[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.He will find where to look for the invisible white salt; the Mars that unites with this Venus(Venus the spouse of vulca, i.e., labour or toil).In his poem is the following: "Those sighs return to drops again";what, in practice, is the signification of these sighs? They are mentioned by other writers, though presented in lesspoetic garb.It is so with many other indications, mentioned as occurring in the laboratory work, which are apprehended by theordinary five senses, and assessed at their proper value by the intellect.The theory of evolution implies the unity ofnature; it therefore seems logical that gold could be made out of the white metals, lead and tin; and silver out of thered metals, iron and copper; by bringing these metals back to the point at which the paths began to diverge.Or, asthe alchemist puts it, by adding citrinity to the white metals, and argent vive to the excessively red: a sort of levelingto the standard required.Geber mentions ten medicines for the five common metals including mercury; five ofthese for introducing a solar quality, and five for introducing a lunar quality.But the universal medicine is the best, and will make any metal gold or silver, according to the intention of thephilosopher, and the quality of the medicine.The superfluities of the common metal go off in fumes.Men who havebeen ultimately successful write that they toiled unsuccessfully at the making of these ten particular medicines,when they were "Geber's cooks"; but after fruitless years, they turned their attention to the universal, and thenaccomplished the work.It is necessary to distinguish between things that are possible to an accomplished master only, and those things thatare within that capabilities of an earnest student.Eirenaeus, though making mistakes for several months, had theconviction that he was already a master; so that it is evident that to alight on the right material, makes clear to themind the sayings of the philosophers; as has been mentioned.In every block of marble is a potential Venus de Milo,but it requires inspiration to see it, and a master to educe it into actuality.In the subject we seek is enclosed aGalatea, who must not only be made visible, but must also be infused with life.Having now given in the very wordsof alchemists of repute, direct contradiction to some of the more important misinterpretations of modern critics, theraison d'etre of this treatise is accomplished.Much more might be said, but considerations far more cogent thanthose of space forbid.I will conclude with a few extracts from Boehme: "Do not toil and trouble yourself in thatmanner and way which you mention, with any gold or minerals, it is all false.It is not of earth, stones or metals,and yet it is the ground of all metals; a doubled mercury, yet not quicksilver, or any other mineral or metal." Asregards the working or process upon the correct materials, he says that a close parallelism exists between it and thelife of Christ."Now it behooves the wise seeker to consider the whole process with the humanity of Christ from hisopening in the womb of his mother, Mary, even to his resurrection and ascension, The Magus must keep andobserve this process also with his Alchymy." FINIS. On the Philadelphian Gold[This extract is taken from The Theosophical Transactions of the Philadelphian Society.This short lived magazine(four issues appeared during 1697) was edited by Francis Lee, the son-in-law of the English mystic Jane Lead whowas the major figure behind the Philadelphian Society.Most of the articles in this magazine were published withoutcredit or else given pseudonymous authors, though the bulk of these were probably written by Francis Lee or hiscolleague Richard Roach.Among these is this interesting dialogue which discusses the idea of the spiritual orPhiladelphian gold.- Adam McLean.]A ConferencebetwixtPhilochrysus and PhiladelphusOn the Philadelphian Gold.Philochrysus: This was upon me to ask you.You may remember then that you told me how the description of yourcity which we then read, was more literal, than is easy to be believed, and withal more mystical than it is possible forthe wisest of mortals to comprehend.And in particular you told me that it was built first of true and substantialGold; secondly of fine Gold; thirdly of transparent or glassy Gold; and fourthly of living Gold.I desire now that you would answer me to all these particulars in order.Do you then say that this city is built of trueGold, and that it is not only metaphorically said to be built of Gold? Is it as real and substantial, is it as visible andpalpable, and has it as many good qualities as this which I have now in my hand?Philadelphus: Yes, Philochrysus, I can assure you that it is built of true and not metaphorical Gold, as some wouldhave it only to be.This Gold, I say, is no less real and substantial, and no less visible and palpable to its inhabitantsand has as many, yea more, good qualities that that which you hold in your hand, and seem so pleased with.I knowthat this is a strange language, and I shall have much ado to make myself understood by you but in any degree.Because I must speak of that which you have never seen, or handled; though others have both seen and handled of it,and you also may come in time to do the same
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]