(non)Mineral, (non)Metal, (non)Magnet

[Visceral]

^_^

Thanks guys.
I understand that to begin the Magnum Opus one requires the Prima Materia. (Mostly thanks to GL and Andros links and insights) I do believe I have discovered the mineral/metal that is not a mineral/metal, as well as followed it's relationship with gold and by consequence its necessary coagulation of SM. I have followed this rabbit hole to the point of understanding how this (non)mineral/metal is related to the (non)Magnet.

As it happens, my local area is basically saturated with this (non)Magnet. It stains the hands a red/gold/yellow. Children play with it, it was used in face paint and make up since the earliest known times of man. Therefore it is readily at hand, both child and womans work, not only do people pass it by and scorn it, they pay no attention to it whatsoever beyond its most immediate and vulgar use as applied via the common or puffers fire.

I would be willing to share my chain of thoughts about this identification with someone I deem to know at least as much as myself. Preferably far more. My issue is I cannot currently fathom how this (non)Magnet could be dissolved or anything else that allegedly occurs within Our True Alkehest.

In some possibly related experiments, following my understanding of several readings of the Mutus Liber and the Golden Chain of Homer I have 3 separate vessels currently incubating 3 separate versions of what I hope (at least one) will be the method of collecting Lunar Salts.

Any comments, insights, roadsigns, maps, gates, keys, names of useful ally spirits to drop receive a million points and blessings for a thousand generations of descendants!

Lux Fiat et Lux Fit

(Taken from my introduction thread at the gentle nudging of Andro)

[Visceral]

Does this mean anything to anyone or strike a fancy?

[Schmuldvich]

The parallels certainly are there, but limonite is not our Prima Materia.

Volumes of Alchemists refer to Alexander von Suchten in their works. There is a reason for this, and it is because the guy knows what he is writing about. The following was written around the year 1550 and is just as relevant today and it was then. This treatise explains our Prima Materia as well as gives us a Short Path of completing the Magnum Opus.

The ancient teacher Hieronymus says that it was formerly ordained among the Jews that no one under the age of 30 years might read the first Chapter of Genesis. Be this true or not, it is certainly not the custom among the Jews at the present time. Yet it is undeniable that man by a right contemplation and understanding of this Chapter, may gain a knowledge of many Arcana and secrets of creation. Not to mention other things, this Chapter is especially suitable to our Chemical Art. Indeed, of all books concerning the Theory and Practice of the Philosopher’s Stone, I know not of one which, from beginning to end, could more plainly and graphically describe our Art, than the Almighty Himself has done in that whole process of His great Creation. Since, however, Theophrastus diligently, and above all others, in his book, Tinctura Physicorum, followed in the way prescribed by God, and in the aforesaid book has sufficiently described both the matter and Practice --- or handiwork --- both of the Ancient Philosophers as well as of his own new corrected opinion, I will in this place substitute no other practice, but simply give a short Guide for better understanding of his book in order that beginners in this Art (I write not for the learned) may, by diligent study, and God’s Grace, attain to, not alone an understanding of the above Theoretical Firmament, but also the necessary manual skill in this Art from beginning to end.

Theophrastus, in describing this our philosophical work and creation (which is nothing other than a small world, since in it appear the participation and similitude of all things), follows the same method as Moses in describing the creation of the Great World. For, before Moses treats of the matter, he enumerates the three principles which indistinctly lay therein, but which, by God, were distinctly developed from the same. So also does Theophrastus, for, before giving the matter of his work, he indicates that, although it is one thing, three things lie hidden in it. These must, by fire or water, be extracted, and again be united into one being and substance, according to Christ’s saying: “He who knoweth not to extract many things from one thing, the same knoweth also not to make one out of many”. Now, Theophrastus says: “The matter of the Tincture is One Thing that, by fire, has been extracted out of three”. This is to be understood as the general concensus of all philosophers. What Theophrastus here affirms, Geber also substantiates. There is one Stone, one Medicine, to “which we neither add, nor take from it, anything”. Bernhardus says: “There is a single root from which the two Mercurial Substances are extracted or made”. Morienus says: “The first and principal substance of this thing is one, and out of it is one thing”. Agadmon, in the Turba, testifies also: “Therefore dismiss all plurality, for Nature is content with one thing”, etc. Hermes, a father of all philosophers, also says in his Tabula: “Even as all things have been born from one, by the mediation of One, so also all things have been born from this one thing, by adaptation”. Hercules especially agrees with Theophrastus, saying: “This Magisterium proceeds from one root, which afterwards is expanded into several things, returning again to one”. From all of which the Truth and foundation of this Art is apparent, for Truth is where there appears no contradiction.

Therefore also can false Alchemists be easily detected in this one point alone.

And since God Almighty Himself has created the whole great World, all Celestial, Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Natures from one single thing and primeval root, how should Man be wiser than God, and for this work --- which, not less than the Great Outer World, contains within itself the seed and qualities of all creatures --- use more than one thing. For the said Art --- according to the testimony of Ferrariensis, Chap. 22 --- should imitate Nature. The matter of Art will be the matter of Nature and, since the matter of nature is unique, viz., the origin and matter of metals, therefore, also, the matter of Art will be unique.

The Book of Genesis relates that this primary matter was of a moist nature, or water, for, when diligently reading the text, although the three principles are first enumerated, viz., Heaven, Earth, and the Spirit of God; yet there soon follows the matter out of which God created Heaven, viz., water, which God took and divided into two parts of pieces, as you will hear. Hermes, or Mercurius Trismegistus, although an Egyptian priest, without enlightenment from God, may yet have derived great wisdom from writings perhaps left behind by Moses after Exodus. Hermes names not alone the matter from which all elements are drawn, a moist nature, but alludes pointedly to the division. This Word (Spirit), moving over humid nature, cherished it. But ardent and light fire straightway flew out from the bowels of humid nature; also light, air, obedient to the Spirit, took the middle place between fire and water. Earth and water lay mixed with each other, so that the face of the earth might nowhere appear, being drowned by the waters. Then these two were separated by the Spiritual Word”. Also Plato: “Water is the principle of the universe. For, from water are all things produced, and into water all reduced”. Hermes calls water the principle of all things. Theophrastus is herein of the same opinion, except that he does not expressly call matter water or moist nature. But he says it is composed of three substances, calling them here an Eagle, a Lion, and a Golden Glitter. In Liber Metamorphoseos he terms them: Mercury, Salt, and Sulphur. That is just the opinion of Hermes and other philosophers, speaking of Spirit, Body, and Soul. (See Key of Chemical Philosophy, by Dornaeus, fol. 411). How, now, these three can, by the artist, by means of Vulcan’s art, be extracted and freed from their prison, and again be united, will follow later. Remember, for the present, that he calls the one thing, from which shall be born the great and also the little world, a Red Lion. Had he desired to indicate it more plainly, he would have called it a moist nature, or water. He does this to prevent the unworthy from sharing this secret with the worthy. Other philosophers have exercised the same caution. For it is written, “This stone is hidden both from men and from demons”. But it is called a Lion on account of its great strength and power.

For as a Lion is the strongest and fleetest animal, mastering the other animals, and therefore compared to a king of beasts --- so also, amongst things created, there will not easily be found a fleeter, stronger, more penetrating thing, subjugating, occupying, overcoming, and ruling, without exception, man and others. Hermes confirms such swift strength, saying: “This matter is the strongest strength of all strength”. This is also experienced by those who know this Lion, and by proper preparation have been instructed how to use it upon other creatures. Then one sees after what manner this thing occupies, conquers, destroys, kills all things, even changing them from one form into another, nothing being exempted from its rule or unterrified by its roars. Hence by philosophers it is named the Animated Thing. Hermes says: “Behold, it conquers every subtle, and penetrates every solid, substance!”. For this reason Dionysius Zacharias calls it a Governor, and Bernhardus a King. For there is nothing that can bear so much rain, wind, work, heat, or cold, while it can be conquered or killed by nothing --- except it be by water --- as those know who have had such monsters in their keeping. Therefore it may be rightly named a strong Lion, by reason of the temperate conjunction of the Elements. For those Elements are separated and purified, and alternately married in a suitable manner, there being generated from them a Tempered Substance, which the Violence of Fire cannot separate, nor earth’s corruption vitiate, nor the muddiness of Water condemn, nor the contact of Air cloud.

In order that one should not imagine such Lion to be a strange, rare thing, he, Bernhardus says: “This Lion is named by many but known by few”. And it is true that it is at the present day carried about by all sorts of men in their mouths, although few, yea, only those whose eyes God has opened to Nature’s virtues and powers, can recognize and use it. Yet in its substance, nature, and matter it is so common, often-used a thing that Bernhardus says: “The whole world have it before their eyes”. Morienus asserts it to be so universal that Man could not live without it. Verily, “I declare to thee”, quoth he to King Calid, “that this Thing by Divine Will has been greatly used in Creation, and nothing made by God can exist without it”. Every person knows this thing, and whoso knows it not, he knows nothing else. I should like to see a child of 7 or 8 who is not acquainted with it, and is without a hearty appetite and desire for it immediately he beholds it. This inclination proceeds from man’s inner spirit, which well knows that all power to preserve health and long life are hidden in his one thing alone. And, in order that this substance be revealed and made known, he gives you another hint and sign whereby you yourself may recognize it, saying: “Such matter is the Greatest Pearl and Noblest Treasure upon Earth according to God’s Revelation and man’s desire”. These words are literally copied from the Lesser Rosary, which says: “For God has under Heaven created no more precious thing, except the rational mind”. Examine one after the other all creatures, you will find among them all no more precious, better, more lovely, or nobler creature created by God. An intelligent man can easily find bottom here by diligently observing the above explanations, together with the Sympathy and Disposition (Diathesis) of God’s creation with respect to man’s natural life. I will let the above instances and the guiding of Theophrastus suffice, and now refer you to our Author’s little Book, De Viribus Spiritualium, where he speaks of the Spirit of Life. There you will find that the Spiritis Vitae, or man’s life, is itself a celestial, invisible vapour; it is the temperament between the Elements, and is included in the Stars and all Heaven’s influences as far as the firmament stretches. Cornelius Agrippa, in Book I, “Concerning Occult Philosophy”, and the Spirit of the World, teaches how and by what means such Spirit is attracted from the Stars into nether corporeal bodies by their Magnetic Force. Richard, the Englishman, also teaches the same fully in his Corrector. Alchy., Part V, Chap. 8 and 9: “When you have now found which most abundantly partakes of this Influx and Spirit of life from other, the same you may use for your work, and apply it by right means and preparation, using its Spirit for the strengthening, preservation, and augmentation of you own spirit. This is more than enough concerning the matter”.

Now he comes to the preparation, and to the before-mentioned three principles, saying: “That this Lion, by Nature’s aid and the artist’s art, may be transmuted into the White Eagle, and thus, out of one, two are made”. Here the Author has wished to signify that, in this Art, man must follow the rule left him by God, the First Chemist. For, God having created all Creatures and Elements out of one thing, Water, it follows that He began by making two things out of the original one thing. The first He has taken up on high, making of it a heavenly water; the other was gathered together below, and by coagulation became Earth. St Peter, II, Chap. 3, briefly mentions these three principles: “By the Word of God the Heavens were of old, and the Earth standing out of the Water and in the Water”. Esdras, Book 4, the last chapter, says: “For God hands the Earth over the Waters by His Word”. Thus also in this work the Artist must divide his process into two parts:

(1) By distillation conduct one part on high, making of it a clear, heavenly Spiritual Water, here called a White Eagle. For, as no bird is so keen-sighted, or soars so high as the eagle, so also we know of no water so volatile, so penetrating, as this, for it ascends to the Heavens; and, as the Lion’s father and son, penetrates his bone and marrow, as we shall presently shew. Our Eagle is the true key to human renovation, and the bath of new Birth and Rejuvenation, as saith the Psalmist: “Like the Eagle shall thou renew thy youth”. It is a white transparent Water of heavenly colour, according to Alanus and Bernhardus, and hence is by many called Heaven (Coelum) by reason of its lofty qualities. This Eagle is the first part of the water which ascends on high, the Ascendens of Hermes mentioned in his Tabula. Esdras, Book 4, calls it: “The Spirit of the Firmament”. Other philosophers term it Water, Spirit, or Soul of the World, the Middle Nature which is a quasi-body and quasi-not-soul, and quasi-soul and quasi-not body. It is the ligament and vinculum of all Elements --- also, the one universal, generative Nature, dispersed through all the parts of the world”. And, since it has its center in the Supreme Circle (as being very light), whence also it came in the First Universal Generation of things, so when freed it ascends towards Heaven to its Centre. Above it has been called Humor Lunae, or the Humid Radical of all Creatures. Compare Aurelius Augurellus, Book I, “To the Lion”, For this (Anima Mundi) is diffused everywhere, And everywhere is active; In the winds of heaven, in the earth, and the bosom of the wide waters. They enclose the Soul, by which all things of earth do live. Thence the world itself derives its life. But, since the Sol is trammeled by no body, and the world, and all parts thereof, are in material form; therefore, between these two the Spirit is the intermediary, which is neither body, nor Soul, sharing in both these natures. Therefore in this live and increase Sea, Air, and Fire. This, embracing all things. Is always the Bird, always the root, ever bringing forth and perpetuating life. At length, imprisoned in yellow gold, itself seeks the hand of the artificer, who may loose its bonds, and, by its virtue, become powerful.

(2) The other part of the water --- or of our Lion --- according to the teaching of Moses, became corrupted and dry. That is now the second part of our Art, viz., the investigation of the substance of the Lion, when the aforesaid Eagle has been hatched out from his body, by warmth, as from an egg, and has flown away. To speak plainly concerning it, it is the dry, waste earth, and the cursed earth in Gen. V. It has its first name of Lion by reason of its aforesaid strength and sharpness. For, as a lion has sharp teeth, biting through that which he seizes, so also is this earth so sharp as to be unbearable on the tongue because of its penetrating nature. It cannot be touched without offence so the tongue, as saith the philosopher. Elsewhere Theophrastus calls it “An invisible, consuming fire”. Bernhardus retains its name of King, and says: “Although Fontin, the aforesaid Eagle, is the King’s Mother, yet is the King nobler than Fontin”. For, although he always retains the name of Lion, yet is he changed from his first nature, is no longer a virgin, but has been fructified by the Spirit brooding over the water --- his original first substance --- and has borne a heavenly, spiritual fruit, viz., the aforesaid Eagle. Hence these verses: A virgin, not one day old, By Nature’s decree espoused a man, And, before she had reached the age of one year, To this man a child she bore, Yet she died before she was born. And in The Song of Solomon, Chap. VIII, “I raised thee up under the apple tree, there thy mother brought thee forth; there she brought thee forth that bare thee”. Hermes calls the inferior substance gross or descending. For, being heavy, it has, and seeks, its center in the lowest circle, as it were, subject to the superior heaven and its influx, or the Soul of Middle Nature, or Mundane Spirit. Above it has been called by its right name of Solar and Natural Heat of all corporal and natural things. Now, as to the third principle, viz., the Spirit brooding. It is, according to Theophrastus the Glitter of Gold. For this Earth is but the real fine Gold, left imperfect by Nature, to be perfected by Art, as Ferrariensis says (Chap. 64): “The terrestrial parts are nothing else than the occult gold of philosophers”. Other sages define it as “The Soul of the World, whose colour is golden”.

Now, since in the first Universal Creation, the third principle, the Spirit of God, has never been separated from the other two, but the two have remained in one as the Spirit above, and in the water, so also is it in our microcosmic, particularistic, and philosophical Creation. We cannot obtain this third principle, this golden flitter, this beautiful gold-red colour, separate by itself. “It shines not to the Spagyrus”, saith Theophrastus, i.e., it conceals itself and is lost when one is made into two. What, then, becomes of it? According to Gen. Chap. 1, and the opinion of philosophers, it remains with the aforesaid water, and since that water ascends towards heaven, this Golden Glitter must accompany it in its center. Theophrastus, however, considers that it remains with the earth, perhaps on account of the Old Testament saying that the Soul is in the Blood, wherefore the Israelites were forbidden to eat it (having already converted the original One into Two). Such simplicity of the subject Ferrariensis describes well, Chapter 12: “The first radical Element whence all the Elements derive their origin is Humidity, or Water, i.e., liquefaction”. Or, according to others, it is the earth. Shortly after he says: “For the Beginning of the World there is One Sole Element, which is Primary Matter, from the Division of which, by reason of opposing qualities, were generated the four Elements, which were in it potentially”. Aurelius Augurellus, Book II, says: “Besides within there is ordained a double force, Which always acts and suffers, As a female and male when together --- Even as a chicken grows in the shell, By the action of the one and the suffering of the other in turn, And by cherishing heat externally applied”.

If you begin with one thing you must first make two of it. But, by taking two, such as Earth and Water --- Nature having educed this Binary from one --- you are saved the trouble, and have only to generate the third, which, as aforesaid, is always hidden in one of these two. Thus Lion’s Blood is the Bride around whom they dance, viz., the natural red Sulphur or Seed of Gold, ordained by God and nature to bear its like. But, being mixed and bound up too much with earth and superfluities, it cannot perform its office, except it be freed by one of Vulcan’s smiths from all bolts and bands of its natural prison. Therefore have both the Ancient Sages and Theophrastus taken great pains to liberate these Captive Souls from their Eternal Darkness by the Descent to Hell of our Heavenly Eagle --- according to Isaias: Those in darkness and the shadow of death see a great light. Thus have the Ancients united the two things, and, after a month’s putrefaction, extracted the spirit, that is, the water, with gentle fire by distillation. For this water will not stand a great fire, and if vexed with the same it becomes impatient, angry, and wrath to such an extent that it “knocks all of a heap”, as Bernhardus says, the residual matter they treated with strong water until the same went over as a dry spirit. Compare Solomon’s Song, II. C.: “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”. Now, this dry spirit is the substance or body of the Lion himself, the sharp earth, the old, miserly, jealous man, who breaks not willingly into the treasury, or likes to give up his golden-yellow oil, and only by force will let his palace be plundered. It is called a dry spirit by reason of the quantity of dominating fire therein, which is none other than the true philosophical Sulphur, as Bernhardus relates in the Book Concerning the Transmutation of Metals. But sulphur is none other than the pure action of Air and Fire, heating and digesting, or decocting, Earth and Water proportionately and homogeneously to themselves. Richardus, the Englishman, also says: “Philosophers’ Sulphur is a simple, living Fire, vivifying and maturing, and nothing but a hot and dry vapour generated from the purest terrestrial dryness in which Fire rules in every way”. Now, since all the oil or spirit does not go over at once --- in order that none of this gold seed or potable gold as the Lion’s greatest treasure might remain behind --- they moistened the corpus mortuum (residuum) with spirits and, after a month’s putrefaction, again distilled over as at first, thus obtaining more of the oil. This moistening, putrefying, and distilling they repeated until the earth was wholly dissolved and had given up its entire treasure, all the gold having distilled over and become a Mercury, i.e., Water, which has its coagulation or its sulphur in its depths, as Geber says: “Our Mercury has in its depths fixed Sulphur, and nothing sinks in it except Gold”. Dionysius well describes this process in this Practice: “After the Governor of the Firetown (oven, furnace) had retreated, his remaining warriors had long fought the enemy with fire, until they escaped the said enemy by retreating over the water and bridges which they had thrown up behind themselves”. That is the same thing that Aeneas did with the tree bearing golden branches. As often as he broke a branch off two grew in its place. Those are the lovely golden-yellow drops falling from the beak of the retort into the receiving vessel, one dripping down after the other, until the Lion has lost his whole heart, blood and strength. For that is the true Lion of Judah, sent by God to deliver His Peoples from their enemies and sins, in pain and torture to shed His Blood for them. The wound in His Side, whence flowing two long streams of Blood and Water, shall be a Fount of Purification to all those drinking therefrom. In these shall such water become the spring of a long, healthy life. Bernhardus goes on to relate that the Ancients --- having got so far that nothing further distilled over from the earth --- they again purified the water and oil, removing all remaining bonds, until they at length reached the Pure Fount, and the true, beautiful, golden leaves of the Golden Book. Here are our Adam and Eve naked, for their eyes are opened, and now they see themselves, what was good and bad in their own substance. This is the Rectification whereby they cleansed these two of the accidental impurities of the first Distillation (for the unclean Spirits guarding the treasure in the earth love not to leave the same). This is the first process of our Philosophical Birth, the Returning into the Mother’s Womb, whereby the Rule of God is followed, and the first precepts of chemists are fulfilled, viz., the Reduction into Primary Matter, into the Three Natural Principles, i.e., Animated Spirit, Mercury, and Sulphureous Vapour of Earth. Thereby are separated the Elements and the Pure from the Impure, and, finally, the Seeds of Gold are brought from the Darkness to Light, which is nothing less than the Generation of Nature in the Generation of Metals, and The Process with Double Smoke of Paracelsus.


...But the above method entailed heavy expenses and much time and labour, all of which the Ancient Sages could have avoided, and obtained the Lion’s treasure by a shorter cut, had they enquired into the matter as diligently as Theophrastus. Now, I wot there is no one who would not wish to know this shorter method; and that you may not have to complain of Theophrastus, he shews you another short way, admonishing you also to let the above tedious process be, and to take from the Lion nought but his rosy blood, and from the Eagle the white gluten. These two bodies you must coagulate together and bring into one body, as it were male and female seed. Now, someone might object thus. Dear Theophrastus, that is the old story which I have heard long ago. (The Ancients took nothing more than the Lion’s blood and water, and coagulated them) Yet you tell me the same is a brief way to obtain the aforesaid two Mercurial Substances, with little labour and in a short time. Well, that is true so far. Theophrastus is not so clear here as he might be. But you may easily imagine what the mode of preparation must be if you have diligently studied Theophrastus’s other books and preparations, and are otherwise experienced in Chemical labours. You will then find that Chemistry, in the preparation of all arcana (secrets), has two methods, viz., Distillation and Extraction. Whatsoever is to be prepared by Chemistry and brought into its Arcanum, its Tincture, or Quintessence (in which is he power and virtue of all creatures), or is to be cleansed from impeding impurities, that must be done by Distillation or Extraction (which is the same as Solution). There is no other means. As Bernhardus says: “The King never goes forth except the Fountain attract him”. Now, having already heard that he rejects the tedious process of much distillation and purification by reason of its expense, etc., you perceive that he must have used the only other means, viz., Extraction by Solution. According to Calid, son of Jazichus: “Solution is the Extraction of the Interior of Things to their Superficies, so that the hidden become manifest”. Hence his (Theo.’s) meaning is this: When you of one thing have made two --- or have taken two things differently constituted by Nature --- let the old process alone; take from the Lion his blood only --- i.e., cut out his heart with his own sharp spear --- or as Bernhardus says: “Slay the King with his own sharp, poisonous Mercurial Water”. In plain words: Extract but from the earth its Tincture or Arcanum, and the blood, the sunshine, the dry spirit immediately all distills over. By such extraction or solution more will be done in a few hours than the Ancient Sages could effect in six months. By the above process the whole work may be completed in ten or twelve months, in which time the Ancients could barely achieve the first step --- i.e., Reduction into Primary Matter --- as all those know whom God has enlightened, and thought worthy you know this Solution and Extraction. But misunderstand me not! I speak here, not of the second solution of the earth, but of the first solution of the crude body. How this solution and extraction is effected it behooves not to tell here more plainly --- as our author says -- - not to put the food right into the bad birds’ beaks. As the saying is: He who would reach the open sea must first pass through the narrow straits. That is the blessed place of which Esdras writes (Bk. IV, Chap. 2): The path to it is narrow, so that but one man can walk on the same. On one side is Fire, on the other Water. He who would inherit or possess these good things must first undergo much trouble and danger until he finds the narrow footpath between Fire and Water, and pass over. Now, having revealed this to you indirectly as far as may be, I would refer you to other philosophers. Remember Geber’s rule: “That no Solution should be made, except in its own blood, and that calcined things are more soluble than noncalcined. For, by calcinations, they are reduced to the natures of Slats and Alums, which alone are soluble”. If you are a true searcher after knowledge, the above will tell you more than too much. Compare Aurelius Augurell., Book 3: “First, taking thin plates and filings of pure gold, “Thou shalt crush and pound them into the form of fine powder, or river sand, with frequent blows: “Until, at length, they become liquid, dissolved by putrid humour from within themselves. “It will be well here sometimes to pour in large quantities of liquor of their own seed, but by no chance anything foreign”. This is also the aforesaid short process of Theophrastus, whereby you, in a short time, and with little trouble and expense, may find the two said things (of which one is the Father, or Sun, or Red Water, and the other the Mother, or Moon, or White Water) which are necessary for the perpetration of the miracle of the One Thing, and for which good counsel you owe Theophrastus many thanks. Thus, by God’s help, is effected the first step of this process, which is done by the hand through Sublimation and Purification. By this the fleshly, corporeal Adam is killed, and Body, Soul, and Spirit, by the natural death, are separated from one another.

[Visceral]

I wasn't saying limonite was the PM, but it certainly is not a mineral or a metal. I believe it is empirically related to the magnet that is not a magnet, which I believe may be what is referred to as a "better" natural magnet for SM, in that it is a completely non magnetic material that due to its internal structuring still exhibits certain bouts of magnetism. It could be said to be magnetically void itself yet sympathetic to magnetism, or perhaps a spontaneous producer of magnetism whilst generally being considered a nullifier of such.

It would certainly fit the tongue-in-cheek attitude of the Logos at any rate.

I am not trying to be argumentative, just clarifying, I can't wait to look over your post in greater detail and try to comprehend it, it appears very worthwhile upon the short glance I can spare before slumber, thank you, O kind soul. ^_^

[Kiorionis]

My issue is I cannot currently fathom how this (non)Magnet could be dissolved or anything else that allegedly occurs within Our True Alkehest.

Not sure if I 100% understand what you're getting at, but I'll throw this out anyways based on my own experience haha.

It's a matter of coherence along the "chain", similar to like-begetting-like. The whole: you cannot produce a tree from a rock, cannot produce a man from an acorn argument which many texts like to repeat. Break one link in the "chain" and everything unravels.

It might also be important to note that the Alkahest is an evolved an concocted matter, not the starting matter.

In some possibly related experiments, following my understanding of several readings of the Mutus Liber and the Golden Chain of Homer I have 3 separate vessels currently incubating 3 separate versions of what I hope (at least one) will be the method of collecting Lunar Salts.

Do you have a control experiment, to determine a baseline?

[Schmuldvich]

I wasn't saying limonite was the PM, but it certainly is not a mineral or a metal. I believe it is empirically related to the magnet that is not a magnet, which I believe may be what is referred to as a "better" natural magnet for SM...

I can't wait to look over your post in greater detail and try to comprehend it, it appears very worthwhile upon the short glance I can spare before slumber, thank you, O kind soul. ^_^

Limonite is in no way related to Alchemy or used in any of our Processes. Limonite is completely dead and useless to the Art.

What we need is a starting Matter containing all of Nature within itself potentially. The Sages say that this Universal starting Matter is known by everyone but valued by few. This special Matter is the beginning and starting point of the Great Work and the only thing on Earth that will ever lead to a successful completion of the Magnum Opus, which I assume is what you seek.

The "Cabala Mineralis" manuscript is a better resource for understanding our starting Matter better than the "Mutus Liber" is, but that is just my opinion. George Ripley's "Medulla Alchymiae" is another fantastic resource.

Our starting Matter and our Prima Materia are two different (yet the same) substances. Our starting Matter is what we Collect and work upon in the beginning of our Work, whereas our Prima Materia is what we cause to be extracted (from either a Proximal or Remote material, depending on our method of working i.e. the Noble Way or a Less Noble Way).

We need to remember that the Ancients spoke in a vernacular not easily digested by modern man. When the old Adepts spoke or wrote down what they had to say, it was always written with veiled speech. You cannot take their words literally or follow their receipts directly. Where one Author could be referring to our starting Matter, another Author uses the same word to describe our Prima Materia. Both Authorities are correct in spirit while superficially disagreeing on the surface.

Many Adepts exoterically spoke of a subject while esoterically paralleling another very similar subject which can be absolutely perplexing, misleading, and confusing to the uninitiated Seeker especially when such writers purposely spoke about the Short Path when describing the Long Path and vice versa.

Taking time to read and understand what has been written in the past is something I cannot stress enough! One must have a foundation and familiarity with the Works and words of old Adepts before ever beginning trying to comprehend what they were attempting to convey to the honest Seeker. "A New Chemical Light" by Sendivogius and "An Open Entrance To The Closed Palace Of The King" by Philalethes are both great texts highly worthy of diligent study. There is a reason I posted that little excerpt from von Suchten; read it all. If reading is not your thing, pondering various series of Alchemical Images & Illustrations may be more worth your time.

The top image I posted yesterday declares our Whole Art, whereas the bottom image is a portrayal of the Short Path. Today I posted two more images I really admire. The picture at the top of this post is another bold declaration of our Art, and this bottom image is another depiction of the Short Path.

[JDP]

I wasn't saying limonite was the PM, but it certainly is not a mineral or a metal.

Limonite is a mineral, and it contains a metal (iron).

[JDP]

What we need is a starting Matter containing all of Nature within itself potentially. The Sages say that this Universal starting Matter is known by everyone but valued by few. This special Matter is the beginning and starting point of the Great Work and the only thing on Earth that will ever lead to a successful completion of the Magnum Opus, which I assume is what you seek.

Too bad that it does not exist already made anywhere in nature. Nature makes no such matter, and you will only waste your time seeking for it somewhere already made for your convenience. The amount of coincidences that would have to happen for the alchemical "Magnesia", "Sericon", "Antimony", "Tartar", "Chaos", "Silex", etc. to be made naturally without the intervention of man are ASTRONOMICAL, you have better chances of winning the lottery. But the alchemist can make this (deceptively in outward appearance) "one matter" out of several carefully chosen ones. Don't fall for the "only one matter" gimmick. It will lead you nowhere fast.

The "Cabala Mineralis" manuscript is a better resource for understanding our starting Matter better than the "Mutus Liber" is, but that is just my opinion. George Ripley's "Medulla Alchymiae" is another fantastic resource.

Neither of which endorse the "one matter only" trap.

Our starting Matter and our Prima Materia are two different (yet the same) substances. Our starting Matter is what we Collect and work upon in the beginning of our Work, whereas our Prima Materia is what we cause to be extracted (from either a Proximal or Remote material, depending on our method of working i.e. the Noble Way or a Less Noble Way).

Unless you "collect it" inside your vessels out of the reactions used in making it (which is the real "beginning" of the work, and thus the part that has been kept most secret and the one that has been distorted the most by many writers) you will never find it anywhere else, because contrary to the type of misleading assurances of some malicious writers that you seem to like so much, NATURE DOES NOT MAKE THIS "ONE MATTER" THAT CAN PERFORM ALL OF WHAT THE ALCHEMISTS DESCRIBE.

[Visceral]

Limonite is a mineral, and it contains a metal (iron).

http://m.minerals.net/mineral/limonite.aspx

Limonite is scientifically not considered a true mineral as it lacks a definitive*chemical formula*and*crystal structure. However, all mineral reference guides list it together with other minerals. Limonite is a*matrixbase of many other minerals, and the termgossan*is used as a reference to Limonite when it is used as a a matrix for another mineral or has formed an undesirable staining on top of it.

Limonite is extremely common and forms the coloring matter in many soils. It is also responsible for the coloring on theweathered*surfaces of rocks. Much Limonite, especially the*fibrous*type, is either*Goethite*or*altered Goethite that absorbed water in its*chemical structure.

Limonite commonly forms as apseudomorph*over other minerals, especially*Pyrite,*Marcasite*and*Siderite. These pseudomorphs are very identifiable by their partial rusting look and yellow staining.

[JDP]

http://m.minerals.net/mineral/limonite.aspx

Those guys are using a very particular definition of "mineral", to mean something that has a "definitive chemical formula and crystal structure." If we go by such a technicality, then there aren't that many "minerals" on the planet, as the majority of them are not "pure" and contain varying proportions of other substances. And even by the peculiar definition they use, limonite is simply a mixture of various mineral oxides & hydroxides. So it is a "mineral" no matter how you want to look at it.