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THE EMERALD TABLET

of Hermes Trismegistos
(an alchemical text)
THE EMERALD TABLET
(Translation by Adept Fulcanelli, as quoted in "Alchemists and
Gold" by Jaques Sadoul )
This is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth:- As
below, so above; and as above, so below. With this knowledge
alone you may work miracles. And since all things exist in and
emanate from the ONE Who is the ultimate Cause, so all things
are born after their kind from this ONE.
The Sun is the father, the Moon the mother; the wind carried it
in his belly. Earth is its nurse and its guardian. It is the Father of
all things, eternal Will is contained in it. Here, on earth, its
strength, its power, remain one and undivided. Earth must be
separated from fire, the subtle from the dense, gently, with
unremitting care. It arises from the earth and descends from
heaven; it gathers to itself the strength of things above and
things below. By means of this one thing all the glory of the
world shall be yours, and all obscurity flee from you.
It is power, strong with the strength of all power, for it will
penetrate all mysteries and dispel all ignorance. By it the world
was created. From it are born manifold wonders, the means to
achieving which are here given.
It is for this reason that I am called Hermes Trismegistus; for I
possess the three essentials of the philosophy of the universe.

This is the sum total of the work of the Sun.

THE EMERALD TABLE


(Translation by R. Steele and D.W.Singer, quoted in "Alchemy"
by Holmyard)
True it is, without falsehood, certain and most true. That which
is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is
like that which is above, to accomplish the miracles of one
thing.
And as all things were by the contemplation of one, so all things
arose from this one thing by a single act of adaptation.
The father thereof is the Sun, the mother the Moon.
The Wind carried it in its womb, the Earth is the nurse thereof.
It is the father of all works of wonder throughout the whole
world.
The power thereof is perfect.
If it be cast onto the Earth, it will separate the element of Earth
from that of Fire, the subtle from the gross.
With great sagacity it doth ascend gently from the Earth to
Heaven.
Again it doth descend to Earth, and uniteth in itself the force
from things superior and things inferior. Thus thou wilt possess
the glory of the brightness of the world, and all obscurity will
fly far from thee.

This thing is the strong fortitude of all strength, for it


overcometh every subtle thing and doth penetrate every solid
substance.
Thus was this world created.
Hence there will be marvellous adaptations achieved, of which
the manner is this.
For this reason I am called Hermes Trismegistus, because I have
three parts of the wisdom of the whole world.
That which I had to say about the operation of Sol is now
completed.

THE EMERALD TABLE


(translation from "Encyclopedia
Parapsychology" 2nd Edition)

of

Occultism

and

True, without error, certain and most true; that which is


above is as that which is below, and that which is below is as
that which is above, for performing the miracles of the One
Thing; and as all things are from the one, by the mediation
of the one, so all things arose from this one by adaptation;
the father of it is the Sun, the mother of it is the Moon; the
wind carries it in its belly; the nurse thereof is the Earth.
This is the Father of all perfection, or consummation of the
whole world. The power of it is integral, if it be turned into
earth. Thou shalt separate the earth from the fire, the subtle
from the gross, gently with much wisdom; it ascends from
earth to heaven, and again descends to earth; and receives
the strength of the superiors and the inferiors - so thou has
the glory of the whole world; therefore let all obscurity flee
before thee. This is the strong fortitude of all fortitudes,
overcoming every subtle and penetrating every solid thing.
So the world was created. Hence were all wonderful
adaptations of which this is the manner. Therefore I am

called 'Thrice Great Hermes,' having the Three Parts of the


philosophy of the whole world. That which I have written is
consummated concerning the operation of the Sun.

THE EMERALD TABLET


(translation from B.O.T.A - Builders of the Adytum)
True, without falsehood, certain and most true; that which is
above is as that which is below, and that which is below is as
that which is above, for peformance of the miracles of the One
Thing; and as all things are from the one, by the mediation of
the one, so all things have their birth from this One Thing by
adaptation; the Sun is its father, the Moon is its mother; the
Wind carries it in its belly; its nurse is the Earth. This is the
father of all perfection, or consummation of the whole world. Its
power is integrating, if it be turned into Earth. Thou shalt
separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross,
suavely and with great ingenuity. It ascends from earth to
heaven and descends again to earth, and receives the powers of
the superiors and of the inferiors. So thou hast the glory of the
whole world; therefore let all obscurity flee before thee. This is
the strong force of all forces, overcoming every subtle and
penetrating every solid thing. So the world was created. Hence
were all wonderful adaptations of which this is the manner.
Therefore I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having the three
parts of the philosophy of the whole world. That which I have to
tell is completed, concerning the Operation of the Sun.

Mark's Notes:
--"as above,so below" = Vishudda substance, Life Imitates Art
"it ascends from earth to heaven, and again descends to earth"

observations reflected as mental models.


subsequent application of the models feeds back into the world
through action.
matter/observation->information/model->action/matter
--The Emerald Tablet contains a description of the solar-driven
thermodynamic engine of evolution.
An "Emerald Tablet" is, itself, an image of the Green Earth.
fire/above/subtle=information
earth/below/dense=matter
"act of adaptation" evolution... natural selection...
"hence were all wonderful adaptations of which this is the
manner"
"this is the father of all perfection, or the consummation of the
whole world"
"so the world was created"
"This is the consummation of the operation of the Sun"
Sun/Father:solar flux drives thermodynamic engine
Moon/Mother:tidal forces/menses
Wind/Gestation: pneuma/wind/breath = spirit. Thermodynamic
weather patterns.
The Earth is its nurse and its guardian...
[mutation? and recombination]
--separation of:
Earth/Fire , Gross/Subtle = Substance/Form, Matter/Information
(or matter/energy, this can be a metaphor for E=Mc^2
"regarding the operation of the sun" can be a reference to
nuclear fusion.)
Universal Quantum Field:

"overcoming every subtle and permeating every solid thing"


"This is the strong force of all forces.." (paraphrase, I seem to
recall
the term "strong force" used at the BOTA reading.)
--Prajnaparamita Sutra-like:
"possess the glory of the world ... free of all obscurity" = great
liberation
Signature Boasts:
"This is the fortitude of all fortitudes..." this is the great mantra...
"Therefore I am called Hermes Trismegistus..."
(gate, paragate, parasamgate... bodhi swaha.)
Superiors/Inferiors = I-Ching-like terminology.
---

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