The Dew - Part I

The dew or celestial water is the nocturnal atmosphere condensation under the influence of the
Moo, and, according to the alchemical tradition, it is the privileged vehicle of universal spirit. The
old alchemists beheld the celestial water with great appreciation. In the countries of central
Europe, they recommended that one collect the dew in the months of March, April, and May,
because in those months it holds a very special virtue as it is impregnated with the universal
spirit.

In the center and south of our country (Portugal), the best weather to collect the dew occurs in
the months of March and April. In years of little rainfall in the spring, in the month of May, the
herbs of the grasslands to dry thus hindering the condensation of dew. Besides being so little in
quantity as to not justify the spent effort; the dew collected in these conditions is dirty. We have
had the occasion of verifying this personally.

At times, in his books, our Masters makes reference to the celestial water (dew) as an analogy
for when there is a condensation of vapors in a vase or in a distillation.

We saw an Iberian alchemist, who is very much known in your country for the books he wrote
about "your" alchemical work, when the corner of his lips twitched as we talked of the
application of the dew in alchemy. He demonstrated in this way an ignorance of the alchemical
reality.

If you ask one "those" alchemists how the dew in collected and distilled and its salt are
extracted, certainly they won't know how to answer you because that knowledge is not within
their reach. It is in rare books where this operation is described. We learn it in Solazaref's books.

In our Art, this water is usually used as a vehicle in the treatment of philosophical salts and other
things.

The dew condensation is made during the night, closer to dawn. So that there is an abundant
condensation, it is necessary that the sky is clear, cloudless, and that there are not winds or
breezes, that is, in a calm night.

The suitable time to collected the dew, as we said, is in the spring during the first quarter to full
moon.

There are few nights that offer the ideal conditions for collecting the dew. You will have to watch
and take advantage of them when possible.

To collect the celestial water you will need a medium size cotton towel preferable very used, a 10
litter iron enameled basin, some 5 litre large glass bottles very well washed with water, a big
plastic funnel and a very clean fine cloth to serve as filter.

On the previous day, inspect the field where you will do your collecting. Watch for the best
access road and other landmarks that will allow you to easily identify.

Choose a clean field, without pollution, with short herbs (brasses), with a maximum of height
and away from urban areas.

Get up two hours before dawn but before you go to the place, verify the dew by looking at the
roofs of cars parked on the street in an open place away from the building. Look to see if the cars
are covered with condensation. If they are that is a good sign. If there is no condensation on the
cars, it is needless to leave your house because there is no dew. Please take our advice because
we know it well owing to our own experience.

If there is abundant condensation, move to the chosen place carrying all your material. The
towel should previously be washed in rainwater or spring water.

When you arrive to the chosen place, unfold the towel and spread it on the ground at the edge
of the field. Attach a thin rope on the two tips for dragging it over the grass.

Drag the extended towel slowly so the towel will absorb the celestial water that is on the grass.
When you begin suggest you pay attention to the towel's weigh because when see that it
saturated, stop and thoroughly squeeze it into the basin.

The dew, at this time of the year, is at lower temperature than the air; about 5 degrees plus or
minus (in my country) so, for that reason, your hands will be very cold.

Continue in the some way dragging the towel and when it is saturated again stop and squeeze it
into the basin until it is full. Now, take a 5-litre large bottle and put the funnel into it. Use a cloth
for a filter and drain the liquid into the bottle.

Don't forget to take a flashlight because, as we told you, dew collecting should be done before
dawn and sunrise.

Continue until the first rays of the dawn begin to appear on the horizon then stop. Collect your
dew and equipment and return to your house. In one night, in good conditions, you will be able
collect more than 10 litres of celestial water.

The collected dew is lightly yellowish colour of the tea and it is scentless.

pic dew in bottle

The first time we observed it we thought this colour was owed to the dust that was in the grass
where it had been collected. For confirming it the next night, when the sunbeams began to
appear on the horizon and there was good visibility, with a very clean sponge we carefully collect
the dew deposited on plants that were very clean and without any pollution. The colour was
exactly the same.

Once you arrive at your house, while still in darkness, pour the liquid from the 5 litre large
bottles though a funnel with the filter cloth into 20-litre large glass bottles in the basement
sheltered from the light.

pic dewcaput

If it is possible for you, that is, if you live in the country, on full moon nights, pour the dew in a
big plastic basin and leave it exposed to the moonbeam during the night. I will absorb the
universal spirit and increase its virtue. Collect in before sunrise.

Fill at least a 20-litre large glass bottle, or more according to your needs, and let it stand still in
the basement 5 litres of dew into 5-litre bottle. Do this operation at night while using a small
flashlight.

During this time the dew putrefies and, after that, all the matter that was in suspension will rest
on the bottom leaving a limpid and transparent liquid.

Pour 5 litre of (clear) dew into a 6-litre cucurbit like the one that is used to distil the spirit of
wine and vinegar. Then attach the still head and a 2-litre recipient and distil in a moderate fire
not above 60º C. It will take more than one week to distil everything depending on the size
opening at the neck of the cucurbit. You must not forget that this operation is to be made in
darkness. Keep the distilled dew in 20 litre glass large bottles, within the shelter of the light.

After everything is distilled, there will be dregs in the bottom of cucurbit that you will pick up
and save.

Distil all of the dew in the same way and always save the dregs. After you have distilled 40 litres
of dew, pour all the dregs in the cucurbit and distil to dryness. Remove the caput and calcine it in
a mud or stainless steel porringer on a gas stove with very strong fire. Extract the salt by leaching
with the distilled dew. You will obtain some 20 or 30g of salt.

This dew salt, still raw in the alchemical point of view, contains subtle nitre that after being
properly prepared, as Art demands, is used in the canonical dry way.

The collection and distillation of dew is a true Herculean work that requires much patience and
perseverance. As we already told you in the beginning, it may not always be possible, even in
favourable times, to collect the dew that you will need due to adverse weather conditions, such
as rain, overcast sky, or wind, etc.

The distilled dew will be very useful in the preparation of the several canonical salts inherent to
our Art.

For certain common operations, you can use instead of the distilled dew, rainwater (very clean
and filtered), collected in the spring, preferable on thunderstorm days.
Field to collect the dew:

Rubellus Petrinus