A Modern Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery

Part I: An Overview of Alchemy’s History and Theory

Chapter 3: The Golden Treatise of Hermes Trismegistus, Part 2

Introduction: Hermes continues his sacred guide to the philosopher’s stone, revealing the transformative process of the universal essence. In this section, we explore the delicate art of refining this essence, guarded by cryptic symbols and divine wisdom.

Section One (Continued): The Vulture’s Cry

Hermes concludes the first section with a poetic vision: “The vulture, standing atop the mountain, cries, ‘I am the White of the Black, the Red of the White, the Citrine of the Red, and I speak truth.’” The vulture, a symbol of the newborn philosophical essence, stands in a fiery furnace, its colors—white, black, red, citrine—showing its transformative power. The “mountain” is the alchemical vessel, a space where the essence evolves.

He adds, “The chief principle is the Crow, which in the night’s blackness and day’s clarity flies without wings. From the bitterness in its throat comes the tincture; from its body, the red; from its back, a pure water.” The crow, another name for the essence in its passive state, undergoes putrefaction (night) and resurrection (day), yielding a tincture—its soul—and a water that dissolves metals into their primal form. Hermes urges, “Accept this gift of God. In the caverns of metals lies a noble stone, splendid in color, a sublime mind, an open sea. Give thanks to God, who taught you this wisdom, for He loves the grateful.”

Section Two: The Path of Reverence and Reason

Hermes begins the second section with a solemn admonition: “My son, above all, fear God, the source of your endeavor’s strength and the bond uniting each element.” Divine reverence is key, as the alchemical work depends on aligning with the universal spirit’s sacred law.

He advises, “Whatever you hear, consider it rationally. I don’t take you for a fool. Grasp my instructions, meditate on them, and let your heart embrace them as if you authored them. Applying cold to a hot substance harms it; likewise, a rational mind shuts out ignorance to avoid deception.” This calls for deep reflection, guarding against superficial understanding, much like a seeker closing their mind to distractions to focus on truth.

Hermes instructs, “Take the volatile essence, still flying, and drown it in its flight. Separate it from the rust that binds it in death, drawing it forth to live and serve you, not escaping to the heavens but held by your reason.” This describes capturing the philosophical Mercury, freeing it from impurities, and guiding it through a controlled process to prevent its loss. He continues, “If you free it from its confinement and rule it with reason over time, it will become your companion, adorning you as a conquering lord.”

Next, he says, “Extract the shadow and impurity clouding its light. Its fiery redness, when burned, holds the live coal of its fire. Withdraw this redness repeatedly until it’s pure, and it will join you, cherished by the one who nurtured it.” This process involves purifying the essence through repeated dissolution and refinement, removing its “shadow” (impurities) until its radiant soul emerges, ready to transform other substances.

Closing: Hermes completes Section 1, introducing the philosopher’s stone through symbols like the vulture and crow, revealing the essence’s transformative colors. In Section 2, he begins detailing the process—capturing and purifying the volatile Mercury with divine reverence and rational focus. The delicate art of refining this essence continues in our next post, unveiling further steps toward the stone’s creation.