Reference Guide - Alchemy Resources

AlchemyReference GuideA Tool for Exploring the Secret Art1

CONTENTSSection I: Alchemy Dictionary ………………........……. 3Section II: Alchemy Symbols and Ciphers …….....…... 28Section III: Alchemy True Type Fonts .......................... 32Section IV: Resources for Alchemists .......................... 33Books ................................................................ 33Internet .............................................................. 38ISBN 0-9637914-6-X© Athanor BooksAll Right Reserved.Any reproduction ordistribution prohibited.2

ALCHEMY DICTIONARY- A -Ablation is the Separation of a component of a substance by removing the upperpart; skimming off the surface of a compound; separ-ating a component bywhisking the surface with a feather or cloth.Ablution is the washing of a solid with a liquid, usually in plain water. Generally,it is purification by successive washings in a liquid. Spiritually andpsychologically, it is facing one's emotions and letting feelings flow, so thatinnocence and purity can be restored. Baptism.Abstraction is a process of sublimation or distillation.Aes Cyprium is Cyprian brass or copper.Aion (see Ouroboros)Air is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Air in the alchemical sense carriesthe archetypal properties of spirit into the manifested world. It is associated withthe operation of Separation and represented by the metal Iron.Albification is making the matter in the alchemical work become white. Refers toboth physical and spiritual processes.Alchemy The word is derived from the Arabian phrase "al-khemia," which refersto the preparation of the Stone or Elixir by the Egyptians. The Arabic root"khemia" comes from the Coptic "khem" that alluded to the fertile black soil of theNile delta. Esoterically and hieroglyphically, theword refers to the dark mystery of the primordial or First Matter (the Khem), theOne Thing through which all creation manifests. Alchemy, then, is the GreatWork of nature that perfects this chaotic matter, whether it is expressed as themetals, the cosmos, or the substance of our souls.Alembic is the upper part of a still; a stillhead, a type of retort. The term is oftenused to refer to a complete still. (see cucurbit; Distillation)Alkahest is the power from Above that makes possible alchemicaltransformation. The word is usually translated as "universal solvent," whichalludes to the ability of the alkahest to dissolve or reduce all physical matter to itsbasic essence. With metals, this meant transmuting them to their purest form,which was gold. In the human body, this meant the creation or revealing of agolden body of consciousness, the Astral Body.Aludel is a pear-shaped earthenware bottle, open at both ends. It was used as acondenser in the sublimation process and thus came to signify the end-stages of3

transformation. Also called the Hermetic Vase, the Philosopher's Egg, and theVase of the Philosophy.Amalgamation is the formation of an amalgam, or alloy, of a metal with mercury.This term is sometimes extended to mean any union of metals. Amalgam.Angel An angel in alchemical treatises symbolizes sublimation or the ascensionof the volatile principle.Animals are often used to symbolize the basic components and processes ofalchemy. They may be used to symbolize the four Elements such as the lion orox (Earth), fish or whales (Water), eagles (Air), or salamanders or dragons (Fire).Aerial animals generally indicate volatile principles, while terrestrial animalsindicate fixed principles. Whenever two animals are found, they signify Sulfur andMercury or some relationship between the fixed and the volatile.Ankh is a hieroglyphic character used by Egyptian alchemists to denote theascendancy of the life force or spirit (the circle) over the material world (thecross). In other words, through crucifixion, the soul rises and is reborn on ahigher level. Its use dates back over 3,000 years and is a symbolic rendition ofthe principles expressed in the Emerald Tablet. In its design, the circular OneMind projects downward into the One Thing, while the lateral manifested worldon which we are crucified is indicated by the horizontal bar.Antimony is from the Latin word “antimonium” used by Constantinius Africanus(1050 AD) to refer to stibnite ore. The metal antimony symbolizes the animalnature or wild spirit of man and nature, and it was often symbolized by the wolf.Alchemist Basil Valentine named the metal, after feeding it to some monks in aBenedictine monastery. The monks got violently ill and some even died, hencethe Latin name that means "anti-monk." Spiritually too, monks feel mostthreatened by their own animal nature. Oddly enough, the Tincture of Antimonycures venereal diseases. Associated with the attributes of Lead.Apollo References to the Greek god Apollo signify the Sun as spirit or solarconsciousness.Aqua fortis is Latin for "strong water" and refers to nitric acid. Various grades ofaqua fortis were prepared depending on the length of its Distillation, whichconcentrated the acid. A mixture of aqua fortis and spiritus salis ("spirit of salt,"i.e., hydrochloric acid) produces aqua regia ("royal water" -- so named because itcan dissolve gold). It was first prepared by distilling common salt with aqua fortis.Aqua tofani is the oxide of arsenic. It was extremely poisonous but used byParacelsus medicinally.Aqua vitae is "living water" or water "with spirit." An aqueous alcoholconcentrated by one or more Distillations.Arcana ("magical secrets") are archetypal influences that transcend space andtime. According to the ancient text Archidoxies, the arcana are pre-existingpowers that "have the power of transmuting, altering, and restoring us." In thisview, the arcana are the secret workings of the mind of God, the logos of the4

Greeks or what the alchemists referred to as the thoughts of the One Mind. In theTarot, the arcana are represented by symbolic drawings that the reader tries towork with through meditation. In the Cabala, the arcana are represented by theesoteric properties of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, energies that thecabalist tries to work with in the Tree of Life. In the in the ancient Chinese systemof divination, the I Ching, the arcana are represented by the sixty-four trigrams,each with its own properties and influences. The alchemists believed the arcanawere expressed on all levels of reality -- from chemical compounds to ourinnermost moods and desires.Arcanum Experiment. The early alchemists divided their chemicals into majorand minor arcana. The major arcana consisted of the four compounds: Vitriol,Natron, Liquor Hepatis, and Pulvis Solaris. Three out of the four consisted of dualingredients that were easily separable. Vitriol could be broken down into sulfuricacid and iron. Natron appeared as sodium carbonate and sodium nitrate. PulvisSolaris was made up of the red and black varieties. Thus, the seven chemicalscomprising the minor arcana were: Sulfuric Acid, Iron, Sodium Carbonate,Sodium Nitrate, Liquor Hepatis, Red Pulvis Solaris, and Black Pulvis Solaris. Thealchemists believed that these secret chemicals could be combined in theArcanum Experiment, the single laboratory experiment that would demonstratethe archetypal forces and evolution of the universe. Ideally, such an experimentshould succeed on many levels, not only corroborating the deepest philosophicaland psychological principles, but also providing concrete evidence of theirveracity. The Arcanum Experiment exposed the hidden principles connectingheaven and earth, offering a framework in which to explain both microcosmic andmacrocosmic events.Archaeus is the “Thing Itself” of a substance. According to Paracelsus, it is the“secret inner matter of a substance,” its oldest part that goes back to when it wasjust an ideal image, thought, or vibration of spirit in the Above.Archetype is an elementary idea rooted in the mind. It is the ideal or essencefrom which an existing thing has been copied and is part of creation itself.Archetypes are primordial patterns that show up on all levels of reality.Ascension occurs when the active or subtle part of a solution rises up in theflask, usually by heating.Assation is the reduction of a substance to a dry ash by roasting.Athanor comes from the Arabic word "al-tannur" (oven), the athanor is thefurnace used by the alchemists to perfect matter. Built of brick or clay, theathanor usually was shaped like a tower with a domed roof and was designed tokeep an even heat over long periods of time. The alchemists considered it anincubator and sometimes referred to it as the "House of the Chick." Symbolically,the athanor is also the human body and the fire of bodily metabolism that fuelsour transformation and the ultimate creation of a Second Body of light. Themountain is a symbol for the athanor, since the perfection of the metals takesplace under the guise of Nature within mountains. Sometimes a hollow oak treeis used to symbolize the athanor.5

Azoth. The term "Azoth" is formed from the first and last letters of the Englishalphabet ("a" and "z"), which stand for the beginning and end of all creation -- thealpha and omega of the Greek philosophers, the aleph and tau of the Hebrewcabalists. Therefore the Azoth is the ultimate arcanum, the universal spirit of Godin all created things. The alchemists believed that the liquid metal mercurycarried the signature of this omnipotent archetypal spirit.- B -Bain Marie (Balneum Marie) is a warm alchemical bath. Chemically, it is adouble-boiler in which a container of water is suspended in a simmeringcauldron. Psychologically, it is the gentle warmth of emotionally centeredmeditation used in the Dissolution process. The Bain Marie was named afterMaria Prophetissa, a Jewish alchemist who wrote much about the methods andequipment of the Water operations of Dissolution and Distillation.Balsam is a resinous or waxy semi-solid compound that captures the essence ofa liquid medicine or perfume. To Paracelsus, the balsam was the "interior salt"that protected the body from decomposition, and earlier alchemists consideredthe Balsam of the Elements to be the Quintessence, the result of the Conjunctionof alchemical principles. Because of it amalgamating ability, mercury wasconsidered the balsam agent of the metals. In the chemical arcana, LiquorHepatis mixed with fat or wax was known as the Balsam of the Soul.Basilisk is a symbolic alchemical creature said to have the head of a bird andthe body of a dragon. The wingless serpentine animal was hatched from ahermaphroditic cock's egg and nursed by a serpent. Psychologically, the Basiliskrepresents the melding of our higher and lower natures in Conjunction, a processthat must be continued in the next three operations of alchemy for this "Child ofthe Philosophers" to become the Living Stone of the fully integrated Self.Biologically, the Basilisk represents the mammalian embryology, the geneticreplaying of the stages of evolution within the egg or womb. The Basilisk also haschemical connotations, which probably have to do with a metallurgical processinvolving cinnabar.Baths in alchemy symbolize the Dissolution process in which the metals arecleansed and purified.Bezoar. Some chemical compounds, such as sulfur auretum when mixed witheither red mercuric oxide or black antimony, clump together inseparably as soonas they are mixed together. The alchemists considered such compounds to bechemical bezoars, which are hard clumps of undigested food or solid balls of hairsometimes found in the intestines. In the Middle Ages, physicians thought thestrange mass protected people from poisons and actually prescribed it to theirpatients. Egyptian priests discovered bezoars during the preparation of mummiesand believed the hard balls were magical pills formed by the large serpent in man(the intestines). Some evidence suggests that the Egyptians also looked for asimilar pill in the small serpent in man (the brain) and found it there in the form ofthe pineal gland. This pine-shaped gland is imbedded with tiny crystals of darkmelanin, and could explain the Egyptian pinecone emblems and the origin of the6

Calomel is mercurous chloride. It is a purgative, made by subliming a mixture ofmercuric chloride and metallic mercury, triturated in a mortar. This was heated inan iron pot and the crust of calomel formed on the lid was ground to powder andboiled with water to remove the very poisonous mercuric chloride.Cassel Yellow (see Naples Yellow)Caustic Marine Alkali is caustic soda. Sodium hydroxide. Made by adding limeto Natron.Caustic Soda is sodium hydroxide.Caustic Volatile Alkali is ammonium hydroxide.Caustic Wood Alkali is caustic potash. Potassium hydroxide. Made by addinglime to potash.Cementation is acting upon a substance by mixing it in layers with a powdered(often corrosive) material, such as lime. This mixture is then be made to reactand weld together by heating to a high temperature in a cementing furnace.Ceration is a part of the Fermen-tation process during which a waxy substanceflows from the putrefied matter. This is the Ferment, the precursor of the Stone.Ceration is the softening or mollification of a hard material to change it into amore waxy state; covering with wax or salve. Making of a substance to softenand appear like wax was often accomplished by continually adding a liquid andheating.Chalk is calcium carbonate.Child A naked child symbolizes the innocent soul. In alchemy, the child is theoffspring of the King and Queen, the result of their marriage or union. A childcrowned or clothed in purple robes signifies Salt or the Philosopher's Stone.Chrome Green is chromic oxide.Chrome Orange is a mixture of chrome yellow and chrome red.Chrome Red is basic lead chromate.Chrome Yellow is lead chromate.Cibation is the addition of new material to the contents of the crucible. DuringDissolution, it requires adding liquid to the desiccated matter at precisely the rightmoment.Cineration (incineration) is the reduction of a substance to ashes by heating.Cinnabar (Vermillion) is the bright red ore of mercury sulfide. Known as"Dragon's Blood," the roasted rocks emit a thick reddish smoke, as pureglistening mercury oozes from cracks. Psychologically, cinnabar represents thehardened habits and terrestrial marriages of soul and spirit that must be broken8

asunder in Calcination to free the essences with which the alchemist intends towork.Circle or sphere is symbolic of unity, the One Mind of god. It is mathematicallyand psychologically an "irrational" experience beyond the duality of reason.Circulation is the purification of a substance by a circular distillation in a pelicanor closed distillation apparatus. Through heating the liquid component separates,is condensed and descends again to the substance in the flask. Sometimes itrefers to a rotation, in which a liquid is circulated over a solid in a sealed vessel.Coadunation is another term for Coagulation.Coagulation is the thickening of a thin liquid into a more solid mixture throughsome inner change, as with the curdling of milk. This can be accomplished by avariety of means - by the addition of a substance, by heating or cooling.Coagulation is the seventh and last operation in alchemical transformation isCoagulation.Cobalt is named by the copper miners of the Hartz Mountains after the evilspirits the “kobolds” that gave a false copper ore.Coction is the cooking or heating of a substance at a moderate heat for anextended period.Cohobation is a kind of Distillation in which the distillate is poured back into itsresidue; a method of redistillation. Cohobation involves the frequent removal ofthe moist component of a substance by heating. Often the moist component (orsome other liquid) is added and the process continued.Colcothar is a red variety of ferric oxide formed by burning green vitriol in air.Coliquation is the Conjunction or melting together of two fusible substances.Coloration is tingeing a substance by adding a dye or colored tincture. Coloringcan by either by tingeing the whole body or by producing a surface coating.Combustion is the burning of a substance in the open air.Comminution is the reduction of a substance into a powder, either by grinding,pulverizing, or forcing it through a sieve.Composition is the joining together of two different substances.Conception is the marriage or union of the male and female aspects ofsubstances.Concoction is the cooking or heating of a mixture of substances at a moderateheat for an extended period.Condenser is a double-jacketed tube with water flowing though it to condensevapors into liguids.9

Congelation is a loose or temporary Conjunction of opposites; a mixture inwhich a liquid is gelled or made semi-solid; intercourse. The process isrepresented by the sign for the constellation of Taurus. The conversion of a thin,easily flowing liquid into a congealed thick substance, often by heating.Conglutination is the conversion of a substance into a gluey mass, often by aPutrefaction.Conjunction is the fourth operation in alchemical transformation. It is the comingtogether of the opposing archetypal forces of the Sun and Moon or the King andQueen. Conjunction is the joining of two opposite components, often seen as theunion of the male and female, the subtle and gross, or even the elements.Contrition is the reduction of a substance into powder only by means of fire.Copper Glance is cuprous sulfide ore.Copper is one of the seven metals of alchemy. Copper (and sometimes bronzeand brass) is associated with the operation of Conjunction and the elementEarth.Copulation is a Conjunction, or joining of two opposite components, seenthrough the metaphor of the union of the male and female, or the union of thefixed and the volatile.Corrosion is the eating up of a substance by an acid, alkali or corrosive material.Corrosive Sublimate is mercuric chloride. First mentioned by Geber, whoprepared it by subliming mercury, calcined green vitriol, common salt and nitre.Cribation is the reduction of a substance to a powder by forcing through a sieveor mesh.Crosslet (see crucible)Crown symbolizes the successful completion of an alchemical operation or theachievement of a magisterium. It also signifies chemical royalty or the perfectionof a metal.Crows are the symbols of the black phases of Calcination and Putrefaction.Crucible is the melting vessel of the alchemists. It is made of inert material suchas porcelain and can withstand great heat. Used to liquefy the metals.Crystallization is the formation of crystals out of a solution of the substanceusually in water, either by their gradual formation from the liquid, or byevaporation of the liquid.Cupel is a small cup or dish made of bone-ash or other porous and infusiblematerial. Cupellation is the process of heating a substance in a cupel in a currentof air, such as done in the refining of silver and gold.10

Cuprite is red cuprous oxide ore.Cucurbit is the lower part of a still, containing the original liquid. It is made ofglass or earthenware and was also known as a "gourd" on account of its shape;a receiver. (see alembic; Distillation)- D -Dealbation is the making of the black substance of the alchemical processbecome brilliant white.Decoction is the digestion of a substance in the flask without the addition of anyother material.Decrepitation is the crackling and splitting apart of substances, for examplecommon salt, on heating.Deliquium is the reduction of a solid placed in a damp place to a liquid by itsabsorbing water from the air.Descension is when the subtle or active part of a substance is made to go downto the bottom of a flask, rather than ascend as a vapor.Desiccation is the drying or removal of all the moisture in a substance.Detonation is the explosive burning of substances on heating, for examplesubstances mixed with nitre.Dew is symbolic of divine incarnation or manifestation from Above. Alchemistsbelieved natural dew contained the divine Salt (thoughts of the One Mind) thatcould transform the Sulfur and Mercury of the First Matter. In many ways, dewrepresented the Elixir or contents of the cup of God, the Holy Grail.Diana Appearances of the Greek goddess Diana in alchemical drawings andtreatises signify the Moon and Lunar consciousness.Digestion is a kind of Putrefaction in which the nutrients or essences arereabsorbed; the slow modification of a substance by means of a gentle heat.Disintegration is the breaking down or dissociation of a substance into differentparts.Dispoliaration is the dissolving or transforming of a dead substance into a liquid.Dissociation is the breaking down or disintegration of a substance into differentparts.Dissolution is the second operation in alchemical transformation. The process ofdissolving a solid in a liquid; the reduction of a dry thing in water. Represented by11

the sign for the constellation of Cancer. The dissolving or transforming of asubstance into a liquid.Distillation is the sixth operation in alchemical transformation. Denoted by thesymbol for the constellation Virgo. It is essentially a process of concentration, nomatter on what level (physical, mental, or spiritual) it occurs. The separation of avolatile component from a substance by heating so as to drive off the componentas a vapor that is condensed and collected in a cooler part of the apparatus. Theentire setup consisting of the boiling flask, condensing tube, and receiving flask iscalled a Distillation Train.Divaporation is an exhalation of dry vapors from a substance, which can occurat different degrees of heat.Division is the separation of a substance into its elements.Dogs signify primitive matter, natural sulfur, or material gold. A dog beingdevoured by a wolf symbolizes the process of purifying gold using antimony.Dove is a symbol of renewed spirit or infusion of energy from Above. Chemically,it signifies the change from the Black Stage to the White Phase of transformation.Dragon in flames is a symbol of fire and Calcination. Several dragons fighting issymbolic of Putrefaction. Dragons with wings represent the volatile principle;dragons without wings represent the fixed principle. A dragon biting its own taleis the Ouroboros and signifies the fundamental unity of all things. In formulae, theterm “the Dragon” usually refers to the mercury-acid obtained from metals. Whenwinged, it is volatile (spiritual or pure); without wings, it is fixed (crude ormaterial).Dulcify means to sweeten.Dutch White is mixture of one part of white lead to three of barium sulfate.- E -Eagle is always a symbol of volatilization. For instance, an eagle devouring a lionindicates the volatilization of a fixed component by a volatile component. Denotessublimation or distillation.Earth is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Earth in the alchemical sensecarries the archetypal properties of manifestation, birth, and material creation. Itis associated with the operation of Conjunction and represented by the green oreof copper.Ebullition is an effervescence produced through Fermentation.Edulceration is the washing of a salty substance till all the salts are removed.12

Egg is symbolic of the hermetically sealed vessel of creation. Stoppered retorts,coffins, and sepulchers represent eggs in many alchemical drawings.Elaboration is the general term for the process of separating the pure from theimpure, and leading a substance towards perfection, which can be done througha variety of means and processes.Elevation is the raising of the subtle parts of a substance upwards, away fromthe bodily residues, into the upper parts of the vessel.Elixeration is the conversion of a substance into an elixir.Elixir of the alchemists is essentially a liquid version of the Philosopher's Stoneand has the same ability to perfect any substance. When applied to the humanbody, the Elixir cures diseases and restores youth.Evaporation is the removal of the watery part of a substance by gentle heating,or being left a long time in a dry place.Exaltation is an operation by which a substance is raised into a purer and moreperfect nature. Exaltation usually involves the release of a gas or air from asubstance.Expression is the extraction of juices by means of a press.Extraction is the preparation of the subtler and purer parts of a substance,usually by macerating it in alcohol. The extract can then be separated from theresidue.- F -Fermentation is the fifth operation in alchemical transformation. It is representedby the sign for the constellation of Capricorn. After the rotting of a substance,usually of an organic nature, digesting bacteria appear often accompanied by therelease of gas bubbles.Filtration is a kind of Separation, in which material is passed through a sieve orscreen designed to allow only pieces of a certain size to pass through. Theoperation is represented by the sign for the constellation of Sagittarius, theArcher. The process or removing the grosser parts of a substance by passingthrough a strainer, filter or cloth.Fire is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Fire in the alchemical sense carriesthe archetypal properties of activity and transformation. It is associated with theoperation of Calcination and represented by the metal lead.Fire Stone is a transmuting Stone made from antimony.Fixation is the make a volatile subject fixed, stable, or solid, so that it remainspermanently unaffected by fire. The process of stabilizing and incarnating a13

substance; depriving a substance of its volatility or mobility to congeal orcombine it. The process is represented by the sign for the constellation ofGemini.Flores is the oxide of a metal.Flowers of Sulfur are light yellow crystalline powder, made by distilling sulfur.Foliation is the making some substances puff up in layers, like leaves laying ontop of one another, usually undertaken by heating.Fountain The alchemical Fountain of Fountains is a symbol of the Ouroboros.Three fountains represent the three principles of Sulfur, Mercury, and Salt. TheKing and Queen sitting in a fountain signifies a bath or the Water operations ofDissolution and Distillation.Fulmination is the preparation of a fulminate or explosively unstable form of ametal. Sometimes applied to any process in which a sudden eruptive eventoccurs.Fulminating Gold is made by adding ammonia to the auric hydroxide formed byprecipitation by potash from metallic gold dissolved in aqua regis. Highlyexplosive when dry.Fulminating Silver is silver nitride, very explosive when dry. Made by dissolvingsilver oxide in ammonia.Fumigation is the alteration of a substance by exposing it to a corroding smoke.Fusion is the joining of powdered substances together, or the conversion of asubstance into a new form, by means of an extremely high degree of heat,sometimes using a flux.- G -Galena is plumbic sulfide, which is the chief ore of lead.Geber is the Latin name of Jabir ibn Hayyan (721 - 815 A.D.). He is the father ofboth Islamic and European alchemy. He knew of the existence of the EmeraldTablet and spread the doctrines of the Four Elements and the Mercury-Sulfurtheory of the generation of the metals.Glass of Antimony is impure antimony tetroxide, obtained by roasting stibnite.Used as a yellow pigment for glass and porcelain.Glauber's Salt is sodium sulfate.Glutination is turning a substance into a gluey, glutinous mass.14

Gold is the most perfect of the metals. For the alchemist, it repre-sented theperfection of all matter on any level, including that of the mind, spirit, and soul. Itis associated with the final operation of Coagulation.Gradation is the gradual purification of a substance, often through a series ofstages.Grain, seeds, or grapes symbolize the matter of the Stone, which is the life forceitself.Granulation is the reduction of a substance to grains or powder. There arevarious means of doing this - pounding, grinding, using thermal shock by heatingand rapid cooling, and many others.Green Dragon is probably an acetate of lead which originates from a green oil.Philosophically, the Green Dragon is a “tamed” dragon sharing the crystallizedenergy that it had formerly so ferociously protected. Psychologically, it representselements of the unconscious that have been assimilated into consciousness.Green Lion is the green acetate of lead in its liquid or crystallized form.Green Vitriol is ferrous sulfate.Griffin's Egg The griffin is a half-lion and half-eagle creature that symbolizes theConjunction of the fixed and volatile principles. The Griffin Egg is an allusion tothe Vessel of Hermes.Grinding is the reduction of substances to a powder, usually through the use ofa mortar and pestle.Gypsum is calcium sulfate.- H -Hartshorn is a powder of crushed bone, horn, or nails. (see Sal Volatile).Head is the top of a retort flask used in distillation. Sometimes it also refers to thespout/condenser of the classical retort.Hermaphrodite represents Sulfur and Mercury after their Conjunction. Rebis(something double in characteristics) is another designation for this point in thealchemy of transformation.Hermetically Sealed means sealed airtight so no outside influences mightcorrupt the contents.Horn Silver is Argentum cornu, a glasslike ore of silver chloride.Humectation is a process by which humidity is given to the substance, usuallynot by the direct addition of liquid, but by a gradual process of absorbingmoisture.15

- I -Ignition is the self-calcination of a substance by it burning itself in a crucible.Imbibition is the feeding of a process by the gradual and continuing addition ofsome substance. To imbibe means to pour a liquid onto a solid so that the solid(usually a salt) completely absorbs the liquid.Impastation is when the matter undergoing putrefaction thickens or congealsinto the consistency of molten black pitch.Impregnation is the alchemical process is sometimes paralleled with thegestation of a child. Thus impregnation follows from the union or copulation of themale and female, and leads to the generation of a new substance.Inceration (see Ceration) is the making of a substance into a soft waxyconsistency, usually by combining it with water.Incineration is the conversion of a substance to ashes by means of a powerfulfire.Incorporation is the mingling of mixed bodies into a conglomerate mass.Ingression occurs when substances combine in such a manner that they cannotafterwards be separated.Inhumation is to bury under the earth, sometimes used to mean any processthat buries the active substance in a dark earthy material. Also applied to placinga flask in the warm heat of a dung bath.Iosis (see Purple Phase)Iron is one of the seven metals of alchemy. It is associated with the operation ofSeparation.Jabir (see Geber)- J -Jungian Alchemy Psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung rediscovered the images andprinciples of alchemy surfacing in the dreams and compulsions of his patientsand began a lifelong study of the subject. He concluded that alchemical imagesexplain the archetypal roots of the modern mind and underscores a process oftransformation leading to the integration of the personality.- K -Kerckringus Mentruum is used to extract metallic oils. It is made from ethylalcohol that has been distilled off an oil of thrice sublimated Hartsthorn (seeHartsthorn).16

Kermes is the oil of antimony is its crude state. The reddish-brown liquid settlesout of an alkaline mentruum by neutralization by an acid. In general, the termapplies to any metallic oil that precipitates out of lye or other alkaline solution byneutralization.King in alchemy represents man, solar consciousness, or Sulfur. The King isnaked in the early operations of alchemy and regains his royal robes at the endof his transformation. The King united with the Queen symbolizes Conjunction.King's Yellow is a mixture of orpiment with white arsenic.Lapis Infernalis is silver nitrate.- L -Leach means to separate out pure salts from their mixture with pure salts by thedissolving the entire mixture in water and extracting the pure salts by filtrationand evaporation.Lead is the first and oldest of the seven metals of alchemy. It is associated withthe operation of Calcination.Lead Fume is a lead oxide obtained from the flues at lead smelters.Lembic (see Alembic)Leukosis (see White Phase)Limatura Martis is iron filings.Lion is any salt or fixed substance obtained from metals. It is red, green, or blackaccording to its state of perfection.Liquefaction is the turning of a solid material into a liquid, either by melting ordissolving.Liquor Hepatis was the name given to a sulfurous liquid used by the alchemists.Considered the arcanum of the soul, Liquor Hepatis was prepared by distilling asolution of sulfur, lime, and sal ammoniac. The early alchemists secured lime(calcium oxide) by heating limestone and made sal ammoniac (ammoniumchloride) by gently heating camel dung in sealed containers. The distillation forLiquor Hepatis produced a combination of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia gases.Since no solids precipitated, alchemists considered this an ascending reactiononly. That was a significant fact to the Egyptians, who associated the Liquor withthe soul. They believed the soul resided in the liver, and the reddish-brown colorof Liquor Hepatis convinced them they had isolated the soul's essence. Thename comes from "hepar," the Greek word for liver. The Liquor exuded anunnatural, pungent odor that the alchemists found quite mysterious. Theyassumed it was due to an ethereal presence concealed in the sulfur and17

activated by the fertile principle in ammonia. To the Egyptians, the odorsymbolized a soul or a spiritized presence hidden within the liquid. They solidifiedthat presence by adding wax and fat to Liquor Hepatis and turning it into a thickpaste. The emulsion became known as the Balsam of the Alchemists or Balsamof the Soul. The possibility of coagulating an invisible potential into a secondbody, like a balsam, became a basic tenet of alchemy.Litharge (or letharge) is the left-over scum, spume, or ashes of a metallicoperation; reddish-yellow crystalline form of lead monoxide, formed by fusing andpowdering massicot.Liver of Sulfur is a complex of polysulfides of potassium, made by fusing potashand sulfur.Lixiviation is the oxidation of sulfide ores by exposing them to air and water.This forms Vitriol.Lunar Caustic (see Lapis Infernalis)Luna Cornea is the soft colorless tough mass of silver chloride, made by heatinghorn silver till it forms a dark yellow liquid and then cooling. Described by OswaldCroll in 1608.Luting is the sealing of a flask or other apparatus through the use of a lute, orresinous paste which once applied sets hard and produces an airtight seal.- M -Maceration is to soak a substance in a liquid to separate its components. Similarto chewing food and predigesting it with saliva.Magnesia was a mystical term to the alchemists that denoted the primordialtransforming substance in the universe. It was one of many symbols used todescribe the central mystery of alchemy that was never to be spoken of incommon wording.Marcasite is the mineral form of Iron disulfide. Oxidizes in moist air to greenvitriol.Massicot is the yellow powder form of lead monoxide.Matrass is a round-bottomed flask with a very long neck. Also called a "bolthead."Maturation is a general term applied to identify the appearance of a degree ofperfection in the work.Melanosis (see Black Phase)Melting is the reduction of a metal or substance to a liquid through heating.18

Menstruum is an alchemical term meaning a solvent or alkahest having both thepower to dissolve and coagulate at the same time. Based on the belief that theovum takes its life and form from the menses, the menstruum was also referredto the as the Mercury of the Philosophers.Mercurius Praecipitatus is the red mercuric oxide described by Geber.Sometimes it refers to any amalgam of mercury.Mercury, called quicksilver by the ancients, is a liquid metal that could be foundweeping through cracks in certain rocks or accumulating in small puddles inmountain grottos. It was also obtained by roasting cinnabar (mercury sulfide).The shiny metal would seep from the rocks and drip down into the ashes, fromwhich it was later collected. The early alchemists made red mercuric oxide byheating quicksilver in a solution of nitric acid. The acid, which later alchemistscalled "aqua fortis," was made by pouring sulfuric acid over saltpeter. Thereaction of quicksilver in nitric acid is impressive. A thick red vapor hovers overthe surface and bright red crystals precipitate to the bottom. This strikingchemical reaction demonstrated the simultaneous separation of mercury into theAbove and the Below. Mercury's all-encompassing properties were exhibited inother compounds too. If mercury was heated in a long-necked flask, it oxidizedinto a highly poisonous white powder (white mercuric oxide) and therapeutic redcrystals (red mercuric oxide). Calomel (mercury chloride) was a powerfulmedicine, unless it was directly exposed to light, in which case it became adeadly poison. When mixed with other metals, liquid mercury tended to unite withthem and form hardened amalgams. These and other properties convincedalchemists that mercury transcended both the solid and liquid states, both earthand heaven, both life and death. It symbolized Hermes himself, the guide to theAbove and Below.Milk of Sulfur (or Lac Sulfuris) is white colloidal sulfur. Geber made this byadding an acid to thion hudor.Minium (see Red Lead)Mortification is a process during which the substance undergoes a kind ofdeath, usually through a Putrefaction, and seems to have been destroyed and itsactive power lost, but eventually is revived.Mosaic Gold is golden-yellow glistening scales of crystalline stannic sulfide,made by heating a mixture of tin filings, sulfur and sal ammoniac.Multiplication is a process of Distillation and Coagulation in which the power oftransmutation is concentrated; an increase in the amount of the Stone asobtained from its pristine form. It is represented by the sign for the constellationof Aquarius. Multiplication is the operation by which the powder of projection hasits power multiplied.19

- N -Naples Yellow (Cassel yellow) is an oxychloride of lead, made by heatinglitharge with sal ammoniac.Natron means salt, though this word usually refers to native sodium carbonate.To the early alchemists, however, the word Natron stood for the basic principle inall salt formation and the creation of bodies in general. The Egyptiansaccumulated the white salts formed from the evaporation of lakes and used themto preserve mummies. Known as soda ash (sodium carbonate), the oldestdeposits are in the Sinai desert. Another naturally-occurring sodium compoundmined by the Egyptians was cubic-saltpeter (sodium nitrate). The alchemistsreferred to both these salts as Natron (from the Arabic word for soda ash),because they suspected that both had a common signature or archetypal basis.Common salt is sodium chloride (NaCl).Nickel was named by the copper miners of Westphalia the '”kupfer-nickel” orfalse copper.Nitrum Flammans is ammonium nitrate made by Glauber.Nix Alba (see Philosophers’ Wool)- O -Oil of Vitriol is sulfuric acid made by distilling green vitriol.Orpiment (Auri-pigmentum). Orpriment is yellow ore of arsenic; arsenic trisulfide.Ouroboros (Uroboros) is the symbolic rendition of the eternal principlespresented in the Emerald Tablet. The great serpent devouring itself representsthe idea that "All Is One," even though the universe undergoes periodic cycles ofdestruction and creation (or resurrection). In Orphic and Mithraic symbology, theOuroboros was called the Agathos Daimon or "Good Spirit" and was a symbol forthe "Operation of the Sun." In Greek terminology, the Ouroboros was the Aion,which Herakleitos likened to a child at play. To the Greeks, the Aion (from whichour word "eon" is derived) defined the cosmic period between the creation anddestruction of the universe.- P -Pearl White is the basic nitrate of bismuth, used by the alchemist Lemery as acosmetic.Pelican is a circulatory vessel with two side-arms feeding condensed vaporsback into the body. It has a fancied resemblance in shape to a pelican pecking atits breast. Pelicanization is the circulation or rotation of a liquid over a solidperformed in the pelican retort.Philosopher's Stone (see Stone)20

Philosophers' Wool or Nix alba (white snow) is zinc oxide made by burning zincin air. Also called Zinc White and used as a pigment.Potash is potassium carbonate made from the ashes of burnt wood.Powder of Algaroth is a white powder of antimonious oxychloride, made byprecipitation when a solution of butter of antimony in spirit of salt is poured intowater.Precipitation is a process of Coagulation in which solid matter is created duringa chemical reaction and falls out of solution. The descent of a substance out of asolution; the precipitate descends to the bottom of the flask.Preparation is the process by which superfluous substances are removed fromthe matter and that which is wanting is added to it.Projection is the final stage of Coagulation in which the power of transformationis directed toward a body; the final process in making gold, in which the Stone orpowder Stone (the powder of projection) is tossed upon the molten base metal totransmute it. It is represented by the sign for the constellation of Pisces. Thethrowing of a ferment or tincture onto a substance in order to effect atransformation of the substance.Prolectation is the separation of a substance into a subtle and coarser part bythe thinning or rarefaction of the subtler parts of the substance, rather than thecoarsening of the earthy part.Pulverization is the breaking down of a substance to smaller fragments throughbeing repeatedly struck with a blunt instrument, such as a hammer, or mallet.Pulvis Solaris was the chemical arcanum that represented spirit. The "Powderof the Sun" was a mixture of two powders, Black Solaris and Red Solaris.Combining black antimony with sulfur auretum made Black Pulvis Solaris. Blackantimony was a common sulfide of antimony, now known as stibnite. The mineralwas smelted and ground fine. Pure sulfur auretum, or "golden sulfur," was madeby adding sulfuric acid to a dried mixture of sodium carbonate, sulfur, lime, andantimony. The reaction gave off hydrogen sulfide gas, while the sulfur auretumprecipitated to the bottom of the container. Red Pulvis Solaris was made bycombining sulfur auretum with a compound of mercury known as red mercuricoxide. Egyptian alchemists associated the serpent with the red mercuric oxideand referred to Red Pulvis Solaris as Pulvis Serpentum. Later alchemistsbecame convinced that Red Pulvis Solaris was indeed the powder of projectionthat would enable them to transform virtually anything into pure gold.Purgation is purifying of a substance by casting out a gross part of it.Purple of Cassius was made by Andreas Cassius in 1685 by precipitating amixture of gold, stannous and stannic chlorides, with alkali. It was used forcoloring glass.21

Purple Phase (or Iosis) of the Great Work is the third and final stage oftransformation. It is marked by the purpling or reddening of the material andoccurs during the Coagulation operation.Putrefaction is the first stage of the Fermentation operation; a digestion in whichdecomposing essences are reabsorbed. The process was represented by thesymbol for the constellation of Leo. The rotting of a substance, often under aprolonged gentle moist heat. Usually the matter becomes black.P yr i t e s are the mineral form of iron disulfide that is stable in air. Sometimespyrite crystals contain traces of real gold.- Q -Queen symbolizes woman, lunar consciousness, and Mercury. The Queen isnaked during the early stages but regains her royal robes at the end of hertransformation. The Queen united with the King is the operation of Conjunction.Quicklime is calcium oxide or unslacked lime. Calcium oxide is obtained byheating limestone, egg shells, or any material containing Calcium Carbonate,which is one of the seven arcana of alchemy.Quicksilver (see Mercury)Quintessence (Quinta Essentia) is the fifth Element with which the alchemistscould work. It was the essential presence of something or someone, the livingthing itself that animated or gave something its deepest characteristics. TheQuintessence partakes of both the Above and the Below, the mental as well asthe material. It can be thought of as the ethereal embodiment of the life force thatwe encounter in dreams and altered states of consciousness. It is the purestindividual essence of something that we must unveil and understand in order totransform it.- R -Rarefaction is the making of a substance extremely subtle or thin and airy.Realgar is the red ore of arsenic. Arsenic disulfide.Rebis (see Hermaphrodite)Receiver is the flask attached to the outlet of the condenser tube duringdistillation which contains the distillate or distilled product.Rectification is the purification of the matter by means of repeated distillations,the distillate being again distilled.Red Dragon is the pure red oil of lead. The untamed dragon or First Matter.22

Red Lead is triplumbic tetroxide. Formed by roasting litharge in air. Red lead is ascarlet crystalline powder.Red Lion is the red acetate of lead in its crystalline form.Reiteration is the repetition of a process, particularly applied to circulardistillation, in which the distillate is returned to the vessel, and the processcontinued for many cycles.Resin of Copper is cuprous chloride. Made by Robert Boyle in 1664 by heatingcopper with corrosive sublimate.Resolution occurs when substances that are mixed together become violentlyseparated by being placed into a solution. Thus milk is resolved by vinegar. Thisprocess is opposite to Coagulation.Restinction is when a substance at white heat is brought to perfection by beingquenched in an exalting liquid.Retort is a spherical container (usually glass) with a long neck or spout. It isused to distill or decompose solutions by the action of heat or acids.Reverberation is an ignition or calcination at a high temperature, in areverberatory furnace. It also refers to any furnace that roars with a loud sound.Revivification is the bringing of a mortified matter back to life, or reactivating it.Rouge Crocus (Colcothar) is a red variety of ferric oxide formed by burninggreen vitriol in air.Rubification is the making of the matter in the alchemical process from white tored.- S -Sal Ammoniac is ammonium chloride, as identified by Geber.Sal Volatile is a volatile alkali; ammonium carbonate made from distilling bones,horns, etc.Salt is the third heavenly substance in alchemy and represents the finalmanifestation of the perfected Stone. The Emerald Tablet calls it "the Glory of theWhole Universe." For Paracelsus, Salt was like a balsam the body produced toshield itself from decay. It has also been associated with the Ouroboros, theStone, and the Astral Body. In general, Salt represents the action of thought onmatter, be it the One Mind acting on the One Thing of the universe or thealchemist meditating in his inner laboratory. Common salt is sodium chloride.Segregation is the separation of a composite substance into its parts.23

Separation is the third operation in the alchemy of transformation. Symbols ofSeparation include swords, scythes, arrows, knives, and hatchets. The operationis symbolized by the sign for the constellation of Scorpio. The making of twoopposite components separate from each other; often alternated with theConjunction process.Serpents. Two serpents represent the opposing masculine and feminineenergies of the Work. Three serpents stand for the three higher principles ofSulfur, Mercury, and Salt. Winged serpents represent volatile substances;wingless serpents represent fixed substances. A crucified serpent represents thefixation of the volatile.Silver is one of the seven metals of alchemy. It is associated with the operationof Distillation.Skeletons signify the processes of Calcination and Putrefaction, on all the levelsin which they occur.Slaked Lime is calcium hydroxide.Soda Ash is sodium carbonate formed by burning plants growing on the seashore.Solve is to dissolve.Soul in alchemy is the passive presence in all of us that survives through alleternity and is therefore part of the original substance (First Matter) of theuniverse. Ultimately, it is the One Thing of the universe. Soul was consideredbeyond the four material elements and thus conceptualized as a fifth element (orQuintessence).Soxhlet Extractor is an automatic maceration device made of glass. It is used toextract tinctures from substances using water, alcohol, wine, etc.Spirit in alchemy is the active presence in all of us that strives toward perfection.Spirit seeks material manifestation for expression. Ultimately, it is the One Mindof the universe.Spirit of Hartshorn (see Sal Volatile)Spiritus Fumans is stannic chloride, discovered by Libavius in 1605, throughdistilling tin with corrosive sublimate.Square or cube is symbolic of matter and the Four Elements of creation.Stibnite is antimony trisulfide, the gray mineral ore of antimony.Stone is the end result of a working. The ultimate Stone is the goal of the GreatWork of the whole universe. It was viewed as a magical touchstone that couldimmediately perfect any substance or situation. The Philosopher's Stone has24

een associated with the Salt of the World, the Astral Body, the Elixir, and evenJesus Christ.Stratification is an operation that produces layers in the substance in the flask.Subduction is the separation of an abstraction downward of the subtle part, asin filtration.Sublimation is the first stage of Coagulation or last stage of Distillation, in whichthe vapors solidify; represented by the sign for the constellation of Libra. Thevaporization of a solid without fusion or melting, followed by the condensation ofits vapor in the resolidified form on a cool surface. The elevation of a dry thing byfire, with adherency to its vessel. This occurs when a solid is heated and gives offa vapor that condenses on the cool upper parts of the vessel as a solid, not goingthrough a liquid phase. An example is sal ammoniac.Subtilation is the separation of the subtle part of a substance from the gross.Sugar of Lead is lead acetate, Made by dissolving lead oxide in vinegar.Sulfur (Sulphur) is one of the three heavenly substances. It represents passionand will and is associated with the operation of Fermentation.- T -Thion Hudor solution. Zosimus refers to this solution as the “divine water” or “thebile of the serpent.” It is a deep reddish-yellow liquid made by boiling flowers ofsulfur with slaked lime.Three Levels. The key to understanding alchemy is to realize that alchemicalthought is extremely dynamic and takes places on three levels at once: thephysical, the psychological, and the spiritual. Thus turning lead into gold meantnot only physically changing the base metal into the noble metal, but alsotransforming base habits and emotions into golden thoughts and feelings, as wellas transmuting our dark and ignoble souls into the golden light of spirit. Bydeveloping this ability to think and work on all three levels of reality at once(becoming "thrice-greatest"), the alchemists created a spiritual technology thatapplied not only to their laboratories but also to their own personalities and totheir relationships with other people -- and with God.Tin is one of the seven metals of the alchemists. It is associated with theoperation of Dissolution and the element Water. Pewter (a mixture of lead andtin) represents a metallic state between the operations of Calcination andDissolution.Tin Salt is hydrated stannous chloride.Transudation occurs if the essence appears to sweat out in drops during adescending distillation.25

Trees symbolize the processes of transformation. A tree of moons signifies theLesser or Lunar Work; a tree of suns signifies the Greater or Solar Work.Triangle represents the three heavenly principles or substances of Sulfur,Mercury, and Salt.Trituration is the reduction of a substance to a powder, not necessarily by theuse of grinding, but by the application of heat. To grind a solid into a powder; topulverize with a mortar and pestle. Crush. A process just after Calcination, whenthe ashes are ground into a fine powder for Dissolution.Turpeth Mineral is a hydrolyzed form of mercuric sulfate; the yellow crystallinepowder described by Basil Valentine.Tuttia (Tutty) (see Cadmia)Uroboros (see Ouroboros)- U -- V -Venetian White is a mixture of equal parts of white lead and barium sulfate.Verdigris is the green substance formed by the atmospheric weathering ofcopper. This is a complex basic carbonate of copper. In more recent times theterm 'verdigris' is more correctly applied to copper acetate, made by the action ofvinegar on copper.Vermillion (see Cinnabar or mercuric sulfide)Viride Aeris is copper chlate or the green oxide of copper.Vitrification is the making of a substance into a glass but strong heating andsometimes the addition of lime.Vitriol was the most important liquid in alchemy. It was the one in which all otherreactions took place. Vitriol was distilled from an oily, green substance thatformed naturally from the weathering of sulfur-bearing gravel. This Green Vitriolis symbolized by the Green Lion in drawings. After the Green Vitriol (coppersulfate) was collected, it was heated and broken down into iron compounds andsulfuric acid. The acid was separated out by distillation. The first distillationproduced a brown liquid that stunk like rotten eggs, but further distillation yieldeda nearly odorless, yellow oil called simply Vitriol. The acid readily dissolveshuman tissue and is severely corrosive to most metals, although it has no effecton gold. White Vitriol is zinc sulfate; Blue Vitriol is copper sulfate.Vitriolification is the making of a Vitriol. Most often, vitriolification of a metal tookplace by the direct action of oil of Vitriol, but sometimes by a more indirect route.26

- W -Water is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Water in the alchemical sensecarries the archetypal properties of cleansing and purification. It is associatedwith the operation of Dissolution and represented by the metal tin.White Arsenic is an arsenious oxide made from arsenical soot from the roastingovens, purified by sublimation.White Lead is basic carbonate of lead. Used as a pigment.White Phase (Leukosis) is the second stage of the Great Work and takes placeduring Distillation.White Vitriol is zinc sulfate or zinc sulfide. Described by Basil Valentine. Madeby lixiviating roasted zinc blend (zinc sulfide).Wind Furnace is any furnace whose fire is aided by a wind tunnel or built-inbellows.Wine is symbolic of the process of Fermentation and the spiritization of matter.Winged Lion is the sublimated salt used to make the Philosopher’s Stone.Wismuth (see Bismuth).Wolf (see antimony)Wood-ash (see Potash)Xanthosis (see Yellow Phase)- X -- Y -Yellow Phase (Xanthosis) is an intermediate stage that takes place between theBlack and White phases of the Great Work. The term was used by Alexandrianalchemists to describe changes that took place during the Fermentationoperation.- Z -Zaffre is impure cobalt arsenate, leftover after roasting cobalt ore.Zodiac. According to the Emerald Tablet ("As Above, so Below"), the archetypalenergies of the stars find expression on earth and in mankind. In alchemy, it wasessential to consult the zodiac before commencing any of the major operations.27

ALCHEMY SYMBOLS & CIPHERSAir ………………………… Calcohol …………………… ? xalum ……………………… 4wamalgam ……………… *Aamalgamation, Conjunction … ammonia ……………… 6anneal …………………… }antimony ……………… 2aqua fortis ……………. : Baqua Regis …………… maqua vitae ………………. W *arsenic ………………….. O Rash, soot ………………. Autumn ………………….. 8beeswax ………………… wbismuth …………………. gborax ……………………. 4 dbrass ……………………. brimstone ……………….. xCalcination, Aries …… chalk …………………… Rcinder ………………….. Vcinnabar ……….……….. Mclay ……………………….. k [Coagulation, fixation, Gemini .. cobalt ……………………. compose ………………. Congelation …………… Conjunction, Taurus … copper …………………. s corpuscle ……………… S =crucible ………………….. I creation, Sagittarius …. crystal ……………………. rX28

day and night …………. $decompose …………../ digestion, Putrefaction, Leo ..Dissolution, Cancer …..dissolve, to ……………. distill, to ……………….. h |Distillation, Virgo …….. dram …………………….. Earth …………………….. eeggshells ……………… Qelement ………………….. F &equal amounts (Ana) … essence, oil ………….. ferment ………………… Fermentation, Capricorn …filter, Separation ……… LFire ………………………. fumes ……………………. Kfurnace, refractory …. glass …………………… G Tglass dropper …………. Zgold ……………….……. .mgold foil ………………… Mgold litharge ………….. {gold, potable …………... Lgravel ……………………. :Ghour ………………………. iron ……………………… dziron, Mars ………………. iron filings ………………. iiron oxide, rust ………. >lapis lazuli ………………. nlead, Saturn …………… l!0lead, red ………………… Glime ……………………… _lye ……………………….. t29

magnesia ……………….. 7[magnet ………………….. vmanure ………………….. Nmercury, Mercury ……. 9Multiplication, Aquarius … Neptune, quick lime … nickel …………………….. knight ……………………… nitric acid ……………… nnitre oil ………………… Toil ………………………… o +\ounce …………………… pinch of ………………….. pint ………………………. platinum …………………. Pluto …………………...powder …………………... ppotash …………………… K +potassium ………………. Dpound …………………… precipitate, the ………. precipitate, to ………... QProjection, Pisces …..pulverize ………………… Cpurify ……………………. Dretort, Dissolution, aludel …Qretort, receiver ……….. Hsal ammoniac ………… csalt ………………………. 1]salt, rock …………………Hsalt, sea ………………… csaltpeter ………………… usediment ……………….. C #Separation, Scorpio … silver …………………… s30

spirit …………………….. USpring …………………… 3still (distillery) ………….. sstone …………………… uSublimation, Coagulation …~|sublimate, scales, Libra … $ sublime, to …………….. nsugar …………………… Spsulfur ………………………Z{sulfuric acid ……………. )Summer ………………… 7tartar …………..………… y Xtin, Jupiter ………………… Ttin, spirit of …………………FUranus …………………. urine …………………….. fvitriol …………………….. 1wine ……………………… wine, spirit of ………… Bvapor bath ……………… ,vinegar …………………. Vvinegar, distilled ………. - Ewater …………………… bwax ……………………… }3wood …………………… Wyields …………………… xWinter ………………….. 9zinc ……………………… 31

TRUE-TYPE FONTS(www.AlchemyStudy.net/fonts.htm)Meaning Symbol Keystroke1,000 7100 650 8500 9Air Malum [amalgam uamalgamation, Conjunction panneal mantimony \antimony bash, crucible kbrass ]Calcination, Aries ACoagulation, fixation, Gemini Ccobalt ^compose qcongelation xConjunction, Taurus >Congelation, Taurus Bcopper Tcopper _creation, Sagittarius Iday, aluminum |decompose odigestion, Putrefaction, Leo EDissolution, Cancer Ddissolve r32

Distillation, Virgo Fdram *Earth Oequal amounts (Ana) )essence, oil tferment, Fermentation nFermentation, Capricorn Jfilter !Fire Nfive 4furnace, refractory igold Qgold `hour {Meaning Symbol Keystrokeiron airon, Mars Ulead, Saturn Wmagnesia cmercury, Mercury Smercury, spirit of dmonth ~Multiplication, Aquarius KNeptune, quick lime Ynickel enight }one 1ounce ,pinch of +pint /platinum gPluto Z33

pound -precipitate, the zprecipitate, to =Projection, Pisces Lretort, Dissolution, aludel sretort, receiver vsalt ;salt, rock wscruple .Separation, Scorpio Hsilver Rsilver hSublimation, Coagulation

BOOKSALCHEMY RESOURCESAlbertus, Frater. Alchemists Handbook: Manual for Practical LaboratoryAlchemy. Samuel Weiser, 1974. First modern guide to practicalalchemy.Aromatico, Andrea. Alchemy: The Great Secret. Harry Abrams, 2000. Anillustrated history exploring alchemy’s mix of science, philosophy, art,religion, and magic.Ash, Heather and Noble, Vicki. The Four Elements of Change. CouncilOak Books, 2004. Using the Four Elements to create a solid foundationto support your mind, body, and spirit.Bartlett, Robert. Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy.Spagyricus, 2007. Explores experimental techniques for beginning theWork in the laboratory.Beyerl, Paul. Compendium of Herbal Magic. Phoenix Publishing, 1998.Guide to magical properties of herbs includes planetary associations.Cavalli, Thom. Alchemical Psychology. Tarcher, 2002. Ancientalchemical recipes for living in the modern world.Cunningham, Scott. Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews.Llewellyn Publications, 2002. Guide to preparing essential oils and usingthem to make incense, balms, and lotions.Eason, Cassandra. Alchemy at Work. Crossing Press, 2004. How to usethe ancient arts to enhance your life at work.Edinger, Edward. Anatomy of the Psyche: Alchemical Symbolism inPsychotherapy. Open Court Publishing, 1991. In-depth description of theoperations of alchemy in psychological terms.Goddard, David. Tower of Alchemy. Samuel Weiser, 1999. Filled withHermetic principles that are meant to be applied and the spiritual level.Green, Mindy and Keville, Kathi. Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to theHealing Art. Crossing Press, 1995. Shows how to use, blend, andprepare essential oils at home.35

Hauck, Dennis William. Complete Idiot’s Guide to Alchemy. PenguinAlpha, 2008. The complete guide to all aspects of alchemy, including thepractical and spiritual work.Hauck, Dennis William. Emerald Tablet: Alchemy for PersonalTransformation. Penguin Arkana, 1999. Definitive history of the EmeraldTablet and the application of its principles to personal transformation.Hauck, Dennis William. Sorcerer's Stone: A Beginner's Guide toAlchemy. Citadel Press, 2004. Makes alchemy come alive with clearexplanations, fascinating anecdotes, and hands-on experiments.Junius, Manfred. Spagyrics: Alchemical Preparation of MedicinalEssences, Tinctures, and Elixirs. Healing Arts Press, 2007. Classic guideto the art of extracting plant essences includes elixir recipes from famousalchemists.Linden, Stanton. The Alchemy Reader: From Hermes Trismegistus toIsaac Newton. Cambridge University, 2003. Basic writings of thealchemists ranging from Alexandria to the end of the seventeenthcentury.Marlan, Stanton. Black Sun: Alchemy and Art of Darkness. Texas A&MPress, 2005. Examines the alchemical stage of Nigredo, the blackeningor mortification from which the true light emerges.Martin, Sean. Alchemy and Alchemists. Chartwell Books, 2007. Basicreview of the history and methods of alchemy.Melville, Francis. Book of Alchemy. Barron’s, 2002. Presents the sevenoperations of the Emerald Tablet, as well as an illustrated overview ofalchemy.Miller, Richard, and Iona Miller. Modern Alchemist. Phanes Press, 1994.Guide to personal transformation using the principles of alchemy.Moring, Gary. Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Einstein. Alpha,2004. Great introduction to modern physics that contains an interestingsection on alchemy.Moring, Gary. Complete Idiot’s Guide to Theories of the Universe. Alpha,2001. Guide to modern cosmology and quantum physics that lays thefoundation for the ideas of modern alchemy.36

Reich, Wilhelm. Secret of the Golden Flower. Harcourt Brace, 1988.Taoist alchemy treatise with wonderful commentary by Carl Jung.Rolfe, Randy. The Four Temperaments. Marlowe & Company, 2002.Understanding the Elements as alchemical humors that allow you to finetune your health, career, and relationships.Roob, Alexander. Alchemy & Mysticism. Taschen, 1997. Stunningpictorial presentation of the spiritual practice of alchemy.Stavish, Mark. Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing and the World ofNatural Magic. Llewellyn, 2006. Guide to the teachings of Hermes andtheir applications in alchemy and healing.Von Franz, Marie-Louise. Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolismand the Psychology. Inner City Books, 1980. Inspiring guide to spiritualwholeness that follows the Jungian interpretation.Whitmont, Edward. Alchemy of Healing: Psyche and Soma. NorthAtlantic Books, 1996. Challenges the methods of mechanical medicineand emphasizes the importance of consciousness in healing.Wolf, Fred Alan. The Spiritual Universe. Moment Point Press, 1998.Presents one physicist’s vision of spirit, soul, matter, and self in theuniverse.Wolf. Fred Alan. Matter Into Feeling: A New Alchemy of Science andSpirit. Moment Point Press, 2002. Examines the science behindconsciousness, memory, dreams, and the “One-Mind" concept of thealchemists.Wolf, Fred Alan. Mind into Matter: A New Alchemy of Science and Spirit.Moment Point Press, 2000. Interprets modern physics in terms of ancientspiritual texts from alchemy, the Qabala, and the Eastern traditions.Yudelove, Eric. Tao and the Tree of Life: Alchemical and SexualMysteries of the East and West. Llewellyn, 1996. Decodes the mysteriesof the Tao and Kabbalah to show their underlying basis in alchemy.37

INTERNET RESOURCESgroups.yahoo.com/group/EmeraldTablet - Emerald Tablet Roundtableis an online discussion group on alchemy and the principles of theEmerald Tablet.groups.yahoo.com/group/Flamel_College - Public online forum forstudents of Flamel College and others interested in Hermetic topics.homepages.ihug.com.au/~panopus - Paracelsus College Australiawas founded in 1984 by Frater Albertus and offers resources in practicaland spiritual alchemy.pwp.netcabo.pt/r.petrinus/alchemy-e.htm - The English version ofPortuguese alchemist’s Rubellus Petrinus website devoted to practicaland laboratory alchemy.tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlchemyGuild - Public discussiongroup for members of the Alchemy Guild as well as the general public.tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Alchemy_Student_Forum - Publicdiscussion group for serious students and beginners in alchemy.www.alchemergy.com - Alchemergy is devoted to modern alchemy asit is applied to personal, social, and global transformation.www.alchemycode.com - Alchemy Code is devoted to solving thesecrets of alchemy and providing reference materials, discussion groups,and chat rooms for people involved in the Great Work.www.alchemyconference.com - Lists current lectures, workshops, andconferences on alchemy around the world.www.alchemygallery.com - Alchemy Art Gallery is a visual feast ofalchemy engravings, drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other artworkfrom ancient to modern times.www.alchemyguild.org - Official website of the International AlchemyGuild (IAG) with over 800 members in 23 countries. Free subscription tothe Alchemy Journal.www.alchemykey.com - Alchemy Key is a guide to all kinds of alchemyresources including free ebooks, classes, and other links.38

www.alchemylab.com - Alchemy Lab is dedicated to personaltransformation and has been described by the London Times as “one ofthe most stunning web archives ever.”www.alchemylab.com/dictionary.htm - The Alchemy ElectronicDictionary offers a fast way to find the meaning of alchemical terms andciphers.www.alchemylab.com/guideto.htm - Alchemical Properties of Herbsand Foods Index lists planetary and elemental associations for hundredsof plants and foods.www.crucible.org - Online catalog of alchemical lab supplies,glassware, chemicals, herbs, oils, tinctures, books, artwork, jewelry, andother Hermetic items.www.flamelcollege.org - Flamel College offers a wide assortment ofalchemy, Hermetic, and esoteric classes mostly taught throughcorrespondence courses.www.levity.com/alchemy - Adam McLean’s huge resource of originaltexts, drawings, and articles on pratical and spiritual alchemy.www.parachemistry.com - Parachemistry is devoted to practicalalchemy and chemistry experiments.www.rosicrucian.org - Rosicrucian alchemy in the tradition of theAncient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC).www.spagyria.com - John Reid’s website on practical plant alchemyand the art of spagyrics.www.spagyrium.com - Spagyrium is devoted to the art of spagyrics andthe practice of practical plant alchemy.www.triadpublishing.com - Offers the alchemy courses of the nowdefunct Philosophers Of Nature (PON).39

Alchemy Reference Guidean invaluable tool for those seekingto understand the profound andmysterious art of alchemyWhether viewed as a precursor to chemistry, a pathto psychological integration, or an advancedspiritual discipline, alchemy holds great fascinationand promise for the modern reader. However, siftingthrough the multilevel terminology and arcanesymbology often proves a daunting task for thoseseeking the truths of alchemy in the original writingsof the alchemists. That is where this handy littleguide comes to the rescue with a comprehensivedictionary, explanation of symbols, and charts ofalchemical correspondences. There is also akeyboard layout code for a set of alchemicalsymbols, which can be downloaded for freefrom http://www.AlchemyStudy.net/fontsISBN 0-9637914-6-X© Athanor Bookswww.Crucible.org40

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