A Modern Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery

Part III: Concerning the Laws and Vital Conditions of the Hermetic Experiment

Chapter 1: The Experimental Method and Fermentation, Part 4

Introduction: The Hermetic art transforms the soul through a dynamic interplay of reason and wisdom, purifying its essence to unite with the divine. This section explores the alchemical process of balancing active and passive intellects, symbolized as the Sun and Moon, to awaken divine light within.

The Transformative Power of Reason

Alchemists teach that reason, when purified, becomes the soul’s guiding light, overcoming the illusions of passion and fantasy. As Plotinus suggests, one begins with a “portion of gold”—a spark of divine intellect—that grows through patient purification. Anaxagoras describes this intellect as infinite and pure, separating opposites (dense from rare, hot from cold) to create harmony. This “true Light,” the alchemical Sulphur, refines the soul’s raw essence, transforming it into a radiant vessel.

The soul’s journey, like Achilles’ triumph after Patroclus’ death, requires sacrificing the lower nature. Poetic myths—Hercules, Aeneas, Orpheus—symbolize this heroic will, dissolving sensory bonds to awaken divine virtue. Palingenius’ verse captures this: “Drown the youth in Stygian waters, dissolve his taint, and a golden spirit rises, perfecting all it touches.” This death and rebirth mirror the alchemical process, where the soul’s essence is reborn through purification.

The Sun and Moon of Alchemy

The Hermetic art balances the active intellect (Sun) and passive understanding (Moon) to achieve transformation. Hermes instructs, “Mortify two Argent vives together—the Sun’s radiant force and the Moon’s reflective wisdom—to create a unified spirit.” Plutarch notes, “The Moon reflects reason’s works, while the Sun’s strength overcomes all obstacles.” Synesius adds, “The lower eyes (senses) close when the higher eyes (intellect) see, alternating contemplation and action.”

This interplay, like Isis aiding Osiris, ensures the soul navigates chaos without succumbing to confusion. The Moon’s passive intelligence unravels obstacles, guiding the Sun’s active will to the divine source. As the Emerald Tablet declares, “That which is above is as that which is below,” uniting these forces creates a miraculous offspring—a soul refined into divine harmony.

The Heroic Will’s Triumph

The alchemical process requires a disciplined will, as seen in Aeneas’ quest for the golden bough or Hercules’ labors. The soul, guided by reason, overcomes the “turbulent waters” of sensory illusions, achieving a celestial state. Proclus explains, “The prophetic power unfolds truth, while the arrow-darting power subdues chaos, establishing unity.” This unified will, strengthened by wisdom, transforms the soul into a vessel of divine light, as Solomon’s proverb affirms: “Two are better than one, for their labor yields great reward.”

Closing: This section unveils the Hermetic art’s balance of active and passive intellects, purifying the soul to reveal divine light. The alchemical journey of fermentation deepens in our next post, unveiling further secrets of this sacred practice.