This wordpress blog is about the alchemy of Steven School in words and pictures concerning the magnum opus or the great work of the sun and moon in the mineral kingdom of hermetic alchemy. For updates on Steven School Alchemy subscribe to the Steven School Alchemy YouTube Channel.
In ancient or medieval alchemy, the philosopher’s stone was described as going through many color changes during its creation. Alchemist’s who wrote about “How to make the philosopher’s stone”, often depicted it as white, yellow, saffron, or even red. The Philosopher’s stone of alchemy was said to be wrapped in wax before the alchemist could attempt the transmutation of “quicksilver” or lead into gold. Quicksilver in alchemy was according to my theory or understanding, used to describe molten metal and not elemental mercury. Such hidden code words were used to keep outsiders from learning the craft or secrets of alchemy.
So I’m experimenting here with amalgamating sulfur of the sun with mercury. The plan is to bring it into the realm of the metals. Solve et Coagula. Dissolve and Coagulate. Rolling through the phases of turning the alchemical wheel. First stop in this great work is the famous “Reign of Saturn” in which the composition putrefies and deposits a black earth called the ravens head. Alchemy of Steven School. Do not try this at home. This post does not constitute advice of any type, nor is it intended for any specific person. No warranty is expressed or implied as to the accuracy or completeness of any information presented here.
The Philosopher’s Stone of alchemy is often described as a saffron colored material ranging from yellow to orange yet many alchemical manuscripts describe that in the final stages of the creation of the philosopher’s stone the color becomes blood red. The basic colors of the great work of alchemy are usually depicted as black white yellow red. Ancient alchemy formulas also described secondary colors like the green lion of alchemy or a peacock’s tail. Once the alchemist finished making the alchemy Philosopher’s stone the saffron colored material was believed to have changed to that of a transparent, red, glass like Philosopher’s stone described as gold digested to its highest degree. The final alchemical stage in the great work of alchemy making the Philosopher’s stone was said to be wrapping the Philosopher’s stone in wax. Many alchemists believed that the Philosopher’s stone of alchemy must be wrapped in wax in order to transmute lead into gold. Article written by Steven School. Do not try this at home.
Here we will compare the alchemical writings of Nicholas Flamel against those of Michael Sendivogius as if the two were doing battle in the creation of the philosopher’s stone or the transmutation powder of alchemy. YouTube Video is the work of Steven School, Alchemist. Do Not Try This At Home. Not For Human Consumption.
Let us begin this battle of the sages with alchemical writings attributed to Nicholas Flamel.
I Nicholas Flamel am seized with a desire to write out the whole magistery of the secret of the Powder of Projection, or the Philosophical Tincture, which God hath willed to impart to his very insignificant servant, and which I have found out, as thou also wilt find out in working as I shall declare unto you. . Take thou in the first place the eldest or first-born child of Saturn, not the vulgar, 9 parts; of the sabre chalibs of the God of War, 4 parts. Put this latter into a crucible, and when it comes to a melting redness, cast therein the 9 parts of Saturn, and immediately this will redden the other. Some believe they have the whole magistery, when they have the heavenly Mercury prepared; but they are grossly deceived. It is for this cause they find thorns before they pluck the rose, for want of understanding. It is true indeed, that were they to understand the weight, the regimen of the fire, and the suitable way, they would not have much to do, and could not fail even if they would. But in this art there is a way to work. Learn therefore and observe well how to operate, in the manner I am about to relate to you. Take this white or red sulphur, triturate it in a glass or marble mortar, and pour on it, in sprinking it, a third part of its weight of the Mercury from which this sulphur has been drawn. put again this mixture into an oval glass; place it in a furnace on a suitable fire. Concoct until the said Mercury is changed into sulphur, and during this coction, thou wilt see wonderful things in thy vessel, that is to say, all the colours which exist in the world, which thou canst not behold without lifting up thy heart to God in gratitude for so great a gift. When thou has attained to the purple red, thou must gather it: for then the alchymical powder is made, transmuting every metal into fine pure and neat gold, which thou maist multiply by watering it as thou hast already done, grinding it with fresh “Mercury”, concocting it in the same vessel, furnace and fire, and the time will be much shorter, and its virtue ten times stronger. This then is the whole magistery done with “Mercury” alone, which some do not believe to be true, because they are weak and stupid, and not at all able to comprehend this work. the matter will pass through all the colours, the black, the ash colour, the blue, the green, the white, the orange, and finally the red as red as blood or the crimson poppy: aim only at this last colour; for it is the true sulphur, and the alchymical powder. If thou are disposed to multiply thy powder, take one part thereof, and water it with two parts of thy animated Mercury; make it into a soft and smooth paste; put it in a vessel as thou hast already done, in the same furnace and fire, and concoct it. This second turn of the philosophic wheel will be done in less time than the first, and thy powder will have ten times more strength. Let is wheel about again even a thousand times, and as much as thou wilt. Thou wilt then have a treasure without price, superior to all there is in the world, and thou canst desire nothing more here below, for thou hast both health and riches, if thou useth them properly. Excerpts compiled from writings attributed to Nicholas Flamel and or letter to nephew. Edited by Steven School.
You must make use of the citrine “mercury” to make the imbibition of the red stone, Credit, alchemical writings attributed to the alchemist Nicholas Flamel.
And now, it is Michaels turn to spin thy alchemical wheel.
Our science is not a dream, as the vulgar crowd imagines, or the empty invention of idle men, as the foolish suppose, consider that this mystery is for wise men, and not for fools. Regulate the heat judiciously, until there appear colors like those of the Peacock’s Tail, and then continue to apply this well-regulated heat until the colors resolve themselves into a glorious purple followed by a final, fixed red. Excerpts from Michael Sendivogius New Chemical Light, Edited by Steven School.
“Burn the earth until it becomes sulfur incombustible” Credit, Alchemical writings attributed to Michael Sendivogius.
As concerns the “multiplier” it is the second substance, and not the first. Credit, Alchemical writings attributed to Michael Sendivogius.
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multiplication (alchemy) video
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Here is a very interesting article that someone recently brought to my attention about sulfide minerals. One theory of mine is that perhaps nature evolves organic matter into iron pyrite over time through the natural process of “weathering” and that perhaps this system of natural evolution results in the end product of gold.
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Alchemist’s worked in three main categories which fell into the animal, plant, and mineral kingdoms. One very basic theory of the lost or secret art was that according to the bible, when “GOD” proclaimed that all things shall multiply in like kind he included the minerals as well as the animals and the plants. Ancient alchemical writers often advised in their secret alchemical manuscripts to observe the simple ways of nature. They also spoke of the four elements which were water, earth, air, and fire. The seal of Solomon supposedly depicts the secret ancient formula of alchemy which is water and fire, two of the simple tools of nature. So theoretically speaking this might be interpreted as water and fire acting upon matter (earth) in the presence of air. Although the alchemist’s were said to have worked upon a great many things, these things basically fell into the three main categories of plant, animal or mineral. Now, moving forward in recent years a theory has emerged that sulfur may in fact be the nucleus of the gold atom. One of my theories on alchemical transmutation of lead into gold, is that perhaps lead actually is gold simply missing its sulfur element as the nucleus and also containing a few impurities. If this theory were correct then alchemists were simply trying to insert the missing element which in my opinion might be more of an amalgamation than a transmutation of metals. This sounds much simpler than atomic transmutation. Alchemists were known to have experimented with metallurgy and in writings attributed to Michael Sendivogius he advised that one study the metals and their “methods of union” which to me, suggests amalgamation as opposed to transmutation. The “philosopher’s stone” has been rumored to burn with a bright blue flame when thrown into molten metal. Some ancient alchemy writings declared that this legendary alchemical substance was actually yellow. These theories to me suggests sulfur which was mentioned in the alchemical manuscripts of Theophrastus Paracelcus as well as Michael Sendivogius and or his mentor Alexander Seton. The work of alchemy called for the holy trinity which meant salt, sulfur, and sophic mercury. Some theorists suggested that these three secret philosopher’s stone ingredients were needed while others surmised that joining the sophic mercury to the alchemical “sulfur” (The moon and the sun, or Gabritius and Beya”) would thereby produce the secret salt as a result of the hermetical wedding producing the supernatural son of the sun. Primitive metallurgy called for the purification of metals by smelting them with potash (potassium earth metal) this upon cooling would leave slag that was chipped away with a hammer to remove impurities. Alchemists were said to repeat this purification of metals until a star was seen which reminds me of the eastern star or the star of David. The symbol of purity and truth. This process was a predecessor to amalgamation since alchemists believed that “blackness” hindered fusion. If elemental sulfur is thrown into molten lead it catches on fire leaving black material (carbon) and makes a mess. With that in mind, perhaps the whole idea of alchemy was to change elemental sulfur into something else, by joining it to another element through the sophic mercury (not elemental mercury). Perhaps the secret liquid could dissolve these elements and then coagulate them through a repetition of nature’s rain cycle in the glass, theoretically into a fifth element or incombustible sulfur that would no longer be affected by fire. This is one of the reasons that Iron Pyrite or marcasite has been associated with alchemy. It is a natural mineral in which nature has joined sulfur to iron to form another element in which the qualities of the sulfur and the iron have been somewhat changed. The salt of iron, and the element of sulfur, an interesting combination according to some. Could it be an open entrance to the closed palace of the king? I get the idea that in the mineral iron pyrite, sulfur might be joining into the realm of the metals. Article written by Steven School. Do Not Try This At Home!
This article is only my opinions and does not constitute advice of any type, nor is it intended for any specific person. No warranty is expressed or implied as to the accuracy or completeness of any information presented here. The Philosopher’s Stone Book
the philosopher's stone alchemy 