to it, and was imparted to it along with its own fire. Therefore it has
its own firmament in itself, and its movement in itself, as you can see from the
example of grain. For weigh one part of grain, and then at least as much, or
however much more you will, of good soil and sow the grain in it. After it has
finished growing, weigh each again separately, and you will find that the soil
has not been diminished, but rather its perfect weight will again be found as
before. Thus it has its firmament in itself, its growth and movement, etc.,
through which it heats, tinctures, and rejuvinates itself, and is also
strengthened in its degree of multiplication. This does not diminish, for
although the metals grow out of it, they must once again die, as you see that
men are born, but again that men die, and that much water runs out of the
sea, but that much comes again into it. Thus, the metals likewise die, but,
against this, they grow again. The ones that die leave their bodies at the place
where they were engendered, but their soul or power departs from them, and
is attracted by that from which it had come forth, for everything goes again to
its likeness. Thus you can sense that there is no deficiency in this water, but
the FAECES that it casts off from itself fall into the earth and are of the form of
the earth, from which the highest tinctures come, All of this neither you nor
any other man has ever perceived, nor could you ever experience or take note
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of it without the help of me or of one of my companions, who are ordained to
this by GOD. Thus you may well know joy beyond other men.
I said: I ask you most kindly to tell me (since you are now on the topic) why
you call the little ball corporeal water.
He answered: I call it this because I can thus present it to you in a better
manner and with its proper name, since you can also see in this figure that it
is white and glistening like mother-of-pearl. Thus it is a water in distinction to
common earth, but a body of earth, due to its density, in distinction to
common water. These words have not been given it by me in vain; in a little
while you shall perceive it better. But let us leave it thus for now.
When this pure, purged seed and mineral form enters into the center of the
earth, the life of the mineral metals is engendered, and a movement arises
because of the unification which this immortal, heavenly spirit desires to
achieve with the dead earthly body. It pursues its likeness (which it also
attracts to itself from delight and desire), until it finds it, and which it then, in
the same instant mixes and unites. After sufficient digestion a tender treelet
grows forth from it, shoots into the heights, and attains its branchlets, leaves,
flowers and blossoms, and at last its seed, in which all the power of the entire
tree resides. This seed is the end, through which one can recognize that it is
ready for multiplication, just as one may see this with an ordinary plant. And
no matter in what form the many plants come forth, three seeds grow from
the many seeds, and each seed or form attracts a suitable body or material to
itself out of the earth according to its nature (for unquestionable the earth has
the material in itself). Thus also, all sorts of heavenly seeds fall everywhere
and always into the earth from the conjunctions of the stars, by means of their
form and through the power of the life-creating Fire, from which all sorts of
fruit are engendered. For there is no star so small, so insignificant and
impotent, that it does not give forth its ANIMALIA, VEGETABILIA and
MINERALIA out of itself. (Thus it is that, if the star is insignificant and weak
in power, irrational men, coarse animals, bad plants and base minerals arise,
and vice versa.) Thus also, just as many different sorts of plants grow near
one another and are harvested together, many sorts of minerals grow near
one another and become known through the harvest of miners, where they
are then separated from one another by means of fire.
Know further, that if this spiritual, heavenly body is pure, clear1 from the
best stars and diaphanous, then it also seeks a similar material, that is pure,
clear and diaphanous, in the center of the earth. From this there grows a
subtle treelet, clear and transparent1 which has fine, subtle delicate branchlets
that are clear as sap. On the last one the flower that had been opened closes.
From it comes according to its nature, a clear transparent and pure seed. Thus
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are the precious jewels born, and are coloured and characterized according to
their reception of the form. This you can see clearly illustrated on the
mountain to your right.
I asked further: If this is so, then it could be inferred that one may be able to
find precious jewels everywhere, since the stars revolve around the whole
world, but experience teaches that there are none at all to be found here, but
in other places very many can be found.
He answered: Know that these seeds fall mostly into the hot lands, and that,
where the heat is strongest, there this seed (which comes only from the
planets and a few other powerful stars) is sown, and purged by the great heat
of the Sun, such that even before it reaches its material in the center of the
earth it achieves its most pure state. And even though the sun shines as
intensely in one place as in another, the cold is so great in proximity to the
poles that the seed cannot be sufficiently clarified, and even if it were
immediately clarified, the digestion there is still too insignificant, for there the
heat usually does not remain very long. However, in the hot lands the
digestion corresponds to the seed; that is, after the seed is cast from the sun or
the stars, it is first purged in the SPHAERA AERIS and then likewise in the
earth, which is hot, and of an attractive nature. When the seed has cast off all
its impurities, it seeks and finds its pure material, according to its nature.
There it grows forth with great exuberance, for the sun warms the earth
through its strong, steady light, so that the best stones that can be found on
earth are engendered. Thus, even though stones can also be found in
Germany and in other such places, they are not like these, for all things are
nobler at morning and noon than at evening and night. As you know,
Arabian gold is far more excellent than Hungarian, and Hungarian more
excellent than Rheinish gold; and also in regard to fruit, the oriental varieties
surpass the occidental in strength and virtue. It is likewise not possible that
Hungarian gold could be like Arabian gold for natural reasons, for the
digestion is too meagre so that in the first place, the seed cannot be
sufficiently purged, and, secondly, it cannot be properly matured. Know also
(as an example) that when the sun is exalted in its own house, in bright,
lovely clear weather, then the seed falls in PUNCTO EXALTATIONIS. It is
purged; one part remains in the air, one part in and on the earth, and one part
goes to the center of the earth. This last part is also divided. The loveliest,
clearest, final part, which is most highly purified, mixes with its materials,
and from this grows the garnet. Another part, which is less noble, mixes with
its materials and from this grows the ruby. A part that is even less noble
produces the finest Arabian gold. For all of the DIAPHANACTER turn into
stones. Again, one part produces sulphur of which Arabian Sulphur, and,
after it, Hungarian, are held to be the best. For although many speak of other
11

suiphurs with high praise, those who understand have judged it so.
From the parts that have remained on and in the earth grow the best and
most noble plants that one can find, among which is that plant called
ALLADRUCA or ALLAKENEA, of which much could be reported.
It grows high and brings forth red and golden-yellow flowers, which are
transparent and fatty, like an oil, and are well known to the Arabian peoples.
That part which has remained on the earth gives forth GAMMALII in stones,
wood and plants, when all of these have previously been cut off from their
roots. That part which has remained in the air gives forth a growth like
sheeps wool. It falls upon the earth, is sweet, and is called RUMAM, though
it is unknown to you. There are also many other such things, which it is not
necessary for you to know. Thus you now see the power of a single ray, and
always when one planet is in conjunction or ASPECTUM TRIGONUM, etc.,
with another planet. Note, when its sign changes and it passes into another
sign, then its rays always fall differently than before, for which reason there
are so many different fruits. Furthermore, when the sun is in its exaltation
with Mars, then garnets are engendered that are redder and darker in colour,
rubies that are brownish and dull and gold that is reddish and impure. So is it
also to be understood in regard to the other planets.
in cold lands there grow stones, metals and plants which are not to be found
in the warm lands, such as crystal, which must have cold, for this is found
most pure, now and then, in the midnight lands. However, its origin is not
from snow (as many pronounce) but rather from the mineral water. It is born
through Saturn in its cold Ascenderit. If it happens that Saturn is exalted in a
clear heaven, and is in conjunction with the Moon, then you obtain the most
beautiful crystals, which are clear, white and pure. But if it is cloudy weather,
and Saturn is in conjunction with Mars, then crystals are likewise produced,
but these are dull. So is it likewise with other planets of other colours and
forms, of which I cannot inform you sufficiently, for you would not be able to
grasp all of it. But it is thus that from the forementioned causes sapphires,
carbuncles, UNIONEN, corals and calcedons come to us, according to the
domination and conjunction of the planets, which are not similar to those in
the orient. Thus you have learned how the precious jewels are engendered.
You should now note something well from this (since you wish to be an
experienced physician) which cannot be more clearly described, so that the
travelling scholars, imposters and betrayers of this Art do not learn more
about it. If the seed is pure, corporeal, and spiritual, but not fully transparent,
that which has separated from it, namely, the crystal, is similar. But these
seeds fall rarely, and there are very few of them, and thus it is that so few
12

precious jewels are found, for the heaven does not always permit it. However,
the highest power is found in such precious jewels. For among all creatures of
the heavenly Fire, it is in garrets and rubies that the purest and most delicate
power is to be found through a minimal preparation, mixed with the soul of
the sun. The next is in the sapphire of the moon and in the emerald of Venus.
If it has the nature of its likeness, it grows forth like a tree, produces its
branches, that is, its veins, and spreads its blossom in the earth, which can be
found in vitriol, antimony, sulphur, marcasite, talcum and cobalt. In these the
blossom is pure, delicate, subtle, like sap or an extended and scattered
material, and of a much more noble essence than the metal or seed that shall
come from it. Similarly roses, lavender, spikenard and other aromatic plants
smell much better and are lovelier while they are still in bloom, and most
others also give off a much more glorious scent than when one smells the seed
or distills it. Thus this blossom is much more lovely and glorious, and higher
in strength, power and virtue than its metal.
I asked: Is this blossom also called the PRIMUM ENS, of which
Theophrastus described so many wonders?
He answered: Yes, but it is thus improperly named and thought of, for the
marcasites, cobalts, etc. are not the PRIMA ENTIA, nor is that which
Theophrastus taught should be distilled from them PER SUBLIMATIONEM
DESTILLATIONEM, for these are rather the beginning of the seed, which
may thus be called the ULTIMUM ENS SPIRITUALE METALLORUN VEL
MINERALIUM. The PRIMUM ENS itself, however, lies hidden; it is the
heavenly aetherial Fire, which both contains its SUBJECTUM and is united
with it. You must separate these from one another through something besides
Sublimation, since through Sublimation you may only obtain the flower or
blossom of the metals and minerals, and thereby only pluck it from its stem
and take it away from the weeds (that is, from the mountain) and from other
impure things. Rather, you must first extract the PRIMUM ENS from those
things in which it rests more lightly and is much more easily obtained than
from its metal. For in these it is still soft, delicate, gentle, extended, volatile
and pure, whereas in a metal it is compressed, hard, coarse and fixed.
Similarly (as I have already mentioned) you can attain the taste and lovely
scent of roses and lavender through distilling their blossoms as though
through a shorter path, and your sense of smell will tell you that this is the
best way to obtain it. And you can obtain this from their seeds only with
difficulty, since these are compact and compressed and the ULTI1VIA
MATERIA ROSARIJM, it is to be understood in the same way with metals.
Thus in this spiritual and ULTIMO ENTE METALLORUM (which is in the
process of turning itself into a seed) there is contained great power, which can
easily be produced by means of the Preparation (although only with difficulty
13

from a metal). Note this well. Thus, when the blossom has completed its time,
it closes, shrinks, grows smaller, turns into a body, and a metal grows from it
(after the seed has been previously provisioned spiritually by heaven). With
this Nature has finished her course, for she cannot take this seed higher, and
in this way the metals and minerals are engendered, as you can see in the
mountain on your left.
I asked further whether this heavenly Fire was the same in the metals that are
found in a pure state as in the others, for then one could extract the Fire from
the minor metals just as well as from the noblest, or (which is easier) of their
PRIMO ENTE, and save oneself a great expense.
He said: I told you before, and you should have also understood it diligently,
that the heaven or the heavenly firmamental Astra, whenever a new
conjunction rises, draw, as an attractive material (and yet as a fire in
comparison to the earth), the life from the stars, and the living Fire. The
awakening of this Fire transforms itself then into the nature and form of the
firmament, or the form that the firmament has attracted to itself. That is, if the
spiritual body is cold, then this anima or fire will be of a cold nature. For this
Fire is not subject to any Complexion; but rather it takes on its nature
according to that to which it comes. In the same way other Complexions are
also engendered in the other conjunctions. You should now understand from
this that the life is not the same, nor likewise the nature; thus, the more noble
a creature is, the more noble also is its life or the heavenly Fire within it.
If then, the spiritual body is crude, that is, has it origin in a crude star, then it
will also take a similar material to itself. From such a conjunction grow all
sorts of stone, gravel, quartz, marble, grit and sand. This grit and sand is
nothing but crushed stone. These stones are thought of as weeds among the
mineral stones, and grow continually with the good plants, often impeding or
stopping their growth. This is why it is that commonly the best mines are
found in the largest mountains, for among the best plants one often finds the
most weeds. Similarly, when a tree (a beech, oak or any other kind) or any
other plant grows out of the earth and rises in the air, then it branches grow
strong and separate the air. Such separation, however, cannot be seen by men,
although it can be recognized easily by their understand. The mineral plants
do exactly the same. They split the earth, heave it into the heights drive it
sideways and thus create mountains and valleys. For such trees are large,
powerful, and strong, as is to be expected; for if such a plant is to reach from
the center to the surface of the earth, it must be large and thick, and, in
addition, have great power to extend itself. Now you know where the
mountains come from, and what is the cause of the valleys.
14

However, this mineral growth, in which all gems, minerals and stones are
formed, advances very slowly, so that many believe that it does not grow at
all, but rather that there is only a flow of Mercury through the Sulphuric
veins, which coagulates and turns into a metal. However, this view is false
and contrary to GOD, in view of His commandment to multiply. Thus
Mercury is not the MATERIA of the metals, much less Sulphur. For Mercury
has its origin in the planet Mercury, and is a growth in the same, for
quicksilver is engendered according to the conjunction of Mercury with the
other planets, in the manner mentioned previously. Mercury is the most
mobile of the planets, and transforms itself into the nature of each planet with
which it stands in conjunction, that is, after it has been in the houses of the
Zodiac that it rules. For it is according to the planet that dominates in a
conjunction that the metals are engendered, although they also take on the
nature of the planets that are conjunct with it. Therefore, many different
varieties of quicksilver are found; one is white, another bluish, one is gray,
another blackish, one is sluggish and inert, another swift and lively. Although
in itself it is a complete metal, it is often and easily changeable. For just as
Mercury can swiftly change itself into the nature and qualities of the other
planets, so can quicksilver easily be transmuted and made into another metal,
and especially when it has arisen from a conjunction with a planet into whose
metal it is to be transformed, or transmuted. Thus, if Mercury is in
conjunction with the sun, and is the ruler of the conjunction, then a Mercurial
tree is engendered, whose quicksilver has a spiritual solar seed withit it.
Therefore such quicksilver may be easily transmuted into gold. It is thus also
to be understood with all the planets. However one must be experienced in
order to know and recognize what each kind of quicksilver is good for, so that
one may make the proper transmutation. For if one were to take the kind that
has the nature of silver, or of another metal, then one must first transform it
from that nature, and then make it into gold, which requires great effort. For
truly the mastery of a spirit cannot proceed by means of a body, but rather
this must occur by means of a spirit which is more powerful and strong than
the spirit which one wants to master. Thus through luck, in your first attempt
you had a Mercury that had arisen from the conjunction of Mercury, the sun
and mars, in which Mercury was the ruler and dominated over the sun and
mars. It was from this conjunction that the quicksilver had grown, which you
precipitated and then turned into a higher metal. The effort was minimal,
because Mercury had dominated over the sun and mars, and thus you could
easily master it. However, if you had tried to transmute a different kind, such
as one with the nature of the moon and Jupiter, you would not have been able
to master it unless you had conquered it first with SPIRITU SOLIS. This you
should have first considered and thus I have unveiled your error and
ignorance.
15

The sort of Sulphur which is also said to generate the metals, is (as was
mentioned previously) not the sort that one buys and sells, but rather the kind
that comes from heaven. It was called Sulphur by the ancients, because of the
heavenly Fire from the stars, which dominated it. This kind is incombustible
and incorruptible. No metal can be made from the other Sulphur (without the
Art), for in itself it is a peculiar growth, and yet is gifted with metallic virtues,
which an Artist is able to extract. The best of this kind is found in Arabia and
Hungary, for they contain the excrement of rubies, carbuncles and garnets. It
is as red as blood and transparent, but its preparation is truly not trMal. In
itself it has more the form than the material of metals, for the materials come
from the stars and are, as I have said, nothing but the excrement of the stars,
and indeed, of many different species; black, green, yellow, white and brown,
according to the kind and nature of the star. Thus you can now perceive that
the ancients erred concerning the generation of the metals, and that no one
understood it as well as Hermes.
Since the metals grow, as I have said, and have a beginning, it follows that
they must multiply themselves. But the ancients err again, in that they
pronounce that gold is eternal and imperishable. No, that is false, for
everything contains both life and death. Therefore, because gold has received
life, it has simultaneous received death. If this were not so, then it could not
be destroyed by Nature alone, nor by means of the Art. But experience has
shown it to be otherwise, as you have perceived yourself. Thus gold and
every other thing in the world dies, has an end, and passes away. However,
as I have said, since the minerals grow slowly, they also decline slowly. For
everything that grows swiftly, also declines swiftly, as is to be seen with
plants, and also with Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, for they are devoured
and destroyed by rust, that is, by their own embodied death. You men,
however, because of your short lifetimes, cannot perceive the death of gold,
and thus you have always considered it to be immortal.
However, it can never be proven, as many of you write, that gold takes one
thousand years to grow, and this is the refutation of the third error of the
ancients. See, in Spain, France and Italy the fruits grow sooner than in Poland,
Sweden, Denmark and Germany, and they grow even sooner in Arabia and
India. Thus too, the minerals grow sooner in one place than in another, and
yet each in one summer, that is, in its own summer. For (as I have said) each
thing has its own summer and firmament, and thus each metal is sown in its
spring, grows in its summer, brings forth fruit in its autumn, and in its winter
again declines and passes away. Therefore no set time can be assigned to a
particular thing, and, in regard to gold, it develops at various rates.
Furthermore, I must reject yet another error, which is committed by several
16

men, who deem that one metal can be transformed into another within the
earth. This is false, for as little as an apple tree can grow out of a pear-tree can
gold come from silver in the earth. Although certain plants can be grafted into
others, what comes of this is a special variety which cannot be found in
Nature, Likewise, when silver is transplanted, LASUR comes from it, but this
is not gold, nor any other kind of metal, but rather a peculiar species, which
nonetheless has more of the nature of silver than the qualities of the other
metals. Thus, one should ignore such gross errors; for each of the metals
grows by itself, and none has anything to do with the others, just as no plant
has any connection with the others. Even though all of them come from the
same material, nemely, the earth, and the minerals all come from the
corporeal water, nevertheless they do not have the same MATERIA and form,
and this must be kept in mind.
I spoke to the contrary: But it is evident, in the first place, that one can
nonetheless produce gold and silver by means of the Art from ore that is poor
in quality and often contains nothing or only base metals. From this it can be
inferred that such poor metals and minerals may be transformed and turned
into gold and silver.
In the second place, if the metals should not be transmutable into one
another, then the Art of changing lead, tin, and copper would not be possible,
because the Art is an imitator of Nature, and does nor can do nothing that
Nature has not already done before it. Thus Alchemy must be false and
improper.
He answered: That one can produce gold and silver from certain ores which
contain neither gold nor silver, and even in which none can be found through
a test, is true and possible; but this is not to be understood as you think. For
(as I have said) many poor plants grow with the good plants that bear gold
and silver, and are intermixed among them, such as copper, iron, tin, lead,
vitriol and antimony. These plants become mature sooner than the plants of
gold and silver. Thus they are also sooner corruptible. Therefore, if one
harvests the Venus and Mars or the Jupiter and Saturn ores the flowers of the
Sun and the Moon are often also contained or found among them, and also, at
times, the seeds.
Thus if one tests this in the ordinary way, there is sometimes a sign of gold,
which means that a seed is in it. But if only the flower is there, then the result
is negative, for the flower does not have the strength to withstand the
powerful fire, as does the seed.
But if one takes the ore and digests and matures it with hot, corporeal fixed
species that are engendered from the conjunctions of the sun, such as
17

antimony, vitriol, arsenic, etc. then one obtains a correct and powerful shower
of blood. Since this not only matures the immature gold, but also transmutes
the other immature metals, such as lead, tin, copper and iron, and turns them
into gold or silver while they are still in blossom, and thus easily affected,
they should be placed in an oven that is proper for them. There the flower
will be matured and made enduring in a short time, although Nature would
have taken a long time on them, due to her weak digestion. Thus such ores
can very often now give forth their spiritual, immature gold as mature,
corporeal and fixed, as I have said, and, indeed, much more of it than Nature
could have perfected. Thus it is necessary to use diligence, to insure that one
has the correct species for maturation, if possible, that kind that has a relation,
in regard to its birth, with the sun and moon, or even better, a golden sulphur,
which contains the flowers of the sun, for these are found to be very powerful
and highly tinctured in such sulphuric species. Furthermore, one must be
careful to digest these properly and preserve a tempered heat, which is not
destructive, but rather natural and fostering of perfection; for, truly, if one
wants to perfect the ore in great amounts, -this requires a special diligence
and understanding. Many men have had great success with small tests, but
none with larger quantities, because they not only laid the ores improperly
and too thickly upon one another, cut it up too much and exposed the flowers
too much to the light, but also because many were of the opinion that the
digestion must be more intense, and thus made the fire larger, so that in one
place the ore burned, and in another experienced no fire at all. Therefore, it
remained a common ore; indeed, at times more damage than utility was the
result. Therefore, one must pay attention to this.
But if one ore, however volatile it may be (for many think that more can be
produced from a volatile ore, than from a fixed one which is properly spoken,
but not properly understood) does not contain the flowers of the sun or of the
moon, or does not obtain them by means of Addition, then one can cook it,
roast it or fry it, however one will, and one will still find neither gold nor
silver, but rather only that metal which is proper to it and which it contains.
Now you possess the doctrine and instruction concerning the maturation of
the ores, in which the Art matures them just as Nature does, and also, against
and above Nature, transmutes the metals by means of human cunning and
understanding, which Nature cannot do, for she lacks hands and feet, and
cannot bring widely separated things together, as a man can.
In the second place, you are of the opinion that, since no metal can transmute
into another in the earth, it should follow that such a transmutation is also not
possible through the Art. But no, a metal that is still in the earth remains
connected to its own stem and has its own roots, its own nourishment. As
long as it remains on its stem, it can take nothing from another metal or
attract the others nature to itself. But when it is broken off, and thus still
18

desires nourishment, and then obtains a flower of the sun or the moon or
some other metal (which is commonly in the light or in the air), it draws this
eagerly to itself. This seed, which is a spirit of the same body, attracts it into
its nature, and at times brings itself to a better state, at times to a poorer, as
has also been said of the ores. However, there must be digestion present.
But know that as soon as an ore is separated from its stem, it has departed
from Nature and no longer can either grow or come to maturation without
the help of men. Furthermore, if a metal is engendered in the same source as
another, then they have one mother, and yet the mother is purer in one metal
than in another, for the nobler the form, the nobler the material. Therefore,
since their are many forms, there must be many materials.
As the form, if it is pure, removes the excrement from the impure materials
and purifies them (and only thereafter engages in a proper mixture, from
which a fruit follows), so the Art also acts when one prepares a pure form and
casts it upon an impure metal, which is to say that this form separates the
impure form and materials from the metal and its MATERIA. When this has
occurred, a correct conjunction follows, in which a pure metal is formed.
But if the form is exalted and subtle, as I have taught you, and multiplies
itself by means of itself, then it is so virtuous and powerful, that it does not
need to reject the mineral excrement either from the form or from the
materials of the metals that are imperfect, but rather it tinctures them all
together, and renews and rejuvenates them into the highest and best metal.
But, on the other hand, if one makes such a multiplying form from a lesser
metal, that is, from Jupiter or Saturn, then this multiplies the imperfection and
excrementa within itself so greatly, and thus becomes so powerful, that when
such a form is cast upon a perfect body or metal, it imparts its own impurity
so intensely that it can master even perfect bodies like gold or silver and turn
them to pure lead or tin. Through this you can now perceive the power and
strength of Regeneration.
Furthermore, since gems, metals and minerals have but one origin (in regard
to the mother) one can make all sorts of gems from the metals by means of the
Preparation, if one has previously refined and purified them. These gems are
so great in power and virtue, when the Preparation is subtle, that they are
more powerful than natural gems. But, on the other hand, if one, through
preparation, takes their nature from them, then one can make enduring
metals out of them. For instance, one can make metal, and even gems, from
every sort of vitriol, antimony, sulphur and salt, after it has been prepared.
Or, on the other hand, one can make vitriol, antimony, sulphur, salt from each
metal. Nevertheless there is a great difference to be found among such things,
19

for one can find vitriol of Venus, vitriol of the Sun, of Mars, of Saturn, etc. and
also antimony of Venus, antimony of the Sun, etc,. and likewise with sulphur
and salt. And just as there are so many different sorts of minerals, so is it the
case with quicksilver, as I have mentioned already.
Now know further that it is possible to make a salt from each sort of gem,
metal and mineral, and to make a plant or a tree from the salt, though each
according to its kind. Furthermore, one can make an animal and sensitive
beast from this plant or tree. Thus, on the other hand, one can make a
vegetable from every animal, a salt, sulphur, vitriol, etc. from every vegetable,
and further, a metal from that, and finally all sorts of precious jewels. This
seems to me a great thing, which few men have nonetheless experienced and
perceived. You have seen one example, namely, that wine, which is a
vegetable growth, has produced a salt, which is considered to be among the
minerals, and furthermore, that from this salt came Saturn.
But see, if you had thought about it, and pursued the matter properly, you
could have gone further with this Saturn, and could have made the Sun, the
Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Saturn etc,. and finally all sorts of
precious jewels. Or, if you had properly desired so, you could have produced
a TARTAR from the salt, and made a wine, made a grape from the wine, and
a vine from the grape, even to its origin. Also, if you had wished, you could
have made a different plant, of whatever kind you had wished, from the
Saturn by means of its transposition, then an animal of any kind, and finally a
man or homunculus (though it would have no eternal soul). Now that you
have heard what this Art is, and how it proceeds further, in a short time you
can make vitriol of the Sun or the Moon from vitriol of Venus, and also
antimony of the Sun from antimony of Saturn, and so on, so that each thing
turns into another, according to your pleasure. You have now clearly learned
from this what the stars may bring about through their rays, and also what
this Art which man has received from GOD, is able to accomplish. I could
indeed, describe it in much greater detail, but rather contemplate it yourself,
and sharpen your wits thereby, for have I not told you more than all the
philosophers have told you? Yet know that all things are possible for this Art,
which man has received from GOD; it is far beyond Nature. The Art does not
imitate Nature, as though it were her servant, but rather it rules over Nature,
perfects her, and accomplishes things which it is impossible for Nature to do.
Note that man has the entire world: India, Spain, and Italy, at his disposal,
and also the entire heaven. Thus, he can make in the midnight lands that
which Nature is only able to make in the noon lands; and, again, that which
Nature produces at sunrise, man can make at sunset, and vice versa. Thus,
man can bring a plant that grows in India into Norway, which Nature cannot
do, because of the firmament. But man can do it in concord with the
20

firmament. He can prepare the materials from whatsoever he wishes to
prepare and complete, from stone or wood, and prepare such a glorious
growth that Nature, because of the power, virtue, form and nature of the
same, will not be able to perceive it as within her own resources.
Thus man can make Arabian gold in Germany, Sweden and Poland, and
Rhenish gold in Arabia. None of this is possible for Nature.
However, this is derived from two sources. First, GOD has created all things
out of one thing, and has made his DMsion from that so that they all have a
relationship with one another. Thus it is possible for a man to restore them
into one thing and to make another creature from this, like a potter, who
makes whatever he wishes out of clay.
Secondly, man has been placed by GOD as a lord over everything. For this
reason knowledge has been given to him, that he may know the virtue of all
things, as can be seen in the first man, who dealt with everything according to
its virtue. Thus spirits have been ordained by GOD and have received
wisdom from Him, whereby they may reveal this to the most excellent men,
who have been chosen for it, among whom the most outstanding was
Solomon, who received wisdom from GOD, which was given him through
the mediation of the spirit. In the end, however, he abused it. After him the
greatest has been my friend Adolphus Magnus, who is both known and
unknown; after him, Hermes, and, finally, Theophrastus. After these come
many others, but they were only journey-men.
I asked who this Adolphus Magnus was.
He said: He was a man wise whose like may not be found. I will tell you
something of his deeds at the end of this instruction, but now I must proceed
with what is most ,important. I have told you previously, and also
demonstrated and proven, that neither gold nor any other metal has an
eternal life, but rather must die again, that is, when it has fully attained its
perfection, when it has turned into or become a seed.
When this seed has become fully mature, it sinks down again with its plant,
or, as most often happens, it falls off or is harvested. If it sinks down with its
plant, the stem returns to its earth and fertilizes it. The seed falls into it, dies
in it, and multiplies itself. Then a new birth occurs, as with the other plants.
However in 10,000 seeds it does not occur in one that it returns to its PRIMA
MATERIA and to its earth, for the other plants that grow next to it commonly
exclude it immediately. If it is harvested, then you have seen how men use it.
But if it falls off or is broken off, then it must rot, for, due to the density of the
earth, it cannot return to the MATRICAE from which it had its origin, that is,
to the corporeal water. If the earth were as subtle as the air, however, the seed
21

could fall through it and return to its origin, just as the seed that has fallen
from a weed is not impeded by the air in reaching the earth. Nevertheless if
this were to fall in a stony field, then it too must rot, for it cannot grow out of
stone. Thus also, when, like this seed, something falls into the earth,
something else may ~easily block it, so that it gets stuck, and rots in the course
of time. So if the earth were the mother of the metals (as many fantasists,
among which Aristotle was the most notable, have pronounced) then one
would not have to do very much, for wherever the seed might fall, it would
soon return to its origin or attain it Mercury, within which it would seed itself
and grow forth anew. Their fantastic belief has a fantastic consequence, for as
little as a plant can grow in the air without earth, so little can a metal grow out
of the earth, or out of common quicksilver, even if one were to sow an entire
wagon full. Not much needs to be said concerning this; one can observe it
every day.
it happens, however, that some rays from the stars fall and (if they are
otherwise of one nature) they mix with, enter into and unite themselves with
these metals, stones and minerals that have fallen off, from which
GAJVIJVIAHI arise. These immediately penetrate with this influence and
attain a signature from Nature. Thus many strange forms are found upon
stones, wood, metals and gems, which are not noticed, although there is no
form that does not have its special manifestation and virtue. One should thus
pay attention to this. Know as well that no GAMMAHI are born, unless its
Subject has come to an end and is dead, that is, perfected, and has been
broken off from its stem, but is not yet destroyed. For when it still is
connected to its stem, it is green, has its own nurture and moisture from its
roots, and thus all Astra which attempt to enter it are driven off. But when it
is broken off, then it is dry, porous and desirous of receMng energy. Thus as
soon as the Astra strike into it, they are retained by it, and immediately obtain
its signature. However, no signature but its own can come to the green ones,
for growth does not allow it.
Thus you have heard about the dying of minerals, that these cannot attain to
multiplication, for the seed rots or is crushed, is driven out by water, ground
between mountains, and scattered. From this comes gold dust and pure iron
and copper, all of which are seeds that have fallen off. But if the
multiplication of the minerals were to proceed and .be so little impeded as the
multiplication of the vegetables, then one would find as many metals, jewels
and varieties of minerals growing and prospering, as one finds plants. But
because the multiplication is unsuccessful, the abundance of such fruits is cut
short. Thus you have now heard how animals, vegetables and minerals grow
and multiply themselves; you have also received a sufficient account of the
Art considered in general, that when in a short time, I feel that you will
22

transform yourself, and be silent about all of this, including what I have just
said, and keep it secret, then I will explain it to you IN SPECIE, and explicate
one thing after another, in order that you may know everything, and learn to
recognize one thing as well as the next.
I replied: I think you for this exceedingly and will henceforth deal more
carefully and cautiously with these things than I have before, but I also ask
fervently that you also inform me what the steam and the vapour meant,
which arose from the conjunction of the spiritual, corporeal and mineral in
the center of the earth.
At this he looked downward, and reflected a long time, and finally said: You
already have the whole foundation of physics; wait for the proper time and
you shall have the rest. You can also perceive from the words I have spoken
enough to know what is yet to be understood from this. However, I did not
relent, but pled as strongly as possible, until at last, after he had listened to
me a long while, he said: I rely on your promise that you will not reveal this
to the unworthy, for otherwise the punishment shall apply twofold to you.
Know now, that this is the highest and most excellent element of the entire
figure, for by means of this we may advance from the natural to the
supernatural. However, I must first give you a preliminary instruction.
In the first place, you not only possess the comparison of the animal,
vegetable and mineral kingdoms with one another, which I have imparted to
you in the discussion of Transmutation, but also you may learn to recognize
through this the highest and the lowest. For instance, the weakness of Nature
in comparison with the Art, for it is not possible for her to have the seed, let
alone to prepare it, as a man can, who, by means of the subtle operations and
high understanding of men, may obtain the proper PRIMAM MATERIAM
METALLORUM, and extract the heart from the center of the earth, not to
speak of attaining the eternal Fire-all of which is incredible to the ignorant
and the foolish.
You have always thought that the destruction of the metals comes from the
SPIRITU VINI. No, the SPIRITUS VINI cannot do this, it is too weak and
impotent to carry out such an operation, for it would be too gross that
something combustible should master something incombustible. But if the
SPIRITUS VINI is transformed then it is no longer SPIRITUS VINI, but rather
something higher, and then it can do this. But in regard to where this
transformation should come from, know that all vegetables and animals
receive a particular inferior impression and Influence, from the center of the
earth, and that they have concealed this within themselves, which impression
is as subtle as the vision of the eye, such that a man cannot grasp it. And yet it
is a fire, and one can use diligence to understand it. Therefore, note it
23

diligently, and with great understanding. You know, as I have said, that when
I have united the invisible Fire and the Life and the Movement with the
sidereal stars by means of the attractive nature of the firmament, and thus
that a spiritual body has come from the aetherial fire and the astral air, then
afterwards this first spiritual conjunction is able to achieve transformation,
that is, to the corporeal or mineral water, from which all gems, minerals and
metals have their origin. Due to the strength of this spirit, a great movement
and trembling occurs (as you can see in the figure), which makes the water
warm and steamy, and makes the best, most subtle part (from which
otherwise precious jewels would grow) spiritual. Just as when water is
warmed, the best part escapes as steam and the rest, that is, the coarsest part,
resolves itself again to water and falls to its origin; so here also, one part will
take on something from the Form and the spiritual body will transmute itself
into the best precious stones, and its excrement into the best metals, whereas
the other part, which the Form was not able to master, steals on the gentlest
breezes of the earth into the heights, purges itself like water through sand,
and leaves all its impurities behind in the earth. These, because of their
weight, sink again in the ground to their origin, but the subtle steam does not
slacken, for because of its movement, it is ever more driven, ever more
impelled, and driven forth by means of the earth and natural heat until it has
attained to the roots of the vegetable kingdom. And, since these are of sri
attractive nature even without it (for they are always suckling the earth) this
spiritual steam seeps invisibly into the roots, distributes itself throughout the
plant and unites with the most delicate spirit of the plants. Here it remains
and is sustained by the fiery body of the spirit. One plant is better and of a
more attractive nature than another, among which, I recognize the grapevine
as the most excellent, for although this is not of a strongly attractive nature, it
is very subtle and pure. Thus it suckles only the highest essence from the
steam, and rather a lot of it in comparison with other plants, ignoring the
inferior parts, which seep into the other plants. However, one part of the
remaining steam that has not entered the plants goes through the earth and
enters men and animals, which also possess a living attractive power, and
thus rests invisibly in them.
Now listen and open the ears of your understanding. If one takes such pure
vegetables or animals (although none is to be rejected, for though the steam is
purer and more abundant in one than in another, the impure can be made
equal to the pure) and by means of subtle operations bring them to the point
that the animal or vegetable with the mineral spirit or steam is caught in a
watery body, and then separates the mineral spirit from it with great care (for
in comparison with other things there is very little of it, although it has a most
exalted power, brighter and clearer than day) then this spirit will bring the
animal or vegetable essence to the point that it is the same as it (if you so
24

desire). This is the foundation of the entire Art, that the spirit of the vegetable
or animal should depart from its combustibility, and become imperishable or
immortal. This is the key that opens all doors, and here you have the correct
PRIMAM MATERIAM of gems and metals. But if I consider it correctly, this
is not the, PRIMA MATERIA, but rather the threefold extraction and essence
from the PRIMA MATERIA of gems. Therefore, you should praise and thank
GOD the Most High in Eternity that He has considered you worthy and has
given you understanding, so that you might obtain the deepest things of the
earth for your use.
Hear further concerning the PRIMA MATERIA: when it has previously been
turned into a liquid, and is unlocked by means of the incombustible (not the
common) vegetable spirit, then you can dissolve gold, silver, and all minerals
and gems in it, and melt them like ice in warm water. You can destroy them,
kill them, and make them new again; you can visibly obtain the heavenly
astral spirit (as a lamp in which the eternal Fire and the power of the highest
Star of Eternal Wisdom dwells) and see it, grasp it, feel and sense it, like an
unconsuming fire, shining day and night beyond the radiance of the sun,
moon, stars, garnets and all fire. You will perceive all the power and
perfection of the entire firmament in it. May this be a great thing to you, 0 you
creature, that you can obtain the highest thing, exalted over all the heavens
and the deepest thing in the earth by means of the Art, and in a short time,
whereas Nature takes long to achieve it, and, due to its subtlety, cannot hold a
candle to you.
If you now unite this super-heavenly unconsuming Fire, which is higher
than everything, with the most highly purged body, which is lower than
everything, and make one thing from these two red and white glistening stars
(by means of the Hermaphroditic Spirit, created from two natures, that is,
from heaven and earth, for which reason it is white and blue, and has the
correct diameter to bring the two outermost poles together and to make a new
circle from this conjunction, which will endure through all Eternity-and of
which much more could be said), then you will have the power of the highest
and lowest things. (Listen diligently, for such matters are communicated very
rarely). In the first place, you have the soul from the heart of the earth; for,
just as the heart is the noblest organ in man, and yet is only a housing and
seat for the soul, so this corporeal water is the heart of the earth and contains
all the power of the earth within it. Just as a seed in an apple contains the
whole apple and all of its power within itself (for a tree and an apple can
again come from this seed, but from the apple without the seed nothing can
come) so is this water full of all power and virtue and the life of the entire
earth. However, you should not take this, but rather something higher,
namely, its soul, its spirit, not the soul from which the metals arise, no, but
25

rather the corporeal soul, which comes from the body of the garnet. Here in
the vegetable kingdom you have the pure soul of the garnet; not its body, for
this cannot rise far enough, but rather its soul, I say. But from this soul you
should take the other, indeed, the third soul, which comes about by means of
subtle preparation and purgation, which you know in part, but have not yet
fully brought to completion. This soul is pure, white and crystalline, such that
nothing on earth is comparable to it. This is your MATERIA.
But now also hear concerning the Form. In heaven the highest planet is the
sun, through which all creatures are sustained. But this sun (as I have said
before) would be nothing and dead, if it were not kindled by the eternal Fire
and thus were not a lamp of this, through which the other stars first receive
their radiance. Now Nature takes the seed from the sun, in which the eternal
light or Fire is concealed. From this seed there grow forth garnets, rubies and
gold. Since you cannot obtain garnets, you should use gold. Extract the life
and the seed from this and prepare it so that it is the same as a garnet.
Observe now that a soul is separating from its other body. Pursue this, carry
out the second and third Separation, and there will no longer be a garnet, but
rather something comparable to it as gold is comparable to lead; a tiny
heavenly fire, pure, delicate and clear. See, this is the final Separation, and this
you must still learn. Now what has become of those men who pronounce that
the Art follows Nature? No, the Art is the master, and not Nature. She may
not hold her head high, but rather must be ashamed of her works, for she can
never prepare this MATERIA and this Form as high as the Art can. She can
never make this Fire so pure, and the center of the earth even less so. Thus
Hermes has correctly written as I translate it, that this is the glory of the entire
world, which strengthens the strength of the strongest, and the mastery of all
subtle things. Behold, with this you may cure all vegetables, make all
unfruitful trees fruitful, and turn winter to summer and summer to winter.
That is, in winter you can have all the plants which are otherwise only
provided by summer. Indeed, you can make a tree bear fruit five or six times
in a year; you can make a good plant from a bad one, a young fresh tree from
an old rotten one, a bitter apple sweet, turn pears to cherries, and cherries
again to pears, and thus transform all plants and trees into one another.
In the second place, you can turn all imperfect metals into good ones, that is,
into garnets, rubies, emeralds, pearls, etc., or to gold and silver, and indeed,
into so many of these, that you are not able to express the amount. For one
part will tincture not merely ten thousand parts, but rather several hundred
thousand parts, and this by means of multiplication.
In the third place, you can liberate men from all diseases, turn an old man
into a young one, and make a healthy man from a sick one. You can transform
26

the mind and thoughts of men, and make the most pious man from the
wickedest knave. And whatever you might think of all of this, it is not great
but rather insignificant in comparison with what follows, for the words of
Hermes have not yet been sufficiently explicated.
Listen, for now we will advance to the supernatural. This is the key to open
heaven and earth, that you may enter into the highest firmament of heaven,
into the center of ,the earth, and into the depths of the ocean. You can see
through every mountain, valley, leaf, grass, animal, man, etc., and in short
through everything, as though you were looking through a piece of glass. You
can learn the characteristics of everything, for everything hidden will be
revealed to you, everything will humble itself before you. You will be capable
of everything; you will master heaven and earth; all spirits will be obedient to
you, they will have to serve you and do your will. You can also come to know
everything, both present and future (as much as GOD permits), which means
you can create the world and receive the power of the same. However this
may seem, it is knowable, for it is magic and supernatural. As I have already
said, when you are granted the success of attaining the completion of the
natural, then you may go on to experience the supernatural. Thus you now
possess what I have taught you, and, considering how poorly you have dealt
with it before, guard yourself against this, and be warned.
After I had considered and contemplated all these matters, and had also
listened diligently to his abuse, which had lasted a long time, it seemed to me
that I stood upon a thorn or a sharp stone, and saw these visions in a deep
valley. Then I heard something rustling behind me, as though someone were
wearing a silken garment. Suddenly I grew afraid and looked behind me.
There appeared an old ice-grey man with a long beard that reached to his belt.
He was wearing a long black garment. In one hand he held a compass, in the
other a carpenters square. As he went wordlessly past me, toward the ball, he
grew ever taller and larger, until the ball reached only to his belt (although it
was really higher than a house) and his head reached to the Sun. Then he set
his compass in the center and circumscribed the ball, so that it became
perfectly round. After this, he placed his compass on the carpenters square,
and spoke. It is one times three multiplied by itself. Then he placed the
compass again on the top of the ball and measured the distance from this to
the firmament, and again from the firmament to the highest Star. He cried
with a terrible voice, This is one out of four separated by the three. Next he
drew two lines from the uppermost star to the ball, such that they intersected
one another, so that a triangle was formed. After this he made a quadrangle
from the center with the compass, such that one corner was at the center of
the ball, and a white dove sat on the opposite corner, which he called the
Spirit of the Conjunctions and the VIVAFACATIONIS. But the two remaining
27

corners were united with the two corners of the triangle. Then a flame of fire
shot forth to the lines made by the triangle and remained there. Up from
below there came a white glistening star, whose rays spread outwards and
intermingled in the middle of the quadrangle. This star grew blood-red and
shined so brightly that I could not look directly at it. It had a threefold circle
or halo around it, the innermost ring golden-yellow, the second red, and the
third bloodred. The light from this star grew so intense and powerful that
the uppermost Star, and the Sun and the Moon of the firmament lost their
radiance and turned bloodred. Likewise the earth lost its greenness, and
everything turned red, for a fire shot forth from the star, which burned up the
ball together with the entire firmament, so that nothing more remained,
neither Sun, nor Moon, nor anything in heaven or on earth. After this the star
split in two, like a mirror or a round disk, and a new ball appeared in it. This
was bright and transparent and green as an emerald. Above it stood the sun,
also transparent and very bright, indeed, much brighter than it had shined
before. The entire firmament was there as well, but it did not revolve. Then
the old man cried Praise be to GOD, for Evil has now been suppressed, and
Truth has again been revealed. Delight, you children of light; the darkness has
an end. The Sun shall never set again, but rather it shall shine on you from
Eternity to Eternity, and shall never more be darkened, And then he
vanished.
Then the PRINCIPAL said to me: Observe and note this figure well, which
for you is the meaning of the entire Work. In this the whole Secret of Secrets
resides, in natural as well as supernatural things, which are not possible for
men to comprehend. But if you are pious and have faith in GOD, then you
will master all of this. The PRINCIPAL spoke further: Until now you have
learned what the Art is capable of beyond Nature. Now let us see what the
SUMMU1VI ARCANUM is, that is, the LAPIS PHILOSOPHORUM. Then you
will see hereafter how far from the mark and the middle point the ordinary
philosophers have shot, although they have written many large books about
it, which some of them in our time often cannot understand themselves, and
yet still attempt to translate into German, Therefore, may you and everyone
else come here, I say, everyone; here you shall find the true foundation, and
from it learn better to understand the other writings of philosophy.
I asked: What then is the LAPIS PHILOSOPHICUS, and what is its
foundation? He answered: The LAPIS PHILOSOPHORUM is a micrososm,
created through Regeneration or rebirth, in which the perfected essence of the
uppermost and the undermost stars has found its place, as in the center. For
one part of it is -taken from the highest vitalizing center of heaven, which is
its super-heavenly light and incomprehensible fire, through which the
heaven, stars, planets and all elements have their life-light, movement, power
and endurance. The other part however, comes from the undermost, purest
transparent center of the earth, which is a corporeal water, and imparts life,
28

power and efficacy to the earth.
If these two widely separated centers (from which all the powers of the
world flow) are joined together through the Art by means of the spiritual
J~RMAPHRODINTJM or heavenly DIAMETRUM and united with one
another then from them the Stone of the Wise is Compounded (as soul, body
and spirit), in which the highest and lowest powers of heaven and earth are
enclosed and comprehended. For this reason, because of its nature, it may be
called the true, regenerated and reborn Microcosm, and, as a PLUSQUAM
PERFECTUM, or more than perfect being, which rules the entire world, it
may also properly be called the Lord of the Macrocosm, or the greater World.
For it is an exalted and excellent Mystery of the world, whose body, soul and
spirit are purely purged and regenerated ANIMAE, or rather QUINTAE
ESSENTIAE, taken from the center of the hearts of the highest and lowest
worlds, in consideration of which its body is an ANIMA or QUINTA
ESSENTIA, as likewise its soul and spirit are, according to the nature of each,
which have been purified for the third time to the highest degree and
separated from their corruptibility. Therefore, its body is the center or the
ANIMA EX CORDE TERRAE VEL CORPORALIS AQUAE, whereas its soul
is the CENTRUM ANIMAE from the highest eternal Light, and its spirit is the
CENTRUM ANIMAE from the firmamental and astral Spirit.
If one desires to attain these exalted and great powers, then the ULTIMA
MATERIA LAPIDIS must be resolved IN PRIMAM and be brought through
Generation to its perfection. For the MATERIA which is prepared only
through common solution and coagulation does not belong to this work,
because this is no Regeneration, but only a Purgation, through which the
body is washed clean, to a certain degree, like a cloth, but nevertheless
remains in its old being and state, still subject to corruption and impotence,
Therefore another solution is required here, indeed, a water so divine and
imperishable, that it can master the Elements and rule over them. From this
the vegetables and minerals are engendered, as from the PRIMA MATERIA.
It enters their innermost center, seeks -their life, and separates it by means of
its powers from the other dead organs, putrefies it, brings it from potential to
action, and then again vegetates and vMfies the dead body, and unites it with
its soul and spirit, through which their life and their powers increase greatly,
and finally attain their first true perfection. For only when the body is robbed
of its soul by the spirit, and these two are purified and then again joined
together and united, does that which before was dead become a regenerated,
new and vitalizing body, which then resurrects in all clarity, snowwhite
and clear, no longer subject to corruption and mortality, but rather an
immortal, psychical, dMne and clarified body, which brings forth manifold
fruit with great virtues and powers. Owing to its causes, this Regeneration is
nothing other than a separation of corruption and a restitution of
29

imperishability, a removal of death and a restoration of life, an abolition of the
elemental and a replacement of the dMne powers, and finally an extirpation
of Evil and an awakening of the good and advantageous being, indeed, a
death and dying of the reigning unfruitful elements and the life of the
repressed, immortal, dMne might and strength. For, as before in the old,
natural body only corruption, death and the impure CORPUS had dominion
and power, and oppressed both the soul and the spirit, usurping their power;
thus in the new-born body, clarified to righteousness through this power,
dominion is restored and given again to the soul and the spirit, in which the
Life dwells. These two illuminate and ennoble the body, and make it like
them in glory, dignity, power and might to the extent that henceforth the
three rule simultaneously with one another, and demonstrate and manifest
their great deeds and power.
Such is the rebirth of a new, spiritual and tempered being, an enduring,
spiritual, psychical and super-heavenly might, an immortal and imperishable
power, which far surpasses the old being, and is also no longer subject to
Nature, but is grounded and exalted over her to the extent that, through
Regeneration, new virtues and a new all-powerful eternal life will be
introduced. That is, although the body was previously inert, coarse, impure,
dark, corruptible, weak and impotent, through Regeneration it will become
like the soul and spirit; vital, volatile, light, penetrating, pure, subtle and
clear, full of power and might, immortal, incorruptible, potent and active, in
order to turn imperfection to perfection and thus to sustain it. Therefore,
Regeneration consists of three operations.
First, in the killing of the body; that is, when it is resolved into PRIJVIAM
MATERIAM and made like this, that is, vegetated, and the VIRES that sleeps
in it is awakened and brought to activity; in addition to which its soul and
spirit are taken from it by means of Generation. Secondly, in the purification
of the body and the spirit; that is, when the external, impure, corruptible
elements are removed from them, and on the other hand, the internal,
invisible, hidden, incorruptible and dMne elements are given to them.
Thirdly, in the conjunction, when the pure soul and spirit are poured again
into the pure body, which is thereby brought to life, and the three are united
with one another, clarified, and made enduring and equally powerful. Thus
Hermes has said, Aufer ei animam et redde el Animam, in which, along with
his Solve et coagula he has comprehended the whole method of the
philosophical Work.
The reason for Regeneration is that because the Lord GOD cursed the earth,
that is, the elemental, corporeal and undermost part of the world, due to the
terrible fall of ADAE, and Subjected it to corruption, neither the vegetable nor
the mineral kingdom, nor also the animal kingdom, could again attain their
original happy state and powerful nature without it, and much less could
they achieve their lost perfection.
30

And since the philosophical Regeneration is nothing but a purgation and
separation of the good from the bad; that is, of the soul, the highest part,
within which there is life, and then the spirit, and finally the body, which is
dead in comparison with the other two; thus, the soul as well as the spirit and
the body must have previously been separated from their corruptible nature,
so that subsequently these three may become pure ANIMAE or QUINTAE
ESSENTIAE in the philosophical Work. For if one gives a body (of whatever
nature one will) to the regenerated ANIMAE (yet understand that the body
must have a SYMBOLUM with the same ANIMA, for otherwise anything at
all could come from anything at all) then the body must be in accord with the
ANIMAE and not the ANIMA with the body. The reason for this is that the
life in the ANIMA becomes an ever-enduring life when it is regenerated, and
the old body in itself is dead by contrast. Therefore, the body must be in
accord with the ANIMAE, and thus alive; indeed, it must become an .ANIMA
when judged against its old condition, so that this should not be called a body
that one can see, but rather the hidden thing that is brought forth from the
same, and is introduced into sublimation by means of the spirit, so that in
contrast to the common body it is said to have become a corporeal spirit. Thus
too, when we speak of a spirit that is regenerated, it is no longer a common
spirit, but rather has become a psychical incorruptible spirit. And, in summa,
the entire philosophical Work is nothing other than the creation of a new
heaven and a new earth, in which the heaven is drawn downward and the
earth is lifted above itself, raised into the heights and set in the place of
heaven, so that this proceeds in a like manner to how the Lord GOD acted in
the creation of the World.
For in the beginning, when the Lord GOD created heaven and earth,
everything was merely a water, which was the PRIMA MATERIA, in which
heaven and earth with their entire host were comprehended, together with
the abyss of the earth, through which they were surrounded with darkness,
void and made deep without power or life. For this reason Democritus was
perhaps led to constitute his ATOMOS as a watery vapor, smoke or resolved
water PRO PRINCIPIIS RERUN. Above this water, which is the purest and
best part, the Spirit of GOD, which is an imperishable fire and life, hovered,
and preserved the same. But he forsook the abyss of the earth, which is the
most unsuitable and dead part, and drew the powers of light and life only
from the earth into the water, so that even in the beginning, through the Spirit
of GOD, a separation occured in the Solution and Putrefaction. Thus the Spirit
of GOD surrounded only the water, that is, the uppermost, most powerful
and best part, and enclosed it with His almighty power, but left the impotent
and dead part lying in the abyss of darkness. Since one essence and life is
comprehended in this Solution of all creatures, the Spirit of GOD, like a hen,
with her chicks, properly looked after it and covered it with the wings of its
almighty fruitfulness, and strengthened and matured it for the increase of its
31

perfect light of life. Since, through the Spirit of GOD, everything was matured
in this Solution and Putrefaction, and apportioned to its perfect and
efficacious state of life, there followed a true essential Separation; that is, in
that GOD, by means of the command of His almighty Word, first separated
the most clear, most subtle, most powerful and most purified water, which
surpasses the clarity and radiance of all crystals, and called this, because of its
incomprehensible radiance and inexpressible clarity, the Light. But it could
also be called the first water, which, among all creatures, is the perfect power
and afficacy, indeed, a living source of all being, in whose flow everything
bathes, sustains and refreshes itself. Therefore it is also the Form, the ACTIO
and the undermost water of all things, and additionally received the first and
highest place beside GOD, through whose influence the heaven, stars, planets,
all elements and inferiour bodies are sustained with their powers and
movements, Out of this Light there followed other Separations, in the order of
their exaltation, which were ordained by GOD for the creation of the angels,
the souls, and then for the preservation of the lower world. This light is also
called the COELUM EMPYREUM or VMFICUM as well as the MUNDUS
SUPERIOR VEL INVISIBILIS.
Without doubt Plato perceived his Ideas in this, since the entire visible world
is comprehended by it, as by the highest creature, according to the will of
GOD.
After this there follows the second Separation, that is, the threefold
sundering or the three distinctions of the upper, middle and lower water,
which signify the soul, spirit and body, where all three, in a spiritual and
inexpressible manner, are comprehended in the Light, or the first Water. For
through the command of the Word of GOD, at each stage the most clear and
subtle water goes forth from the Light or first water to its proper place, until
finally the undermost, weakest and coarsest water remains in the undermost
region, as the body, after which each of these waters again attains its own
Separation. The uppermost water is the invisible COELUM
CHRYSTALLINUM, which is counted a MATERIA in contrast to the Light,
and in which as in wax, the INFLUENTIAE LUCIS IMMORTAIlS ET
VMFICAE imprint, inform and impress themselves as in a model. Thus, this is
a type and impression of -the Light or first fiery water, in which the .ANIMAE
of all creatures, that is, of all births from the Light after the angels, show forth
their light and their power. The manifold IMPRESSIONES ANIMABUM
result from this in the same way, for which reason it may be called the
COELUM ANIMARUM, since this uppermost water is a SCATURGIO and
living wellspring of all souls, which are imparted variously with their gifts
and gradations to the undermost corporeal elements, flowing into them like a
spiritual, living water. Thus, in the Hebraic language, the heaven is called
fire-water, from ISH and MAJIM, that is, SHAMAJIM.
32

The middle water is divided through this Separation into the visible heaven,
that is, into the ORBES PLANETARUM and the firmament or PRIMUM
MOBILE, from each of which thereafter first their ESSENTIA, that is, the
seven planets and the uncountable stars, are separated and discharged, and
then again placed back in them, where they are united and bound to their
ORBIBUS and PROPRIUS IBUS. This middle water, or ORBES SYDERUM
with all its stars is of the nature of a medium, having the qualities of both the
soul and the spirit, according to the nature of the SPIRITUS concealed in it.
Therefore, when the upper and the lower water is separated in Genesis 1, a
partition is placed between them by GOD, in order that through this the Light
or upper water could be united with the lower corporeal water, since the soul
could never be like the body without the spirit. Thus, the vMfying
Impressions of the Light or upper water first enter into the middle water,
which is of both a corporeal and a spiritual nature, with which the spiritual
body is suffused, which finally lets its nature and qualities flow into the lower
water, and thus bestows upon it a harmonious body. Thus the spirit is an
invisible water concealed in the visible, and the soul is a fiery
incomprehensible water comprehended in the spirit, that is, in the invisible
water.
The lower water is corporeal and is subdivided into the four Elements, each
of which is further divided into vegetables and animals. In comparison with
light, fire is only a water, and thus the pure earth was also in the Solution, and
was a water, but in this case a coagulated water. It was clear, diaphonous and
radiantly unsullied before the Fall of ADAE, immaculate and full of power,
life and soul. Even after the corruption it still has a corporeal, pure, potent
water concealed in it, but in external appearance it is nothing now but a
coagulated, impure, dark water. For after the Fall the lower waters, within
which the uppermost, immortal powers had been deposited, and were
immediately caught and permeated, were subjected to the curse and
corruption, and indMdually afflicted with death. He, who knows correctly,
how to separate and disjoin this, that is, the immortal part from the mortal
and corruptible part, and how to restore the incorruptible part to its old
condition and essence, imitates GOD, and has won.
1. Three sorts of forms and materials come from this, three sorts of activity
and passivity, three sorts of soul, spirit and body, also three sorts of means of
the upper, middle and lower, and, as a consequence, three sorts of
Separations and Influences.
2. Note that such purification must take place by means of Separation and
removal of the impure from the pure, that is, when the extraneous materials
and forms and the impure elements are dissolved and taken away from the
internal ESSENTIAE.
3. Note that since the earth was in the Solution, only this should be sought,
33

but the dark abyss, that is, the cursed earth, should be forsaken and only the
living earth be purified with its spiritual water. Note that the all-highest and
purest may not be united with the all-lowest and impurest without the
existence of the middle.
5.Note that, since the best and highest part of the water is spiritual, and has
ventured above itself and hovers in the heights, thus our Artificial water is to
be made volatile and spiritual, which can easily occur, because the Lord GOD
began by introducing the PRIMAM MATERIAM of the world into water, and
out of this took the purest creatures, according to their order, For in the
beginning no creature was impure, because in GOD they were all good, that
is, beautiful, lovely, clear, pure, useful, full of power, life, virtue and
fruitfulness. Therefore, all creatures had a relationship, a flowing and
outpouring, with one another; as they still have, and thus can easily be
transmuted into one another.
Therefore the Holy Ghost calls all creatures water, and fundamentally they
are only water. This is also the reason that all dissolved bodies may better be
mastered, resolved, purified, united with one another and restored to their
first state. For without water, nothing can be purified and attain to its original
perfect essence.
However, since I have spoken of many sorts of water here, one must
harmoneously understand what the correct water in our Work is, and know
how to use it. The philosopher must follow the rules and regulations of the
Holy Ghost in his philosophical Work, and restore each body to its proper
Solution and first essence, that is, turn it into the water from which it arose
and was engendered. However, this water must not be common, elemental or
corruptible water, but rather the middle, fruitful, incorruptible water, the sort
of water that the spirit rules, which is mutual in essence, life and powers with
the upper and with the lower world, that is, which bears something of the
nature and qualities not only of the Light and uppermost world, but also of
the lower, elemental water. It is like a SEQUESTER, intermediary and
spokesman, which is impartial and inclined to all parties, and also can adapt
itself to the nature of each and take on the perfect essence of each.
In the second place, just as this microcosmic Solution had stood for a time
while the hovering Spirit of GOD matured it, in order that one part could
separate from the other, thus also the philosophical Solution must be allowed
to putrefy and be mastered by its warm and moist spirit, and thus be
corrupted, so that the body may be made spiritual by the spirit that hovers in
and over it, and so too that body, soul and spirit properly separate and be
divided from one another.
In the third place, just as in the Maturation of the water, the Lord GOD
undertook the Separation and divided it into four parts, namely, into the
Light and the upper, middle and lower waters, in which the entire upper and
34

lower world is comprehended and upon which it is founded, as in four
principle parts, and from which everything that lives springs forth as from a
wellspring; thus also the philosopher must dMde his entire Work into four
parts, as the main pillers of his Artistical building, that is, into the Light, and
the upper, middle and lower water, and separate or dMde these from one
another.
The Light is the Form, the living water and the efficacious power and the
burning radiance of the souls, or the super-heavenly incomprehensible fire.
But the upper water is the MATERIA or the aetherial body of the souls, their
vessel and seat, or the two insensitive breezes, through whose conjunction
and influence a radiant, clear, crystalline super-heavenly ESSENTIA, that is,
soul, comes to be.
The middle water is counted a form in contrast to the lower water, but a
material in contrast to the upper water. This is the spirit, which is the body of
the souls, but also the living power, form and essence of the lower corporeal
water, through which this must be mastered, purified and made spiritual. For
the spirit is a living water and the true AQUA VITAE, in which the upper
Light lies with its crystalline water. Through it the body, that is, the lower
water, is illuminated and clarified and its previously oppressed life, which
was as dead, is now first properly awakened, crowned with complete power
and glory, and clarified.
The lower water is the body and the true MATERIA, in which all of the
upper powers lie according to their proper measure. Thus it is a center, on
which the Form has its eyes, and which it desires, and into which the invisible
outpouring of all the upper waters flow, as into a lake, in which they are
made enduring and remain fixed.
But because the lower elemental water, due to the sin committed by Adam,
had to depart from its first state, and caine from its purity into the greatest
impurity, thus all inferiour mixed bodies, together with their souls and spirits
are covered and sullied to their~ innermost being by the curse of impurity. If
these parts, the soul, the spirit and the body, are to be delivered again from
impurity and restored to their original, pure and powerful state, then they
must be disjoined, divided from one another, separated several times,
putrified from their impurities, and thereafter each specially again restored,
that is, first purified and then made like their first essence, indeed, more
glorious than before. Moses calls this building and preserving paradise. Such
a body then brings forth many hundredfold, nay, thousandfold fruit, for it is
heavenly, spiritual and full of souls, and is nothing other than an extract of
the powers of the Light and all of its various waters, indeed, an abyss full of
all powers. It is a pregnant body which bears innumerable beautiful glorious
children, and remains continually pregnant and thus inclined to give birth at
any moment, for it has received the upper and the lower seeds without
number and measure for its multiplication. Therefore it is now inclined to
35

give and not to take, and in it heaven and earth have become one thing.
In such a manner, then, the LAPIS PHILOSOPHORUM is an ~) dM~ i and
compilation of everything that is in heaven and earth, but rather a full
compendium of the world and an unfathomable lake, in which the upper and
the lower life have poured through its channels and Influences, a regenerated
microcosm, and the center which is established between the highest and the
lowest, which draws the two powers into itself, as the true philosophical
lodestone, which has taken the perfection of such essences into itself to
illuminate and clarify the other bodies. Finally it is the band of marital duty,
of the heavenly man and the earthly woman, who are bound to one another in
inseparable love and gifted with incalculable fruitfulness. AMEN.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
36

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Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

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Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

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Esonet.org La Tradizione Iniziatica tra Oriente e Occidente

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SOLI DEO GLORIA

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