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A
ablution
Theprocessofwashingasolidwithaliquid,usuallyinwater.Spirituallyandpsychologically,itis
facingone'semotionsandlettingfeelingsflow,sothatinnocenceandpuritycanberestored.

Aion
(seeOuroboros)
Air
AirisoneoftheFourElementsofalchemy.Airinthealchemicalsensecarriesthearchetypal
propertiesofspiritintothemanifestedworld.ItisassociatedwiththeoperationofSeparationand
representedbythemetalIron.

alchemy
ThewordisderivedfromtheArabianphrase"alkimia,"whichreferstothepreparationofthe
StoneorElixirbytheEgyptians.TheArabicroot"kimia"comesfromtheCoptic"khem"that
alludedtothefertileblacksoiloftheNiledelta.Esotericallyandhieroglyphically,thewordrefers

tothedarkmysteryoftheprimordialorFirstMatter(theKhem),theOneThingthroughwhichall
creationmanifests.Alchemy,then,istheGreatWorkofnaturethatperfectsthischaoticmatter,
whetheritbeexpressedasthemetals,thecosmos,orthesubstanceofoursouls.
alembic
Theupperpartofastillastillhead.Thetermisoftenusedtorefertoacompletestill.(see
cucurbuteDistillation)
alkahest
ThealkahestisthepowerfromAbovethatmakespossiblealchemicaltransformation.Theword
isusuallytranslatedas"universalsolvent,"whichalludestotheabilityofthealkahesttodissolve
orreduceallphysicalmattertoitsbasicessence.Withmetals,thismeanttransmutingthemto
theirpurestform,whichwasgold.Inthehumanbody,thismeantthecreationorrevealingofa
goldenbodyofconsciousness,theAstralBody.

aludel
Apearshapedearthenwarebottle,openatbothends.Itwasusedasacondenserinthe
sublimationprocessandthuscametosignifytheendstagesoftransformation.Alsocalledthe
HermeticVase,thePhilosopher'sEgg,andtheVaseofthePhilosophy.

amalgam
Theamalgamisasolidmetalformedbythecombinationofmercurywithgold,silver,lead,
orothermetals.
angel
Anangelinalchemicaltreatisessymbolizessublimationortheascensionofthevolatile
principle.
Ankh
TheAnkhisahieroglyphiccharacterusedbyEgyptianalchemiststodenotethe
ascendancyofthelifeforceorspirit(thecircle)overthematerialworld(thecross).Inother
words,throughcrucifixion,thesoulrisesandisrebornonahigherlevel.Itsusedatesback
over3,000yearsandisasymbolicrenditionoftheprinciplesexpressedintheEmerald
Tablet.Initsdesign,thecircularOneMindprojectsdownwardintotheOneThing,whilethe
lateralmanifestedworldonwhichwearecrucifiedisindicatedbythehorizontalbar.
animals
Animalsareoftenusedtosymbolizethebasiccomponentsandprocessesofalchemy.
TheymaybeusedtosymbolizethefourElementssuchasthelionorox(Earth),fishor
whales(Water),eagles(Air),orsalamandersordragons(Fire).Aerialanimalsgenerally
indicatevolatileprinciples,whileterrestrialanimalsindicatefixedprinciples.Whenevertwo
animalsarefound,theysignifySulfurandMercuryorsomerelationshipbetweenthefixed
andthevolatile.
antimony
Themetalantimonysymbolizestheanimalnatureorwildspiritofmanandnature,andit

wasoftensymbolizedbythewolf.AlchemistBasilValentinenamedthemetal,afterfeeding
ittosomemonksinaBenedictinemonastery.Themonksgotviolentlyillandsomeeven
died,hencetheLatinnamethatmeans"antimonk."Spirituallytoo,monksfeelmost
threatenedbytheirownanimalnature.Oddlyenough,theTinctureofAntimonycures
venerealdiseases.
Apollo
ReferencestotheGreekgodApollosignifytheSunasspiritorsolarconsciousness.
aquafortis
AquafortisisLatinfor"strongwater"andreferstonitricacid.Variousgradesofaquafortis
wereprepareddependingonthelengthofDistillation,whichconcentratedtheacid.
aquaregia
Amixtureofaquafortis("strongwater,"i.e.,nitricacid)andspiritussalis("spiritofsalt,"
i.e.,hydrochloricacid)producesaquaregia("royalwater"sonamedbecauseitcan
dissolvegold).Itwasfirstpreparedbydistillingcommonsaltwithaquafortis.
aquavitae
The"livingwater"orwater"withspirit."Anaqueousalcoholconcentratedbyoneormore
Distillations.
arcana
Thearcana("magicalsecrets")arearchetypalinfluencesthattranscendspaceandtime.
AccordingtotheancienttextArchidoxies,thearcanaarepreexistingpowersthat"havethe
poweroftransmuting,altering,andrestoringus."Inthisview,thearcanaarethesecretworkings
ofthemindofGod,thelogosoftheGreeksorwhatthealchemistsreferredtoasthethoughtsof
theOneMind.IntheTarot,thearcanaarerepresentedbysymbolicdrawingsthatthereader
triestoworkwiththroughmeditation.IntheCabala,thearcanaarerepresentedbytheesoteric
propertiesofthelettersoftheHebrewalphabet,energiesthatthecabalisttriestoworkwithinthe
TreeofLife.IntheintheancientChinesesystemofdivination,theIChing,thearcanaare
representedbythesixtyfourtrigrams,eachwithitsownpropertiesandinfluences.The
alchemistsbelievedthearcanawereexpressedonalllevelsofrealityfromchemical
compoundstoourinnermostmoodsanddesires.
ArcanumExperiment

Theearlyalchemistsdividedtheirchemicalsintomajorandminorarcana.Themajorarcana
consistedofthefourcompounds:Vitriol,Natron,LiquorHepatis,andPulvisSolaris.Threeoutof
thefourconsistedofdualingredientsthatwereeasilyseparable.Vitriolcouldbebrokendown
intosulfuricacidandiron.Natronappearedassodiumcarbonateandsodiumnitrate.Pulvis
Solariswasmadeupoftheredandblackvarieties.Thus,thesevenchemicalscomprisingthe
minorarcanawere:SulfuricAcid,Iron,SodiumCarbonate,SodiumNitrate,LiquorHepatis,Red
PulvisSolaris,andBlackPulvisSolaris.Thealchemistsbelievedthatthesesecretchemicals
couldbecombinedintheArcanumExperiment,thesinglelaboratoryexperimentthatwould
demonstratethearchetypalforcesandevolutionoftheuniverse.Ideally,suchanexperiment
shouldsucceedonmanylevels,notonlycorroboratingthedeepestphilosophicaland
psychologicalprinciples,butalsoprovidingconcreteevidenceoftheirveracity.TheArcanum
Experimentexposedthehiddenprinciplesconnectingheavenandearth,offeringaframeworkin

whichtoexplainbothmicrocosmicandmacrocosmicevents.

athanor
FromtheArabicword"altannur"(oven),theathanoristhefurnaceusedbythealchemiststo
perfectmatter.Builtofbrickorclay,theathanorusuallywasshapedlikeatowerwithadomed
roofandwasdesignedtokeepanevenheatoverlongperiodsoftime.Thealchemists
considereditanincubatorandsometimesreferredtoitasthe"HouseoftheChick."
Symbolically,theathanorisalsothehumanbodyandthefireofbodilymetabolismthatfuelsour
transformationandtheultimatecreationofaSecondBodyoflight.Themountainisasymbolfor
theathanor,sincetheperfectionofthemetalstakesplaceundertheguiseofNaturewithin
mountains.Sometimesahollowoaktreeisusedtosymbolizetheatanor.

Azoth
Theterm"Azoth"isformedfromthefirstandlastlettersoftheEnglishalphabet("a"and"z"),
whichstandforthebeginningandendofallcreationthealphaandomegaoftheGreek
philosophers,thealephandtauoftheHebrewcabalists.ThereforetheAzothistheultimate
arcanum,theuniversalspiritofGodinallcreatedthings.Thealchemistsbelievedthattheliquid
metalmercurycarriedthesignatureofthisomnipotentarchetypalspirit.
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B
BainMarie
TheBainMarieisawarmalchemicalbath.Chemically,itisadoubleboilerinwhichacontainer
ofwaterissuspendedinasimmeringcauldron.Psychologically,itisthegentlewarmthof
emotionallycenteredmeditationusedintheDissolutionprocess.TheBainMariewasnamed
afterMariaProphetissa,aJewishalchemistwhowrotemuchaboutthemethodsandequipment
oftheWateroperationsofDissolutionandDistillation.
balsam

Abalsamisaresinousorwaxysemisolidcompoundthatcapturestheessenceofaliquid
medicineorperfume.ToParacelsus,thebalsamwasthe"interiorsalt"thatprotectedthebody
fromdecomposition,andearlieralchemistsconsideredtheBalsamoftheElementstobethe
Quintessence,theresultoftheConjunctionofalchemicalprinciples.Becauseofitamalgamating
ability,mercurywasconsideredthebalsamagentofthemetals.Inthechemicalarcana,Liquor
HepatismixedwithfatorwaxwasknownastheBalsamoftheSoul.
Basilisk
TheBasiliskisasymbolicalchemicalcreaturesaidtohavetheheadofabirdandthebodyofa
dragon.Thewinglessserpentineanimalwashatchedfromahermaphroditiccock'seggand
nursedbyaserpent.Psychologically,theBasiliskrepresentsthemeldingofourhigherandlower
naturesinConjunction,aprocessthatmustbecontinuedinthenextthreeoperationsofalchemy
forthis"ChildofthePhilosophers"tobecometheLivingStoneofthefullyintegratedSelf.
Biologically,theBasiliskrepresentsthemammalianembryology,thegeneticreplayingofthe
stagesofevolutionwithintheeggorwomb.TheBasiliskalsohaschemicalconnotations,which

probablyhavetodowithametallurgicalprocessinvolvingcinnabar.

baths
BathsinalchemysymbolizetheDissolutionprocessinwhichthemetalsarecleansedand
purified.
birds
Ascendingbirdsindicatethevolatilizationofcompoundsortheirsublimation.Descending
birdsindicatethefixationofcompoundsortheircondensationandprecipitation.Birds
shownbothascendinganddescendingindicatetheprocessofDistillation.
bezoar
Somechemicalcompounds,suchassulfurauretumwhenmixedwitheitherredmercuricoxide
orblackantimony,clumptogetherinseparablyassoonastheyaremixedtogether.The
alchemistsconsideredsuchcompoundstobechemicalbezoars,whicharehardclumpsof
undigestedfoodorsolidballsofhairsometimesfoundintheintestines.IntheMiddleAges,
physiciansthoughtthestrangemassprotectedpeoplefrompoisonsandactuallyprescribeditto
theirpatients.Egyptianpriestsdiscoveredbezoarsduringthepreparationofmummiesand
believedthehardballsweremagicalpillsformedbythelargeserpentinman(theintestines).
SomeevidencesuggeststhattheEgyptiansalsolookedforasimilarpillinthesmallserpentin
man(thebrain)andfounditthereintheformofthepinealgland.Thispineshapedglandis
imbeddedwithtinycrystalsofdarkmelanin,andcouldexplaintheEgyptianpineconeemblems
andtheoriginofthecaduceusitself.And,inthesamewaythatbezoarswereformedinthe
serpentinecontoursoftheintestines,sowasgoldformedinthebowelsoftheearth:goldwas
consideredamineralbezoar.

BlackPhase
TheBlackPhase(orMelanosis)isthefirststageinalchemy.Itphasebeginswiththe
operationofCalcinationandlaststhroughthePutrefactionstageofFermentation.
brimstone
(seeSulfur)
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C
caduceus
ThecaduceusisthemagicalstaffofHermes,theMessengeroftheGodsandrevealerof
alchemy.Thestaffisentwinedbytwoserpentsrepresentingthesolarandlunarforces.Their
unionistheConjunctionofalchemicalprinciplesandtheiroffspring,ifitlives,istheStone.This
Stoneisrepresentedasagoldenballwithwingsatthetopofthecaduceus.

Calcination

Thefirstoperationinalchemicaltransformation.Itisdenotedbythesymbolforthefirstsignof
thezodiac,Aries.

Ceration
ApartoftheFermentationprocessduringwhichawaxysubstanceflowsfromtheputrefied
matter.ThisistheFerment,theprecursoroftheStone.Cerationisthesofteningormollification
ofahardmaterialtochangeitintoamorewaxystatecoveringwithwaxorsalve.

child
Anakedchildsymbolizestheinnocentsoul.Inalchemy,thechildistheoffspringofthe
KingandQueen,theresultoftheirmarriageorunion.Achildcrownedorclothedinpurple
robessignifiesSaltorthePhilosopher'sStone.
cibation
Cibationistheadditionofnewmaterialtothecontentsofthecrucible.DuringDissolution,it
requiresaddingliquidtothedesiccatedmatteratpreciselytherightmoment.
cinnabar
Cinnabaristhebrightredoreofmercurysulfide.Knownas"Dragon'sBlood,"theroastedrocks
emitathickreddishsmoke,aspureglisteningmercuryoozesfromcracks.Psychologically,
cinnabarrepresentsthehardenedhabitsandterrestrialmarriagesofsoulandspiritthatmustbe
brokenasunderinCalcinationtofreetheessenceswithwhichthealchemistintendstowork.

circle
Thecircleorsphereissymbolicofunity,theOneMindofgod.Itismathematicallyand
psychologicallyan"irrational"experiencebeyondthedualityofreason.

Coagulation
TheseventhandlastoperationinalchemicaltransformationisCoagulation.

Cohobation
AkindofDistillationinwhichthedistillateispouredbackintoitsresidueamethodof
redistillation.
Conjunction
Conjunctionisthefourthoperationinalchemicaltransformation.Itisthecomingtogetherofthe
opposingarchetypalforcesoftheSunandMoonortheKingandQueen.

Congelation
AlooseortemporaryConjunctionofoppositesamixtureinwhichaliquidisgelledormade
semisolidintercourse.Theprocessisrepresentedbythesignfortheconstellationof
Taurus.
copper

Copperisoneofthesevenmetalsofalchemy.Copper(andsometimesbronzeandbrass)is
associatedwiththeoperationofConjunctionandtheelementEarth.
croslet
(seecrucible)
crown
Thecrownsymbolizesthesuccessfulcompletionofanalchemicaloperationorthe
achievementofamagisterium.Italsosignifieschemicalroyaltyortheperfectionofametal.
crows
CrowsarethesymbolsoftheblackphasesofCalcinationandPutrefaction.
crucible
Thecrucibleisthemeltingvesselofthealchemists.Itismadeofinertmaterialsuchas
porcelainandcanwithstandgreatheat.Usedtoliquefythemetals.
curcurbite
Thelowerpartofastill,containingtheoriginalliquid.Itismadeofglassorearthenware
andwasalsoknownasa"gourd"onaccountofitsshapeareceiver.(seealembic
Distillation)
cupel
Asmallcupordishmadeofboneashorotherporousandinfusiblematerial.Cupellationis
theprocessofheatingasubstanceinacupelinacurrentofair,suchasdoneinthe
refiningofsilverandgold.
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D
dew
DewissymbolicofdivineincarnationormanifestationfromAbove.Alchemistsbelieved
naturaldewcontainedthedivineSalt(thoughtsoftheOneMind)thatcouldtransformthe
SulfurandMercuryoftheFirstMatter.Inmanyways,dewrepresentedtheElixiror
contentsofthecupofGod,theHolyGrail.
Diana
AppearancesoftheGreekgoddessDianainalchemicaldrawingsandtreatisessignifythe
MoonandLunarconsciousness.
Digestion

AkindofPutrefactioninwhichthethenutrientsoressencesarereabsorbed.

Distillation
Distillationisthesixthoperationinalchemicaltransformation.Denotedbythesymbolforthe
constellationVirgo.Itisessentiallyaprocessofconcentration,nomatteronwhatlevel(physical,
mental,orspiritual)itoccurs.

Dissolution
ThesecondoperationinalchemicaltransformationisDissolution.Theprocessofdissolvinga
solidinaliquidthereductionofadrythinginwater.Representedbythesignforthe
constellationofCancer.

dogs
Dogssignifyprimitivematter,naturalsulfur,ormaterialgold.Adogbeingdevouredbyawolf
symbolizestheprocessofpurifyinggoldusingantimony.

dove
ThedoveisasymbolofrenewedspiritorinfusionofenergyfromAbove.Chemically,itsignifies
thechangefromtheBlackStagetotheWhitePhaseoftransformation.

dragon
ThedragoninflamesisasymboloffireandCalcination.Severaldragonsfightingissymbolicof
Putrefaction.Dragonswithwingsrepresentthevolatileprincipledragonswithoutwings
representthefixedprinciple.AdragonsbitingitsowntaleistheOuroborosandsignifiesthe
fundamentalunityofallthings.
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E
eagle
Theeagleisalwaysasymbolofvolatilization.Forinstance,aneagledevouringalion
indicatesthevolatilizationofafixedcomponentbyavolatilecomponent.
Earth
EarthisoneoftheFourElementsofalchemy.Earthinthealchemicalsensecarriesthe
archetypalpropertiesofmanifestation,birth,andmaterialcreation.Itisassociatedwiththe
operationofConjunctionandrepresentedbythegreenoreofcopper.

Elixir
TheElixirofthealchemistsisessentiallyaliquidversionofthePhilosopher'sStoneandhasthe
sameabilitytoperfectanysubstance.Whenappliedtothehumanbody,theElixircures

diseasesandrestoresyouth.

egg
Theeggissymbolicofthehermeticallysealedvesselofcreation.Stopperedretorts,coffins,and
sepulchresrepresenteggsinmanyalchemicaldrawings.
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F
Fermentation
ThefifthoperationinalchemicaltransformationisFermentation.Itisrepresentedbythesignfor
theconstellationofCapricorn.

Filtration
AkindofSeparation,inwhichmaterialispassedthroughasieveorscreendesignedto
allowonlypiecesofacertainsizetopassthrough.Theoperationisrepresentedbythesign
fortheconstellationofSagittarius,theArcher.
Fire
FireisoneoftheFourElementsofalchemy.Fireinthealchemicalsensecarriesthearchetypal
propertiesofactivityandtransformation.ItisassociatedwiththeoperationofCalcinationand
representedbythemetallead.

Fixation
Theprocessofstabilizingandincarnatingasubstancedeprivingasubstanceofitsvolatilityor
mobilitytocongealorcombineit.Theprocessisrepresentedbythesignfortheconstellationof
Gemini.

fountain
ThealchemicalFountainofFountainsisasymboloftheOuroboros.Threefountainsrepresent
thethreeprinciplesofSulfur,Mercury,andSalt.TheKingandQueensittinginafountain
signifiesabathortheWateroperationsofDissolutionandDistillation.
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G
Geber
TheLatinnameofJabiribnHayyan(721815A.D.).HeisthefatherofbothIslamicand
Europeanalchemy.HeknewoftheexistenceoftheEmeraldTabletandspreadthe

doctrinesoftheFourElementsandtheMercurySulfurtheoryofthegenerationofthe
metals.
gold
Goldisthemostperfectofthemetals.Forthealchemist,itrepresentedtheperfectionofall
matteronanylevel,includingthatofthemind,spirit,andsoul.Itisassociatedwiththeoperation
ofCoagulation.

grain
Grain,seeds,orgrapessymbolizethematteroftheStone.

Griffin'sEgg
ThegriffinisahalflionandhalfeaglecreaturethatsymbolizestheConjunctionofthefixedand
volatileprinciples.AnallusiontotheVesselofHermes.
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H
Hermaphrodite
TheHermaphroditerepresentsSulfurandMercuryaftertheirConjunction.Rebis(something
doubleincharacteristics)isanotherdesignationforthispointinthealchemyoftransformation.
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I
Iosis
(seePurplePhase)

iron
Ironisoneofthesevenmetalsofalchemy.ItisassociatedwiththeoperationofSeparation.
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Jabir
(seeGeber)

JungianAlchemy
PsychiatristCarlGustavJungrediscoveredtheimagesandprinciplesofalchemysurfacinginthe
dreamsandcompulsionsofhispatientsandbeganalifelongstudyofthesubject.Heconcluded
thatalchemicalimagesexplainthearchetypalrootsofthemodernmindandunderscoresa
processoftransformationleadingtotheintegrationofthepersonality.
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K
King
TheKinginalchemyrepresentsman,solarconsciousness,orSulfur.TheKingisnakedinthe
earlyoperationsofalchemyandregainshisroyalrobesattheendofhistransformation.The
KingunitedwiththeQueensymbolizesConjunction.
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L
lead
Leadisthefirstandoldestofthesevenmetalsofalchemy.Itisassociatedwiththeoperationof
Calcination.
Leukosis
(seeWhitePhase)
LiquorHepatis
LiquorHepatiswasthenamegiventoasulfurousliquidusedbythealchemists.
Consideredthearcanumofthesoul,LiquorHepatiswaspreparedbydistillingasolutionof
sulfur,lime,andsalammoniac.Theearlyalchemistssecuredlime(calciumoxide)by
heatinglimestoneandmadesalammoniac(ammoniumchloride)bygentlyheatingcamel
dunginsealedcontainers.ThedistillationforLiquorHepatisproducedacombinationof
hydrogensulfideandammoniagases.Sincenosolidsprecipitated,alchemistsconsidered
thisanascendingreactiononly.ThatwasasignificantfacttotheEgyptians,who
associatedtheLiquorwiththesoul.Theybelievedthesoulresidedintheliver,andthe
reddishbrowncolorofLiquorHepatisconvincedthemtheyhadisolatedthesoul'sessence.
Thenamecomesfrom"hepar,"theGreekwordforliver.TheLiquorexudedanunnatural,
pungentodorthatthealchemistsfoundquitemysterious.Theyassumeditwasduetoan
etherealpresenceconcealedinthesulfurandactivatedbythefertileprincipleinammonia.

TotheEgyptians,theodorsymbolizedasouloraspiritizedpresencehiddenwithinthe
liquid.TheysolidifiedthatpresencebyaddingwaxandfattoLiquorHepatisandturningit
intoathickpaste.TheemulsionbecameknownastheBalsamoftheAlchemistsorBalsam
oftheSoul.Thepossibilityofcoagulatinganinvisiblepotentialintoasecondbody,likea
balsam,becameabasictenetofalchemy.
litharge
Thelitharge(orletharge)istheleftoverscum,spume,orashesofametallicoperation.
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M
Magnesia
Magnesiawasamysticaltermtothealchemiststhatdenotedtheprimordialtransforming
substanceintheuniverse.Itwasoneofmanysymbolsusedtodescribethecentralmysteryof
alchemythatwasnevertobespokenofincommonwording.

matrass
Aroundbottomedflaskwithaverylongneck.Alsocalleda"bolthead."

Melanosis
(seeBlackPhase)
menstruum
Analchemicaltermmeaningasolventoralkahesthavingboththepowertodissolveand
coagulateatthesametime.Basedonthebeliefthattheovumtakesitslifeandformfrom
themenses,themenstruumwasalsoreferredtotheastheMercuryofthePhilosophers.
Mercury
Mercury,calledquicksilverbytheancients,isaliquidmetalthatcouldbefoundweepingthrough
cracksincertainrocksoraccumulatinginsmallpuddlesinmountaingrottos.Itwasalsoobtained
byroastingcinnabar(mercurysulfide).Theshinymetalwouldseepfromtherocksanddripdown
intotheashes,fromwhichitwaslatercollected.Theearlyalchemistsmaderedmercuricoxide
byheatingquicksilverinasolutionofnitricacid.Theacid,whichlateralchemistscalled"aqua
fortis,"wasmadebypouringsulfuricacidoversaltpeter.Thereactionofquicksilverinnitricacid
isimpressive.Athickredvaporhoversoverthesurfaceandbrightredcrystalsprecipitatetothe
bottom.Thisstrikingchemicalreactiondemonstratedthesimultaneousseparationofmercury
intotheAboveandtheBelow.Mercury'sallencompassingpropertieswereexhibitedinother
compoundstoo.Ifmercurywasheatedinalongneckedflask,itoxidizedintoahighlypoisonous
whitepowder(whitemercuricoxide)andtherapeuticredcrystals(redmercuricoxide).Calomel
(mercurychloride)wasapowerfulmedicine,unlessitwasdirectlyexposedtolight,inwhichcase
itbecameadeadlypoison.Whenmixedwithothermetals,liquidmercurytendedtounitewith
themandformhardenedamalgams.Theseandotherpropertiesconvincedalchemiststhat
mercurytranscendedboththesolidandliquidstates,bothearthandheaven,bothlifeanddeath.

ItsymbolizedHermeshimself,theguidetotheAboveandBelow.

Multiplication
AprocessofDistillationinwhichthepoweroftransmutationisconcentratedanincreaseinthe
amountoftheStoneasobtainedfromitspristineform.Itisrepresentedbythesignforthe
constellationofAquarius.
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N
Natron

Natronmeanssalt.Totheearlyalchemists,however,thewordNatronstoodforthebasic
principleinallsaltformationandthecreationofbodiesingeneral.TheEgyptiansaccumulated
thewhitesaltsformedfromtheevaporationoflakesandusedthemtopreservemummies.
Knownassodaash(sodiumcarbonate),theoldestdepositsareintheSinaidesert.Another
naturallyoccurringsodiumcompoundminedbytheEgyptianswascubicsaltpeter(sodium
nitrate).ThealchemistsreferredtoboththesesaltsasNatron(fromtheArabicwordforsoda
ash),becausetheysuspectedthatbothhadacommonsignatureorarchetypalbasis.
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O
Ouroboros
TheOuroboros(orUroboros)isthesymbolicrenditionoftheeternalprinciplespresentedinthe
EmeraldTablet.Thegreatserpentdevouringitselfrepresentstheideathat"AllIsOne,"even
thoughtheuniverseundergoesperiodiccyclesofdestructionandcreation(orresurrection).In
OrphicandMithraicsymbology,theOuroboroswascalledtheAgathosDaimonor"GoodSpirit"
andwasasymbolforthe"OperationoftheSun."InGreekterminology,theOuroboroswasthe
Aion,whichHerakleitoslikenedtoachildatplay.TotheGreeks,theAion(fromwhichourword
"eon"isderived)definedthecosmicperiodbetweenthecreationanddestructionofthe
universe.
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P
Pelican
Acirculatoryvesselwithtwosidearmsfeedingcondensedvaporsbackintothebody.Ithasa
fanciedresemblanceinshapetoapelicanpeckingatitsbreast.

Philosopher'sStone
(seeStone)
Precipitation
AprocessofCoagulationinwhichsolidmatteriscreatedduringachemicalreactionand
fallsoutofsolution.
Projection
ThefinalstageofCoagulationinwhichthepoweroftransformationisdirectedtowardabodythe
finalprocessinmakinggold,inwhichtheStoneorpowderStone(thepowderofprojection)is
tosseduponthemoltenbasemetaltotransmuteit.Itisrepresentedbythesignforthe
constellationofPisces.

PulvisSolaris
PulvisSolariswasthechemicalarcanumthatrepresentedspirit.The"PowderoftheSun"wasa
mixtureoftwopowders,BlackSolarisandRedSolaris.Combiningblackantimonywithsulfur
auretummadeBlackPulvisSolaris.Blackantimonywasacommonsulfideofantimony,now
knownasstibnite.Themineralwassmeltedandgroundfine.Puresulfurauretum,or"golden
sulfur,"wasmadebyaddingsulfuricacidtoadriedmixtureofsodiumcarbonate,sulfur,lime,
andantimony.Thereactiongaveoffhydrogensulfidegas,whilethesulfurauretumprecipitated
tothebottomofthecontainer.RedPulvisSolariswasmadebycombiningsulfurauretumwitha
compoundofmercuryknownasredmercuricoxide.Egyptianalchemistsassociatedtheserpent
withtheredmercuricoxideandreferredtoRedPulvisSolarisasPulvisSerpentum.Later
alchemistsbecameconvincedthatRedPulvisSolariswasindeedthepowderofprojectionthat
wouldenablethemtotransformvirtuallyanythingintopuregold.

PurplePhase
ThePurplePhase(orIosis)oftheGreatWorkisthethirdandfinalstageoftransformation.
ItismarkedbythepurplingorreddeningofthematerialandoccursduringtheCoagulation
operation.

Putrefaction
ThefirststageoftheFermentationoperationadigestioninwhichdecomposingessencesare
reabsorbed.TheprocesswasrepresentedbythesymbolfortheconstellationofLeo.
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Q
Queen
TheQueensymbolizeswoman,lunarconsciousness,andMercury.TheQueenisnakedduring

theearlystagesbutregainsherroyalrobesattheendofhertransformation.TheQueenunited
withtheKingistheoperationofConjunction.

quicklime
Quicklimeisunslackedlimeorcalciumoxide.Calciumoxideisobtainedbyheating
limestone,eggshells,oranymaterialcontainingCalciumCarbonate,whichisoneofthe
sevenarcanaofalchemy.
quicksilver
(seeMercury)

Quintessence
TheQuintessenceisthefifthelementwithwhichthealchemistscouldwork.Itwastheessential
presenceofsomethingorsomeone,thelivingthingitselfthatanimatedorgavesomethingits
deepestcharacteristics.TheQuintessencepartakesofboththeAboveandtheBelow,themental
aswellasthematerial.Itcanbethoughtofastheetherealembodimentofthelifeforcethatwe
encounterindreamsandalteredstatesofconsciousness.Itisthepurestindividualessenceof
somethingthatwemustunveilandunderstandinordertotransformit.
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R
Rebis
(seeHermaphrodite)

retort
Theretortisasphericalcontainer(usuallyglass)withalongneckorspout.Itisusedtodistillor
decomposesolutionsbytheactionofheatoracids.
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S
Salt
Saltisthethirdheavenlysubstanceinalchemyandrepresentsthefinalmanifestationofthe
perfectedStone.TheEmeraldTabletcallsit"theGloryoftheWholeUniverse."ForParacelsus,
Saltwaslikeabalsamthebodyproducedtoshielditselffromdecay.Ithasalsobeenassociated
withtheOuroboros,theStone,andtheAstralBody.Ingeneral,Saltrepresentstheactionof
thoughtonmatter,beittheOneMindactingontheOneThingoftheuniverseorthealchemist
meditatinginhisinnerlaboratory.

Separation
Thethirdoperationinthealchemyoftransformation.SymbolsofSeparationincludeswords,
scythes,arrows,knives,andhatchets.Theoperationissymbolizedbythesignforthe
constellationofScorpio.

serpents
TwoserpentsrepresenttheopposingmasculineandfeminineenergiesoftheWork.Three
serpentsstandforthethreehigherprinciplesofSulfur,Mercury,andSalt.Wingdserpents
representvolatilesubstanceswinglessserpentsrepresentfixedsubstances.Acrucified
serpentrepresentsthefixationofthevolatile.
silver
Silverisoneofthesevenmetalsofalchemy.Itisassociatedwiththeoperationof
Distillation.
skeletons
SkeletonssignifytheprocessofPutrefaction,onallthelevelsinwhichitoccurs.
Soul
Soulinalchemyisthepassivepresenceinallofusthatsurvivesthroughalleternityandis
thereforepartoftheoriginalsubstance(FirstMatter)oftheuniverse.Ultimately,itisthe
OneThingoftheuniverse.Soulwasconsideredbeyondthefourmaterialelementsand
thusconceptualizedasafifthelement(orQuintessence).
Spirit
Spiritinalchemyistheactivepresenceinallofusthatstrivestowardperfection.Spirit
seeksmaterialmanifestationforexpression.Ultimately,itistheOneMindoftheuniverse.
square
ThesquareorcubeissymbolicofmatterandtheFourElementsofcreation.
Stone
TheStoneisthegoaloftheGreatWork.Itwasviewedasamagicaltouchstonethatcould
immediatelyperfectanysubstanceorsituation.ThePhilosopher'sStonehasbeen
associatedwiththeSaltoftheWorld,theAstralBody,theElixir,andevenJesusChrist.
Sublimation
ThefirststageofCoagulation,inwhichthevaporssolidifyrepresentedbythesignforthe
constellationofLibra.Thevaporizationofasolidwithoutfusionormelting,followedbythe
condensationofitsvaporintheresolidifiedformonacoolsurface.Theelevationofadrything
byfire,withadherencytoitsvessel.TheastrologicalsymbolassociationwithSublimationisthe
signofLibra,thescales.

Sulfur
Sulfur(Sulphur)isoneofthethreeheavenlysubstances.Itrepresentspassionandwillandis

associatedwiththeoperationofFermentation.
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T
tin
Tinisoneofthesevenmetalsofthealchemists.ItisassociatedwiththeoperationofDissolution
andtheelementWater.Pewter(amixtureofleadandtin)representsametallicstatebetween
theoperationsofCalcinationandDissolution.

threelevels
Thekeytounderstandingalchemyistorealizethatalchemicalthoughtisextremely
dynamicandtakesplacesonthreelevelsatonce:thephysical,thepsychological,andthe
spiritual.Thusturningleadintogoldmeantnotonlyphysicallychangingthebasemetalinto
thenoblemetal,butalsotransformingbasehabitsandemotionsintogoldenthoughtsand
feelings,aswellastransmutingourdarkandignoblesoulsintothegoldenlightofspirit.By
developingthisabilitytothinkandworkonallthreelevelsofrealityatonce(becoming
"thricegreatest"),thealchemistscreatedaspiritualtechnologythatappliednotonlytotheir
laboratoriesbutalsototheirownpersonalitiesandtotheirrelationshipswithotherpeople
andwithGod.
tree
Treessymbolizetheprocessesoftransformation.AtreeofmoonssignifiestheLesserorLunar
WorkatreeofsunssignifiestheGreaterorSolarWork.

triangle
ThetrianglerepresentsthethreeheavenlyprinciplesorsubstancesofSulfur,Mercury,andSalt.
trituration
Grindasolidintoapowder.Pulverizewithamortarandpestle.Crush.Aprocessjustafter
Calcination,whentheashesaregroundintoafinepowderforDissolution.
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U
Uroboros
(seeOuroboros)
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V
Vitriol
Vitriolwasthemostimportantliquidinalchemy.Itwastheoneinwhichallotherreactionstook
place.Vitriolwasdistilledfromanoily,greensubstancethatformednaturallyfromthe
weatheringofsulfurbearinggravel.ThisGreenVitriolissymbolizedbytheGreenLionin
drawings.AftertheGreenVitriol(coppersulfate)wascollected,itwasheatedandbrokendown
intoironcompoundsandsulfuricacid.Theacidwasseparatedoutbydistillation.Thefirst
distillationproducedabrownliquidthatstunklikerotteneggs,butfurtherdistillationyieldeda
nearlyodorless,yellowoilcalledsimplyVitriol.Theacidreadilydissolveshumantissueandis
severelycorrosivetomostmetals,althoughithasnoeffectongold.WhiteVitrioliszincsulfate
BlueVitrioliscoppersulfate.
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W
Water
WaterisoneoftheFourElementsofalchemy.Waterinthealchemicalsensecarriesthe
archetypalpropertiesofcleansingandpurification.Itisassociatedwiththeoperationof
Dissolutionandrepresentedbythemetaltin.

WhitePhase
TheWhitePhase(Leukosis)isthesecondstageoftheGreatWorkandtakesplaceduring
Distillation.

wine
WineissymbolicoftheprocessofFermentationandthespiritizationofmatter.
wolf
(seeantimony)
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X
Xanthosis
(seeYellowPhase)

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Y
YellowPhase
TheYellowPhase(orXanthosis)ofalchemyisanintermediatestagethattakesplacebetween
theBlackandWhitephasesoftheGreatWork.ThetermwasusedbyAlexandrianalchemiststo
describechangesthattookplaceduringtheFermentationoperation.
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Z
Zodiac
AccordingtotheDoctrineofCorrespondencesintheEmeraldTablet("AsAbove,soBelow"),the
starsmustfindexpressiononearthandinmankind.Inalchemy,itwasessentialtoconsultthe
zodiacbeforecommencinganyofthemajoroperations.
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HelpTopics
HowtonavigatetheAlchemyLab.Thealchemistsbelievedtherewerebasicallyjusttwoways
ofknowingrealityandthatishowthiswebsitehasbeenorganized.Thefirstwayofknowingis
therational,deductive,argumentative,intellectualthinkingthatisthehallmarkofscienceandour
patriarchalWesternculture.ThealchemistscalledthisSolarConsciousnessandassignedit
manycodewords,suchastheKing,theSun,Sulfur,Spirit,theFather,andultimately,theOne
Mind.Throughoutthiswebsite,wheneverthematerialinvolvesleftbrainsolaractivitylikelists,
linearthought,schematics,formulae,argumentsandlogic,theiconusedwillbetheSolar
button.ThealchemistscalledtheotherwayofknowingLunarConsciousness.Thisnonrational,
imagedriven,intuitivewayofthinkingisanacceptedpartofmysticismandreligion.Amongits
manysymbolsaretheQueen,theMoon,themetalMercury,theSoul,theHolyGhost,and
ultimately,theOneThing.Throughoutthiswebsite,wheneverthematerialinvolveslunar,
nonlinearrightbrainactivitylikedrawings,paintings,mandalas,symbols,meditations,and
music,theiconwillbetheLunarbutton.Trytousebothwaysofknowingwhentryingto
understandalchemicaltopics.Thealchemistsbelievedtherewerebasicallyjusttwowaysof
knowingrealityandthatishowthiswebsitehasbeenorganized.Thefirstwayofknowingisthe
rational,deductive,argumentative,intellectualthinkingthatisthehallmarkofscienceandour
patriarchalWesternculture.ThealchemistscalledthisSolarConsciousnessandassignedit
manycodewords,suchastheKing,theSun,Sulfur,Spirit,theFather,andultimately,theOne
Mind.Throughoutthiswebsite,wheneverthematerialinvolvesleftbrainsolaractivitylikelists,
linearthought,schematics,formulae,argumentsandlogic,theiconusedwillbetheSolar
button.ThealchemistscalledtheotherwayofknowingLunarConsciousness.Thisnonrational,
imagedriven,intuitivewayofthinkingisanacceptedpartofmysticismandreligion.Amongits

manysymbolsaretheQueen,theMoon,themetalMercury,theSoul,theHolyGhost,and
ultimately,theOneThing.Throughoutthiswebsite,wheneverthematerialinvolveslunar,
nonlinearrightbrainactivitylikedrawings,paintings,mandalas,symbols,meditations,and
music,theiconwillbetheLunarbutton.Trytousebothwaysofknowingwhentryingto
understandalchemicaltopics.
Howtoworkwithfractaldiagrams.Fractaldiagramsarecomputerimagesthataregenerated
throughtheformulaeofthemathematicsofchaos.Assuch,theyrepresentthe"irrational"
componentsofalchemyoritsFirstMatter.Toworkwithfractaldiagrams,itisnecessarytoallow
themindtobecomedrawninbythemandmakeuseofone'sintuitivefeelingsratherthan
thoughtprocesses.
PrintingProblems.IfonlypartofapagefromtheAlchemyLabprintsforyou,gotoyour
browserFilemenuandchoosePrint.Inthe"PrintFrames"box,makesurethattheoption"As
LaidOutontheScreen"isselected.Ifthisdoesnotwork,selectthePageSetupoptionand
changetheprintoutstyle.Choose"Landscape"forwiderprintoutsand"Portrait"forhigher
printouts.

acceleratedbyadministrationofcholestyramineorcharcoal,
butthismaycausediseaseactivitytoreturninpatientswho
wererespondingtoAUBAGIO.
Decreasesinwhitebloodcellcounts,mainlyofneutrophils
andlymphocytes,andplateletshavebeenreportedwith

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