PARACHEMICA

Volume 1: Number 1 Spring 1976

Editorial
Glass of Antimony

PARACHEMICA

is a quarterly publication of Paracelsus Research Society,(Australia), a non-profit institution

devoted exclusively to research in the hermetic and related fields.

Editor: D. E. Foster

Manuscripts, comments, questions, etc. are invited to be considered for publication. These
should be sent, type-written, double-spaced, in duplicate to
The Editor,
Parachemica
Melbourne, Australia

Subscriptions to the Sister American and Swiss publications are available to students as follows:
PARACHEMY (U.S.A.) Quarterly through the P.R.S. (Australia).
QUINTA ESSENTIA (Switzerland) quarterly for German speaking students, SWITZERLAND.

The Cover: A 17th Century woodcut showing a spiritual pilgrim leaving the ordinary world and
looking through the 'window of eternity' into the world of timeless order.
EDITORIAL
The aims and objectives of this journal are principally directed towards students of the PRS in
Australia in an attempt to aid the student in integrating the triune concepts of Parachemy,
Astrocyclic Pulsations (Astrology) and Qabalah within himself and in relation to the world in
which he lives and works.

We shall try to include material which is of practical value in regard to the laboratory as well as
material which is stimulating intellectually and spiritually.

Equal emphasis will be placed as far as possible on the practical laboratory work, on astrocyclic
pulsations and on the QBL, because advancement to any degree in understanding of any one of
these subjects depends on an equal advancement in the other two. Students, all being different,
usually find an initial attraction to one of the three, sometimes to the detriment or imbalance of
the other two. Thus a practical person may look for immediate results or proof of the Divine in
the laboratory foremost. Another will find intellectual or philosophical illumination in the QBL,
perhaps to the detriment of laboratory activity or the application of astrological cycles to their
life. But all three are aspects of the One when understood, and should be applied concurrently.

Students are invited to contribute their ideas, illuminations and problems to the journal for the
general benefit since this journal is intended as a vehicle for communication between the
students. Active communication and cross-fertilization of ideas will produce a richer product.
None of us are authorities in these subjects.

We are all students and we are all "seeing through a glass darkly" or groping in the mists which
only rarely part for seconds at a time, showing us a small illumination. But, however small our
illumination, or whether it be first or second-hand, it can always be profitably shared.

One danger experienced in regard to spiritual or occult teachings in general is that of wandering
too far away from the original given teachings and becoming lost in the burgeoning mire and
confusion of other interesting and apparently parallel teachings. The curriculum of the PRS is
complete and adequate with in itself. Also, it is noted by some students that communication
occurs on a level other than the conscious. This does not mean that these are "the only true
teachings" and that no other teachings should be read or studied in conjunction.

In fact, several other relevant and complementary books are and will be recommended. But these
are limited in number. The living out of the teachings or putting them into practice is more
recommended rather than too much reading about them.

If one is to use a "system" and progress in understanding, one should stick with the system rather
than jumping from system to system like the occult shopper.
The triune teachings of the PRS is one system or way which has revealed itself as being rapidly
illuminating for the devoted seeker of truth and understanding, as can be readily testified by
many changed lives.

VALUE IN THE PERSONAL VISION

Many articles appearing in this and future editions of Parachemica do not necessarily constitute a
part of the teachings of the PRS, but are personal contemplations and conclusions of students of
the PRS.

Whenever absolute or intangible concepts are contemplted, the human mind invents symbolic
models in an attempt to explain the unexplainable. Unexplainable only because the concepts do
not yield to intellectual understanding alone.

Thus everyday written language becomes inadequate. These absolute ideas, to be understood,
must be experienced. Also, any system or intellectual symbolic representation using imagery,
geometry or number, cannot ever adequately define the Absolute or Ain Soph. But, however,
some systems go further and are more useful in this regard than others. Such a system, by virtue
of its basis on fundamental law and its flexible correspondences, is illustrated by the "Tree of
Life" glyph of the QBL.

Therefore also, personal visions and contemplations are valid to the extent that the individual
experiences and understands fundamental Cosmic laws. These laws are given in the Prima
classes of the PRS curriculum.

No matter what level of realization is expressed in the articles contributed by students, it is hoped
that these ideas will serve as a trigger to further, deeper thought and realization.

GLASS OF ANTIMONY
From PRAKTISCHE ALCHEMIE IM ZWANZIGSTEN JAHRHUNDERT
(Practical Alchemy in the Twentieth Century) by Frater Albertus.
Translated by Arthur G. Fehres.
Unfortunately this book has not been published in English yet. Starting from p. 155

THE POURING OF GLASS IN A FURNACE

For smelting and pouring, the bottom of the furnace should be covered with one or two finger-
widths of finely sifted quartz sand. The quartz sand will catch the small droplets of glass, which
during the procedure might flow down the crucible. In this way the crucible can be removed
anytime without sticking to the bottom of the furnace.
As we know, that in Antimony all colours exist, we try to pour glass of different colours.

In a new non-glazed crucible put Antimony Trisulfide (1 part) and Borax (2 parts). Beforehand,
both ingredients are well ground and mixed in a mortar. Another time try a mixture with a
proportion of 1 to 4 parts. It is also a worthwhile experiment to put Antimony Trisulfide or
trioxide onto the still liquid glass remaining in the crucible after the glass has been poured out of
it.

There are still other varieties and each one will even find a way to produce glass. Nobody,
however, should become misled by the beautiful colours of the Vitrum Antimony, for after its
change into glass its poison has not been taken out yet.

'While smelting Antimony Trisulfide sparks will jump up from it, which means, that through the
great heat, the spirit is driven out while giving off a spray of sparks.

CITRINE-YELLOW GLASS OUT OF ANTIMONY TRIOXIDE

For one hour the furnace is heated until it shows a constant temperature of 1,000oC.

In a mortar the following are well ground and mixed

5 parts of Antimony Trioxide and 1 part of Borax.

Borax has nothing to do with Antimony. It is only a means of making the Antimony smelt easier.

A non-glazed crucible is filled with this mixture and put in the heat. After 15 minutes the first
test can be made with a pointed steel knife. A certain quantity of liquid glass will stick to the
cold steel point. The glass is brownish red.

The second test is about eight minutes later, therefore, 23 minutes after the crucible has been
filled. This test shows a transparent citrine-yellow colour. Like this the glass is right.

With fire forceps the crucible is taken out of the furnace and as thinly as possible the liquid glass
is poured onto a preheated fire proof dish. (Basil Valentine recommends pouring it on brass.)
After cooling one keeps these pieces of glass in a well stopped wide necked bottle.

With 14 cruciblefuls of Antimony Trioxide a whole kilo of pure transparent citrine-yellow glass
can be poured. To get less Borax in the glass the mixture can also be 8:1.

FROM MINERAL ROCK INTO GLASS DROPS

Using Antimony Trioxide in making glass, the quantity collapses, for example, the crucible can
be filled to the brim and after a certain time can be filled again.

when working with Antimony Trisulfide the crucible is only half filled. This smelting substance
expands and has be pushed down with fire forceps, if necessary. to prevent it from over wards
ground into powder.
VITRUM, which has gone through the finest sieve, is still too course. In the mortar this has to be
ground until unbelievably fine. The glass has been rightly prepared when with the tiniest bit of
wind it behaves the same as dust.

Before breaking up the glass into small pieces it can be put on a clean sheet of paper in order to
lose nothing at all of this dust. With a fine brush all of it can be carefully collected in a dish.

WASHING THE BORAX OUT OF THE VITRUM

The ground glass, with which we have filled the soxhlet thimble, has still alot of Borax in it. The
Borax had been mixed with the Antimony Trioxide to achieve a better flowing of the glass
during the smelting process and now this has to be washed out again.

The soxhlet is 3/4 filled with distilled, water. Through constant extraction and circulation the
Borax is drawn out of the soxhlet flask. After a few hours new distilled water is used and
repeated, if necessary, until after careful examinatibn the red litmus paper does not turn blue
anymore. During this process the water stays clear and transparent. It is only through litmus
paper that the alkalinity can be tested accurately enough. It is peculiar, that with the first
extraction the water gets a soft yellow tinge. This, however, is not from the yellow glass powder
in the thimble. Antimony does not dissolve in water, but in Antimony Trioxide are still traces of
nitric acid left. Thus, what is chemically pure Antimony Trioxide, is alchemically still not pure
enough. After the pouring of the glass-through higher temperatures using Antimony Trioxide
without Borax even this nitric acid has to be washed out.

TRANSLATOR'S COMMENT
When working with antimony, go carefully about it, unless you want to poison yourself. You
would do well to use a wet handkerchief to cover nose and mouth during operations such as
pulverizing, mixing, smelting, etc. If you do these inside do not allow the fine dust particles to
contaminate the t whole room and what is in it.

A small electric furnace has been proved to be better than a big one as the heating elements
would be too far away from the crucible, lowering the heat in the centre of it considerably. One
could also improvise a blasting furnace using e.g. gas and oxygen or air.

Porcelain crucibles, the size and shape of a cup, will prove to be very satisfactory.

Crucibles will last longer when you; a) dry them thoroughly before using;
b) heat them gradually before putting them in the furnace;
c) avoid quick cooling during refilling and pouring.

After a crucible has been cracked, putting some pieces of glass in a new one will act as a starter.

To obtain red glass of antimony requires more than 1,000oC. (1200oC plus)

Dropping a small piece of charcoal or charcoal granules on smelted antimony will purify it better
and quicker.
Good quality citrine-yellow glass has been made using 8 parts antimony trioxide (commercial)
and 1 part of Borax at 950o- 1,000oC.

Instead of a pointed steel knife a bent piece of sturdy wire can be used for testing without having
to remove the crucible.
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 1; Number 2; Summer 1977

The Macrocosmic Snowflake of the QBL by Frater Achad

Hoc Opus, Hic Labore Est

The Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom of the Sepher Yetzirah
Review: The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution

HOC OPUS, HIC LABORE EST

(This is Work, this is Labor.)

Too many are inclined to think that as soon as they start on the esoteric path it takes only a
simple formula or magic word to attain all the secrets they have set out to obtain. Nothing could
be more erroneous. There is no such a thing. There never will be one either. All the esoteric
knowledge that one can attain will have to be worked for. It must be acquired. Anyone enpecting
to have it dropped into his lap will be sorely disappointed.

Since any attainment requires efforts on behalf of the one who is setting, out towards
manifestations it should again, once and for all, he made very clear and plain that only work and
effort will produce results on the esoteric path.
It became very evident during the study groups when it was observed where individuals really
and sincerely attempted to master the teachings presented. True, for many it was much more to
comprehend that they had anticipated to receive. Some of it was was so entirely new, although it
was as old as time itself, because the way It was, presented revealed completely new
possibilities, yet the definite results obtained in that incredibly short time gave rise to hopes of
further and much more profound accomplishments. This is the point to be stressed here. The
possibilities that open up for the sincere student are so enormous, that one has to become actively
engaged in the work in order to come to a realization. Theory alone will not let it become
apparent what can be had by active engagement in the work. In many instances individuals are
supplied with books that crowd their shelves. Some of them contain enough light to blind a
person. Yet, and this has been proven, those are asking for more light. Ridiculous as it sounds,
they hope that one of those works will produce the word or magic formula that will make all this
possible to attain where others have spent their entire life, to get initiated into these very secrets.
Some praise one another or another because he writes so plainly and gives very definite
instructions. At the very same moment those making such statements reveal their ignorance of
the underlying motif that escapes them completely. Some, in the course of time, have through
cosmic grace been initiated into these things, while others had to depend on teachers or helpers
to help them understand. Whatever way it may be, it is essential to be instructed, no matter what
source it comes from. Be it from within or without, both will be come in the end the very same.
All this has remained unchanged through out all time. Anciently, in the middle ages or presently,
the approach varies very little, if at all. Likewise, the teachings are the same. We do not have to
go back centuries to prove it.

Annie Besant at one time stated: H.P. Blavatsky defined Occultism as "the study of the Divine
Mind in Nature," and it would be difficult to find a nobler definition. All life, all are hidden, and
only their effects are patent. The forces by which a jewel is crystallized in the womb of the earth,
by which a plant develops from, a seed, by which an animal is evolved from a germ, by, which a
man feels and thinks - all these are occult, hidden from the eyes of men, to be studied by
scientists only,in the phenomena of of evolution, as, these present themselves while the impelling
forces, the nature of "vitality", the invisible, intangible secret springs of all activities, these
remain ever hidden.

Moreover, this admirable definition posits Mind behind all the manifestations which we totalise
as "Nature". It is these manifestations which are woven into that garment by which we see God
("and weave for God the garment thou see's Him by"). His Mind is revealed in natural
phenomena, and by the visible "the invisible things ... are clearly seen". Bruno spoke of natural
objects as the divine language; they are the Self-expressions of God. In the divine Mind exist the
Ideas which are to be embodied in a future, universe; the world of wind, the "Intelligible World",
precedes the material world. So taught the Hebrews; so taught the Greeks; and the teaching is
confirmed by our everyday experience. We think, before we embody our thought in an action.
Ere a man creates a great picture he must have the idea of the picture in his mind; he "thinks it
out" before he paints it on the canvas. It is the world of Ideas, the Intelligible World, which is the
realm explored by the Occultist.

He seeks to understand this world whence flow all outer manifestations; to grasp the Ideas which
embody themselves in varied forms; to seek the hidden sources of life and to trace their outflow,
as the physical scientist seeks and traces of physical types and their evolution. He is the scientist
of the invisible, as the ordinary scientist is the scientist of the visible, and his methods are
scientific; he observes, he experiments, he verifies, he compares, and he is continually enlarging
the boundaries of the known.

The Occultist and the Mystic differ in their methods as well as in their object. The Occultist
seeks knowledge of God; the Mystic seeks union with God. The Occultist uses Intellect; the
Mystic Emotion. The Occultist watches Ideas embodying themselves in phenomena; the Mystic
unfolds the Divine within him that it may expand into the Divinity whose Body is a universe.
These sharp-cut definitions are, of course, true, only of abstract types; the concrete individuals
shade off into each other and the perfected Occultist finally includes the Mystic, the perfected
Mystic finally includes the Occultist. But on the way to perfection, the Occultist must evolve,
pari passu, his consciousness and the successive essive. vehicles in' which the consciousness
works, while the mystic sinks into the depths of his consciousness and cares naught for the
bodies, which he disregards and abandons. To borrow two well-known terms: the occultist tends
to become Jivanmukta, the liberated Spirit residing in material bodies; the Mystic tends to
become the Videhamukta, the liberated Bodiless one.

The Occultists rise, grade by-grade, through the Hierarchy; the mystics become the
Nirmanakays, the Reservoir of Spirituality, from which are drawn the streams which irrigate the
worlds. Blessed, holy and necessary are both types, the two Hands of the One LOGOS in His
helping of His universe.

Bearing in mind H. P. Blavatsky's definition, we can readily see how the more ordinary view of
occultism, that it merely, means the study of the hidden - without defining the hidden - inevitably
grows up. The Occultist is to study the Divine Mind in Nature; then he must not only expand his
consciousness, so as to enter into the Divine Mind, but must also evolve his subtle bodies and
their senses, in order to contact Nature in all the grades of subtlety of her manifestations. This
evolution of the subtle senses and the knowledge, gained through them of the phenomena of the
subtle, or superphysical, worlds of matter - loom large in eyes of the superficial observer, and he
comes to identify Occultism with clairvoyance, clairaudience, travelling in subtle bodies, and the
like. It would be as sensible if this same good gentleman, identified, physical science with it
apparatus - its microscopes, telescopes, spectroscopes. The subtle senses are merely the
apparatus of the Occultist, they are not Occultism. They are the instruments by which he
observes the objects, by which escape the normal physical eye. As the ordinary instruments
science may have flaws in them and so may distort the physical objects observed, so may the
super-physical instruments have flaws in them, and distort the superphysical objects observed.
Mal-observation with a defective instrument does not vitiate the scientific conclusions. The same
is true as regards observations with ill-evolved superphysical senses; the occult method is
scientific and sound, but for the moment the particular conclusions drawn by the Occultist are
erroneous. Where then is safety? In repeated observations by many observers - just as in physical
science.

Let us examine this a little more closely. A scientific observer finds his observations through his
microscope yield him a certain picture; he draws what he sees. Then he puts a high power on his
microscope, and again observes the object; he obtains another picture. He compares the two. He
finds that certain parts of the object that he thought were isolated from each other are connected
with threads so fine that they were invisible under the lower power. His first, observations were
accurate but incomplete. One result of such incompleteness is that every scientific man, in giving
pictures of objects as seen through the microscope, notes on them the power of the lens through
which he observed them. Again, if a young observer, on comparing his drawings with those
made by experts and inserted in the text-books, finds that he has inserted something not seen in
the others, he will test his lens and repeat his observation. taking another object, identical-with
the first, lest some dust, or hair, or other accidental intruder should have presented, its unbidden
for his inspection Let us Apply this to the student of Occultism. He has evolved a power of sight
beyond the normal he observes some etheric object and puts down his observations; a few years
later, having evolved a higher power of sight, he observes the object again, and finds that the two
parts of it he thought successive are divided by some intermediate process. I will take an exact
instance. Mr. Leadbeater and myself in 1895 observed that the physical atom, being
disintegrated, broke up into the coarsest form of astral matter. In 1908 observing the same
proven again, with a higher power of sight evolved during the intervening years, we saw that the
physical atom, on disintegration ran through a series of further disintegrations, and reintegrated
finally into the coarsest form of astral matter. The parallel with the lower and higher powers of
the microscope is complete.

Once more; a young observer sees some astral form; he compares it, if he is wise - he is not
always wise - with previous observations of older observers, or with statements by great seers in
world-scriptures. He finds his observation unlike theirs. If he is a serious student he tries again,
making repeated and careful observations, and finds out his mistake. If he is foolish, he
proclaims his mal-observation as a new discovery.

But, it may be said, people respect the physical scientist, and accept his observations, while they
mock at those of the Occultist. All the discoveries of new facts were mocked at before the public
was ready for them; was not Bruno burned and Galileo imprisoned for declaring that the earth
moved round the sun? Was not Galvani called "the frogs dancing-master" when he laid his
finger on the hidden force now called by his name? What matters the mockery of ignorant men
to those whose steadfast eyes are seeking to pierce through the veils in which nature shrouds her
secrets?

So far as the methods of observation of the material side of Nature are concerned, observations
carried on by means of improved apparatus - externally manufactured or internally evolved the
methods of physical and superphysical science are identical. Knowledge is gained by study of
the results obtained by predecessors in the same field, and by observations directed to similar
phenomena, with a view to verifying or correcting the results.

The evolution of the consciousness which observes through the senses is another matter, and this
plays a greater part in occult than in physical science; for consciousness must unfold as higher
senses evolve, else would the better tools be useless in the hands of the inefficient workman. But
the object of physical and superphysical science alike is the extension of the boundaries of
knowledge.
Is this extension desirable or not? If the knowledge be turned to human service, yes; if to the
increase of human misery, no. The application of physical, science to the destruction of human
life is most evil; yet not for that can we seek to block the advance of chemistry. The Occultist
who knows how to liberate the forces imprisoned in the atom will not place within the hands of
the competing nations of the world this means of wholesale destruction. Yet he knows that
chemistry is advancing in this direction, and that it must not be hindered in its' advance.

As regards the Occultists themselves they are useful or dangerous according to their motives. If
they are devoted to the welfare of the worlds, then their rapid evolution is beneficial. If they seek
power for their own aggrandisement, then they are dangerous. The evolution of consciousness is
all to the good, for, as that unfolds, the wider view brings the man gradually more and more into
unison with the Divine Will in evolution, and, at a certain point in this expansion, he inevitably
recognises the all-compelling claims of the larger Self. But in the lower stages, in the astral and
mental worlds while his self-discipline must be rigid as regards his bodies, pride and selfishness
may make him a danger to his fellowmen. The discipline of the senses and the control of the
mind are equally necessary, whether the man is aiming at development for service or for
individual aggrandisement. He must lead a life of rigid temperance in all things, and he must
become master of his thoughts. But if personal ambition rule him, if he seeks to gain in order that
he may hold, not in order that he may give, then every added power becomes a menace to the
world, and he enters the ranks of the Adversary. The Occultist must evolve into a Christ or into a
Satan - to borrow the Christian terms. For him there is no halfway house. Safer are the green
pastures where the flock may feed at peace than the arid heights, with their crevasses and their
precipices, with their shrouding mists and their crashing avalanches. None who has trodden part
of the rugged way would seek to induce others to enter on it. But there are some whom an
imperious inner force compels; some who cannot rest by the still waters, in but must seek to
climb the heights. For such the way is open, and for them there is no other way which is possible.
Only, that they may not add their shattered lives to the "wrecks which strew the path of
Occultism" let them gird their loins with strength, let them don the armour of purity, and the
helmet of unselfishness, and let them go forward, in the Name of the World's Redeemers, with
their eyes fixed on the Star which shines above them, careless of the stones which gash their
bleeding feet.

Remember there is no hocus-pocus, but only sincere and persistant work that will let you attain
your goal in the esoteric Work. In Alchemy this is unmistakeable, only you can get these
undreamed of marvels accomplished by DOING it. The Proof available substantiates it- to those
permitted to become enlightened enough to be their own demonstrator.

THE THIRTY-TWO PATHS OF WISDOM OF THE

SEPHER YETZIRAH
 (Translated from the Hebrew Text of Joannes Stephanus Rittangelius. 1642.)

The First Path is called the Admirable or the Hidden Intelligence (the Highest crown): for it is
the Light giving the power of comprehension of that First Principle which has no beginning; and
it is the Primal Glory, for no created being can attain to its essence.

The Second Path is that of the Illuminating Intelligence: it is the Crown of Creation, the
Splendour of the Unity, equalling it, and it is exalted above every head, and named by the
Kabalists the Second Glory,

The Third Path is the Sanctifying Intelligence, and is the basis of foundation of Primordial
Wisdom, which is called the Former of Faith, and its roots, Amen; and it is the parent of Faith,
from whose virtues doth Faith emanate.

The Fourth Path is named Measuring, Cohesive or Receptacular; and is so called because it
contains all the holy powers, and, from it emanate all the spiritual virtues with the most exalted
essences; they emanate one from the other by the power of the primordial emanation. (The
Highest Crown.)

The Fifth Path is called the Radical Intelligence, because it is itself the essence equal to the
Unity, uniting itself to the Binah, or Intelligence which emanates from the Primordial depths of
Wisdom or Chokmah.

The Sixth Path is called the Intelligence of the Mediating Influence, because in it are multiplied
the influxes of the emanations, for it causes that influence to flow into all the reservoirs of the
Blessings, with which these themselves are united.

The Seventh Path is the Occult Intelligence, because it is the Refulgent Splendour of all the
Intellectual virtues which are perceived by the eyes of intellect, and by the contemplation of
faith.

The-Eighth Path is called the Absolute or Perfect Intelligence because it is the means of the
primordial, which has no root by which'it can cleave, nor rest, except in the hidden places of
Gedulah, Magnificence, from which emanate from its own proper essence.

The Ninth Path is the Pure Intelligence, so-called because it purifies the Numerations, it proves
and, corrects the designing of their representation, and disposes their unity with which they are
combined without diminution or division.

The Tenth,Path is the Resplendent Intelligence, because it is exalted above every head and sits
on the throne of Binah, (the Intelligence spoken of in the Third Path). It illuminates the splendour
of all the lights, and causes a supply of influence to emanate from the Prince of countenances.
The Eleventh Path is the Scintillhting Intelligence, because it is the essence of that curtain which
is placed close to the order of the disposition, and this is a special dignity given to it that it may
be able to stand before the Face of the Cause of Causes.

The Twelfth Path is the Intelligence of Transparency because it is that species of magnificence
called Chazchazit, which is named the place whence issues the vision of those seeing in
apparitions. (That-is the. prophecies by seers in a vision.)

The Thirteenth Path is named the Uniting Intelligence, and so-caIled because it is itself the
Essence of Glory. it is the Consummation of the Truth of individual spirititthings.

The Fourteenth Path is the Illuminating Intelligence, and is so-called because it is that Chashmal
which is, the founder of the concealed and fundamental ideas of holiness and of their stages of
preparation.

The Fifteenth Path is the Constituting Intelligences so-called because it constitutes the substance
of creation in pure darkness, and men have spoken of these contemplations; it is that darkness
spoken of in Scripture Job xxxviii. 9, "and thick darkness a swaddling band for it".

The Sixteenth Path is the Triumphal or 'Eternal Intelligence, so-called because it is-the pleasure
of the Glory, beyond which is no other Glory like to it, and it is called also the Paradise prepared
for the Righteous.

The Seventeenth Path is the Disposing Intelligence, which provides Faith to the Righteous, and
they are clothed with the Holy Spirit by it, and it is called the Foundation of Excellence in the
state of higher things.

The Eighteenth Path is called the House of Influence (by the greatness of: whose abundance the
influx of good things upon created beings in increased), and from the midst of the investigation
the arcana and-hidden senses are drawn forth, which dwell in its shade and which cling to it,
from the cause of all causes.

The Nineteenth Path is the intelligence of all the activities of the spiritual beings, and is so-
called, because of the affluence diffused by it from the most high blessing and most exalted
sublime glory.

The Twentieth Path is the Intelligence of Will, and is so-called because it is the means of
preparation of all and each created being, and by this intelligence the existence of the Primordial
Wisdom becomes known.

The Twenty-first Path is the Intelligence of Conciliation, and is socalled because it receives the
divine influence which flows into it from its benediction upon all and each existence.

The Twenty-second Path is the Faithful Intelligence and is so-called because by it spiritual
virtues are increased, and all dwellers on earth are nearly under its shadow.
The Twenty-third Path is the Stable Intelligence, and it is so-called because it has the virtue of
consistence among all numerations.

The Twenty-fourth Path is the Imaginative Intelligence, and it is so-called because it gives a
likeness to all the similitudes which are created in the like manner similar to its harmonious
elegencies.

The Twenty-fifth Path is the Intelligence of Probation, or is Tentative, and it is so-called because
it is the primary temptation, by which the Creator trieth all righteous persons.

The Twenty-sixth Path is the Renovating Intelligence, because the Holy God renews by it all the
changing things which are renewed by the creation of the world.

The Twenty-seventh Path is the Exciting Intelligence, and it is socalled because through it is
consummated and perfected the nature of every being under the orb of the Sun, in perfection.

The Twenty-eight Path is the Natural Intelligence; by it is completed and perfected the nature of
all that exists beneath the Sun.

The Twenty-ninth Path is the Corporeal Intelligence, socalled because it form every body which
is formed beneath the whole set of worlds and the increment of them.

The Thirtieth Path is the Collective Intelligence, and is so-called because Astrologers deduce
from it the judgment of the Stars, and of the celestial signs and the perfections of their science,
according to the rules of their resolutions.

The Thirty-first Path is the Perpetual Intelligence; but why is it so-called? Because it regulates
the motions of the Sun and Moon in their proper order, each in an orbit convenient for it.

The Thirty-second Path is the Administrative Intelligence, and it is socalled because it directs
and associates in all their operations the seven planets, even all of them in their own due courses.

BOOK REVIEW:

The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution

P. D. Ouspensky (Vintage Books, 1974) 128 pages

This reissued book by the author of "In Search of the Miraculous", "A New Model of the
Universe", etc., represents essentially a summary of the main ideas of his teacher, the
controversial Russian master G.I. Gurdjieff. Therefore, this book serves as an introduction to
many of Gurdjieff's teachings, condensed into 5 lectures by Ouspensky. The interesting point
about Gurdjieff's teachings is his definite, clear and radical views on the State and potentials of
Man compared with the vast bulk of other, mainly Eastern views which only take the seeker a
certain distance through the mists and leave him to meditate and chant the rest of his way
through. Another point is the close parallel and line of teaching one keeps observing with that of
the PRS and Gurdjieff's so-called Fourth Way School.

A sample of some of Gurdjieff's concepts follows:

The State of Man is incomplete. Nature develops him only up to a certain point and then leaves
him, to develop further, by his own efforts and devices, or to live and die such as he was born, or
to degenerate and lose capacity for development. That Man is actually a machine, an automation
having no independent movements, inside or outside of himself. That he is brought into motion
by external influences and impacts only. That most men die while physically remaining still
alive. Although they still move and act, their evolution in this life has ceased. BUT that Man can
come to know that he is a machine, and having fully realised this, he may find the ways to cease
to be a machine.

Evolution of man in this case will mean the development of certain inner qualities and features
which usually remain undeveloped, and cannot develop by themselves.

This development means man must become a different being in quality and ability. The question
is asked - why cannot all men develop and become different beings? The answer is very simple.
Because they do not want it. Because they do not know about it and will not understand without
a long preparation what it means, even if they are told. Man to a large extent is happy in his
ignorance.

Now, what are the conditions necessary for development? There are several. First of all, Man
must want to become a different being strongly enough, and make the necessary effort. A passing
or vague desire for change based on dissatisfaction with external conditions will not create a
sufficient impulse. He must understand his position, his difficulties, and his possibilities. He
must be either very strongly repelled by his present state or very strongly attracted by the future
state that may be attained.

It is impossible to enumerate all the conditions necessary. But they include among other things
"a school" and the conditions necessary for the existence of a School.

The School principles can be transferred only by word of mouth or orally, by direct instruction,
explanation, and demonstration.

To answer the question, what makes a man desire to acquire new knowledge and to change
himself? Ouspensky speaks of man living under 2 kinds of influences:
Influence A consists,of interests and attractions created by life-itself; interests of one's health,
safety, wealth, pleasures, amusements, security, vanity, pride, fame, etc. The second kind of
influence, influence B consists of interests of a different order aroused by ideas which are not
created in life but come originally from Schools.

These influences do not reach man directly. They are thrown into the general turnover of life,
pass through many different minds and reach man through philosophy, science, religion and art,
always mixed with influences of the first kind, A, and generally very little resembling what they
were in their beginning.

In most cases men do not realise the different origin of Influences B and often explain them as
having the same origin as influence A. Although man does not know of the existence of 2 kinds
of, influences, they both act on him and in one way or another he responds to them.

He can be more identified with one or some, of the influences of A and not feel influences of B
at all.

Or he can be attracted and affected by one or another of influences B. The result is different in
each case. If a man is fully in the power of influence A, or of one particular influence A, and
quite indifferent to influence B, nothing happens to him, and his possibility, of development
diminishes with every year of his life; and at a certain age, sometimes quite an early age, it
disappears completely. This means that man dies while physically remaining still alive, like grain
that cannot germinate and produce a plant. But if, on the other hand, man is not completely in the
power of influence A, and if influences B attract him and make him feel and think, results of the
impressions they produce in him collect together, attract other influences of the same kind, and
grow, occupying a more important place in his mind and life. If the results: produced by
influence B become sufficiently strong, they fuse together and form in man what is called a
magnetic centre.

The magnetic centre is in personality it is simply a group of interests which, when they become
sufficiently strong, serve, to a certain degree, as a guiding and controlling factor.

The magnetic centre turns one's interests in a certain direction and helps to keep them there. At
the same time it cannot do much by itself. A school is necessary.

The magnetic centre cannot replace a school, but it can help to realize the need of a school; it can
help in beginning to look for a school, or if one meets a school by chance, the magnetic centre
can help to recognize a school and try not to lose it. Because nothing is easier to lose than a
school.

Possession of a magnetic centre is the first, although quite unspoken, demand of a school. If a
man without a magnetic centre, or a small or weak magnetic centre, or with several contradictory
magnetic centres, that is, interested in many incompatible things at the same time, meets a
school, he does not become interested in it, or he becomes critical at once before he can know
anything, or his interest disappears very quickly when he meets with the first difficulties of
school work. This is the chief safeguard of a school. Without it the school would be filled with
quite the wrong kind of people who would immediately distort the school teaching. A right
magnetic centre not only helps one to recognize a school, it also helps to absorb the school
teaching, which is different from both influences A and influences B and may be called influence
C. As said before, this influence C can be transferred only directly and orally.
When a man meets with influence C and is able to absorb it, it is said about him that in one point
of himself - that is, in his magnetic centre - he becomes free from the law of accident (that which
makes him an automaton). From this moment the magnetic centre has actually played its part.

It brought man to a school or helped in his first steps there. From then on the ideas and the
teaching of the school take the place of the magnetic centre and slowly begin to penetrate into
the different parts, of personality and with time into essence.

Ouspensky goes on to explain that one of the most important principles one learns is that real
school work must proceed by three lines simultaneously.

The first line is study of oneself and the system, or the "language". Working on this line one
certainly works for one-self and must manifest in one's work a certain amount of initiative in
relationship to oneself. The second line is work with other people in the schooL and working
with them, one works not only with them but for them. So in the second line one learns to work
with people and for people. The chief point is this is discipline and following exactly what one is
told, without bringing any of one's own ideas even if they appear better than those that have been
given. Here no initiative is required or admitted. This is why the second line is particularly
difficult for some people.

In the third line one works for the school. In order to work for the school, one must first
understand the work of the school, understand its aims and needs, and this usually requires time.

Here again one can manifest more initiative, but one must always verify oneself and not let
oneself make decisions against rules and principles, or against what one has been told.
-Don Foster
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 1: Number 3 Autumn 1977

The Tree of Life of the QBL in its geometric proportions.

Editorial: The Penny Ritual

Evolution and the Hierarchy - D. Foster
Esoteric Astrology - L. Foster
What Was It?

EDITORIAL:

"THE PENNY RITUAL"

It was mentioned briefly in the previous editorial how easy it is for the aspiring student of the
higher Self to forget .... to forget his or her Real Self, Essence or what Frater Albertus terms
Personality. This is the Self of Tiphareth on the Tree, the Self, conscious of the Divine light from
Kether. This Real Self is in harmony with the One Will and sees things as they are. This Self has
objective Consciousness.

This is the Self that we all aspire towards. This is what the teachings are all about .... to show us
the way to live in the Real self of Tiphareth.
But all of us most of the time forget .... forget to even look towards the Self. We live in the lower
triangle of the Tree centred on Yesod, the ego, the separate self, the self-centred self, the self that
needs to protect, reinforce, assert, acquire, achieve, gratify itself.

This Self is basically motivated by fear or insecurity which is nothing else but a state of
separation.

The trouble is most people believe that this self of Yesod is real and that there is no other self or
no other life. Yet, even those of us who have had a glimpse into Tiphareth, the greater Self,
through the teachings or otherwise, we still need constant and regular reminding of who we
really are because like everyone else, we "sleep" most of our lives in the separate Yesod.

Thus it would be helpful if we could apply certain techniques to help us in reminding or self-
remembering, as Ouspensky calls this. He speaks of the division of attention which is the
characteristic feature of selfremembering: "When I observe something, my attention is directed
towards what I observe - a line with one arrowhead:

I ---------> Observed phenomenon

When at the same time, I try to remember myself, my attention is directed both towards the
object observed and towards myself. A second arrowhead appears on the line.

I <---------> Observed phenomenon

Having defined this I saw that the problem consisted in directing attention on oneself without
weakening or obliterating the attention directed on something else. Moreover this "some thing
else" could as well within me as outside me."

Explaining further, Ouspensky says ".... we do not remember, that is we do not feel ourselves,
are we aware of ourselves at the moment of a perception, of an emotion, of a thought an action.
If a man understands this and tries to remember himself, every impression that he receive while
remembering himself will, so to speak, be doubled." That is he will be in a state of higher
consciousness and closer the Real Self.

Expressed in another way, self-remembering serves to convert the many "I's" or wills of the ego
into the One Will. That is, my will becomes Thy Will.

Other sets of reminders h been used by those who wanted to centre in the Self of Tiphareth.

on the orthodox side of a Tradition the ritual of t religious service raises the Yesodic level of
consciousness by creating a conducive atmosphere for Tiphareth to be contacted So also do such
psychedelic aids as incense, stain-glass windows, prayer and chanting, etc. These conditions
aren't maintained continually however except in a religious community such as an ashram or
monastery.
For the aspiring Qabalist in the everyday world, one of the techniques used to remind him of his
will is the method of remembering the other members of his group at, say, ten in the morning, at
noon and at three in the afternoon. At these times, no matter what he is doing, he must recall the
faces and names of all present at the last meeting. The effect is to shift him out of ego
consciousness, up the path to Tiphareth. This act of will cannot but make him realize who he is,
where he is and why he is doing it.

A method used effectively for many years now by students of the P.R.S. is that of "The Penny
Ritual". This seemingly simple daily ritual is strongly recommended to P.R.S. students and
should be considered by students at their class group meetings for adoption.

The ritual has a unifying and strengthening effect on the individual as well as the whole group. it
is also performed individually in a quiet place at home and preferably at a common daily hour to
be agreed on by the group. The individual should obtain a container. Any small-size container of
either wood or metal, even glass will do. Then take a piece of durable paper and write (do not
type) on it: "This I shall do every day to remind me that the Law of Duality is at work within me,
for I will it to be. Each token placed in here, is for one of my alchemistical brothers and sisters,
on the Path, who need help. Likewise shall thoughts of Light, Life and Love contribute to the
achievement of their cherished goal: To become true Alchemists. May the Cosmic grant the
fulfillment of this prayer and its accompanying deed. "

Date it correctly, exact time, day, month and year roll it in the form of a little scroll and place it
in the container. Do not just scribble it. Put your whole feeling of love and gratitude into every
letter, as if you were writing it with your heart's blood, if we were to speak symbolically.

Then take the little container in your hands and, raising them, utter your promise and plea to the
Cosmic Intelligence. Take a deep breath and holding it, radiate thoughts of Good Will and Light
to those who shall benefit from it, without any thought of compensation for what you are doing.
Then place a coin in the container. Any denomina tion is fine, whether one cent piece or fifty
cent, so long as you have earned personally that day that amount or more of money by your
labour. Your toil and labour must be connected with it. Money is merely a form of crystallized
energy.

Now pay heed: If you have not earned during that day at least one cent, (it may be illness or
whatever reason) take a substitute, such as a piece of paper and write on it: ONE CENT.
Obviously the foregoing doesn't apply to normal days off or weekends which are treated as any
other working day. Also, those such as housewives must sacrifice some of their weekly
allowance or their due recompense. Remember, the size of the denomination is unimportant, only
that the coin is a representative of energy expended that day. More important is the amount of
feeling and visualization generated during the repeating of the words that you wrote down on the
first day, followed by the placing of the coin in the container. The scroll is to be read out daily
until it shortly becomes memorized by heart.

If, for any reason, you cannot convince yourself of any value of this important daily task, do not,
under any circumstances, try and then stop and repeat it again. You must have your heart in what
you are doing or the ritual will have no power. You either do it, or you do not. Because this is the
first step to your discipline. Within a few months you will become aware of the integrating effect
of the Real Self.

Discuss with your class group what to do with the accumulated coins after some months. You
may wish to donate them to the P.R.S. Student Lab. Fund, but it is not the money we want. It is
the raising of consciousness and conscious assistance for the Cosmic work of evolution that is
required. It can only come from within you and you are the beneficiary, but you are not obligated
to do so.

This way you prepare yourself for the work ahead of you and the contact you will establish with
some Alchemists.

Do not take this as a bona fide promise; for only you can make it come true.

Now read the whole over again.

EVOLUTION AND THE HIERARCHY

We have been told that Alchemy is Evolution or the raising of vibrations and that the purpose of
our life and "why we are who we are" is specifically related to evolution.

Now, if we examine a statement by the teacher G.I. Gurdjieff, it may illuminate us further as to
Man's evolutionary purpose - "The role of Man on Earth is to be an apparatus for transformation
of energy; that certain energies which Man has to produce are required for Cosmic purposes,
and that those who understand how these energies are produced are the ones who truly fulfil the
purpose of human life."

Now we already know from biological and ecological considerations of the mutual material
interdependence between air, water, minerals and plants; between air, water, minerals, plants and
animals; and between Man and all the former levels of life. Orthodox Science recognizes the
energy and evolutionary interdependence between all these levels and also it acknowledges the
threat of imminent disaster due to manmade imbalance between all these levels of life brought
about by widespread pollution and destruction affecting all these levels. The Orthodox Scientist
and the humanist views all this totally in terms of Man, that all values and mean ings derive from
human experience and that Man and evolution exists for Man alone. This theory proves
unsatisfying and fails to make sense to many seeking understanding. However, occult science
(QBL and Alchemy) goes further and teaches that Man is merely a middle link in an
evolutionary chain which extends as many levels above man as it extends below him. But also,
that the transformation or transmutation of energy occurring between levels of life are psychic as
well as material. It must be understood that Man feeds off the soil and minerals, plants and
animals (vertebrate and invertebrate) psychically as well as materially, i.e. Man's Soul or
consciousness feeds from lower levels. At the same time, higher levels of intelligence, by
whatever name (e.g. demiurgic or angelic forces) need to feed from Man's transmuted energies,
and that these higher intelligences are just as dependant on Man and animals as Man is
dependant on higher intelligences and those below him. This has been called the Law of
Reciprocal Maintenance and is a Cosmic Law. It has been said that the purpose of human life
is to create a Soul for the Earth by our transmutation. Many masters have indicated that they are
as dependant on their disciples as their disciples are dependant on them. Often a Master has a
mission to raise their disciple or disciples to a particular level and until this is achieved the
Master cannot evolve further.

The whole question of ecological disaster and pollution now takes on even greater significance
and importance as we approach a Cosmic overview.

Modern Man ignores Cosmic laws even when they are revealed to him. He does not see that he is
already involved in the retributive consequences of his irresponsibility. We cannot plead
ignorance, for even if we are unable to grasp intellectually the universal scheme, we can be
sensitive to its working by the prompting of conscience.

Taking our Mother Earth as just one example - the soil life is dynamic. It is in a constant state of
transformation. It grows from all kinds of breakdown

Hundreds of thousands of men and women are deeply distressed by what is being done to our
Mother Earth.

They may interpret this distress in superficial terms, but they do make great efforts to preserve
our heritage. They half understand that by poison ing the soil, we introduce psychic poisons into
ourselves. It is an observe fact that all countries which use a maximum of artificial fertilizers are
subject to the maximum of psychic disorders. People refuse to admit that the connection is more
than accidental. This refusal to face reality enters at every stage of our involvment in the world
process

Man does produce the necessary psychic energy and fulfil his responsibility, his purpose and his
destiny when he works and serves consciously in co-operation and harmony with higher
Intelligence and lower Nature.

Simultaneous to producing this energy, such a man or woman on the Path receive Grace or
"Baraka" or higher energy in order to assist their own evolution.

This raising energy is "third force" of evolution or the Holy Spirit. Hundreds of thousands of
men and women are deeply distressed by what is being done to our Mother Earth.

They may interpret this distress in superficial terms, but they do make great efforts to preserve
our heritage. They half understand that by poisoning the soil, we introduce psychic poisons into
ourselves. It is an observed fact that all countries which use a maximum of artificial fertilizers
are subject to the maximum of psychic disorders. People refuse to admit that the connection is
more than accidental. This refusal to face reality enters at every stage of our involvement in the
world process.
Man does produce the necessary psychic energy and fulfil his responsibility, his purpose and his
destiny when he works and serves consciously in co-operation and harmony with higher
Intelligence and lower Nature.

Simultaneous to producing this energy, such a man or woman on the Path receives Grace or
"Baraka" or higher energy in order to assist their own evolution.

This raising energy is the "third force" of evolution or the Holy Spirit.

Man also in the alchemy laboratory can produce similar energies in his transmutation of plants
and minerals to produce medicine for higher use.

We must realize that the evolution of the Earth itself as a being is dependant on man fulfilling his
role and that the Earth's evolution affects that of the Solar System.

It seems that Man has not only neglected his obligation and possibilities, but set up such an
imbalance in the hierarchial system, the reestablishment of balance now can only occur through
demurgic action from above Part of this action appear to be recruitment of increasing numbers of
individual who are willing to consciously aid in the Cosmic evolutionary process.

- Don Foster

Reference: John G. Bennett "Gurdjieff : Making a New World" (Turnstone Books).

ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY
On the surface, astrology may appear to be only a game, only another occult system, which,
though coherent within itself, bears no true relationship to life, and does not answer the
fundamental questions "Who Am I?" and "Why Am I?"

Esoteric astrology seeks to understand the relationship between creation and the creative source.
Unlike Exoteric astrology, which considers primarily the outer manifestation, and studies
diversity and separateness, Esoteric astrology is concerned with the inner, the manifest. The
whole, diverse expression of life reveals obedience to certain laws, which in turn reveal the
workings of Intelligence, proceeding through many levels from one central and primal source -
"The One flowing forth into the many".

Alan Leo sees this primal source as "a vast ocean of Being and Substance" in which millions of
solar systems, millions of universes live and move. The Absolute is the source, the centre and the
circumference of this ocean. Each Sun is the visible expression of an Intelligence whose whole
Being is its solar system. The planets live and more in the Sun's life, and are subject to it sphere
of influence. They are the vehicles of Intelligences which serve the Sun they are "the mansions
of His ministering angels".
Our Sun radiates life currents which descent and ascent through the planets. These rays are
transformed in the process for the use of evolving entities, and adapted to the stage they have
reached in the scale evolution. The planets absorb what they need and give off the excess. Thus
our Earth receives energy directly from the Sun, but is also influenced by those rays which are
"coloured" by the planets, which are transformed by the planetary Intelligences.

Our Earth is ruled by an Intelligence known as the Lord or Spirit of the Earth or sometimes
called the "Demiurge". The task of this Intelligence is to guide the evolution of all beings on this
planet. It regulates the rays of solar energy influenced by the planets, which affect all forms of
life on Earth.

Around the Earth, Alan Leo says, is a sea of Ether, formed of subtle substance or "inner planes of
matter". This sphere is the Earth's aura, and in it is reflected everything concerning the Earth and
its evolution. The aura and the signs of the zodiac are closely related, for the Zodiac is the
Akasha, within which everything that was, is and will be on the Earth, is recorded.

The horoscope of an individual reveals his relationship to the evolving solar system and his own
particular stage of evolution. The order and arrangement of the planets express his karma and
indicate the direction of growth during this incarnation.

The twelve houses may be compared with the physical body, and planetary positions in the signs
with the inner man, who inhabits that body. Thus the houses have a more direct bearing upon the
fate and fortune in the outer world, the karma of the current incarnation. Young souls are more
deeply immersed in the body and are therefore more influenced, more limited, by house position
than older, more evolved souls, who will be affected more, by signs and planetary aspects. The
very highly evolved, who have passed through one or more great initiation, will come more
under the direct influence of the planets. Even these advanced souls, though, will have to take on
mundane bodies and submit to certain limitations. Their house positions will indicate the kind of
work they have undertaken. The natal horoscope can reveal the starting point in this life, and
indicate paths of growth. Solar progressions, seen in terms of the influences of decans and
dwadashansas, can further reveal developments in the mind and the external conditions of life.
But only by understanding the operation of cycles (within a day, week, year, seven-year period,
etc.) can man begin to work in accordance with the laws. If he initiates an action under
favourable influences, it will bear fruit. But, if he attempts something when the time is not ripe,
he will not succeed. "There is a time and a season for every purpose under Heaven".

It is not a simple dialetic of either being ruled by the stars, or, through knowing the laws, being
master of them. The truth is never in duality, but in unity. By endeavouring, consciously, to
understand and work in harmony with the planetary influences, man can assist the process of his
evolution. In this process, his limited, subjective consciousness. ruled by desire, is slowly
transformed. His will becomes more in tune with the Greater Will, his soul more in harmony
with the Divine Intelligence. There is no instant, final initiation. It is a process working on many
levels, from the very gross to the very subtle. On every level, one must serve. For only by
serving can one evolve further, and only by serving can one aid the Great Work, which is the
evolution of the whole, the transmutation of all beings into perfected soul consciousness.
- Lenni Foster

References:
Esoteric Astrology by Alan Leo
The Masters of Wisdom by J. G. Bennett

WHAT WAS IT?

It may be of interest to note that although we have witnessed a performance we will ask
ourselves what it was supposed to represent.

Alchemical aspirants are in search of that elusive mercury of the Philosophers. Those, who in
ages gone by searched for it and only after many years of toil and labour produced it rejoiced
exceedingly because they could recognize it at once. They waited and studied, they had
experimented, tried and failed. When at the end, however, their goal was reached there was no
doubt, no questioning anymore, because they knew and understood what prolonged studies and
experiments had revealed.

If we set out and are not sufficiently prepared we may become a witness to such a manifestation
but, not realizing what it meant, will pass it up as just another one of those occurences we have
witnessed before. The Alchemist who achieved it after much labor will call it one of the most
momentous days in his entire life; the casual observer will have noted nothing of the kind but
would have to be told about it.

This signifies also the reason why Alchemists are not perturbed or worried that their knowledge
may fall into the hands of those not prepared because they would not recognize it anyway.
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 1: Number 4 Winter 1977

Menorah: This design specified to Moses in Exodus is an earlier version of the Tree of Life. It has the active and passive sefirot to the left and right, with
the central axis of equilibrium running down the central column. There were ten of these candlesticks in the Temple, one complete Tree within each sefirot
of the Great Tree formed by their number.

Editorial: The Sacrifice Principle

Invocation of God

EDITORIAL: THE SACRIFICE PRINCIPLE

The sacrifice principle is one very definite feature common to all true spiritual paths and
religions. We see it embodied in the gentle simplicities of the Zen Buddhist way; in the
discipline of Hindu Yoga methods; in Moslem dervish austerities; in Hassidic Jewish
observances; in Christian charity; and in Magical and Occult controls over Will.

Each of the many paths of the One Way demands and embodies sacrifice. Sacrifice of what?
What is sacrifice? Sacrifice is the death-rebirth process. some see sacrifice as meaning voluntary
loss and death. But this is illusion.

The sacrifice spoken of is the disdaining or ignoring of the ego-centric self. That is, the desires of
demands of the ego the senses; the desire for exclusive individual acquisition and power; the
desires and demands of the separate self in isolation. The word sacrifice also means to make holy
or to make whole, i.e. to make sacred or sanctify The illusion that this involves loss, pain, death,
etc. is the so-called illusion of the separate self or the illusion of the flesh. It is all a question of
viewpoint. The viewpoint here is from the standpoint of the Spirit and the evolved soul or higher
self in unity with the Cosmos.

But to the "man of the flesh" immersed in the material world and driven by his desires, this
process of sacrifice is very painful and is made most unwillingly, for he does not readily
relinquish material "security" or sensory attachment.

He suffers because of his attachment.

On the other hand, he who strives for spiritual goals and soul evolution is more willing to
consciously sacrifice. He suffers less pain, he who can relinquish the "flesh".

Sacrifice is a process of spiritualization.

It is a process of relinquishing attachment to sensory and material bonds as a basis for security
and selfassertion, and the basing of the life on permanent spiritual values such as faith and a
conscious link with divine will. That is, security becomes rooted in the Divine. This does not
mean a rejection of materialism as a medium of evolution, but only its rejection as an end or goal
in itself. Technology and matter must serve as a tool thru' which the Cosmic evolutionary
process manifests. Technology must serve the God in Man (the higher self), not the desires of
Man.

Again, the evolutionary process must bring a more subtle technology; a more spiritual
technology; a spiritualization of medicine, agriculture and education. All this also means nothing
but Sacrifice. This sacrifice is the death or breaking down of old ideas and the rebirth of the new.
To the conservative this is painful. The security of the conservative is rooted in the status quo.
But I am not suggesting revolution here in a political sense. Mans problems do not originate in
the political arena and thus will not be solved there. The revolution must come from within the
individual. The revolution needed is the oft-described rebirth or second birth of the individual.
This, however, necessitates the death or sacrifice of the old self or ego-centric lower self.

The Tarot card, known as the Hanged Man, provides an excellent symbol for the sacrifice
principle. The card shows a man hung upside down from a scaffold or tree by
one foot. The other foot is crossed over it. His face is smiling and a golden light surrounds his
head. The fact that the man is upside down indicates, a reversal of conditions, i.e. the sacrifice
that is not a sacrifice or sacrifice of the lower to the higher. It is not a sacrifice because the lower
is not real. The lower is a mirror or mirage, endlessly shifting and changing, shimmering,
illusory and non-permanent. The card also is known as the "watery sacrifice" and the figure is
often shown suspended over the "water" or mirror or mire of the lower self. The card represents
the 23rd path on the Tree of Life and also the Hebrew letter MEM, the element of WATER.

The aura or light about the head indicates the consciousness is already sacrificed or transmuted
to the higher Cosmic state.

The cross of the legs indicates the sacrifice on the two beams of time and space plus the sacrifice
of the four points of matter, the elements of fire, water, air and earth.

Looking at sacrifice in Gurdjieff's terminology, he sees the true path as involving "intentional
suffering and conscious service" or sacrifice. This is essential for Man in order to create the
necessary psychic energies required by higher intelligence for the evolutionary Work. Also
essential for Man in order to receive the reciprocal "grace" to quicken his own conscious
evolution.

Thus, sacrifice is service, spiritualization, transmutation, death/rebirth, evolution and alchemy

and cannot be separated from these.

It is the way to Man finding his destiny as the hand maiden and channel for God and the higher
intelligences and serve as the "missing link" in the Cosmic evolutionary chain stretching thru'
minerals, vegetables and animals and beyond Man.

Obviously Jesus the Christ has provided us the classic life and symbol of the perfect sacrifice
principle.
Man as he commonly is, is the "link" which is "missing". Man as he should be will only fulfil his
destiny and rise to "Human" when he becomes this "link" and sacrifice is the Way.

INVOCATION OF GOD
All true alchemists will point out that the invocation of God is the first step for those who aspire
after the wisdom attained in our art. Therefore, for once, let us have a good look at what the
invocation of God is all about.

The dictionary gives the following common definitions of invocation:

1. The act of invoking; especially an appeal to a higher power for assistance;
2. A prayer or other formula used in invoking, as at the opening of a religious service;
3a. A conjuring or calling up of a spirit by incantation;
3b. The incantation used in conjuring. (From Latin invocatio, from invocare, to invoke.)

Fulcanelli, one of the master alchemists, on page 43 of his book "Le Mystere des Cathedrales",
exclaims.. "What unsuspected marvels we should find if we knew how to dissect words, to strip
them of their bark and liberate the spirit, the divine light which is within!". This conforms with
other philosophers who urge to seek the spirit of the word and not to stick to its superfluous or
common meaning.

Let us make an attempt to do just that and for a start, separate it into three parts, IN, VOCA and
TION. Our attention immediately goes to VOCA, which refers to the voice and therefore, to
sound, which we produce through our vocal cords. VOCA also refers to word or words, as
through our vocal cords we voice our vocabulary. Depending on how many words one uses, one
speaks of having a small or a big vocabulary. When ONE uses ONE WORD, that WORD is
ONE's vocabulary. So we see, that VOCA also refers to language, because all the words of a
language form a language.

TION at the end of invocation simply indicates the act (the act to invoke).

The IN of invocation is a bit more difficult to grasp. However, the difference between vocation
(which is a calling, from Latin vocare, to call) and invocation is basically the same as between
sight and insight. With sight we know, but with insight we understand. of course, instead of
pertaining to sight and understanding, invocation pertains to sound and understanding. IN also
means inside, (to be) with, part of and included.

Contemplation of the foregoing will throw tremendous light into this whole thing, especially
when one realizes, that not invocation, but invocation of God is the first step.

This puts it in a different perspective. Instead of we invoking God, could it not be, that besides
all this, God is calling (vocation of God, calling of God) and that we should be IN (included in)
this calling of God? Should we not be on vacation (vacant, empty, free from every-day thought)
when this vocation of God takes place on certain holy days of each month? Who, these days,
connects those holy days with ones holidays?

Invocation of God also means (to be) IN WORD OF GOD and therefore, to have some
understanding of the language of God. After all, the vocabulary forming the language of God is
one ONE WORD. And the WORD is God. For those familiar with biblical terminology it would
be interesting, keeping in mind that in some translations the word seed" is replaced by
"offspring", to contemplate the following: John 1:1; Psalms 119:105; Luke 8:11; (for women:
Genesis 3:15); Galatians 3:16; Collosians 1:26-27; John 6:48; John 6:58; lst Peter 1:23; John
8:51; Galatians 5:24.

To get a deeper understanding of the word as a combination of the letters W.O.R.D. we should
turn to the Hebrew alphabet which consists of 22 letters, each letter having a concrete meaning.

There is no W in the Hebrew alphabet, but that which was used was a double V, Vau, having the
meaning of "hook". In man the arms and legs are the hooks of the body. Vau also means a
fixture, a coming down or a falling down of spirit towards (and forming) matter.

The double V, (W), is expressed in the Hebrew alphabet as TZADDI, the 18th letter, meaning
fish hook. In occult literature man is sometimes referred to as a fish. Being the 18th letter it has a
significant correspondence with the 9th letter Teth, meaning a coiled serpent and signifying the
equilibrium of the male and female or positive and negative forces as manifested in the perfected
HUMAN, so the 18th letter represents the imbalance of the positive and negative forces and
therefore a falling down or drawing down of spirit. The saying goes, that one falls in love. Since
the 6th letter (also phonetically) expresses the struggle between conscience and passions (ones
nature) so the 18th letter W, which is 3 x 6 or 666, represents the beast, which is mentioned in
Revelation, the Adam man. Mankind, living totally on the material plane, is therefore a beast
physically, mentally and emotionally. The letter W, then, in mental or metaphysical alchemy,
represents the earthly or Adam man, the material body and the lower mind. The letter 0, Ayin,
meaning "eye", refers to a visible building and materialized spirit of God. About the number
zero, which has the same shape, Frater Albertus in his book "From One To Ten" says: "Out of
the formless emerges the "zero" in which must be sought all substance encountered on the
physical (material) plane". Since God or THE ONE is undivided to become manifested in the
material plane, THE ONE must first divide into two halves of the circle as is illustrated by the
Yin-Yang sign, manifesting as positive and negative, male and female, electricity and
magnetism. In the average man this dual force is out of balance and operating as such.

The letter R, Resh, is the 20th letter and means the head of man. It is, therefore, associated with
constant movement for either good or bad and expresses renewal, restoration. (Phonetically, (to)
rush.) It also symbolizes rest, like a ship may rest on water that is in motion. The head rests on
the shoulders of the body, which may or may not be in motion.

The combination of 0 and R expresses something precious, which originally referred to gold, for
the ancients realized that the sun's rays which they called "golden", precipitated in the body
forming creative substance.
It is worthwhile to contemplate words having OR in it, e.g. ordeal, memory, ore, l'or (French for
gold), born, organ, orgasm, corn, etc. Also aurum (Latin for gold), aura, ora (et) laborae, etc.

The last letter, D, Daleth, is the 4th letter of the Hebrew alphabet and means a door, curtain, a
way-out, a possibility. It expresses abundance springing forth from division, a creation according
to divine laws and domination of spirit over matter. In metaphysical alchemy the letter D stands
for the solar plexus, (Bethlehem, the house of bread) as it is the reflection of the true sun (the
Father) and the source of all things.

From all this one can appreciate that there is much more food for thought in INVOCATION OF
GOD than what appears on its surface.

-Arthur G. Fehres
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 2: Number 1 Spring 1977

A Rosicrucian Lamen

Of the Vegetable Tincture - Collectanae Chemica (1893)

Book Review - The Invisible College - Jacques Vallee'

OF THE VEGETABLE TINCTURE, OR THE PROCESS

CALLED THE LESSER CIRCULATION
from "Collectanae Chemica" (1893)

Very few of the true philosophers have touched upon this subject, for it seemed trifling in respect
to the great work, as the process in metals is generally termed; but there is a modern publication
in English, a small thin duodecimo, without any author's name, having for its title "Aphorismi,
seu Circulus majus et Circulus minus," wherein the whole process is plainly laid down.

This book is written by an undoubted master in the art; and no treatise, ancient or modern, is so
explicit in the directions for conducting the great work. The directions are very short, but much
to the purpose, provided the reader has an idea what part of the work is alluded to. The author,
agreeable to his title delivers his doctrine by way of aphorisms. But to return from this
digression.
We proposed in this chapter to lay open the vegetable process, as a clue to the more important
work in the mineral kingdom. A certain person, who is now living, and advertises balsam of
honey, tincture of sage, etc., has turned his studies this way; and from his great abilities as a
professed physican and botanist, has convinced all unprejudiced persons that noble tinctures may
be extracted from vegetables. We hope this gentleman will not despise our free communication,
both to him and the public, if we show the insufficiency of his method, though it is ingenious,
while we establish the rationale of ours on the never-failing ground of truth and philosophy.

He observes, with a precision which can only result from numerous trials, that different herbs
impart their tinctures in such proportions of alcohol as he has found out. It is allowed that the
volatile spirit and balsamic sulphur are thus extracted; but there are the essential, or fixed, salt
and sulphur of the herb yet left in the process. These require another management to extract,
which he is either ignorant of, or is so disingenuous as to conceal from the public; but that so
noble a secret may lie open to all for a general advantage, here follows a plain account of the
vegetable work.

Take any herb which is potent in medicine, and either extract the tincture with spirit of wine, or
distil in the common way; reserve the distilled water, or tincture, when separated from the faeces,
for use. Then take the feces, or Caput Mortuum, and calcine it to a calx. Grind this to powder.
That done, take the water, or tincture, and mix them together; distil again, and calcine, forcing
the moisture over by a retort, in a wary process, calcining and cohobating the spirit on the salt till
it attains a perfect whiteness and oily nature, like the finest alkali, commonly called Flemish. As
your salt requires it in the process, have in readiness more of the extracted tincture, or distilled
spirit that you may not work it. viz., the salt, too dry; and yet proceed cautiously, not adding too
much of the moisture, so that the dealbation, or whitening, may keep visibly heightening at every
repetition of the process. Frequent experiments may enable you to push it on to a redness, but a
fine yellow is the best of all; for the process tends, in its perfection at this period, to a state of
dryness, and must be managed with a strong fire. By following these direc tions, you have here
the two tinctures in the Vegetable Kingdom, answering to the white and red tinctures in the
mineral.

Of the Uses of the Vegetable Tinctures, with some general remarks on the great efficacy in
medicine.

You have, by carefully following our directions above, procured the tinctures, white or yellow in
the Vegetable Kingdom. The yellow is more efficacious if the work is well performed; either of
them, by being exposed in the air, will soon run into a thick, essential oil, smelling very strong of
the plant, and the virtues of any quantity may be concentered by often repeating the circulation.
But you have no need of this, unless for curiosity, there being in your tinctures a real permanent
power to extract the essential virtues of any herb you may require on immersion only, where the
essential salt and volatile spirit, together with the sulphureous oil, are all conjoined, floating on
the top of your tincture, and the terrestrial feces precipitated to the bottom; not as in distillation.
or extraction of the tincture with alcohol, while the stalk and texture of the plant are entire; no,
this Vegetable Tincture devours the whole substance of the plant, and precipitates only the earthy
particles acquired in its vegetation, which no degree of calcination could Push to an alkali,
without its essential salt. Such is the virtue of our Vegetable Tincture; and if the operation be
ever so often repeated with different herbs, it loses nothing of its virtue, or quantity or quality,
casting up the virtues of whatever herb is immersed, and precipitating the earth as before, when
both are easily separated and the medicine preserved for use.

Let a medicine, thus prepared, be examined, and the principles by which it is extracted, with the
general methods of preparation; if the distilled water, for instance, of any aromatical or balsamic
herb, be took, common experience will convince us that nothing but its volatile parts come over
the head; but take the Caput Mortuum and it will calcine after this process and afford an alkali,
which proves itself to be an essential salt by its pungency, and will, in the air, run to an oil,
which is its essential sulphur.

If you take the tincture extracted with alcohol, it is the same, only the more resinous parts of
some herbs may enrich the extract, and the volatile sulphur giving the colour and scent, be
retained, which escapes in distillation; but the potent virtue or soul of the herb, if we may be
allowed the expression, goes to the dunghill. It is the same if the expressed juice of the herb is
used; and if taken in powder, or substance, as it is sometimes prescribed, but little of its virtue,
beyond its nourishing quality, can be communicated to the patient, except as a bitter or a
vermifuge, in which cases, perhaps, it is best by way of infusion.

Let none despise the operation above laid down, because it is not to be found in the ordinary
books of chemistry; but consider the possibility of Nature, who brings about wonderful effects
by the most simple causes: neither let any imagine this process so easy as to perform it without
some trials, patiently attending to her operations and endeavouring to account for any deficiency
in the course of his work. For this reason it will be proper that the artist forms to himself an idea
what the intention is to procure, how far Nature has prepared his matter to work upon. in what
state she has left it, and how far it may be exalted above the ordinary point of virtue, which it
could attain in the crude air, and this by the Philosophic Art assisting Nature, as a hand-maid,
with an administration of due heat, which is nutritive and not corrosive. A recapitulation of the
foregoing process, with some remarks on the different stages, will be sufficient here to explain
our meaning above, and prepare the reader for what follows concerning the metallic tincture, or
Stone of the Philosophers.

The virtues of herbs and simples are confessedly great and manifold; among these, some are
poisonous and narcotic, yet of great use in medicine; none of them but want some preparation or
correction. Now the common ways of doing this are defective; neither preserving the virtue
entire, nor furnishing any menstruum capable of doing it with expedition and certainty. Alcohol,
as was before observed, will extract a tincture and distillation a spirit. We reject neither of these
methods in our work, as they are useful to decompound the subject; but we are not content with a
part of its virtues.

To speak philosophically, we would have its soul, which is its Essential Salt, and its spirit, which
is the inflammable sulphur. The body in which these resided we are not concerned for; it is mere
earth, and must return from whence it came: whereas the soul and spirit are paradisiacal, if the
artist can free them from their earthy prison without loss; but this can only be done by death.
Understand us aright. Philosophically speaking, no more is meant than decomposition of the
subject into its first principles, as the uniting them more permanently with an increase of virtue is
most emphatically called a resurrection and regeneration. Now this decompounding is to be done
with judgment, so as not to corrode or destroy, but divide the matter into its integral parts. At this
period of the work the artist will consider what is further intended, keeping Nature in view, who,
if she is properly assisted in her operations, produces from the dissolution of any subject
something more excellent, as in a grain of corn, or any vegetable seed, which by cultivation may
be pushed to a surprising produce; but then it must die first, as our Blessed Saviour very
emphatically observes; and let this saying dwell upon the artist's imagination, that he may know
what he generally intends; for the whole philosophical work, both in vegetables and minerals, is
only a mortifying of the subject, and reviving it again to a more excellent life.

Now if the intention in the foregoing process was to increase simply any vegetable in its kind,
the destruction and revivification must follow the ordinary course of vegetation by the medium
of seed; and Nature can only be assisted by fertilising the soil, together with a proper distribution
of heat and moisture. Yet there are not wanting authors, and particularly Paracelsus, who boldly
described processes wherein the vital quality of the seed has been destroyed by calcination, and
yet brought to life again at the pleasure of an artist. Such reveries are a scandal to philosophy,
and a snare to the superficial reader, who is generally more struck with impossibilities, roundly
asserted, than the modesty of true artists. These confess their operations are within the bounds of
Nature, whose limits they cannot surpass.

The reader, then, will consider that our intention here is not to increase the seminal quality, but to
concentre, in a little compass, the medicinal virtues of a herb. Nature is desirous of this in all her
productions, but can only rise to such a point of perfection, in her ordinary course through the
crudity of the air and fixing power of the elements. Now if we take the vegetables at that point of
perfection to which she has pushed them, and farther assist her in decompounding, purifying,
uniting and reviving the subject, will obtain, what she could not otherwise produce, a real
permanent tincture, the quintessence. as it is called, or such a harmonious mixture of the four
elementary qualities as constitute a fifth, from thenceforth indissoluble, and not to be debased
with any impurity.

But the virtue of this Vegetable Tincture is capable of improvement ad infinitum, in its own kind,
by adding more of its spirit or extracted tincture, and repeating the circulation, which is every
time more speedily finished, as there is a magnetical quality in the fixed salt, and essential oil,
which assimilates to itself all the real virtues of what is added only rejecting the feculent earthy
qualities; so that in a grain of the tincture much virtue may be concentered, not at all corrosive or
ardent, but friendly to the animal life, and most powerful as a medicine for disorders which the
herb appropriated to cure. Nay, something of this nature still sought for by the distillers of ardent
spirits, when phlegm has been drawn away from the volatile sulphur, till it became proof spirit,
as it is termed, which will burn dry, a plain indication that it contains nothing essential in it from
the subject out of which was extracted; for that which is essential cannot be destroyed by the fire,
but is reddened to an alkaline salt, having in its centre an Incombustible Sulphur, which, on
exposing to the air manifests itself both not to the sight and touch. Now, if this Salt and Sulphur
are purified sufficiently, and the distilled spirit, or extracted tincture, added, Nature finds a
subject wherein she can carry her operations to the highest limit, if an artist furnishes her with
proper vessels, and a degree of heat suitable to her intentions.
 The Invisible College
by
Jacques Vallee
Subtitled: What a Group of Scientists has Discovered about UFO Influences on the Human
Race.
(A Dutton Paperback) 1976

The relevance of this book on UFO's to students of hermetic philosophy, I believe, is great.
Firstly, because the author in approaching a controversial and contemporary "occult" subject,
does so with great balance and objectivity.

Secondly, the overall understanding needed to objectify the UFO phenomenon is similar to that
which is needed to penetrate hermetic philosophy.

Thirdly, it may well be that the UFO phenomenon is not divorced from hermetic laws although
being contradictory to modern physics.

Fourthly, the variety of psychic and spiritual experiences of many UFO percipients, both during
and subsequent to UFO encounters, are very reminiscent of the experiences described by initiates
of occult and Spiritual societies.

Again, it may well be that the UFO phenomenon is itself acting as an initiator for humanity as a
whole today, in that the author sees the UFO as a means through which man's concepts are being
re-arranged, causing a shift in our belief patterns or raising of consciousness.

But, the most interesting part of the phenomenon is the way and means the UFO is able to
control and condition human belief.

The author believes and offers much evidence that like a thermostat, UFO's may serve to
stabilize the relationship between man's conscious needs and the evolving complexities of the
world which he must understand.

He feels that it constitutes both a physical entity with mass, inertia, volume etc., which we can
measure and a window toward another mode of reality for at least some of the percipients.

On analysis of many hundreds of UFO encounters and thorough examination of physical

descriptions of crafts, occupants, etc., plus examination of all psychic components associated, a
particular pattern did emerge.

This was the appearance of a built-in contradiction associated with sightings. Even when very
well witnessed encounters occurred, a characteristic feature was a constant factor of absurdity
that leads to a rejection of the story by the official layers of society (i.e. government, military,
police, etc.) and an absorption at a deep unconscious level of the symbols conveyed by the
encounter.

Alongside the clear reporting of cold, clear, factual data by witnesses, are absurd statements by
little green men in silver suits; predictions partly true and partly ridiculous; random manipulation
of thoughts and time/space orientation of witnesses; total conversion to mystical or religious
faith of some witnesses; encounters with angels and/or demons, etc. - all coming from the same
witnesses who reported clear factual data also.

Paradoxical situations such as these can have a definite mystical effect. If you strive to convey a
truth that lies beyond the semantic level made possible by your audience's language, you must
construct apparent contradictions in terms of ordinary meaning. For example, a case occured in
France in 1954 when the UFO occupant asked the witness, "What time is it?". The witness
replied, "It's 2.30", only to be bluntly told, "You lie, it is 4 o'clock." this story has a symbolic
meaning beyond the apparent contradiction of the dialogue. Could it be that the true meaning of
the dialogue is, "Time is not what you think it is", or "Any measure of time can only be
relative"?

The next question was about space, and again was absurd. "Am I in Italy or Germany?" asked the
UFO pilot. What scientist would take such a story seriously? What public official would risk his
reputation by reacting in earnest? Even a priest night avoid it, for fear of demons! In fact, some
witnesses have thought they saw demons because the creature had the unpredictability and
mischievousness associated with popular conceptions of the devil.

If you wanted to by-pass the intelligentsia and the church, remain undetectable to the military
system and leave undisturbed the political and administrative levels of a society, and at the same
time implant deep within that society far-reaching doubts concerning its basic philosophical
tenets, this is exactly how you would have to act. At the same time, of course, such a process
would have to provide its own explanation to make ultimate detection impossible. In other
words, it would have to project an image just beyond the belief structure of the target society.

Thus, the author rejects both the ideas of the believers ("Visitors from another planet") as being
naive, and the assumptions of the skeptics ("hogwash and hallucinations").

The author's view represents that of a group of scientists from several countries who see
themselves as approaching the phenomenon from a truly unbiased and objective viewpoint, and
certainly this book seems to do this more than the vast majority of "sensational" UFO books
before it.

Thus the UFO is seen to represent part of a complex control system which is manipulating our
consciousness. At the same time, this manipulation is not necessarily seen as being alien or
sinister or even recent in our times.

The form of the phenomenon (flying crafts with weird occupants) is of secondary importance.
The key to understanding lies in the psychic effect it produces in its observers. Their lives are
often deeply changed, and they develop unusual talents with which they may find it difficult to
cope. Most of these effects are identical to that produced in witnesses of religious miracles and
phenomena.

In fact, the type of manifestations occurring during the Fatima and Lourdes miracles of the
blessed Virgin Mary (odour pillars of light, flashing colours, luminous clouds, etc.) seem
identical with typical UFO phenomena.

All of this phenomena can manifest in various forms, dictated by the belief needs of the
percipients.

In other words, there is probably no difference between UFO visitations, Virgin Mary, Krishna
or Buddha visitations their effects on the percipients being similar if not identical.

Now, to ask the question, who or what is manipulating or controlling us and where do "they"
come from?, assumes that "they" are separate from us. There is now much evidence to suggest
that the phenomena is at least a part of the human psyche.

This does not mean that "it is all in our minds" or that these phenomena have no physical reality.
But it does mean that we still have only a very faint knowledge of the human psyche.

A spiritual explanation of the phenomena could well be that a spiritual hierarchy of "great
beings" (Wise Men, "Angels", masters, "Great White Brotherhood", etc.) has been using the
UFO as one of many possible tools to trigger off an acceleration in the evolution of
consciousness in mankind; to divert man from his present self-destructive materialism. Although
"higher beings" can only interfere with human free-will to a small degree, this is one method that
can be used?

Now, these "higher beings", again, should not be seen as separate from our psyche, in that they
represent the higher evolutionary potential or ideal lying within each of us, and not merely alien
benefactors of mankind.

Taking a religious example, a Christian or Hindu sees Jesus Christ or Krishna as dwelling within
their hearts. Thus, if an apparition was to occur of the same or a related entity, a strong psychic
evocation would occur.

This example doesn't completely explain many witness responses to UFO's but may help to
illustrate the caution needed when dismissing UFO's as completely separate and alien even
though the witness may be horrified at what may appear as an alien encounter.

Returning once again to the mechanism and nature of UFO encounters, the author draws on a
number of analogies to illustrate his hypothesis.

Firstly, in order to enlarge on the built-in contradiction, absurdity or paradoxical nature of most
UFO encounters, mention is made of a hypnotic and thought transference method known as the
Confusion Technique When a person is distracted by the absurd or contradictory, and their mind
is searching for meaning, they are extremely open to thought transference, to receiving psychic
healing, etc. Whatever they receive by way of thought transference, of course becomes their
thought, and they have no resistance to it ...

The author asks if this Confusion Technique is deliberately being used to effect change on a
major scale.

Secondly, analogy is made to the work of Ferster & B.F. Skinner, "Patterns of Reinforcement",
wherein findings concerning control of behaviour and learning in animals (including Man) shows
that drastic modification of behaviour can be achieved by selectively reinforcing certain actions
(for instance by giving food to a pigeon only when he presses a certain lever). However, certain
ways of reinforcing behaviour lead to better learning then others. If the training is too even and
monotonous, the subject may stop in its development, or even return to an earlier state; the best
schedule of reinforcement is one that combines periodicity with upredictability. Learning is then
slow but continuous. It leads to the highest level of adaptation. And it is irreversible.

On analysis of the pattern of UFO activity between 1947 and 1962, just such a peridocity is
clearly evident. Is this a schedule of reinforcement?

In summary, the author feels we are very close to understanding what UFO's are and what they
do. As to their higher technological functioning, this is left for others to learn. The UFO
technology may yet provide us with a basis for a higher technology which we certainly can use
in the area of energy needs.

He has stated, the UFO is neither an object nor is it flying. They can dematerialize and they
violate the laws of motion as we know them. The logic of the UFO is a meta-logic in the same
sense as the relationship between physics and metaphysics. Its function appears to be the
expansion of consciousness by subtle conditioning, and certainly UFO impact is vast although
subtle and often unconscious, shifting our belief patterns towards greater acceptance of the
metaphysical, ESP, astrology, Science fiction, reincarnation, clairvoyance, telepathy, the occult
in general, etc.

The last two sentences of this thought-provoking book are "The solution lies where it always has
been: within ourselves. We can reach it anytime we want."

- Don Foster

Other Recommended UFO Books:~

1. "Harmonic 33" by Bruce Cathie
2. "Harmonic 695" by Bruce Cathie
3. "The Pulse of the Universe - Harmonic 288" by Bruce Cathie (AH & AW Reed, London)
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 2: Number 2 Summer 1978

Astrology and the Symbolism of the Human Body - Liz Greene

ASTROLOGY AND THE SYMBOLISM OF THE BODY

by Liz Greene

(Reprinted from Radionic Quarterly Sept. 1977)

The problem of the (apparent) duality of body and psyche is as much a problem for astrology as
it is for the healing professions. The old medieval view of astrology in relation to the body is that
different planets rule parts of the body Jupiter rules the liver, Mercury the breathing passages,
etc. - as though the piece of rock orbiting through the sky "makes" the body behave in a certain
way, "makes" illness happen if a planet is under affliction or what is traditionally called bad
aspect. One can see the heavy imprint of morality, Piscean age morality, in all this too when one
hears talk about use and abuse of energy, higher and lower manifestations, right and wrong use
of planetary combinations, good and bad aspects. All of this implies, however subtly, that
physical states are caused by mental states; and that the originating cause of body problems and
constitution lie in spirit, or soul, or psyche, or whatever you want to call it.

Psychology is also faced with this problem, this dichotomy. Orthodox psychiatry, which springs
from medicine, tends to view the psyche as a peculiar byproduct of the physical brain; all
diseases of the mind originate causally from disturbance of the body even schizophrenia, which
is said to be inherited, or caused by glandular secretions which resemble the construction of
mescalin in nature. Psychosomatic medicine, on the other hand - and to an extent psychoanalysis
- sees it in reverse: the body is the creation of the psyche, and all illnesses are in the final
analysis functional. (Freud's work with hysteria, etc., is a good example of this.)

I think that most of us tend to align ourselves with one side or the other of this conundrum,
secretly if not overtly. We place our emphasis either on psyche or body, spirit or matter and
choose to place our concept of final causation on one end or the other, and treat accordingly.

Jung tried to present this dichotomy not on a causal basis (body influences mind, mind influences
body), but on a synchronistic basis - the same basis from which he viewed astrology. To him, a
psychic state is not subordinate to a physical state, nor a physical subordinate to a psychic. So a
planetary configuration was not psychic first and physical second, or the reverse; but both were
opposite faces of one underlying sense of meaning, one underlying reality which he called the
archetypes. When any disturbance in life manifests or any pattern any motion, any crisis, any
important happening - it has both a physical and a psychic reflection, although one may at times
be more observable than the other. They are reflections of the same principle; one is not
subordinate to the other; lecure" is not effected by trying to isolate the cause in one or the other.
Instead there is a portrayal of a central meaning reflecting through different channels, depending
upon the different person, and if you can understand the language which is being spoken then
you can at least begin to work with it creatively.

Seen from this viewpoint, illness is not necessarily dis-ease, as though the ideal state of
perfection is the soul's natural inheritance and any disruption of its perfection signals some abuse
of life. Rather, illness is the opposite face of health; all archetypes have two faces, and there is
some intrinsic meaning being enacted through an illness or psychic or physical or both - which is
necessary to the life of the psyche. It might perhaps be enacted in some other way; or it might
not. But it fulfils its purpose, it is purposeful, when we recognise what is being symbolised,
without assuming it is something wrong.

If this is a little confusing, I will try to give an example which might help clarify. Let us take a
typical childhood configuration, asthma and eczema, which often go together. These are,
traditionally, psychosomatic illnesses - that is, we do not know what causes them. Every
explanation has been given. ranging from psychic attack (Guirdham) to inherited constitution.
But if we pin these maladies down as a psychic state having repercussions in the body, or a
physical state having repercussions in the psyche, we are off beam and do not do justice to what
these patterns mean. We have to step back and see that a particular kind of psychic constitution
will coincide with a particular kind of body constitution; that a psychic habit pattern will reflect a
physical habit pattern; that a symbol is being enacted through this gasping for breath, this tearing
of itching skin, which is both physical and psychic and describes a whole experience which the
child or adult is undergoing. How do we treat eczema? Psychosomatic medicine says it is all
mind, ignore the body manifestations. Homeopathy offers potentised herbal remedies and creams
- for what? To treat what? What is one doing when he scratches his own irritated skin? Can it be
separated from the entire constitution of the person? Is it anger releasing itself? What is it
symbolic of? If one dreamed a dream in which one was scratching eczema, we would not take it
literally; we would take it symbolically. It is a rich symbol; it communicates all kinds of things.
The skin is thin, it is easily irritated. It breaks out, erupts, but it is a controlled eruption - which
occurs in the individual himself. What is an itch, as a symbol? When one chokes, is asthmatic,
who cannot breathe? What is breathing anyway? It is both physical and psychic.

I am not trying to make a new point, or offer anything highly original here. Paracelsus put this
whole thing beautifully in the 16th century:

If I have manna in my Constitution I can attract manna from heaven. Saturn is not only in the
sky, but also deep in the earth and in the ocean. What is Venus but the artemisia that grows in
your garden? what is iron but Mars? That is to say, Venus and artemisia are both products of
the same essence, and Mars and iron are both the man ifestations of the same cause what is the
human body but a constellation of the same powers that formed the stars in the sky? He who
knows what iron is, knows the attributes of Mars. He who knows Mars, knows the qualities of
iron.

I feel that if one is to heal - body or mind or both - one must see the complete symbolism being
acted out, both in the illness and in the psyche. This is why several disciplines must be known,
learned, for-no person can be wholly treated by one thing alone - no person is one thing alone. I
have seen this too often with people who psychological guidance and have concomitant physical
symptoms. A long time ago I had the opportunity to observe an extraordinary case: a woman
who had asthma, chronically, all her life. She was heavily Taurean - Taurus is traditionally ruler
of the throat, but she did not have any of the traditional Geminian association with lung or
breathing diseases. Her mother also had asthma. Her mother had told her from childhood: "All
the women in our family have asthma." The asthma was a symbol - not only for this woman - it
was the symbol of the state of the women in that family. None of them could breathe. All of
them choked, all of them gasped for breath. What does this say? Surely not one thing only; it is a
complex pattern, coming from many sources. I never discussed this woman's asthma with her; I
was concerned with her marriage problems, which were very much those of someone choking;
not because anyone did anything to her, but because it was in her nature to deny herself breath
and then enact a struggle. She had Venus in square to Saturn, an aspect I have seen many times
with asthma - though not a traditional one. What does it mean? Venus - relationship,
womanhood, affection, love; Saturn self-defence, fear, hurt, rejected child, etc. What is it that is
struggling to breathe? We never talked about her asthma; we talked about her mother
relationship, her relationship to her own femininity, her relationship to her husband, to her
sexuality, all Venus things - and one day her asthma went away. I do not profess to have cured
her; I had nothing to do with it. It was no longer necessary for her to enact her situation in that
particular symbol, for her situation had changed. It was not a misuse of energy; it was a
reflection of her life. Oddly enough, her mother's asthma vanished at the same time. I had never
met the mother. This quite naturally gave me pause; what was going on here? This symbol of
choked breathing had to do with more than one person it was a family symbol; break one link,
and the whole chain broke. I do not pretend to understand all the factors here. I treated her
neither psychologically nor physically; I did not try to cure her. I only acted as sounding board
while she gained greater clarity about what life she was living through all these symbols.
Symbols do not have to be physical; sometimes they are, sometimes not.
I feel the contribution of astrology to the healer does not lie, therefore, in the appearance of bad
aspects which say the liver is not good, the breathing bad, there is too much anger, etc. This is
often not reliable. Sometimes Gemini is connected with breathing, but sometimes not; sometimes
Cancer with the stomach, sometimes not; sometimes Virgo with digestion, skin, sometimes not.
Signs do not only mean one organ in the body; they are energy patterns, archetypes, and many
aspects of the body can express a similar symbolism. It is the psychicphysical construction of the
person which is reflected in the chart - the symbol of the myth that the individual has opportunity
to live out, the particular quest which is his own path. It is both psychic and physical. We talk
about features symbolically - weak chins and stubborn jaws, artistic hands, predatory noses,
fierce eyebrows, penetrating eyes, scholarly foreheads, ascetic builds, phlegmatic, choleric, etc.
The body describes the psyche, and the psyche describes the body. A man looks like his chart; he
is his chart. He looks like what he is, his body reflects himself, he reflects his body. There are
intuitive temperaments, which are fiery and which have characteristic symbolic ways of
expressing body; there are feeling temperaments, which are watery and which have also their
own characteristic ways; there are thinking temperaments, which are airy; and sensation
temperaments, which are earthy. And thinking itself, or feeling, or intuition, is a symbol of
something we will never be able to articulate because it is not only physical, or psychic, but
reflects some basic archetype the central meaning of which will forever elude us. How do you
treat? Jung's advice was to listen. That is the best treatment. Listen to what the whole person is
expressing, through his words, his body, his emotions, his illness. Perhaps he needs his illness, it
is purposeful. it is never accidental. It allows something life which otherwise cannot live.

Let us take another example: Scorpio. This is said to rule the genitals. Typical illnesses are:
constipation, disturbance of the reproductive organs, abcesses and boils, inflammations, poisons
accumulated in the body. One can say all this about the Scorpio psyche: constipation of emotion,
disturbance of the masculinefeminine balance, accumulation of poisons in the psyche. One can
never know whether it will express as an illness, a body trait, a psychic trait. If he realises that he
is emotionally constipated, it may not cure his body. If he takes laxatives, it may not cure his
psyche. There is something in taking the whole symbol. one must ask what purpose this serves.
Not what can I do to cure it, but what does it mean? What am I living out? Why do I need it?
One can often get an image, a picture, of an illness like this - what does it look like? It is both
physical and emotional. It can change, transmute; then both body and psyche work together, and
both change. Macrobiotics aims at adjusting the yin-yang relationship in the body, through diet.
Analytical psychology aims at adjusting the yinyang relationship in the psyche, through increase
of consciousness. Either end is successful, either end works, but you must know which one is
appro priate for the individual, because one may not be for another. This is of course what we
always talk about, the holistic view. How many of us really have it? A holistic view, about
astrology-psychology-healing, this wonderful concept of the "whole" man, how many of us truly
understand it? or is it, yes, the whole man: that is a body which has a psyche tailing along after it,
or a psyche which happens to be stuck in a body.

I have a feeling that the healing process has to do with the wholeness of the healer. The
technique is incidental, it is one language, like saying: "Chair" and waving your arms around and
forgetting that there is a French word for chair, a German word, a Spanish word, that none of
them do justice to the essence of the psycho-physical reality chair, which is both an object and a
concept, a feeling of comfort and a sea of possibilities.
One sees what one sees best oneself (Jung again). This applies to the healer. If one sees through
the intuitive lens, one sees the psyche's symbols and the body as after effect. If one is looking
through sensation's lens, one sees substance, the mystery of substance, and the psyche is a
reflection. The feeling type sees emotional states, the thinking type the workings of the
structured mind. None and all are right, all are onesided. Jung again - treating each case as if one
knew nothing, had no techniques, no system, no beginnings. Just listen. The chart, which is an
invaluable tool, is also not a statement about body, illnesses, fate. It is a seed - a plant, a flower, a
mature tree, another seed pod. One must also listen to the chart, because it might not even be a
human being's

If anybody wishes to learn astrology, as an asset to the healing art, I would say to them it is
invaluable as is familiarity with psychological principles, with conscious and unconscious - but
beware of being literal. I do not feel anything in this field of human suffering is literal; it is fact
and also a symbol, the body itself is a symbol, the psyche is a symbol; one must be prepared not
to know. And curing is pretty presumptuous, since illness may not require cure; it may be a valid
statement of a life experience; it may be necessary and purposeful. The blind man may not see,
but neither did Homer, Tiresias, Wotan, Oedipus; they were blind because they looked inward,
they offered up outward sight to see within. Wotan with one eye, outward and in. Do we have the
right to attempt cure before we understand what this symbol means? Or is not the task to bring
consciousness of the meaning to the person, so that he can see this living symbol working its way
out in his life, so that he can decide himself what it is, why he needs it, whether or not another
needs to replace it? The healer must also know dreams, the language of the unconscious,
fantasies, family background, racial and collective inheritance. There are reflections of race in
body as well as in psyche; we are collective too. If a man is cut off from his instinctual roots, his
body may remind him of the stock from which he has sprung. Not all Arians get headaches,
Capricorns bad knees. Why do we have sickle-celled anaemia in blacks, not in Caucasians? Of
what is this a symbol?

There is no point to be made in what I have said; no axe to grind. I merely ask that we see things
differently, because there is too much curing going on and very little listening, very little
understanding of the symbolism of illness. We are still coloured by the Piscean age's ethic of
perfection. Man must be perfect; all light and no dark. So illness, like the devil, runs rampant and
must be stamped out. I have a feeling we need illness just as we need health. It is an expression
of the dark face of the archetype which is always double - like man, like God, like life.

The following are just a few of the questions that Liz Greene answered after her talk.

Q. Have you any comments to make about psychic interference and possession? If a person is
susceptible to this kind of thing does it show in their astrological chart?

A. I am an earth sign and I am inclined to be sceptical not about possession or about psychic
entities, but about the tendency to imagine that everything that goes wrong in the psyche is
caused by invasion from the outside. There are states of split consciousness which behave
exactly like possession but the thing which is doing the possessing is a component of oneself. It
is the most common thing in the world, in fact we all experience it. All you have to do is
remember a time when you became so emotional that you felt as though something had taken
you over and words came out of your mouth which you never would ordinarily, in your right
mind, you have said. You were possessed by something in yourself that had been unconscious.
Men are constantly possessed by the unconscious woman in them, and Women are constantly
possessed by the unconscious man. All you need to do is to listen to the feminine moody side of
man coming out, or the self-opiniated argumentative side of a woman. It is a kind of possession.
If it is a very serious split one can hear voices and see visions, and what is called "project" the
phenomenon outside.

None of that negates the fact that there are also perhaps entities outside, but I think it is very,
very difficult to know which is which, and I suspect that if there is something coming from an
entity outside it cannot get in unless there is also a corresponding one within yourself which is
opening the door to it. So in the end if you work on the thing which is split off in yourself it is
the best approach, since there is no way of knowing if it is outside or inside of yourself. You
experience it as a psychic reality, but whose psyche is it that you are experiencing? I have found
this to be a problem with people who want to be particularly good; and I have seen it quite a lot
in spiritual movements where there is a really genuine, sincere aspiration to be selfless and to be
Christlike, and to fulfil the spirit of love and selfsacrifice. There is a driving need to be this way
and the dark side of the personality gets completely dissociated. Such people then feel under
attack from negative occult groups trying to pull them down, trying to stamp out the existence of
a positive group. Whether or not there are Black Lodges 1 have no idea, but I am convinced that
if one creates that kind of split in one's nature it opens the door to this kind of thing. If you can
keep the shadow in your own line of vision then no outside shadow is going to be able to be let
in through this secret turning of the key. Projection is one of the commonest psychological
phenomena in the world. It does not even have to be the dark side. Anything that one cannot face
in oneself can project in this way, and when people feel themselves under psychic attack from
outside, before trying to work out who it is that does not like them, I would suggest looking
within themselves for whatever it is they are unable to face.

Q. Would you say that the true symbol behind the suffering or illness experienced by each
individual is in reality his karma? That he is underqoinq what he has elected to experience in this
particular incarnation?

A. You could put it that way and I completely agree with you, but I am avoiding the word karma,
because it is charged. It is used quite frequently in the way that someone once referred to as the
"ding-dong" theory which seems to me a very nice term. It implies that if you were good in your
last life you will be rewarded in this, and vice versa. I somehow feel that the Universe is not
quite so simple. Blavatsky says that karma is substance. It is simply the essence of which you
were made and you attract those experiences which reflect your own essence.

It is not so much cause and effect as synchronous: the outside and the inside mesh with each
other. This is Paracelsus again - if I have Mars in my own nature I will attract Mars from the
outside. That to me is karma in a way that I would understand it. whether it is because of what
one did in the past I would question, or whether it is simply what is. necessary for one's
development now. Sometimes I think we carry things that are not only to do with us. I think there
are people who are sacrifices. I sometimes feel that a lot of the mental illness we suffer from now
is not only because one individual suddenly freaks out and becomes schizophrenic or manic
depressive, but rather that all of us are. It erupts through just a handful which makes it possible
for the rest of us to pretend to be sane. There is a collective pressure building up and it pops up in
individuals. Artists are traditionally sacrifices of this kind, they carry the value of the group.
They are obsessed by vision. It is not their personal vision, they carry it for their generation and
make a sacrifice of their lives. What have they done for the rest of us? We do not really ever
know.

It is this group aspect of karma that I think we do not fully understand- I think the phenomenon
of Germany is an excellent example. One can look at the Germany of World War II and say: "Oh
those awful Nazis; they were evil and destructive and Hitler was a horrifying and destructive
man." What we do not look at is the fact that for two thousand years the whole of western culture
created Germany. We created Hitler: the collective psyche of the West, through constant
pressure of values that man could not possibly have lived up to, created this vast split off piece of
the psyche, which in turn erupted to possess - a collective possession in this case. But the
responsibility does not lie with Germany, it lies with the whole of western culture. That if you
like, is racial karma. It is our own coming back to meet us.
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 2: Number 3 Autumn 1978

EDITORIAL : THE MEANING OF THE LABORATORY

Philosophical and esoteric theories as well as deep emotional beliefs have no reality unless they
are grounded and proven by practical and material experience. only through "work" and
experience on the material plane can theory or belief, the subjective, become real knowledge, the
objective. All theories, all feelings or emotions are but castles in the air" until they are proven via
material manifestation. Another popular saying is "the proof is in the pudding". That which is
Truth must show validity on all planes. This is inherent in the often quoted maxim "As above So
below". Thus Understanding also can only arise from experience of material manifestation. Thus
careful observation both internal and external must be essential in order for us to truly
understand our experience.

Unfortunately many movements these days claiming to reveal spiritual or scientific Truth do
ignore the factor of proof or the manifestation of Truth in their lives. Their truths never reach
beyond the emotional (?spiritual) or the dogmatic (?scientific). By their fruits they should be and
shall be recognized. Some show great disdain for the material and all material values believing
the world to be beneath them. Caught up on soaring subjective emotions (?spirituality) some are
so scattered in their energies that they are unable to support themselves or their families
materially. Many beg, borrow and steal in dependence upon those they disdain, in their false
spirituality. It must surely be the height of hypocrisy to aspire to spiritual greatness when at the
same time being so dispersed as to be incapable of earning a stable living. How can one handle
the spiritual world if one cannot handle the basic material world?
The material life must be the basis on which the spiritual life is worked towards. Only when ore
has solved much of one's material problems and has become partly materially independent, is
there then a stable basis from which to devote focussed attention to the Work of Self- or God-
realization.

Laboratory simply means "working place". To me there are 3 laboratories in the Work. All are
concerned with the material world.

Lab. No. 1 is where the separation, purification and cohobation processes are carried out in the
vegetable, animal and mineral worlds using the tools of distillation trains, extractors, mortar and
pestle and fire, etc.

Lab. No. 2 is our material body, where with the aid of products from Lab. No. 1, the toxic is
separated from the pure, the subtle from the gross, where the fixed becomes volatile and the
volatile becomes fixed. The same processes also occur in our digestion of the food we eat. The
stomach being the vessel heated by inner fire with a menstruum of hydrochloric acid where
initial maceration and circulation takes place. Separation occurs in the small intestine, and
further purification in the liver and elsewhere. The physical body as a whole must also be
transmuted in order to conduct and transform more subtle energies.

Lab. No. 3 is the material world as a whole where we work to earn a living, and our relationships
with our family and colleagues.

In laboratory work generally, as mentioned before, careful observation is essential, both internal
and external. Internal observation, or self-remembering, consists of studying one's mental,
physical and emotional interaction with family, colleagues, clients, patients, friends, etc., as well
as one's interaction with the 4 elements and sulphur, salt and mercury in the vegetable, animal
human and mineral worlds. Internal nature is thereby contemplated.

External observation consists of studying manifest Nature, the world of human and elemental
behaviour. Understanding of the real nature of matter, the 4 elements, the 3 essentials, leads to an
understanding of creation, of the purpose of manifestation, of the purpose and composition of
Self and Nature. observation of the alchemical process on all these levels in these laboratories
reveals objective reality or Truth and we are able to separate subjective illusion or the dross and
play our True fulfilling role in the Cosmic dance.
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 2: Number 4 Winter 1978

This early etching depicts a key stage in the great work of the Philosophers's Stone being the
conjunction of the White and Red Mercuries or the White Mercury/luna with the Red Sulphur/sol
together with the body/salt.

Editorial: We Can Wake Up If We Try, If We Want

The Planets: Seen from the Viewpoint of Psychology - Lenni Foster
Questions and Answers

EDITORIAL: WE CAN WAKE IF WE TRY, IF WE

WANT.
Few people experience a strong attraction for Spiritual and esoteric knowledge beyond the
orthodox religions. Those that do are expressing a basic dissatisfaction with the material world
and most commonly accepted values and aims. They ask the common and timeless questions ...
What is the purpose of life and my life in particular? Why am I who I am? etc.

Many long for understanding and the feeling of belonging and integration with the whole flow of
life.

Yet fear and alienation, the common symptoms of separation from the purpose and flow of life,
dominate many peoples' lives.
Many have given up a personal search for a true answer to the separation they feel by the time
they are 21 years old, and accept the substitute and relative security of Man's social structures.

Satisfactory personal relationships; marriage; children; parental approval; prestige of a nice car
and a nice house ...... these normal hopes and desires are fine, but they do cushion, soothe and
warm the ego and create a pseudo-security.

They pull a thick-enough veil over so many eyes that most "make do" and look no further for a
deeper personal reality. This dream they cling to.

Society does reinforce the dream; the illusion that the material world is all there is. Thus many
are well-groomed and enter a lifetime's sleep by the time they reach ? adulthood.

Unfortunately also, particularly today, many so revolt against society's dream, becoming so
cynical and alienated that they are driven to their own substitute dream which is often a
nightmare false escape sensory stimulation and sensory sedation - alcohol, heroin, cocaine,
cannabis, even false spirituality.

It is a particularly difficult world for the young, disillusioned seeker. Pitfalls abound everywhere.

The greatest strength is an enduring faith in Cosmic Justice. This is a strong staff to lean on for
support until the personal light appears and shows the way out of the illusion.

The first difficulty, of course, is becoming aware that there is an illusion, that our real selves are
asleep.

We also need scales to keep our balance; that in looking beyond society's values, we are careful
not to reject these same values, but to see them as relative and incidental values. Too often "the
baby is thrown out with the bath water."

Faith, Patience, Love, Courage, Determination, Hardwork and the Light of a True Guide - these
are the only qualities which, will awaken us and lead us to a new world of higher consciousness.

THE PLANETS :
SEEN FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF PSYCHOLOGY
In books on astrology, we are often given long lists of information about the planets. Although
there is some truth in this information, it is often too superficial. Many writers are unaware that
they are indicating only the expression of a planet, its form of manifestation, and that they are in
no way revealing the essential urge, or direction of energy, that the planet symbolises. For
example, the planet Venus is said to rule love and also to give an appreciation of the arts and
beauty. But why is this so? Why does an individual with Venus strong in his natal chart enjoy
music or attractive clothes?
In her book RELATING, Liz Greene approaches astrology from the standpoint of Jungian
psychology, and writes with a rare depth of perception. The two sciences, astrology and
psychology, are concerned with the study of the soul. "Psyche" is a Greek word meaning "soul",
and "logos" means "wisdom". By uniting astrology and psychology. we have a powerful tool for
exploring the human psyche.

In order to understand Liz Greene's view of the planets, it is necessary to understand the words
"ego", "unconscious" and "collective unconscious".

THE EGO AND THE UNCONSCIOUS

For most of us, the ego is all we know of ourselves. To each person the world appears different,
because it is coloured by the particular viewpoint of the ego. Everything that we do not express
in conscious form, ie. through the ego, is contained within the unconscious, in a nascent and
inchoate form. We need our ego to survive, because our ego differentiates. it structures and
orders our perceptions, and deals with only one possibility at a time. In myths and fairy tales, the
unconscious is often symbolised by the sea, and the hero's journey into the depths is the ego's
journey to the depths of the psyche. Only by making such a journey within ourselves can we
become whole.

THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS

This is the unconscious which extends above and below human bounds, and is the repository of
immense creative energy which extends to the unknown. It is possibly what was known to the
ancients as the gods, or God.

The birth map does not plot the fate of an individual in a predestined way. Rather, it symbolises
the basic lines of his character's potential development. "It is a road map in the truest sense, for
the object of studying it is not to "overcome" the "influences" of the planets, but rather to allow
room in one's life to express all those qualities and drives of which the chart is a symbol." The
birth chart is the particular quest of the individual Hero.

The Self or Soul is not mapped out on the birth chart. It is symbolised by the entire Zodiac. Nor
does the birth chart show whether an individual has begun to strive for wholeness.

THE PERSONAL PLANETS

The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars symbolises urges which are ego-oriented and are
readily available to consciousness.

The Sun is the heart of the solar system, and the most important symbol in the birth chart. It
symbolises the individual's urge to become himself. It is the urge for self-awareness and
wholeness. The Sun sign in a birth chart is not a set of pre-existent and crystallized behaviour
patterns, but rather it indicates those qualities which the individual can potentially make
conscious. In fact, it is his task to make these qualities conscious through the channel of his
unique individuality. For example, the Sun in Aries does not make a man headstrong and
impulsive, "but it suggests that he needs to cultivate a sense of the vitality of life, an ability to
assert himself in the outside world, a capacity to initiate change and meet challenges creatively,
if he is to become whole."

The Sun is a positive or masculine "planet" because it is associated with that side of life which
concerns will, consciousness, decision, and impact on the environment in other words, an active
principle. It is more "accessible" to men than to women, because it reflects an easier impulse for
a man to make conscious.

The Moon symbolises the urge towards unconsciousness, the past, and immersion in the flow of
feeling of the mass currents of life, without the struggle required for self-consciousness. The
Moon is a symbol of the mother, both personal and archetypal, and the womb. It is the urge to
satisfy emotional needs through relationship and the merging of identity. It symbolises the
instinctual or nonrational nature.

The Moon also suggests, by its placement in the birth chart, "that sphere of life wherein the
individual seeks a symbolic sleep, an unconsciousness, an escape or refuge" - where his needs
will dominate rather than his will.

In general, the Sun is a symbol of consciousness and the Moon of the unconscious in a man's
horoscope; and in a woman's the Moon symbolises consciousness and the Sun the unconscious.
The Sun and Moon are two halves of the same unity. It is their harmonious integration which is
the true sacred marriage, the inner union. In fairy tales, it is symbolised by the hero and his
beloved living happily ever after.

Mercury is not merely a symbol of the intellect, but rather symbolises "the way we perceive and
order our perceptions so that they can be comprehended and communicated." He is primarily the
symbol of the urge to become aware, to understand and integrate unconscious intuition or five
senses. Mercury in Cancer in a birth chart suggests a person who perceives through the
unconscious and evaluates his perceptions through feeling.

Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun, and is the Sun's messenger. The Sun is the symbol of
essence, and Mercury is the symbol of that function which enables us to know essence.

Venus and Mars are another way of expressing Sun and Moon. "Venus is the urge to relate,
harmonise and adjust in the sphere of personal relationships." "Mars is the urge toward conquest,
separating and asserting self over others to fulfil desire." Mars desires. Venus is the urge to be
desired.

The Moon is the mother, Venus is the archetype of the lover: these are the two faces of woman.
The Sun is the father, Mars is the conqueror: these are the two faces of man.

The urge symbolised by Venus is expressed in the way a person adorns himself, his personal
taste, his response to beauty, his social values, his values in relationships and what he seeks in
the ideal partnership.
The urge symbolised by Mars is expressed in the way a person goes about getting what he wants,
the quality or mode of his desire, the manner in which he chases it, and the expression of his
passions.

For men, Mars is a more accessible energy, and for women. Venus is more accessible. If a man
has Venus in Aquarius, he will often seek Aquarian qualities in a woman as his ideal lover. A
woman with Mars in Capricorn will seek Capricornian qualities in her lover.

THE PLANETS AT THE GATEWAY OF PERSONAL AND TRANSPERSONAL WORLDS

Jupiter and Saturn are the guardians at the gate of the personal world. They symbolise the urge to
transcend the limited confines of the ego. Jupiter, a god of the heavens in mythology, is
connected with the "upper" regions of the intuitive mind, while Saturn a god of the Earth, is
connected with the "lower" regions of the personal unconscious, the dark side of human nature.
Jupiter is a masculine urge, and Saturn is feminine.

Jupiter is concerned with the religious urge in man, the urge to experience the divine and create
this experience through symbols. The sign in which Jupiter is placed in an individual's birth chart
suggests the way in which he seeks this experience of meaning in life.

Saturn urges us to identify more and more with our limitations and our subjective interpretations
of life, so that we eventually isolate ourselves so much that we are in a hell of dissociation from
the deepest underlying currents of life. Through our pain, we become aware of that which is
greater than the ego. In this way, Saturn is the great teacher.

THE OUTER OR TRANSPERSONAL PLANETS

Neptune, Uranus and Pluto are in the realm of the collective unconscious. The urges which these
planets symbolise are rarely available to the consciousness of the individual.

Uranus and Neptune form another male-female dyad. Uranus is the masculine pole and Neptune
the feminine.

Uranus is the Awakener, "the urge to break free from identification with material reality and to
experience the world of the arcehtypal mind." One may experience Uranus in the urge to change
one's understanding of oneself, one's work, one's beliefs or one's relationships.

Neptune is a water deity, and although he is a male figure in mythology, the energy he
personifies is feminine. "Neptune is a symbol of the sea of collective feeling which moves us
from below to immerse ourselves in the mass, offering up our hard-won and precarious
individuality so that we may purify ourselves through dissolution." We can see this energy
operating in a low level in any mob, motivated by a single emotional focus. In its highest form,
the symbol of Neptune is the urge for purification, the experience of cleansing through
immersion in the sea of the collective unconscious a truly religious experience.
Neptune and Uranus are usually unconscious in the majority of individuals and are experienced
as powerful events which seem to be caused by the external hand of fate. However, such events
are attracted inevitably by the Nepturian and Uranian forces within the psyche.

Pluto in mythology was Lord of the Underworld, ruling the dead and the riches of the earth. "The
Symbol of Pluto is concerned with the archetypal experience of beginnings and endings, death
and rebirth." But death is only an illusion, for the cycle of perpetual change and renewal is
endless. we experience Pluto in the sphere of relationships - in emotional deaths and the feeling
of loss, and rebirth in new relationships. Pluto is also connected with sexuality - in that the
sexual act symbolises the death of separateness in union. The procreation of a child causes a
Plutonian change in the psyche - from being a child, one has now become a parent. One phase
has died and another is born.

Pluto also rules the death of the physical body.

The planets are symbols of the powers of the unconscious. "They symbolise archetypal
experiences or energies which exist in all of life and exist also within man, who is part of life."
once we have learned to understand the energies they symbolise, we can seek to understand their
meanings when placed in particular signs of the zodiac, in an individual's birth chart.
-Lenni Foster

Reference:
RELATING - An Astrological Guide to Living with Others on a Small Planet, by Liz Greene.
A.H. & A.W. Reed Ltd. New Zealand & Australia, /Samuel Weiser New York, 1978.

"Man is bound to the wheel of fate until consciousness of his God-given choice dawns upon him.
Then he glimpses the paradoxical nature of the force that has both bound him and given him
power to break the bonds "if" he will choose the pain entailed in the struggle and accept the
perils of freedom to be encountered on the spiral way that sweeps upward from the broken
wheel". - Frances Wickes

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

This segment is to be a regular quarterly feature. It is sincerely hoped that it will not only provide
answers to questions but more, serve as an active means of communication between students at
all levels.

Feedback has been missing up to now. We want your questions, comments, criticisms, etc., not
only in regard to astrology, QBL, and laboratory alchemy, but also in regard to the PRS and your
journal, Parachemica. Senior students have volunteered to answer questions and it is quite likely
that the question in your mind is the same as the one in the mind of more than another. So
support your journal, your editor and your fellow students and let's have more feedback.
Q: I read in an old alchemical lab. bulletin (Vol.II, No. 2, 1970) where Salt of Melissa fused in a
furnace showed yellow. When I tried this I could not even fuse the salt at all. How come?
A: If you used the Salt of Melissa that became the deadhead thereof or used its leached out salt,
then it would not fuse. If you take the entire plant and calcine it and recover the salt therefrom,
then it will fuse. The yellow indicates the presence of residual sulphur which can further separate
out.

Q: I find that I am naturally inclined to study Astrology and The Qabalah, but it is very difficult
for me to even take the first step into Practical Laboratory Alchemy. What can I do about this?
A: This is a common problem among Alchemy students. It is worthwhile to study deeply the
areas which interest you, but ultimately it is necessary to face that area which you find most
difficult, because through it you will learn the most. The balance and integration of all three
areas is essential to Alchemy.

Q: What can be done to get a higher degree of heat from an ordinary Fisher burner?
A: Use some ordinary asbestos cement transite pipe. Cut so that you can partly immerse your
crucible in the cylinder and yet have it above the flame of the burner. Cut some air holes in the
bottom for oxygen supply and leave enough of an opening on top so that the flame will not be
extinguished for lack of oxygen.

Q: My oleum vitelli throws down considerable feces shortly after filtration. Repeated filtrations
with slow papers still do not remedy this condition. When the oleum stands, sometimes for
weeks and months, there is always a precipitate.
A: Take the smallest funnel you have. Insert some cottonwool to stopper the funnel outlet with
just enough cotton on the bottom to keep the cotton from being pushed through the opening by
the oil. it is slow filtering but will eliminate some of your problems.

Q: When angel water is distilled, is the spirit of tartar separated from the salt?
A: No.
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 3: Number 1 Spring 1978

Chart showing the relationship between the human body and the exterior universe.

Editorial - The Middle Way

Paracelsus' Five Causes of Disease
Questions and Answers

EDITORIAL:
THE MIDDLE WAY
Although we may have been often reminded that all matter and all thought exists solely through
the action of the Law of Polarity, this simple statement has very little impact until observation is
diligently applied by internal (subjective) and external (objective) study.

We may further say that truth may only be perceived through a dynamic balancing of the Law
internally and externally.

The Buddhists and Taoists have called this "walking the Middle Way".

This still all sounds rather philosophically cool, pat and bland, so I shall give some examples of
how we can apply this observation in daily life.
In the outer world, dichotomies abound in our work and social personal interactions; in moral,
economic and political situations; in the environment of weather, seasons and other Cosmic
cycles. I do not propose to draw up an endless list of the opposites that operate, for all of us can
easily find these.

Rather I will say that truth is experienced by not identifying with any single polarity. Total
identification with a single opposite leads to ignorance, rigidity and fanaticism. This does not
mean that we should have no strong opinions and become a weak-willed indecisive, wavering
individual. Quite the opposite will apply. We shall see the virtue or value of the other man's
viewpoint. Our powers of discrimination will increase markedly because we will not allow
ourselves to be prejudiced by a onesided view. We shall make our judgement for the good of all
concerned. This is seeing things from an overview beyond polarity.

We shall strive to make decisions and form opinions based not on emotional or intellectual
considerations, but on a combination of "heart and head". We will see that the whole outer world
is coloured by, and is a reflection of, our whole inner thoughts and feelings. If we look for the
negative, the gross material, the greed, the hypocrisy, the lies, we will find it everywhere.

Similarly, the positive, the optimistic, the idealism, love, peace, truth, the spiritual, we will find it
everywhere. The negative in this case attracts the negative. The positive likewise.

We see beautifully the dynamic polarity of Nature cycling life and death, growth and decay, light
and darkness, male and female.

Walking the middle Way is a very narrow path, at times appearing like a tightrope, but it can also
be a place of infinite peace, like the centre of the cyclone.

To quote John Lilly, "The Centre of the Cyclone is that rising quiet central low-pressure place in
which one can learn to live eternally. Just outside this centre is the rotating storm of one's own
ego, competing with other egos in a furious high-velocity circular dance. As one leaves centre,
the roar of the rotating wind deafens one more and more as one joins this dance.

One's centred thinking-feeling-being, one's own Satoris, are in the centre only, not outside.

One's push-pulled driven states, one's anti-Satori modes of functioning, one's self-created hells,
are outside the centre.

In the centre of the cyclone one is off the wheel of Karma, of life, rising to join the Creators of
the Universe, the Creators of us. Here we find we have created Them who are us."

PARACELSUS' FIVE CAUSES OF DISEASE

"There is only one eternal and universal Cause of everything, which is God, and if we were to
write in a true Christian Spirit, we should not make any divisions; but for the sake of helping our
finite understanding, which is not able to grasp the power of the Infinite, we are forced to accept
the theory of a variety of causes, hoping thereby to sharpen our intellect for the Comprehension
of finite things, until by the illumination of Divine Wisdom we shall become able to behold by
the eye of Faith the eternal Unity of the All."

We have therefore, divided the cause of all diseases into five classes, which are as follows:

1. Ens Astrale, i.e. Astrological causes and "acts of God" or "accidents". For example, epidemics,
floods, famine, earthquakes.

2. Ens Venenale, i.e. Environmental poisons, substances and impurities. For example, unsuitable
foods, drugs, poisons, toxic fumes.

3. Ens Naturale, i.e. Physical causes against "Nature". For example, "immoral" behaviour -
selfishness, dishonesty, etc., "The Seven Vices or Sins", destructive living habits and lifestyle,
the ageing process.

4. Ens Spirituale, i.e. Psychological causes or mental, emotional, desire and will-directed causes.
"The Seven Vices" and psychosomatic disease. Lack of faith.

5. Ens Deale, i.e. originating from Divine Causes (Karma) - the fundamental cause of everything
that exists. "As you sow, so shall you reap." All disease is the effect of previously existing cause
which may be createdin this life (natural cause), or created during a former existence (spiritual
cause). Ens Deale refers to the latter (spiritual cause).

"There are two principles active in Man; One is the principle of matter, which constitutes the
corporeal visible body; the other one is the Spirit, intangible and invisible, and the spiritual
principle may be vitiated and diseased as well as the body, and transmit its diseases to the body.
(N.B. Spirit in this dase refers both to Soul/consciousness and Spirit/life force.) The Ens Astrale,
Veneni and Naturale act upon the body; but the Ens Spirituale and Deale belong to the Spirit; if
the body suffers, the spirit need not suffer; but if the spirit suffers, the body suffers; the body
cannot live without the spirit; but the spirit is not confined by the body."

As was earlier indicated, "All health and all disease comes from God, and in God is the cure."
"All diseases ....... may be cured by the power of the true Faith."

In order to try to clarify the foregoing description of Paracelsus' 5 causes of disease into the
perspective of our own evolution, firstly a definition of disease is in order: In this discussion we
refer to disease in its widest sense - Disease (lack of ease) is the opposite of oneness (wholeness
or health) or separation from God in its extreme sense. Thus we are all diseased or imperfect in
the absolute sense. Thus disease is the state of imperfection.

Alchemy is a process of evolution towards perfection, of a process of overcoming disease.

Disease in the mundane sense refers only to the physical body - the lack of integrity of its
function thru infection, injury, etc. Looking further we see many suffering from mental illness
today. Schizophrenia is a general name given to the majority of mental problems that one in ten
Americans and Australians complain of and are treated for at least at one stage in their lives.
Schizophrenia is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as "a form of mental disease in which the
personality is disintegrated and detached from its environment; 'split mind' literally".

Thus, again, in disease we have a split, separation or disintegrity in our body and/or mind.

The separation is from our own core or God, for God is both our true inner core and the Natural
world outside us.

Thus, those alienated from their environment are simultaneously alienated from themselves
within.

The Man of the Zodiac: Wood engraving, Paris 1491.

Paracelsus uses the terminology of Macrocosm and Microcosm; the Outer and Inner; Above and
Below, and their reflective correspondence.

Apart from seeing disease in terms of separation from the one or lack of wholeness, we may
equally see disease as imbalance. In this case wholeness or perfection lies in balance. The
created material and mental worlds exist by virtue of the Law of Polarity or Duality. Thus, we
are surrounded by this principle of opposites. The Chinese Taoists spoke of YIN and YANG
throughout the Created Universe. Disease will occur when an excess of one principle occurs or a
deficiency of the other. An excess may take the form of tension, fear, over secretion of a gland,
for example.

Only from the central point of balance may evolutionary growth take place. Only from the union
of positive and negative may a new positive of a higher order arise.

All the above implies that Cure of Disease lies in focusing the life on God, or in integrating life
with the focus on the evolution of consciousness; the expansion of potentials and the revelation
of the higher self.

Many analogies can be used to help understand this process of evolutionary growth and
transformation.

Let us take the wheel with its rim, spoke and core. The rim of the wheel with its ups and downs
as it turns can represent the cyclic changes of everyday life.

The spokes can represent the substances our lives are made from - our career and pursuit for
material security; our various loved ones; our other desires and drives.

The core of the wheel represents God from which all things radiate and into which we may
disappear into another dimension. Balance only occurs when life turns with God (the core) as the
axis. When our lives are centred on material pursuits or on our loved ones alone, or on other
desires and diversions, the life wheel runs inevitably off-centre and imbalance mental or
physical, must result.

Returning now to Paracelsus' 5 causes we may be able to look a bit deeper into his meanings.

Thus the 5 causes are interdependant and interrelated so that the origin of a particular disease
will usually lie in two or more of these causes. One cause may be the reflection of another cause
in the way the Microcosm reflects the Macrocosm and vice versa. Let us look further at this
doctrine of correspondence using quotes from Paracelsus.

Paracelsus, before Jung, advanced a synchronistic concept in disease causation, i.e. disease is not
caused by the stars as such, but there is a harmonic correspondence between certain planetary
bodies and their respective human mental attributes and physical organs. The Macrocosmic
(Astral) and the Microcosmic (Human) are reflections of the same principle; one is not
subordinate to the other.
When any disturbance in life manifests - or any pattern, any motion, any crisis, any important
happening - it has both a physical and a psychic reflection, or both a microcosmic and
macrocosmic reflection. One does not cause the other. Both occur synchronistically and are
expressions of the one principle inherent in both.

If we find ourselves under a so-called negative or "evil" astral influence, the stars are no more
the cause of the influence than we are, but because we are bound by time, cause appears
separated from effect. Thus Karma and Ens Deale become Ens Astrale and it is said that our
horoscope and the Astral influences upon our lives are largely a result of previous cause or our
action in previous existences.

Some quotes now from Paracelsus:

"The world is the Macrocosm and man the Microcosm, and the elements of all that exists in the
former exist in the latter. All the influences that come from the sun, the planets, the stars, act
therefore invisibly upon man, and if these influences are evil they will produce evil effects."

"An evil astral influence does not poison the whole world, but only those places where causes for
infection exist. If no germs of disease exist in our atmosphere, the astral influences coming from
the outside will cause no harm. if evil elements exist in the sphere of our soul, they attract such
astral influences as may develop diseases."

The natural therapist of today sees infectious disease as being caused by accumulated "toxic
wastes" within the body and sees bacteria and viruses merely as the agent of disease, not the
cause.

THE THEORY OF THE 4 HUMOURS of the Renaissance was related to the elements of
astrology (fire-type = choleric; water-type = melancholic; air-type = phlegmatic; earth-type =
sanguine).
This implied that excess of one element produced an individual of one of the above types. A
healthy, well-balanced individual was said to need a balance of all the 4 elements.

This constitutional medicine is parallel to the Hindu theory of Tridosha. Paracelsus again:
"The moon exercises a very bad influence, especially at the time of the new moon, which may be
very injurious for persons whose sidereal bodies possess magnetic elements that will attract that
influence, and the conjunction of the moon with certain other planets may make her influence
still more injurious. For instance, a conjunction of the Moon, Venus, and Mars may give rise to
the plague; a conjunction with Saturn, to certain acute diseases, etc., but no evil influence can
develop a disease where the germ of that disease does not already exist."

NOTE: Germ referred to above means seed, not necessarily bacteria or virus.

"The seat of the Sun in the microcosm is in the heart, that of the moon is in the brain. The Moon's
influence is cold; and insane people have been called "lunatics" because they are often
injuriously affected by the Moon, whose influence acts upon the brain and stimulates the sexual
passions, and causes injurious dream and hallucinations."

"Man lives within the invisible world comparable to the yolk in an egg. The chicken growns from
the white of the egg and man is nourished by the Chaos. Within man are the Sun and Moon, the
planets and all the rest of the stars and also the Chaos."

"Every organ in the human body is formed by the action of certain principles that exist in the
Universe, and the former attract the corresponding activity in the latter. Thus the heart is in
sympathy with the elements of the sun, the brain with the moon, the gall-bladder with Mars, the
kidneys with Venus, the lungs with Mercury, the liver with Jupiter, the spleen with Saturn, etc.
There are many stars in the great firmament of the Universe, and there are many germs hidden
in the little world of Man, and the high influences the low; and in the Macrocosm and microcosm
all things stand in intimate sympathetic relationship with each other, for all are the children of
one universal father."
"If I have manna in my constitution I can attract manna from heaven. Saturn is not only in the
sky, but also deep in the earth and in the ocean. What is Venus but the artemisia that grows in
your garden? What is iron but Mars? That is to say, Venus and artemisia are both products of
the same essence, and Mars and iron are both manifestations of the same cause. What is the
human body but a constellation of the same powers that formed the stars in the sky? He who
knows what iron is knows the attributes of Mars. He who knows Mars, knows the qualities of
iron."

"Good or evil influence comes down from the Sun, the Moon, or the stars; the action of the
macrocosmic influences stimulates the corresponding elements (the Corpora Microcosmic
Astralia) existing in man into action. The same element which produces Mars, Venus or Jupiter
in the sky, exists also in the body of man; because the latter is the son of the astral body of the
macrocosm in the same sense as the physical body of man is a son of the earth."

"To be a physician, it is not sufficient to know the anatomy of the physical body, you should also
know that of the astral body, you show know not merely a part, but the whole constitution of the
macrocosm and the microcosm of man.

"Why does man want to eat, to drink, and to breathe, but because he is related to the elements of
the earth, water and air, and must attract these things to his constitution; why does he need
warmth, but because he is related to the element of fire and cannot do without it, and all these
elements may produce diseases.

There is no disease in the elements, but the disease starts from the centres. The origin of diseases
is in man, and not outside of man; but outside influences act upon the inside and cause disease to
grow. A physician who knows nothing about Cosmology will know little about disease. He should
know what exists in heaven and upon the earth, what lives in the four elements and how they act
upon man; in short, he should know what man is, his origin and his constitution; he should know
the whole man and not merely his external form.

If man were in possession of a perfect knowledge of self, he would not need to be sick at all."

Diseases serve to teach man that he is made out of the universal Limbus (Nature), and that he is
like the animals and by no means better than they. He should study himself and the rest of
creation, so that he may obtain self-knowledge; and this self-knowledge should be above all
obtained by the physician.

Man is the highest of all animals, and the whole of the animal creation is contained in him, and,
moreover, he has the power to attain self-knowledge, a faculty which the animals do not
possess."
 Redrawn from Gichtel's Theosophia Practica

Regarding the Ens Venenale, Paracelsus writes:

"Everything is perfect in itself and nothing is impure if it is what it ought to be; but if two things
come together, then one may be a poison to the other."

"Impurities and injurious elements may enter the human organism in various ways. They may be
taken in the food or drink, they may be inhaled with the air, or be absorbed by the skin. There
are visible and invisible poisonous substances, and some substances that are not injurious if they
enter the organism alone, may become poisonous if they come in contact with others. There are
poisons and impurities of various kinds, and what may be healthy food for one organism may be
injurious if taken into another, and each thing contains hidden virtues that may be useful for
some beings while they are evil for others. The salamander eats fire, the ox eats grass, the
peacock may swallow snakes and the ostrich stones; but man requires a different kind of food.

Regarding Ens Spirituale, Paracelsus says that it is the Will, i.e. the power of focussed desire
utilizing both mind and emotion. The power of the true Spiritual Will is known very little,
because it is possessed by very few. In our present civilization, men of strong and determined
Will are very few and far between; men and women are ruled to a great extent by their instincts
and desires, and have not sufficient willpower to control them.

"The Ens Spirituale is a power which may affect the whole body and produce or cure all kinds of
diseases; it is neither an angel nor a devil, but it is a spiritual power which in the living body is
born from our thoughts."

"A person who has evil desires will have an evil imagination, and the forces created in the
sphere of his mind may be projected by powerful will into the mental sphere of another.
Thoughts are not empty nothings, but they are formed out of the substance that forms the element
of the soul, in the same sense as a piece of ice is made out of the substance of water.

The will is the power that may concentrate the image formed in the mind, in the same sense as
the power of cold will cause a body to freeze into solid ice; and as an icicle may be thrown from
one place to another, likewise an evil thought, formed into shape by an intense will, may be
hurled against the mental sphere of another, and enter his soul if it be not sufficiently protected."
"Imagination is the cause of many diseases, faith is the cure for all."

"Spirits are not born from the intellect, but from the will. He who lives according to the will lives
on the spirit; he who lives according to the mind lives in disharmony with the spirit. The mind
produces no spirit, but it determines the quality of the soul."

"There is no spiritual power in children, because they have no perfect will; he whose will is
perfected, gives birth to a spirit, as a pebble produces a spark, and this spiritual power partakes
of the nature of the will.

He who lives in the will, possessess the spirit - i.e., Ens Spirituale."

It is this development of the true Will which is an essential part of the acquisition of self-
knowledge.
- Don Foster.

Reference: "The Life and Doctrines of Paracelsus" By Franz Hartmann. M.D., 1891/1963.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: The statement, "Within the 4 elements will be found the 3 essentials produced by Nature they
will always reveal themselves by the Law of Polarity." Do we have this statement worded
correctly?

A: The law of polarity will reveal itself within the three essentials that will be found within the
four elements wherein is found the quintessence which is not one of the four but one of the three.

Q: In the work of producing the 7 daily herbal cleansers, must we use both soluble and insoluble
salts?

A: It is only necessary to use the leeched out or soluble salts in the 7 daily remedies. However, in
the work of the Herbal Stone, the total Salt should be used.

Q: Has analysis of the tincture of antimony, especially the fixed tincture, derived from the
brownish-red powder by the hydroxide process, shown any measurable amount of antimony or
other trace elements?

A: A report, dated 23 March, 1972, from an independent analytical and consulting chemical
laboratory on file at the P.R.S. shows, and we quote:
"We have to report the results of our analysis of the sample of 'Oil of Antimony' received from
you on 17 March, 1972. Analysis of this sample revealed:

Antimony - 630 parts per million

Arsenic - 1 part per million
Iron - 63 parts per million
Lead - 95 parts per million
Sulphur was detected in trace quantities.

The antimony was determined by atomic absorption. Spectrophometry and its presence
confirmed by the Rhenish test. Arsenic, iron and lead were also determined by atomic absorption
spectrophotometry."

This report indicates that antimony is found in a homogeneous state in the Tincture. However, it
is not so much the antimony per se found therein which is of importance as it is the inert
alchemical oil dispersed throughout the tincture, which in reality represents the curing or healing
properties therein. The essentials in this oil, alchemical sulphur, cannot be determined as it
shows only as a hydrocarbon.

Clinical evaluation alone can do this.

 PARACHEMICA
Volume 3: Number 2 Summer 1979

Alchemistical Aspects of the Deck of Cards - A. G. Fehres

What is the Qabalah?
Astronomy for Astrologers I

ALCHEMISTICAL ASPECTS OF THE DECK OF CARDS

PART I

(from a lecture by a student, presented at the Second International Alchemistical Convention,

Stuttgart, Germany, 1973.)

Anyone investigating old alchemical literature for the first time must have experienced confusion
in its highest degree. I am no exception! If, however, for some reason you are mysteriously
drawn to Alchemy you will find this great confusion, to say the least, very interesting. You will
keep on reading and re-reading and keep on being confused of course. At this stage the most
important part is that you are concentrating. When you concentrate you concentre or, in other
words, you reduce something to a smaller volume. So when you concentrate you make your
brain shrink as it were. (It stands to reason that the well known saying: "Easy does it" should be
kept in mind here.) Anyhow, with concentration a most wonderful process is set into motion,
which you could call cosmic breathing. With normal breathing, before you can take a deep
breath, you will have to breathe out first. Moreover, when you breathe out as much as possible,
making it a voluntary effort and then relax, you will breathe in automatically. Try it! So when
you have concentrated long enough and as it were squeezed your brain well enough you will
automatically draw in new thoughts, ideas or thought patterns, dreams and visions, like a sponge
absorbing water. This will make you see things you have never seen before. Strangely enough
though, the first things we see are nothing but cobwebs and plenty of them. But this is progress!
So what do you do? You get yourself an axe and start hacking and chopping away until your
mind is finally free of them, with the exception of a few little ones, which either you have
overlooked or are very hard to reach. I must say, I still have a few myself, but seeing that you are
entirely free of them you will have no difficulty in conceiving that which is hidden in an ordinary
deck of cards.

The origin of our modern deck is still a matter of dispute. Different occultists and historians have
different theories. According to Hindu legend they were invented in India by a Maharajah's wife
to cure her husband of the nervous habit of pulling his beard My keeping his hands occupied.
Others claim that the ancestors of our modern cards were imported into Europe by the gypsies,
who had originally brought them from Egypt.

Personally, I have strong reason to assume that the modern deck of cards has been invented in
the fourth century during or shortly after the reign of Constantine the Great. In those days it was
plain suicide to utter any of your thinking contradicting or interfering with the then recently
founded Roman State Church. It was Constantine that introduced laws forbidding all other forms
of worship. Churches were ordered to be built and the temples of the Initiates of the Mysteries
and their writings were destroyed. The initiates who refused to accept the Christian faith were
murdered. Constantine was a cruel and bloodthirsty person, who committed many crimes,
including the murder of many of his own relatives and friends. Philostorgius says that
Constantine even murdered his son and and two of his wives, one being Fausta, whom he
drowned in a boiling hot bath. It takes little imagination to see how difficult and how extremely
dangerous it was for these Initiates, that did survive, to continue teaching their knowledge of the
Ancient Mysteries. As a result of all this a deck of cards was ingeniously devised to preserve
some of the most valuable truths of the Ancient Masters, although some material of the still older
Tarot cards was used.

The deck of cards is certainly not the only way in which knowledge of the Ancients has been
preserved, but it is a true masterpiece! It safely survived the Dark Ages. It appeals to the masses,
has no language barrier and spread like fire over the whole world. Who has not seen a deck of
cards? Who has not played a game with them? Today there are more than 300 games you can
play with cards. They have been and still are used by kings and crooks alike. Yet how many did
discover the jewels hidden in what they were playing with? Of course, as you know, not many
have the eyes to see. If it is not cobwebs, then it is splinters or logs that prevent us from seeing
things. Let us now then discover the jewels, which you will agree, form a most valuable key to
open the gate to alchemistical thinking and understanding, paving the way to see the Light.

Simply said, the deck of cards represents God as THE ONE, the cause of all that which is and of
what which is not. As soon as we open the deck we notice that there appear black cards and red
ones and that there are as many black ones as there are red. Does not the Alchemist say "Out of
the ONE come two."? The two colours, then, represent the Creative Principle of Polarity, divided
into two opposite Principles, the positive and the negative. Although the Creative Principle is
within the ONE, for creative purposes it appears to came out of the ONE as two opposite forces
which form the basis of movement and without movement no creation would be possible. So in
the whole of creation we find these positive and negative forces. We have male and female,
active and passive, good and evil, alkaline and acid. In Chinese philosophy we have Yang and
Yin, Yang the positive and centripital force and Yin the negative and centrifugal force. These
two forces are spiral forces, more known as spiritual forces and truly can be called Spirit.

When we now then have a closer look at the cards we discover that each card carries a symbol
and that there are no more than four different shapes, two black and two red, so either positive or
negative. We call them Clubs (positive), Diamonds (negative), Spades (positive) and Hearts
(negative) representing Fire, Earth, Air and Water in that order, which is also the same order as
of the signs of the Zodiac.

According to Hermes Trismagistus the knowledge of the four elements of the ancient
philosophers was not corporally sought after. On standard cards we find them in symbols of a
shape, as it were, a semimaterialization of both forces into two elements each. These symbols of
four suits existed, however, long before they were put on the cards. The Hindu goddess
Ardhanari, for instance, holds in her four hands a wand, a ring, a sword and a cup, or the exact
replicas of the four suits.

The court cards namely the Kings, Queens and Jacks or Knaves point out the different degrees of
whatever element they represent as related to the elemental makeup of man. Of course, we are all
composed of the four elements but not in equal proportions. This would be perfection and that
can only be found in THE ONE. For instance, the King, Queen and Jack of Clubs refer to people
who are predominantly Fire, within the Zodiac comparable with Aries, Leo or Sagittarius, they
being Fire signs. The King of Clubs, however, would indicate strong active characteristics of a
positive nature. His strength would depend on how he handles the sword he has in his hand.
Being a King he would handle it wisely. The Queen of Clubs, also predominantly Fire, would
have strong characterstics of that element but of more receptive female qualities. Her strength
would depend on how well she handles or hangs onto Life symbolized by the flower she has in
her hand. The Jack on the other hand indicates the ignorant or the beginner. He is apparently not
aware of his potential fire, in that he has his head turned away from the Club contrary to the King
and the Queen.

Much can be said about the different court cards and I would suggest that you have a good look
at them in your leisure time, but as far as I can see, they are of little alchemistical importance.
The same can be said about the remaining cards of the 52 card deck, namely the cards carrying
the numbers one to ten. Each one has its own value, of course, and is very important for different
purposes such as playing games, fortune telling, etc. One important realization from the
courtcards and the numbered cards is that the possibilities within creation are infinite, that, in
fact, nothing is the same with the exception of nothing itself.

What else, then, is there to be said about cards? Have not they all been dealt with? How easily
we overlook the little things, the seemingly unimportant things! Don't we find a Joker with every
deck of cards we buy? The Joker represents man. Whereas the whole deck is representative of
the Macrocosm, the Joker represents the Microcosm. What is of more importance to the
Alchemist than Self? Are we not all interested in ourselves most of the time? Let us therefore
have a good close look at the Joker and let us discover what he tries to convey to us.

Firstly, I should mention that different manufacturers produce different Jokers as they do not see
the importance of the original Joker. Even a bunny coming out of a magician's hat and in
Australia a kookaburra with a snake in its beak are used as Joker's cards. This is the blind leading
the blind and so much so that it is no joke anymore.

The Joker I'm referring to is the funny man with the funny face dressed in a jester's costume. His
feet are like roots, which seem to stick out of the soil. The grass at his left looks aggressive and
more like sharp teeth, whereas that on his right looks peaceful and more like grass. It indicates
that he has the positive and negative forces of the creative principle within him and that he
actually consists of them, as it were, growing out of them. Also have a look at his face. when you
cover his left side you will see his right side of the face is happy and surprised. When you cover
his right side, however, his left side shows an evil expression. The negative principle is often
mistaken for an evil force, but I am one hundred percent certain, that the Joker's left side is meant
to indicate evil by his inventor, why, we will see later.

On his jacket we see the symbols of the four elements and in the right order. It shows that man,
like the Macrocosm, is composed of the four elements and that the body, with which man is
clothed, is a materialization thereof. Now turn the Joker and let him lie on his right side and look
at his left elbow. What we see is a head of a monk facing the grass on the evil side. He has no
eyes, because he does not have the eyes to see.

Out of the Joker's left sleeve protrudes his left hand. This, of course, is nothing unusual, but his
hand is. It represents the hand of Jesus after he had physically died on the cross, with the wound
appearing in the form of a diamond in the centre of it. Furthermore, we see that the hand joins or
comes out of the back of the monk's head, giving the impression as if the monk is talking through
his neck. Now when we turn the Joker a little to the right until the stick in his belt is vertical, we
see in his left arm the head of a nun with a cap. Her face actually forms the neck of the monk.
She has no eyes either. With the Joker still in the same position, look at his right elbow now. You
will see a head facing the Club, wearing a golden diadem, the face having an angelic expression.

Look at the Joker's right hand now, his "good" one, coming out of the angel's forehead. It points
with the index finger directly to some sort of a sign on a yellow field. It has to be very important.
The Joker's right eye also looks at it! Even this is apparently not enough because the stick, he has
in his belt, points towards it. What makes it so important? What is the sign? To find out what it is
let me quote something out of "Aureus" or the Golden Tractate of Hermes*, which every
alchemist should be familiar with as it is a written masterpiece of brilliant ingenuity. In section I
Hermes says: "And know that the chief principle of the art is the Crow, which is the blackness of
the night and the clearness of the day, and flies without wings." Isn't it marvellous that we find
the Crow of Hermes in a most unexpected place, namely in a pack of cards hidden in the Joker?
This is part of the clue only, because when you know what it is this does not mean you know
what it represents. How often has not the "Aureus" or the Golden Tractate been read hardly
making any sense or none at all? What it represents I will tell you clearly because once more a
time has arrived that the Initiate can again openly teach without endangering his own life. At all
times we should be careful, though, not to throw the pearls before the swine as you would only
make a fool of yourself in the eyes of your ignorant brothers and sisters. For those who do not
see yet what the Crow represents we need to go a little further. Let us discover, to our
amazement, that the Joker provides the full key to this. Have a good look at this mouth. You will
agree it is a funny one. To have a good chance to see what his mouth is we will turn the card a
little to the left making the Joker lie on his right side again. Do you see it now? Isn't it
ingeniously drawn? If you still do not see it then there is yet another clue and that is that the
Joker has the comb of a rooster on his head and note particularly that it is on his left side. Can
there still be any doubt? The relationship between the cock and the crow is obvious and actually
these are the same although the cock has a mood different from that of the crow. When you read
the Golden Tractate of Hermes again, knowing now what the Crow physically represents, his
obscure language will start to make sense. For me, once I had discovered what the Joker had
been hiding for hundreds of years, it was the start of one discovery after another, which
eventually lead me literally to see the Light. In section II Hermes says: "And know this, that
except thou understandest how to mortify and induce generation, to vivify the Spirit and
introduce Light ... though knowest nothing nor canst perform anything," and in section III: "The
stone comes with light and with light it is generated."

* found in "Alchemy Rediscovered and Restored" by A. Cockren.

Quintessence

WHAT IS THE QABALAH (QBL)?

THE OPINION OF 5 DIFFERENT STUDENTS

1. The Qabalah is a system where esoteric knowledge is revealed about the creative forces which
manifest all materialized objects on our plane of awareness.

It is an oral tradition passed down by the Ancients, our version of which was written in Hebrew
several centuries ago. There is great difficulty in retaining the meaning when adapting a tradition
to written symbols and more so when translated into other languages. If able to absorb and
express the meaning of the original colors, sounds and symbols. one will be aware of his purpose
in life and be among those reverently called magi.
2. The QBL gives us an insight into the creation of Man and the Universe. Also makes us aware
of what is going on about us in this world of ours and what effect it has upon us.

You also realize there is a higher intelligence working through us if we are prepared to be awake
to this.

3. The QBL is an oral tradition of wisdom teachings. It must be oral because only oral contact
can initiate or pass over to the student the energy of understanding from a Master.

The QBL teaches a system for establishing interrelationships between Man and the Universe.
Such interrelationships involve the inner meanings behind words and language; how number,
colour, sound and the animal, vegetable and mineral worlds correspond to Cosmic energies
according to the ancient precept - "As Above - So Below".

The QBL shows how all manifestation appears and transforms and evolves according to
immutable Laws; how in Nature, evolution and harmony is the Law. Man as a whole is blinded
by ignorance of the subtle harmonic Laws and correspondences in Nature. The chaos that the
average man sees is only the chaos of his own ignorance and misunderstanding, for it is only in
his society where the chaos is to be found, not in Nature.
Thus the QBL is a tool to lead Man out of his chaos into the world of Light and Reality, through
the study of Natural Laws and whereby Man may find his true and rightful place and fulfillment
in the evolutionary scheme of Life.

4. The QBL is a system used to establish a relation ship between Man and the Universe and in
particular our Solar System. It reveals in a most ingenious way, a Cosmic pattern in a concise
manner. It also explains the principle of polarity. It is an oral tradition compiled by Moses de
Leon + 1200 AD.

The Tree of Life consists of 10 spheres called Sephiroth. Each Sephira has a name, color and
number and is connected by a path (Metzlah).

There are 22 Metzlahs which are related to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

5. The Qabalah is a pictorial manifestation or the template of the evolutionary process. It

represents the spiral of life or life forces. Above all it is a tool which hu-man may use to unravel
the secrets of life in its different manifestations and levels of consciousness or existence.

For example, the mineral, plant, animal and supernatural configuration. All these kingdoms, each
in its own accord, follow this evolutionary pattern representing the microcosm. If we wish to
explore this in the macrocosm, each kingdom lies in its respective level of consciousness when
compared to the whole, e.g. mineral to vegetable to invertebrate to vertebrate to human, etc. It
therefore unfolds the relationship between all things in the Universe - man to God, mineral to
vegetable, as well as man to man or mineral to mineral, etc. i.e. As Above, So Below.

ASTRONOMY FOR ASTROLOGERS I

This is the first of a series of short articles to illustrate and clarify some of the actual mechanics
and physical realities behind the basic factors which make up the astrological chart and the
information supplied by the ephemeris.

Such factors which often seem to need explaining are, for example, what is the Ecliptic, Right
Ascension (RA) and Declination, the Precession of the Equinoxes, Retrograde motion of the
planets, the Tropical and Sidereal Zodiacs, what causes the seasons, the phases of the Moon, etc?

I hope to answer as simply as possible, with the aid of illustrations, these questions and others in
coming issues of Parachemica.

THE ECLIPTIC AND THE ZODIAC

The ecliptic is the apparent path of the Sun in the heavens, the great circle the Sun appears to
follow in its journey around the Earth taking a year to complete one cycle. In reality it is the
Earth that orbits the Sun, the Sun being the Earth's Centre of Gravity in common with the other
planets in the Solar System. It is not entirely true to say that the ecliptic is, therefore, an
imaginary great circle traced in the heavens, the plane of which passes through the centre of the
Earth.

The ecliptic, as well as being the actual path followed by the Earth, also corresponds very closely
to the plane of the orbits about the Sun traced by the other major planets.

The zodiac can be defined as a belt of the sky which has the ecliptic as its centre. This belt is
considered to 0 extend about 8o either side (north and south) of the ecliptic, a total of 16o within
which the Sun, Moon and major planets always remain. The ecliptic is so-called because eclipses
can only occur when the Moon is in or very near to it.

The name zodiac comes from the Greek Zoon, meaning a living thing. Thus it is against this
background band of the zodiac of 12 star constellations that all the planets and the Sun and Moon
appear to move, from the viewpoint of the Earth.

THE SEASONS

The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5o to the pole of the ecliptic.

The revolution of the Earth in its orbit, and the resulting changes in the direction of its axis of
rotation relative to the Sun, produces the seasons. Hence, the varying angle at which the Sun's
rays strike different parts of the Earth's surface is the principle cause of the seasons. The higher
the Sun's meridian (noon) altitude, that is, the closer the Sun is to being directly overhead, at a
given place, the greater the amount of heat that will be received.

Thus for Melbourne (38o S), midsummer is reached when the direct ray of the Sun strikes at
23.5o south latitude where and when the Sun is directly overhead at noon which is as far south as
it can go. In Eastern Australia this occurs at the latitude of Rockhampton on 21 December and
thus 23.5o S is known as the Tropic of Capricorn.

Likewise on 21 June the Sun is directly overhead at 23.5o north, the Tropic of Cancer,
Melbourne's shortest day, or mid Winter. From all the foregoing, it should also be seen that the
ecliptic also corresponds to the direct ray of the Sun and that the Zodiac is, practically also, the
orbit of the Earth.
 Inclination of the Earth's Axis, the Main Cause of the Seasons

EQUINOXES AND SOLSTICES (THE FOUR INGRESSES)

Equinox means equal day and night and occurs twice a year as the Sun (or Sun's direct ray)
crosses the equator. This gives us the start and mid-point of the Zodiac (Aries and Libra) and the
start of Spring and Autumn.

For someone living in the northern hemisphere Spring begins (0oAries) when the ecliptic crosses
or cuts the equator, moving from south to north, on the 21 March and Autumn begins (Spring in
Melbourne) when the Sun crosses the equator moving south (0oLibra) on the 31 September.

Declination is the term used for the angle between the equator and the plane of the ecliptic, and
as said before, this angle or declination varies from 23.5 o N to 23.5 o S.

Solstice means 'Sun standing still' and this occurs at midSummer and mid-Winter at these
maximum declinations north and south of the Sun or the ecliptic. Thus Winter Solstice (0o
Capricorn) 21 December and Summer Solstice (0o Cancer ) 21 June. The 2 solstices and 2
equinoxes are together known as the 4 Ingresses of the Sun, i.e. the 4 entries of the Sun into the 4
corresponding signs of Aries (Vernal Ingress), Cancer (Summer Ingress), Libra (Autumnal
Ingress) and Capricorn (Winter Ingress). These are often occasions for various religious festivals
to be held all over the World, e.g. Harvest festivals, Midsummer day, festivals of Light
(Christmas, etc.).

Astronomy for Astrologers II

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: During a recent alchemy class we used a synthetic, washable and re-useable filter "paper" as a
fast filter. Where can I get these filters?
A: This was a nylon fabric for swimming pool filtration.. The material is available by the yard
from CLARK RUBBER STORES and can be cut in circles for re-useable filter "papers" or sewn
on 3 sides for a useful filter bag for squeezing out the excess tincture from the body of herbs
after maceration.

Q: It is still not clear to me what is the difference in medicinal virtue between the fixed and
unfixed tinctures of antimony. Could you please clarify this?
A: It is said that the fixed tincture is applicable for fixed diseases and has a contractive influence.
By fixed diseases it is meant chronic or long-term diseases which tend to be deep seated and
slow in development. Mentally also, the fixed tincture tends to sedate and soothe the nerves. The
overall action of both tinctures derived from yellow glass is, of course, as a general blood
cleanser and detoxifier. The more easily-prepared unfixed tincture which does not contain any
spirit of antimony, is said to be active in unfixed or volatile diseases. This would refer to acute or
short-term diseases which although more superficial can be violent such as inflammations with
high fevers. Mentally also, the unfixed tincture should stimulate, being expansive and should
therefore help in low energy and depression for example.

However, it is warned that both tinctures should not be used in disease without professional and
qualified advice as amount and frequency of dosage is a vital factor, and also other remedies may
be indicated. But rather the tinctures should be used in general detoxifying work once it is certain
the preparation contains none of the poisonous body of antimony, and doses should start at the
minimum for several weeks until the response of the system is established. A gentle cleansing at
first is always better.

We must admit that what is closest to us is the very thing we know least about, although it seems
to be what we know best of all.
-C.G.Jung.

Man, if indeed thou knowest what thou doest, thou art blessed; but if thou knowest not. thou art
cursed, and a transgressor of the law.
-Luke.

"And thus, every man, if he is not just an ordinary man, that is, one who has never consciously
'worked on himself', has two worlds; and if he has worked on himself, and has become so to say
'a candidate for another life',he has even three worlds."
-G.I. GURDJIEFF, from his latest book, "Life is Real Only Then When 'I Am".
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 3: Number 3 Autumn 1979

The fixed is made volatile and the volatile is fixed. The Mercury is sublimed, dissolved in its
own proper water, and then more coagulated.

Editorial: Dialectics and the Teaching

Alchemical Aspects of the Deck of Cards - A.G. Fehres
Astronomy for Astrologers II
Elixir - George Herbert

EDITORIAL:

DIALECTICS AND THE TEACHINGS

Much of the teachings of the PRS takes the form of what may be described as dialectics.

Just what does this mean?

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary gives two definitions:

DIALECTICS:
1. The art of critical examination into the truth of an opinion; a synonym of LOGIC as applied to
formal rhetorical reasoning; logical disputation.
2. In modern Philosophy: Applied by Kant to the criticism which shows the mutually
contradictory character of the principles of science, when employed to determine objects beyond
the limits of experience (e.g. the soul, the world, God);
Applied by Hegel;
(a) to the process of thought by which such contradictions are seen to merge themselves in a
higher truth that comprehends them; and
(b) to the world process, which, in his view, is but the thought-process on its objective side, and
develops similarly by a continuous unification of opposites.

In this discussion, it is definition 2. which is meaningful to us.

From this foregoing definition it can be seen that dialectics is nothing other than a wise
application of the law of polarity as has been mentioned several times before in previous articles:
understanding is obtained through a third viewpoint or synthesis of two opposites, the thesis and
the antithesis, which is a more evolved understanding than that of either of the conflicting
opposites.

Frater Albertus frequently appears to use confusing contradictions and may say the opposite at
one time to that which was said previously. The purpose of this is not so much to create
confusion, but rather to force the student to look deeper and further beyond the contradictions for
an answer to a question.

As an example or two, we may look at commonly repeated statements:

Frater Albertus has said that only the teachings are important; that the teacher is unimportant.
Yes and No. Yes. The teacher as an individual ego is unimportant. The teacher's race, colour and
creed is unimportant. The teacher's habits, likes and dislikes, appearance, even methods, are
unimportant. However, the teacher as a transmitter of consciousness, is important. The
personality; the level of consciousness of the teacher is important.

Only the teacher's level of understanding of the teachings can be transmitted.

Therefore ultimately, only the consciousness of the teacher is relevant, except of course, the
conscious receptivity of the student.

Again, however also, the teachings are important because they are the medium through which the
consciousness must operate. If the system of teachings have a primitive framework, it will be
difficult to transmit an evolved consciousness with such a crude tool.

"It doesn't matter what system you use as long as you get the desired result in the end." Another
statement with a built-in contradiction.

Some systems will give the desired result quicker, more efficiently, more completely, more
truthfully, than others. Maybe a 12-planet system is more perfect, more truthful, than a 7-planet
system?
This sort of reasoning can be found throughout the teachings of the PRS, where frequently one
viewpoint will later be superceded by a more evolved viewpoint as the consciousness of the
student grows and is capable of receiving more understanding. This does not mean that the
previous view was wrong, but that it was more of the nature of only relative truth or fact which is
something that changes and can be superceded by a more perfect concept or system.

ALCHEMISTICAL ASPECTS OF THE DECK OF CARDS

PART II

(from a lecture by a student, presented at the Second International Alchemistical Convention,

Stuttgart, Germany, 1973.)

Now, then, what is the stone? One of the many words Hermes uses for the Philosopher's Stone is
the hen. Would there be a hen in the Joker? We see that the sign of the crow is surrounded by a
yellow field. which indeed has the shape of the head of a hen with the crow forming the eye of
the hen. Its open beak seems to want to pick at the nun and the monk, including the hand of the
physically crucified Jesus. Why would it want to do so? To find out you should study the
writings of Paul in the Bible.

Before the Roman State Church was officially founded with the aid of Constantine the Great,
there was a Gospel preached, which had already been preached to every creature under heaven
and of which Paul was a minister (Colossians 1 : 23). At Paul's time, however, there were also
other apostles, who preached a perverted Gospel (Galatians 1 : 6,7) and (in verse 8) Paul states
that if someone should preach a Gospel contrary to that which had already been preached to
every creature under heaven, even if that someone is an angel from heaven, let him be accursed.
Paul was preaching a non-physical and non~suffering Christ which is contrary to the Jesus Christ
who died on the cross. Paul was one of the Initiated teaching the psychophysical side of the
Philosopher's Stone while Hermes tries to teach the material side as well. The psychophysical
Jesus is born as a divine child or offspring in every man and every woman, but in each individual
at a different time. We find this divine Babe in swaddling clothes in the Joker's right elbow. To
see it, turn the Joker until the head of the clown on the end of his stick is uppermost. In the Bible
Jesus is also referred to as the Lamb of God. See John 1 : 29, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of the world!". We find the Lamb in the Joker's right shoulder. It's head,
forming the right side of the Joker's neck, faces the hen and the crow. Paul, then, after finding
out that his former followers among the Galatians had turned to the perverted Gospel, was very
astonished (Galatians 1 : 6), and perplexed (Galatians 4 : 19,20). He said to them (in Galatians 3
: l): "0, foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly
portrayed as crucified?" And 5 : 12, "1 wish those who unsettle you would mutilate themselves!"
In his letter to Titus 1 : 10-14, he says to rebuke them sharply and not to give heed to Jewish
myths. Paul had been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2 : 20), through crucifying the flesh with
its passions and desires (5 : 24) - the Crow of Hermes. According to Paul (Colossians 1 : 27)
Christ is (born) in us and is the hope of glory (glowray - light), which is your seed (Galatians 3 :
16). He was talking about Abraham then, but he states in 4 : 24 that this is an allegory.
It is also very interesting to read John 1 : 1-4, which says: "In the beginning was the Word and
the word was with God and the Word was God," etc. Now turn to Luke 8 : 11, "Now the parable
is this: the seed is the Word of God." Also Psalms 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a
light to my path," and verse 130: "The unfolding of thy words gives light; it imparts
understanding to the simple." So the Bible still conveys a lot of truth to us even though Jeremiah
states in 8 : 8 that the law of the Lord has been turned into a forgery and, in verse 10, that from
prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.

We can see now, why we find the hen wanting to pick at the Joker's left arm. In the Joker the
divine Babe (the seed, the word, Jesus) is born of the Crow. In section V Hermes says: "My son,
that which is born of the Crow is the beginning of this art." It is "the tincture taken from the
bitterness existing in its throat."

Slowly the pieces of this seemingly impossible puzzle can now be put together, but it will still
take a long time to complete.

Earlier, I said that the divine Babe, or psychophysical Jesus is born in us, but in each individual
at a different time. The exact time is of vital importance to us. Since the art is in regulating the
fire, how can we be successful if we do not know when to use a mild or strong fire. It is so easy
to do the wrong thing, achieving nothing in the end. Does a boiled egg still produce a chicken?
Where and how will we find the exact time? Could it be that our Joker is still hiding something?
As if inexhaustible the Joker gives us another vital clue. It appears in the clown's head at the end
of the stick he carries in his belt on his right side. The clown looks upward. In the clown's head,
however, is another clown's head, this one looking down. It indicates a very famous ancient
saying and has been expressed in many different symbols, but its true significance usually goes
unnoticed. The saying is: "As above, so below." It means that what happens above, also happens
below, according to the same laws, which is also expressed in the deck of cards. The clown
indicates that we have to look at the above to find out what is hidden in the below. With "below"
is meant man and generally the Earth. What else is there above us, but the stars and the planets?
Genesis 1 : 14 says: "Let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and "years." This is
where time comes in. To find the exact time we, therefore, must have a look at what happens in
the above.

It is obvious that throughout the ages our Sun has always been regarded as the most important of
all celestial bodies. The Sun is looked upon as the source of animation. Even in most languages,
if not all, the word "Sun" is closely related to "son" (offspring) and to "soul" (consciousness).
The ancients personified the sun as: Brahma, Amon, Osiris, Bel, Adonis, Makouth, Mithras,
Krishna, Apollo, etc. As most of you are familiar with the Gospel story of Jesus Christ I will take
this example to help you see that, in fact, Jesus is also another personification of the sun. You
will then agree, with Paul, that the Gospel he preached has been preached to every creature under
heaven, namely by "the stars".

Christ wears the livery of a Sun-God. His mother is the Virgin. His twelve apostles correspond to
the twelve signs of the Zodiac. At his crucifixion the sun was eclipsed, he expired at sunset and
rose again with the sun. The day appointed for his worship is the Dei Solis, Sunday, of the Sun
Worshippers. The Gospel story of Jesus the Christ, the true Light, which lighteth every man that
comes into the world (John 1 : 9) is the story of the Sun, the Savior of mankind. The birth of
Jesus is on the twenty-fifth of December. This day had been determined by ancient astronomers
as the Sun's birthday (Adonis) Ez. 8 : 14, became the Christian mourning for Jesus and the joy of
the ancients at the rising of the Sun became the joy of the Christians at the resurrection of Jesus.
Egypt, Persia, Palestine and Babylonia at the Vernal Equinox - at Easter, the Sun has been below
the Equator and suddenly rises above it, exhibiting a Resurrection. There is a fixed time for
Christmas, but the resurrection at Easter is a varying time, as in all ancient religions, since the
resurrection had to be. associated with the New Moon. According to the Christian Calendar, the
birthday of John the Baptist is on the day of the Summer Solstice, when the Sun begins to
decrease.

How true to Nature then are the words attributed to him in John 3 : 30, "He must decrease and
Jesus increase."

This is what happens above. Now: As above, so below:

Experience will teach us that what happens in the celestial world also happens in our body
composed of cells.

Jesus, the Sun in the Macrocosm, becomes Jesus the psycho-physical Seed in us, the Microcosm.
The pineal gland (Joseph) produces the positive male force and the pituitary gland (Mary)
produces the negative female force. Both glands get their material from the upperbrain, the Most
High, the "Mother-Father" substance, through the Claustrum, which means a barrier or "cloister",
a secluded place. The Claustrum is a thin sheet of isolated gray matter consisting of spindle
shaped cell-bodies. Like Santa Claus, it distributes the goodies with which the pineal and
pituitary glands make the "milk and honey." The male force flows from the pineal gland through
a channel (Pingala) crossing the spinal cord at the base of the skull, in the medulla oblongata and
follows down the right side of the spinal cord. The female force flows from the pituitary gland
through a channel (Ida) crossing the spinal cord at the same place and follows down the left side
of the spinal cord. Both forces pass through the semi-luna ganglion after which they merge into
the solar plexus, Bethlehem, the House of Bread. It is here, where Mary and Joseph become the
mother and father of the holy child. The first seed is formed in the solar plexus of every
individual at the age of twelve (puberty). Thereafter, it is formed every twenty-nine and a half
days at the time of the month when the moon is in the sign in which the sun was at the birth of
the individual. From the Solar Plexus, if not interfered with, the seed passes into the spinal canal
in the center of the spinal cord where it is "baptized" with the spinal fluid. The spinal canal
terminates in the Cauda Equina, which makes it look and act like a thermometer. This is the
River of God or the Jordan in Biblical terminology. Once the Seed is in the spinal canal it can,
through art, be raised to the cross at Golgotha (place of the skull, in Hebrew). In anatomy
Golgotha is the base of the skull, where the spinal cord enters the head. There, in the medulla
oblongata, the nerves from the left side of the brain cross over to the right side of the body and
the nerves from the right side of the brain cross over to the left side of the body. Also the energy
channels Pingala and Ida form a cross at the same place. The Seed, then, is crucified on the cross.
It is raised in power, for nowhere does the Crucifixion mean death. We "cross" animals to
improve the breed, the qualities. Crossed electric wires produce a more powerful current. The
Seed says: 'Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee." (John 17 :
1) The Crossing of the Seed causes glorification or illumination and literally enlightens the
whole brain. The Son and the Father become one.

The Stone comes with light and with light it is generated. Hermes goes on to say in Section IV:
"Understand, then, 0 Son of Wisdom, what the Stone declares; Protect me and I will protect thee;
increase my strength that I may help thee!" Yet, how true it is what he says in Section III: "Our
precious stone is cast forth upon the dung-hill, and that which is most worthy is made vilest of
the vile."

Now that we know, in a (wal-) nut shell, what happens above and below, in the celestial world
and in the physical world, we should be able to find out what happens in the material world. This
I leave up to you. When you read the "Aureus" or the Golden Tractate, however, keep in mind
that Hermes talks about all three together, because all is one. I promise you, it will be very
confusing, but perhaps not as much as before.

End of lecture as presented at the II Alchemistical Convention at Stuttgart, Germany, 1973.

Further comments by the author:

There are some facts about the joker card, which have not been mentioned as yet.

You will have noticed that the joker exhibits the colors yellow, red and blue in his clothing.
These are the three primary colors which are an indication of the consistency of the inner-
dynamics of man as far as light is concerned. It is interesting to note that in Kirlian photography
the energy emanating from the fingertips is registered in red and blue, the two polarities, red
negative and blue - positive (see the conventional Tree of Life - red and blue are linked by the
yellow path of activities of all "spiritual" beings). Yellow is the color of the energy field showing
predominantly around the head of man, where division of the poles is not as evident in the grey
matter of the brain.
The comb of the rooster on the joker's head is meant to look like a lion lying down when you
turn the card upside down. This red lion, which is of great significance in the Great Work, can be
made to show himself as another result of applying the Master Key of the alchemists, the crow of
Hermes - putrefaction. Of course, the final product of the crow is the crown. In the Hebrew
alphabet NUN, the 14th letter N, means a fish, with a deeper qabalistic meaning of "product" or
"that, which is born out of water" - MEM, the 13th letter meaning water. Therefore, the crow
plus the letter N form the crown, the philosopher's stone. I am almost certain that the joker holds
a white stone in his right hand. On the playing card the top section of the stone, between the
index and middle finger is blue, which I think could be a mistake by the manufacturer or the
printer. On the front cover of the previous Parachemica I have left it exactly the same, but on the
enclosed reproduction I changed it to white. Now the small white field below his little finger
reveals itself as the bottom section of the stone. It cannot be his thumb. The thumb is behind the
stone in order to be able to hold it. As far as I am concerned, the joker holds the stone and the
fact that he points to the crow is a substantial lead as to how he got it. Also see Rev. 2 17; Acts 4
: 11; 1 Pet. 2 : 4-7; Mat. 21 : 44; Luke 20 17.

Is it not amazing what is hidden in a simple joker card? Are in it more mysteries to be
discovered? Is the white field in the clown's mouth a fish, pertaining to spiritual food as a result
of a balanced polarity? Does the clown's collar represent a snake with an egg in its mouth? I
think, to know the full story, one would have to ask the original artist.

Arthur George Fehres.

ASTRONOMY FOR ASTROLOGERS II

RIGHT ASCENSION (R.A.)

As mentioned previously, The First Point of Aries occurs when the direct ray of the Sun
(Ecliptic) crosses the Equator going north, on the 21st March every year. Not only does this mark
the beginning of the zodiacal year and spring in the north, but it also serves as the zero reference
point for measurement of celestial longitude or right ascension.

We know there are two co-ordinates for locating the position of a place on Earth, just as there are
two co-ordinates for locating the position of a planet in the heavens, relative to the Earth.

The former, terrestial or geographical co-ordinates, are latitude and longtitude.

The latter, celestial co-ordinates, are declination and right ascension. Terrestial latitude
corresponds to declination : both are measured north and south from the equator. Terrestial
longitude corresponds to right ascension : both are measured along the equator.
The Meridian of Greenwich marks the beginning of measurement in terrestrial longtitude, in a
westwards direction for 180o, or in an eastwards direction for 180o. Thus 180o West and East is
the same longtitude and corresponds to the International Date Line running through the length of
the mid-Pacific Ocean.

The First Point of Aries might be thought of as the "Greenwich" of the celestial sphere, for it is
here that measurement in right ascension begins. But right ascension is measured in one direction
only eastwards.

It is measurement taken in degrees, minutes, and seconds of arc, from 0o through a full circle of
360o; or in hours, minutes and seconds of time, from 0 hours through a whole cycle of 24 hours.

Thus, RIGHT ASCENSION (RA) can be defined as measurement eastwards along the equator in
degrees of arc, or in hours of time, from the First Point of Aries.

The First Point in Aries is here shown in its correct position for 1970 AD? i.e. It has shifted to an
astronomical point well advanced in Pisces, or has it just moved into Aquarius?

THE PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES

This phrase refers to the backward motion or "going behind" of the points of intersection of the
Equator and the Ecliptic (the Equinoctial Points or Equinoxes).

They move backward so as to meet the Sun in its eastward motion along the Ecliptic. Each
Vernal Equinox (First Point of Aries) will occur a little earlier. The time advances 50" per year,
and accounts for the gradual shifting of the Equinoctial Points.

The present inclination of the Earth's axis and Equator to the Ecliptic is approximately 23.5 o,
along which obliquity the equinoctial points recede at a rate of 50" per year, or 1o in 72 years;
thus 1o (60 x 60) = 3,600" divided by 50" = 72 years, which multiplied by 30o (one zodiacal sign)
2,160 x 12 = 25,920 years to return to the same point in the Zodiac and so to complete the grand
climacteric or Platonic Year. Of course, we are told, it is this same Platonic or Great Year of
25,920 years that our Sun takes to revolve around Alcyone, the Great Sun.

Astronomers tell us that the Earth is something like a spinning top which is slowing down. The
top and bottom poles are sweeping round in a great circle. Each circling movement taking 25,920
years. The axis of the Earth wobbling, as it were, 23.5o out of the perpendicular. This in turn is
due, we are told. to the fact that the Earth is not exactly globular.

The Earth's equatorial diameter is 7,927 miles, and only 7,900 miles pole to pole. There is a
slight bulging, or protruberance, at the Equator, upon which the Sun's gravitational pull is
continually attracting down into the plane of the Ecliptic. The rapid rotation of the Earth
modifies this attraction and causes the Earth's poles to move in a circle, or into the conical
rotation of procession.

About 2,000 years ago, when this displacement of the Earth's axis was first discovered by the
great observational astronomer, Hipparchus, the vernal equinox "fell in" the constellation Aries.
Hence, the First Point of Aries.

But due to Precession, the First Point of Aries occurs now in the previous constellation, Pisces.
So it will continue to move backwards through each constellation, every 2,160 years.

At present the wobble of the Earth's axis is taking the North Pole towards the Pole Star (Polaris),
at 1o every 72 years. In 3,000 BC Draconis was the Pole Star and the Vernal Equinox coincided
with the constellation Taurus. In AD 7,500 Cephei will be near the celestial pole, and in AD
14,000 Vega will be the Pole Star as it was in 12,000 BC. Polaris will again be the Pole Star
around AD 28,000.

The Procession Circle left

Gravitational effects of the Sun. Moon and planets cause the Earth to 'wobble' slightly in much
the same way as a top which is running down. This causes a shift in the positions of the celestial
poles. and also of the celestial equator and First Point of Aries. In about 25.000 years each pole
describes a circle in the sky, 47o in diameter. This diagram shows the precession circle for the
north celestial pole. Three thousand years ago it lay near Thuban in Draco (the Dragon); at
present it is near Polaris; in 14,000 years' time the pole star will be the brilliant Vega, in Lyre.

Now let us look again at the Great Year from the aspect of our Sun's revolution around the Great
Sun, Alcyone. Given this fact, our Sun's great cycle of 26,920 years; an Age or Great Month of
2,160 years, is it not therefore likely that rather the Solar revolution about Alycone and the
consequent spiral motion of the Earth about Alcyone, is a more primary cause of Precession of
the Equinoxes and also of the 26,920 year wobble of the Earth's axis?

Is this not really just a question of relativity?

Isn't 'the wobble' rather an effect than a cause of Precession of the Equinoxes?

Our Universe is a case of "wheels within wheels" and the facts must vary depending on the view
or overview ...... whether geocentric or heliocentric or Alyconecentric. A simple example was the
geocentric system in astronomy which worked well (the Sun and planets revolve around the
Earth), until it was found that the heliocentric system gave more answers.

The Equinoxes and Solstices

The plane of the zodiac intersects the celestial equator at an angle of approximately 23o28'. The
two points of intersection (A and B) are called the equinoxes.

Astronomy for Astrologers III

ELIXIR
Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see.
And what I do in anything,
To do it, as for Thee.

Not rudely, as a beast,

To run into an action,
But still to make Thee prepossest
And give it His perfection.

A man that looks on glass,

on it may stay his eye,
Or, if he pleaseth, through it pass,
And then the heaven espy.

All may of Thee partake:

Nothing can be so mean,
Which, with His tincture (for thy sake),
Will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause,

Makes drudgery divine:
Who sweeps a room, as for Thy laws,
Makes that and the action fine.
This is the famous Stone
that turneth all to gold,
For that which God doth touch and own
cannot for less be told.

George Herbert (1593 - 1633)

 PARACHEMICA
Volume 3: Number 4 Winter 1979

Title page from "Azoth, or the method of making Philosopher's Secret Gold" by Brother Basil
Valentine.

Astronomy for Astrologers III

ASTRONOMY FOR ASTROLOGERS III

RETROGRADE MOTION OF THE PLANETS

All planets revolve around the Sun from west to east, which is termed their direct motion. Due,
however, to the Earth's own orbital motion in the same direction, the other planets at certain
times appear to the observer on the Earth to gradually slow down until they "stop" or "stand
still", before moving in the reverse (clockwise) direction to normal.

When a planet moves in this reverse direction along the ecliptic it is said to be retrograde. This is
indicated in the ephemeris by the capital letter "R" against its its longitudinal position. When a
planet appears to be motionless, before turning retrograde, or before changing from retrograde to
direct motion again, it is at its stationary points or stations and is then said to be stationary.

The Sun, being the axis for the Earth's orbital motion, can never appear retrograde. Neither can
the Moon.

When a planet is retrograde in relationship to us, it has great astrological significance because it
alters the influence of the Planet upon us in a necative way. e.g. When Mercury is retrograde, it
generally is a time poor for mental activity and obstructing and delaying in all realms of
communication.

Superior Planets

In the illustration, retrograde motion is shown in 2 diagrams. The top diagram shows the
apparent "loop" performed by a superior planet (planets further away from the Sun than the
Earth) in the process of reaching two stationary points which enclose between them the arc of
retrogression (or retrogradation).
 Retrograde Motion

Between the arc ABC the planet appears to move eastwards (direct) with reference to the stars or
zodiac, its angular motion decreasing as it approaches C (stationary point). Along the arc CDE
the planet appears to move westwards (retrograde) until E (stationary point) is reached. The arc
EFG traces its eastward and direct motion again. As can be deduced from the positions of Sun,
Earth, and superior planet in the lower diagram, retrograde occurs only around the time of
opposition for a superior planet.

Inferior Planets

With Venus the period of retrogression always occurs about 3 weeks before inferior conjunction
and extends for 6 weeks, direct motion beginning again about 3 weeks after inferior conjunction.
Venus therefore has to be between the Sun and Earth for their angular relationship to produce
apparent retrograde motion. In a synodic period (successive superior conjunctions with the Sun)
of 584 days, Venus is retrograde for an average of only 42 days, as against direct motion for 542
successive days.

Mercury, like Venus, can only be retrograde when nearest to the Earth, between the Earth and
the Sun. Midway between Greatest Elongation East and inferior conjunction Mercury appears to
be stationary because (as with Venus similarly placed) for a short time it is travelling exactly
towards the Earth. An inferior planet is, therefore, always retrograde at inferior conjunction.
Mercury's period of retrogression averages 20-24 days, when the planet again appears stationary,
midway between inferior conjunction and Greatest Elongation West, due to its then travelling
exactly away from the Earth. In a synodic period of 116 days Mercury retrogrades for an average
of 22 days, and moves direct for 94 days. Mercury is retrograde for about 20 per cent of its
synodic period, Venus for only 7 per cent. The illustration can be used to illustrate the retrograde
motions of Mercury and Venus if we think of the orbit shown for the superior planet as the orbit
of the Earth and the orbit that is indicated as the Earth's as that of either of the two inferior
planets. In this sense we see that, viewed from the superior planet towards the inferior planet,
retrogression does actually occur between midway point Greatest Elongation East inferior
conjunction and inferior conjunction - Greatest Elongation West (B and F representing maximum
elongation). Similarly, as viewed from Mars, the Earth would always appear retrograde around
its inferior conjunction with the Sun.

Astronomy for Astrologers IV

"Those who deny the influence of the planets violate clear evidence which for educated people of
sane judgement, it is not suitable to contradict." - Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), 'De Disciplinus
Mathematicis'.
 PARACHEMICA
Volume 4: Number 1 Spring 1979

This classical illustration of the Green Lion and the Sun (the original is in colour) is from a series
from the "Rosarium philosophorum" 16th. Century, Stadtbibliothek Vadiana, St. Gallen, Ms. 394
a, f.97.

Potable Gold - A. G. Fehres

Astronomy for Astrologers IV

POTABLE GOLD:
CONDENSED LABSHEET AND COMMENTARY

Commentary: Italics

PREPARATION

An ingot of one ounce of 9999 gold was dissolved in aqua regia and washed with distilled water
to near neutral until specks of metallic gold appeared.

Aqua Regia, a mixture of Hydrochloric and Nitric reduces metallic gold to salts of gold, chiefly
gold chloride. When the salts lose their acidity and become neutral or alkaline, the salts tend to
convert into metallic gold again.
During the washing also a brown precipitate appeared in the solution which was filtered out,
dried and stored for later possible use and labelled: Gold Body 1.

Salts of gold are always of a complex constitution in comparison to most other metallic salts.
Seeing "four nines" gold was used the brown powder could not be an impurity. No analysis was
carried out, but as this powder is insoluble in water, it could very well be auric hydroxide or
auric sulfide.

The resulting salts of gold were of a deep purple colour and were thoroughly dried as they were
found to be very hygroscopic.

Gold chloride is not only water soluble, it attracts moisture very quickly (hydroscopic) and
becomes a liquid. It also becomes a liquid when overheated once the solution is near neutral, the
water evaporated off and the salts broken up into small granules, I found a small erlenmeyer
flask on a very mild heat most suitable to get the salt thoroughly dry.

SEPARATION

Philosopher's Mercury was put over some of the gold chloride, causing a violent hissing as well
as heat which caused the contents to boil. The vapours smelled strongly of Aqua Regia.

Quoting from 'Alchemy Rediscovered and Restored' by A. Cockren, page 125: 'When the
Mercurial Water is added to these salts of gold, there is a slight hissing, an increase in heat, and
the gold becomes a deep red liquid. The degree of hissing depends on how little Mercury is
slowly added. If too much Mercury is added the salt is 'drowned' and no hissing occurs.

The liquid immediately became deep red and a sediment formed which, when cold, was filtered
out through a No. 5 filter paper. Then more of our Mercury was poured over the sediment until
no more colour came out. The dried sediment, light brown in colour, was put with Gold Body 1.

This light brown powder behaves the same as the precipitate obtained during the washing of the
salt. It does not dissolve in water nor in alcohol, tests neutral and during calcination quickly
changes to carbon, ignites and burns up.

This deep red filtrate, now called 'EXTRACT NO. 1' was distilled to recover the solvent, which
was used again over more of the gold chloride and this process was repeated until all gold
chloride had been used for which one ounce of Philosopher's Mercury was sufficient.

Our solvent, being very volatile, should be handled with great care unless one can afford
considerable loss during operations. Filtration was done in a well closed jar just big enough to
contain the funnel and filtrate bottle. For distillation a retort was used and the receiving flask
was preheated before joining and then cooled. This works well if a very low heat is used. Joints
were taped with plastic adhesive tape for extra safety.

This EXTRACT No. 1 should not be called potable gold other than perhaps in highly triturated
homeopathic preparations it is not at all safe to take as it still contains gold chloride in liquid
form and Aqua Regia which remained in the gold chloride.
Cockren states that the oil of gold is obtained by addition of the mercurial water to the salts of
gold. This is true, but the oil is still in a poisonous mixture of acid and liquid salt. Later on
Cockren clearly points out that the oil of gold, a deep amber liquid of an oily consistency, is
obtained from this deep red liquid by means of distillation. He goes on to say that this oil IS the
potable gold of the alchemists.

While distilling off Mercury from Extract No. 1, it was noticed that first the Mercury came over
and then a soft yellow liquid which was received in a separate receiving flask. This soft yellow
liquid, after standing for a few hours, changed to orange, then to red and by the next day had
become a very deep dark red, now called EXTRACT No 2.

This yellow liquid tests very acid, yet it also contains Mercury, which acts more slowly on liquid
salts of gold when in an acid solution.

To diminish confusion further notes on EXTRACT No. 2 have been omitted, but it could be
briefly mentioned that it was gently washed with distilled water several times and then once with
alcohol. The extract was then rectified (alcohol evaporated off, fresh alcohol poured over it and
filtered) and put together with the final extract.

PURIFICATION

After the Mercury and soft yellow liquid had been distilled of EXTRACT No 1, there remained
in the distillation flask a thick black liquid and a film of metallic gold had lined the bottom.
The metallic gold lining resulted from the liquid gold chloride from which its acidity had been
removed during distillation, which converted the salt into metal before the Mercury had caused
its separation.
Absolute alcohol was poured onto this black liquid resulting in a deep red liquid, which was
filtered and now called EXTRACT No 3.
More alcohol was poured over the sediment in the filter paper until no more colour was
extracted. The sediment was then gently dried and put with 'Gold Body 1'.
The gold pellicles easily lifted from the bottom of the retort and were put away for re-use.
This EXTRACT No. 3, when sufficiently concentrated, has an oily consistency but is very acidic,
which can easily be detected by smell.
From EXTRACT No 3 alcohol was distilled off until the distillate started to show a faint yellow
colour.
Rota-vap apparatus was used, but is not a must as long as very low heat is used.
The alcohol tested very acid and was discarded.
The black viscous residue in the distillation flask was washed with distilled water several times
until the washings tested neutral.
If distillation is continued wider high vacuum a clear oil can be obtained from it.
All washings were evaporated and the remains were rectified with alcohol several times. The
black viscous residue was dissolved in absolute alcohol, producing a very strong deep red liquid,
which was filtered through a No 5 filter paper. The sediment was treated the same as before.
The rectified remains of the washings were added to this liquid. All liquid was rectified with
alcohol twice more (until its VAPOUR tested neutral) now called POTABLE GOLD.
Litmus paper cannot be used on an oily liquid.

FURTHER COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON OIL OF GOLD

Potable gold, thus prepared and rectified can be reduced to an oil as follows:
Let the alcohol evaporate off with a very gentle heat until no more alcohol can be smelled.
Dissolve residue with philosopher's mercury and circulate for a philosophical month or longer.
Distill off philosopher's mercury until the liquid is of mild oil consistency.
Pour distilled water onto this liquid. This will cause the oil to separate as a deep amber liquid,
which can be made to cling to the sides through gently rolling and rotating the flask.
Pour out the water in an evaporating dish. If it has a tinge of yellow or faint red, it will also test
acid, which means that either your potable gold or philosopher's mercury has not sufficiently
been rectified or purified.
Weigh your bottle before and after removal of the oil. I think, the oil is the best and most reliable
as a basis for trituration (dilution into potencies).
The oil is easily removed through dissolving it with alcohol.
Oil of gold can also be obtained as follows:
Dissolve salts of gold with enough philosopher's mercury and let it stand, well stoppered, for a
couple of months.
This allows the mercury the time to act on all the salt and no metallic gold will form.
The amber oil will have separated, but will be found together with a red liquid which is very
acidic.
Make the oil stick to the sides of the flask and decant the red liquid or pour the whole contents in
an evaporating dish, let the oil cling to the sides and decant the red liquid.
Wash the oil with distilled water till neutral and rectify with alcohol at least twice.

DOSAGE

Considering the oil as a solid extract, 1 gram of the oil would make 10ml of fluid extract, which
would make 100m1 of tincture, one litre of lx, 10 litres of 2x, etc.

What potency to use, how much and how often, comes down to 'trial and error' as this would
differ from person to person, depending on sensitivity and pathological conditions. As far as I
know, no clinical evaluation has ever been documented apart from my own personal attempts in
this direction.

To my own satisfaction the oil of gold has been proved to be non-toxic, but so is a herbal
laxative, meaning to say that too much of it can be taken with unpleasant results.

Experience will teach you it to be wise to start with nothing stronger than the tincture and no
more than 5 drops a day. Sensitive people should start with a lx or higher potency. Every day
keep checking how you feel without allowing your emotions or imagination to take over.

From weak potencies it is unlikely that you get noticeable reactions from day to day. Strong
doses of the tincture can result in headaches, increase in temperature, feeling too warm especially
at night plus perspiration, tiredness, depression, lower back and neck pains, general aching of
joints, kidney and bladder pains, darker urine, loss of appetite and nausea.

According to Naturopathic philosophy these symptoms indicate an increased effort of the body
towards cleansing. Therefore, my advice as a naturopath is to take it easy!

USES

Potable gold as well as the oil of gold are no overnight miracle cures and they are no pain killers
either. Throughout the ages gold has been considered the perfect materialization of the sun and
as such the qualities, benefits and virtues of the essence of gold (oil of gold) are assumed to be
the same as or comparable with those of the sun, e.g. energizing or revitalizing, warming and
expanding. Therefore, as a result the body would be more capable to look after itself, to start
cleansing, renovating and rebuilding, slowly but surely.

- Arthur G Fehres.

ASTRONOMY FOR ASTROLOGERS IV

THE PLANETARY ASPECTS

A planetary aspect refers to a planet's position in the sky as viewed from the Earth at times of
major configuration formed relative to the Sun.

Thus in this discussion we are looking at Aspects in the astronomical sense between the Sun and
another planet only. However, in Astrology the same principle still applies in aspects between
one planet and any other.

Astronomically, an Aspect or Configuration is the angular distance measured along the ecliptic
in celestial longitude, as viewed from the Earth.

The outside circle (see illustration) represents the orbit of a superior planet (a planet outside the
Earth's orbit). The inner circle, closest to the Sun, the orbit of an inferior planet, Mercury or
Venus.

Conjunction

When a superior planet is in line with the Sun and Earth, and is on the far side of the Sun, it is in
superior conjunction, or just simply conjunction. When an inferior planet is similarly positioned
on the far side of the Sun from the Earth it is in superior conjunction also; but when it is on the
near side of the Sun and in line with that body and the Earth it is in inferior conjunction. All
planets can reach superior conjunction, but only Mercury and Venus form the inferior
conjunction. When a planet or the Moon is in conjunction with the Sun it is always on or near the
meridian at noon for any place. The interval between successive superior conjunctions, or
successive inferior conjunctions, is known as a planet's synodic period.

Elongation

The apparent angular distance of a planet east or west from the centre of motion (the Sun) at any
time is called its elongation. With superior planets elongation can be measured up to 18 do east
or west from the zero point at conjunction. The expression "at elongation" usually means the
planet's maximum angular distance during its particular revolution of the Sun. But in the case of
the inferior planets, Mercury can only be just over 28o from the Sun (viewed from the Earth) at
Greatest Elongation West; Venus can only reach a distance of about 48o at these angular limits. It
follows, therefore, that when a planet is in conjunction the Sun elongation is nil; at opposition,
elongation is 180o

The illustration shows an inferior planet's path to be through superior conjunction to Greatest
Elongation East, then swinging towards through inferior conjunction until it reaches its greatest
western elongation, and so back again to superior conjunction to complete a synodic period.

When Mercury and Venus are east of the Sun they rise or set later than the Sun, because even
though in terms of celestial longitude they will then be ahead of the Sun, moving in a direct or
anticlockwise direction (as direction of arrox*"illustration"), the rotation of the Earth makes the
Sun and planets appear to move in a clockwise direction.

Thus, when their Greatest Elongation East occurs in the spring months, when they are north of
the celestial equator, they will be favourably placed for observation as "evening star", being high
in the sky at sunset. Venus, in particular, is then very bright and sets about 4 hours after sunset,
and Mercury about 2 hours after sunset. Mercury is only observed by the naked eye about the
time of greatest apparent elongation. In the autumn months, when south of the celestial equator,
neither planet attains a very high altitude, and when western elongation occurs at this time of the
year they set before darkness has completely fallen, setting before the Sun. At western elongation
Mercury and Venus are "morning stars" because they rise ahead of the Sun, before daylight.
Quadrature

Only the superior planets, which have orbits larger than the Earth's, can form square (quadrature)
and opposition aspects with the Sun. the Moon, of course, because it orbits the Earth also forms
these aspects. To an astrologer, when a planet's angular distance along the ecliptic from the Sun
is 90o it is in square aspect; but the astronomer speaks of the planet being at quadrature C
"illustration"). A planet is at eastern quadrature when, viewed from the Earth, it is 90o eastwards
of the Sun, at apparent midpoint between conjunction and opposition. This would be First
Quarter in the case of the Moon. At western quadrature a planet is westwards of the Sun by 90o
at apparent midpoint between opposition and conjunction, and for the Moon this would be Last
Quarter.

At eastern quadrature a superior planet's meridian passage is around 6 pm; at western quadrature,
6 am.

Opposition

A planet is in opposition to the Sun when the Sun, Earth, and planet are approximately or
directly in line, with the Earth in the middle. Mercury and Venus cannot be in opposition to the
Sun. When at opposition a superior planet (or the Moon) crosses the meridian at about midnight.
A planet is also at its closest point in its orbit to the Earth (perigee) at opposition, and at its
farthest point (apogee) at conjunction the Sun, as shown in "illustration". This means that at
opposition it will be above the horizon all night.

Occultation

Occultation (Latin: occulere, cover) is a term most commonly applied to the hiding of a star or
planet by the Moon. In other words, the other body is "eclipsed", and it would not be incorrect to
say that a total solar eclipse is an occultation of the Sun. An occultation can only occur when the
other body and the moon are in the same degrees of longitude and of declination.

Reference: "The Astrologer's Astronomical Handbook" - Jeff Mayo (Fowler)

Astronomy for Astrologers V

 PARACHEMICA
Volume 4: Number 2 Summer 1980

From the 'Rosarium Philosophorum' 16th cent. Stadbibliothek Vadiana, St. Gallen, Ms. 394a,
f.64.
Shows Fermentation or conjunction with the two bodies in a volatile state (hence the wings).

Editorial: The Way and the Name

The Way of Alchemy
The Essential Krishnamurti
Astronomy for Astrologers V

EDITORIAL:

THE WAY AND THE NAME

The way that can be told
is not the constant way;
the name that can be named
is not the constant name
Lao Tsu.
Although the name of the Way for many of us is Alchemy; although we work at transmutation
on our inner selves thru' work on our thoughts, emotions, our bodies and with herbs, minerals
and daily experience - the Way and the Name cannot be told or named.

It cannot be packaged or circumscribed. We need and use methods and techniques. We must
apply theory and technology on the Way, but The Way is One and the methods multitudinous.

We can only find the Way within ourselves and for each one the Way appears different, for each
one has different lessons to learn, different experiences to understand, different seasons for
different tasks different heights to be climbed - all because we each begin in this life at a
different time and place as far as our personal evolution is concerned - but nevertheless there is
only One Way and It is for each of us to discover alone.

Therefore it may be quite valid for one student at one time to be deeply involved with resolving a
problem of finances and employment, whilst another must find a deeper understanding and
control over his negative self-destructive emotions with the aid of astrology, whilst another can
seem to get nowhere until she has overcome her dispersion of energy and lack of focussed effort
the QBL may aid her here, whilst yet another is totally absorbed in the intricacies of mineral
extractions in the laboratory and finding the properties of matter and fire.

Each one of necessity may find themselves needing to work on a different aspect of self at a
different time.

This is valid and a part of the Work and the Way, so long as our Will is focussed on the One
Way, the constant Way of the One Will, for many are the diversions, the side-tracks and the
mini-wills of the ego-self.

THE WAY OF ALCHEMY

INTRODUCTION

In this present day and age man approaches the Unknown in the name of Science with an
analytical mind which reaches the point where specialists of different disciplines are at a loss to
communicate to those other than their own. Science is reaching an unprecedented degree of
differentiation where detail is the name of the game, with the result being an unsystematic
piecemeal unfolding of knowledge of the cosmos. But the almost forgotten root of exoteric and
esoteric knowledge is alchemy.

Encountered in the practice of alchemy is the conjunction of philosophy and laboratory practice,
science and art, the objective with the subjective. Whoever understands the fundamentals of
alchemy will understand the essence of all else, as all things are seen from the inside rather than
the countless outer forms and diversities of nature - in fact,the forest is seen, not only the trees.
Rrom this point of view all knowledge becomes systematized, in alchemy, into Unity. That
which enables the unity to unfold is Spirit - a primary concern of alchemists. When art is based
on the dynamic symmetry and harmonies characterizing the forms of nature, when science sees
the natural kingdoms (including mineral) as living, and respects them as such, then this spirit is
approached. It has been said that alchemy is evolution of spirit, and evolution is the raising of
vibratory rates recalling that 'all is vibrating; all is in motion', as put forth in The Kybalion by
Three Initiates.

The predicament of man at present is a sorry one, perhaps typified by our urge to utilize nuclear
energy with a questionable moral maturity in accepting the responsibility involved. On an
individual level our lives are dogged by psychological and physical malaise, all because we have
forgotten our true heritage our true spiritual selves. It is through evolution or alchemy, that we
realize (i.e. make real) our potential Godhood according to, and within the laws that Nature
herself utilizes. Nature brings her creations to a preordained state of perfection through the
processes of birth, death and rebirth (Solve et coagula), which has the effect of raising the
vibratory rate of the entity towards an awareness of its own wholeness. While Nature unaided
works over an immense expanse of time, the alchemists imitates these processes, but condensing
greatly the time factor. The natural world is separable into three kingdoms of varying relative
vibratory rates,from vegetable to animal, with the mineral kingdom the uppermost. The vibratory
rate of a specimen from Nature is raised in the outer laboratory, and is then used by the alchemist
to raise his own vibratory rate (ie. give and take) with the agency of metals in the mineral
kingdom representing the final stages.

The literary trend at present which poses Alchemy as purely psycho-spiritual denies the validity
of its cornerstone law, 'as above, so below'. If transmutation can occur on the psycho-spiritual
level, it can certainly occur on the physical level as the principles involved are identical.
Alchemists observe that the fruit of perfection is contained within the seed, and it is this 'seed'
that is focused on in the laboratory, being sagaciously separated from its impure and often toxic
'husk', purified and integrated by the sensitive use of the four elements to bring forth a
transmuted, perfected substance, reborn at a higher vibratory rate. Spirit has been grounded in
Matter.

Modern science postulated that the building blocks of the universe are the 102 or so 'elements',
but Rutherford soon demonstrated otherwise, with the discovery of subatomic particles. What is
knowledge now, has been and probably will be in the future erroneous, as it is knowledge that is
subject to change. It is Truth that is not. Alchemy asserts that the primary building block of the
universe is the 'First Matter', remaining hidden in, but permeating all creation, perhaps known
better by the name 'spirit' or 'archetype'. The hard-won truths of the alchemists have been
promulgated in thousands of volumes in veiled language to confuse the uninitiated, and the
logical extensions are staggering. One such extension has been the discovery of nuclear physics
by exoteric scientists. Is it any wonder that the Alchemists of old veiled their theory in practise to
all but the worthy?

The attention of the majority has been focused on alchemy due to its claims of the transmutation
of lead into gold. Let this be understood that this is possible, and has been witnessed and
recorded by reliable persons many times. Such a power has been in the hands of those who have
earned the "Grace of God", with arduous years of meditation of labour over the furnace. It is the
by-product of a selfless heart and the desire to alleviate the suffering of mankind by the
preparation of powerful, but gentle elixers, which enable the psycho-spiritual and physical health
to be restored. The raison d'etre of alchemy is the raising of vibrations, both in oneself and in the
medications created in the outer laboratory - it is the search for perfection and the greater life of
the Initiate.

Most people on the spiritual path have experienced what has been described as 'highs', 'ecstacies'
and mystical experiences. but in a relatively short space of time have completed a cycle,
returning to consciousness of the physical and personality levels. A change in consciousness is
reflected by changes in the physiology and structure of the body, but due to the inertia of the
physical plane, the changes are minute. The changes in consciousness have to be repeated many
times before they become stabilized in physical vehicle which serves as an 'anchor'.

Alchemy is a path that works very much on the physical plane, utilizing natural elixers to
gradually transform the Body by purification, detoxification and regeneration, making it a
suitable vessel to consciously receive the finest of vibrations that permeate the universe
continuously. Transmutation is carried out simultaneously in the psyche (soul) of man, by the
awareness and application of cosmic laws in daily life (such as the law of Karma, as above so
below, etc), along with the internal use of elixers for his own health, and the service he renders to
his fellows by making available the medicines.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

The understanding of the basic principles of alchemy require neither a background in chemistry
or medicine, or any other academia. The only requirement is a right motive and commonsense.
Alchemy utilizes very simple laws which are manifold in their application.

1. All is unity

Alchemists conceive the universe as being Divine and the manifestation of the one God. Nature
and its laws are the very outer expression of the Godhead. In the words of The Kybalion, 'The All
is mind, the universe is Mental'. The one God is best described in terms of the three essences (see
below).

2. Duality

All manifestation exists by virtue of dual forces. Perception and conception can only exist where
an object is relative to, and in contrast with another. Some specific examples are - a) 'As above,
so below'. This is a great law having many applications. It is the law of correspondence of the
planes, indicating that whatever exists and is created in the inner worlds (as well as celestial
influences) is reflected simultaneously in the outer physical reality. once this is accepted as a
living law, the activity occurring on the inner psychic planes can be accurately ascertained by
observation of the events, objects and relationships that come into outer life. True awareness of
this law obliges us to take responsibility for every aspect of our lives. If an outer circumstance is
felt to be inharmonious, then it can be changed effectively by inner plane work. 'As below, so
above' - indicates that our outer actions have a corresponding effect on the inner planes (this
leads to so-called Karma). Laboratory work, i.e. manipulation and regeneration of physical
substances and elements, etc., leads to the transmutation of the corresponding psychic
archetypes. Jung termed the Alchemists concern with physical matter, 'projections of the
unconscious' onto that matter, which is valid, but only half-way there.

b) Polarity. Everything consists of two polar opposites; everything has an opposite pole to itself,
where the poles differ only in degree. A simple illustration is heat and cold, which are different
degrees of the same thing temperature. Where does heat begin and cold end? What we see as hot
and coldi aepends on the situation, so we may conclude that it is a matter of relativity.
Manifestations of heat/cold, light/darkness, love/hate, fear/courage, good and evil are 'merely a
form, variety and rate of vibration', as it is put in The Kybalion. It is possible to effect a change
of one pole to another, within this 'form, variety or rate of vibration'. It is the detested weakness
in ourselves, that once transmuted become our very strengths, to push us on towards the One.

c) Gender. All creation, generation and regeneration is not possible without the male/female
principles interacting. Every female contains a male principle, and every male, the female.

3. The Trinity

Of primary concern to the Alchemist are the three essentials, or great Trinity which comprise all
manifestation. In Alchemical literature they are the much confused Mercury, Sulphur, Salt, and
are often referred to as the Three-in-One.

a) MERCURY (Spirit) Mercury, to an Alchemist is the most important concept and physical
essence. It is not to be confused with ordinary metallic mercury, and is known under a variety of
names, such as Water of Life, Prima Materia, Water of the Wise, Philosophical Mercury, Seed,
Bird Without Wings, Heavenly Water and Azoth. In simple terms Mercury is as every thing is,
polar in nature.

Kingdom Physical Pole Non-Phys. Pole

Animal Blood Life-Force

Plant Alcohol Life-Force

Mineral Alkahest Life-Force

The blood, alcohol and alkahest serve as vehicles, in their respective kingdoms, of the life-force,
thus when the alchemist works with these substances, he is working with living entities. Alkahest
is described as an inflammable, clear, very volatile liquid which is contained wholly within the
mineral. In the Collectanae Chemica (Anon), mercury is spoken of thus:

"All true philosophers agree that the first matter of metals is a moist vapour raised by the xtion
of the central fire in the bowels of the earth, which, circulating through its pores meets with the
crude air, and is coagulated by it into an unctuous water adhering to the earth which serves it
for a recepticle, where it is joined to a sulphur more or less pure and a salt more or less fixing
which it attracts from the air, and, receiving a certain degree of concoction from the central and
solar heat is formed into stones and rocks, mineral and metals."

Hence it appears that the first Matter of metals is one thing and not many; homogenous, but
altered by the diversity of places and sulphurs with which it is combined.

Mercury is thus the archetypal idea of all entity, just as the idea of flower exists above and before
the manifest flower (the seed contains the fruit) and Adam Kadman exists above and before
terrestrial man. In terms of gender, the Mercury is of feminine polarity (but contains within it
certain masculine characteristics), symbolized by the moon.

b) SULPHUR (Soul) Again, it must be understood that the sulphur referred to here is not
common brimstone. The physical/non-physical polarity is,

Kingdom Physical Pole Non-Phys. Pole

Animal Oil Consciousness

Plant Oil Consciousness

Mineral Oil Consciousness

It is the role of Sulphur to coagulate; and to concentrate the life-force in one physical location.
The organizational aspect of Sulphur maintains the human organism with its different organs as
one cohesive unit.

Macrocosmically solar gravitational attraction sustains the orbits of the planets which maintains
the harmony and rhythm of the solar system unit. In the Collectanae Chemica; 'these three
kingdoms do not indeed differ in their virtue nor the three sulphurs, as every sulphur has the
power to coagulate its own Mercury; and every Mercury has a power of being coagulated by its
own proper sulphur, and by none other which is a stranger to it'.

Sulphur has the masculine polarity attributed to it, symbolised by the Sun.

c) SALT (Body) Salt is the substance that exoteric science deals with exclusively, but it is not
common table salt. It is the familiar salts of the mineral kindgom as well as the mineral ash of the
plant and animal kingdoms. The non-physical polarity is the subtle vehicle in all three kingdoms.

4. Four Elements

These are the four elements of the Sages Fire (heat), Air (Gases), Water (Liquids), Earth
(Solids), Frater Albertus in The Alchemists Handbook says of the elements:

"Atoms are matterized, segmentary, entities of cosmic consciousness manifesting in one of the
three elements of physical phenomena, ie., solid, liquid, or gaseous. Atomic structures can be
rearranged but the results will manifest in one of the three elements as mentioned, changes being
brought about through heat (the fourth). All motion is due to force and all force emanates from
heat(energy), having its origin in universal plasma, which is a coagulation of gaseous, liquid
and solid substance.

Heat or fire, as confusingly (yet understandably) misnamed in former times is another element.
However, visible fire is combustion, a rearrangement of atomic structures and has its origin in
either solid, liquid or gaseous combustable atomic structures. But solids ... can be liquified and
solids can become gases, and gases condense into liquids, science will reply.

True, but this is as far as it will go. An ultimate end must be reached within the realm of these
elements. It can only be one of the three at one time because all three are in one, namely heat,
energy, the universal plasma. Anything that manifests to our senses does so within the three
elements through the fourth".

It is the art of manipulation of the elements that transforms the seed (in this, sense, the three
essentials into the perfected fruit. just as a seed in the garden needs the right proportions of each
of the four elements to germinate, and grow, so do the alchemical elixirs.

The above may be summed up by saying that:

"... the law of polarity will reveal itself within the three essentials that will be found within the
four elements, wherein is found the quintessence which is not one of the four (elements), but one
of the three (essences)" (Parachemica Vol.3 No. 1). The quintessence is mercury; the Prima
Materia.)

5. The Seven Planetary Principles

This is a vast field that cannot be dealt with fully in this article. The seven planetary Principles or
Rays are archetypes that permeate the cosmos on all planes and scales of existence
simultaneously. The seven Principles constitute what may be considered to be the "organs" on
the physical, psychological, spiritual, microsmic and macrocosmic levels. To quote from
Paracelsus in Life and Doctrines of Paracelsus by Franz Hartmann, 1891/1963.

"Every organ in the human body is formed by the action of certain principles that exist in the
universe, and the former attract the corresponding activity in the latter. Thus the heart is in
sympathy with the elements of the sun... There are many stars in the great firmament of the
universe and there are many germs (i.e. seeds) hidden in the little world of man, and the high
influences the low and in the macrocosm and microcosm all things stand in intimate sympathetic
relationship with each other for all are the children of one universal father.

If I have manna in my constitution I can attract manna from heaven.

Saturn is not only in the sky but also deep in the earth and in the ocean. What is Venus but the
artemesia that grows in your garden? What is iron but Mars? That is to say Venus and artemesia
are both products of the same essence, and Mars and iron are both manifestations of the same
cause. What is the human body but a constellation of the same powers that formed the stars in
the sky? He who knows what iron is knows the attributes of Mars. He who knows Mars knows the
quality of iron".

He clearly states elsewhere that the stars do not cause disease but an "adverse" astrological
influence will nurture the seed of a disease, both physically and psychologically, if it already
exists. The above quotation illustrates the concept of each form in nature being primarily under
the rulership of one of these archetypes which are for convenience named after the classical
planets. This is of great importance in practical alchemy, as it determines which substance is to
be transmutedr and for what purpose it is to be used.

By the familiar maxim "As above, so below" - So below, so above" a herb, metal, or animal
product of a Principle when transmuted, will have a corresponding effect, change in polarity
within its own principle. For example, transmuted dandelion has the power to change the polarity
of a diseased liver to a healthy one, and also to change a polarity of cunning to wisdom. This is a
transformation of low vibration Jupiter to high vibration Jupiter.

The following table is a glimpse of an endless list of correspondence of the seven planetary
principles.

Planet Herbs Metal Day Anatomy 'Vice' 'Virtue'

Camomile
Sun Gold Sunday Heart Pride Humility
Eyebright
Watercress
Moon Silver Monday Brain Lust of the Flesh Stability of Christos
Moonwort
Valerian,
Mercury Mercury Wednesday Lungs Envy Benevolence
Liquorice
Mugwort
Venus Copper Friday Kidneys Lewdness Ennobling
Valerian
Nettle
Mars Iron Tuesday Gall bladder Anger Meekness
Garlic
Dandelion
Jupiter Tin Thursday Liver Cunning Wisdom
Dock
Comfrey
Saturn Lead Saturday Spleen Avarice Charity
Wintergreen

(N.B. Vice and virtue from Jacob Boehme, Anatomy from Paracelsus, and herbs from Frater
Albertus.)

PRACTICE

All practical alchemy, whether performed psychospiritually in the 'inner laboratory', or the outer
physical laboratory, consists of only three processes. (a) separation (b) purification (c)
cohobation, or combination. These processes will be illustrated by a hypothetical transmutation
of a herb - the lesser Circulation; the herb having been collected (that portion containing the
active healing agents) on the day governed by its planetary ruler and then dried and ground. The
herb is separated into its three essentials (one becomes Three) - (a) sulphur = oils, (b) mercury =
alcohol, ethanol, (c) salt remaining dead body (caput mortem), and each of these three essences
are separately purified by distillation or an open flame, as appropriate, and when pure, they are
recombined, Three into One). The process of separation of alcohol i.e. life, from the herb
indicates the death of the herb, the purification becomes the purgation, and cohobation is the
rebirth; the culmination of the spiralic cycle. The herb is now a wax-like substance, which is
solid at room temperature and liquid when warmed a small quantity of which is taken in water or
wine on the appropriate day. Herbs of all seven Principles used in conjunction provide a
balanced, gentle regeneration of mind and body.

CONCLUSION

In alchemical practice the study of the time cycles of the seven Principles and astrology have
primary functions - (a) cycles of the seven Principles provide information concerning the
optimum times to perform the various laboratory proceedures. (b) Astrology is an invaluable
guide in getting to know oneself and when correctly understood can clarify deeply rooted karmic
problems to be confronted and transmuted in this lifetime. These problems come to a head under
the influence of transits and progressions, and the knowledge of celestial influences frees one of
being what appears to be the victim of external circumstances. Astrological factors also influence
the timing of laboratory procedure.

The Qabalah provides the student of alchemy with a very thorough set of relationships between
the various archetypes being explored and used. It is these relationships that combine in the
pattern of the Tree of Life: the forming of a map of the micro and macrocosm.

To summarize - astrology reveals who you are; the Qabalah indicates where you are going; and
alchemical practise provides the means for getting there.

Grateful acknowledgements to the Paracelsus Research Society.

- Kevin Masman.

THE ESSENTIAL KRISHMURTI

Who is Krishnamurti and how is he relevent to the teachings of the Paracelsus Research Society
?

J. Krishnamurti was born in South India and educated in England. Hailed by many from early
youth and groomed as a future great spiritual teacher by the early leaders of the Theosophical
Society, he rejected adulation and leadership in order to encourage spiritual freedom and the
discovery of understanding by each one for himself.
He has devoted his life to speaking and counselling, traveling in the U.S.A., Europe, India and
other parts of the world, addressing thousands of people, always pointing the way of each man to
find himself.

He is well known through his many books throwing much light on the problems of humanity -
our hopes, our fears, our illusions, our beliefs, our prejudices, our total conditioning. In this way
he continually encourages selfobservation to "awaken" us in the same way as we find in the
teaching of Ouspensky, Gurdjieff and the Paracelsus Research Society.

The following article is written by a student who has been a constant disciple of Krishnamurti for
well over thirty years :

"I am giving you what I consider are the basic points of K's communications (not teachings).
Teachings imply something to be remembered, something to be done, something to be believed
in, something to accept or reject, something for the "formulative" mind to hang on to.
Communications can induce real listening, induce the ability to see new significances, see new
implication, receive new intimations ........... from a level beyond the formulative mind, beyond
and outside the FIELD of thought. Let us agree to say that K. Communicates with us, and
according to our ability to listen and experience as we listen, we find our centre of consciousness
functioning - ie, either within the field of thought (memory) or beyond this field where
understanding takes the place of mental pictures or suppositions.

"Now for the salient points contained in his communications. Here are some :

1. "Individuals, the world over, singly and collectively, are faced with problems which have no
solution of a permanent nature. Each one is in conflict.

2. "There is no realization on the part of those who are seeking a solution that the "I","Ego" or
"me" in each case is that responsible for the problem, in part or wholly.

3. "The failure on part of the enquirer or seeker to discover this, confines him to the limits of his
own field of thought (memory) for any remedy or solution. This can only lead to some
modification of conditioning for the individual or for the mass. Here, K. declares that until the
mind is free from all conditioning there must BE PROBLEMS. So, to find out for oneself that
which is true in any situation or circumstance, to find out what is Real, what is God, the mind
must be free from all conditioning.

4. "K. points out most emphatically that until the mind is aware of its own process, until it sees
itself functioning in a particular pattern and is able to be free from that conditioning, obviously
all search is vain. Hence it is of the greatest importance to begin with ourselves. K. repeats that it
is only the mind that is capable of observing patiently its own conditioning, and, being free from
its conditioning, is able to start a revaluation or radical transformation and discover that which is
infinitely beyond the mind - beyond desire - beyond vanity and pursuits.

5. "This pin-points the absolute necessity for self knowledge. K. declares that without self-
knowledge, without knowing oneself as one is and not as one would like to be, without knowing
the ways of inner thinking all one's motives, one's thoughts, one's innumerable responses, it is
not possible to understand and go beyond this whole process of thinking.

6. "To quote K. from a recent talk: "And so it is important to understand oneself, is it not? Self
knowledge is the beginning of wisdom. Self-knowledge is not according to some psychologist's
book or philosopher, but to know oneself as one is from moment to moment. To know oneself is
to observe what one thinks, how one feels, not just superficially, but to be deeply aware of what
is, without condemnation without judgment, without evaluation or comparison. Unless this takes
place, not only at the superficial level, but right through the whole content of consciousness,
there can be no delving into the profundity of the mind. Please if you are really here to
understand what is being said it is THIS that we are concerned with and nothing else. The mind
is conditioned right through, there is no part of the mind which is not conditioned and our
problem is, can such a mind free itself ?"

7. "The quest of self-knowledge can only take place in the field of relationship with things,
people and ideas in the spheres of sex, work and society. Each moment of time we are being
constantly challenged, stimulated or depressed by some impact from the environment. It is in the
reaction to the impact that we have the opportunity to reveal ourselves to ourselves, to see
ourselves as we are and not as we would like to be.

8. "The first three realizations we may experience may well be:

(a) "That we never think - we only recall some part of memory to deal with the challenge striking
our senses from the environment.
(b) "That we never make any conscious decision regarding action. Again, some part of memory
decides for us what we do.
(c) "That therefore we are incapable of making conscious action since some fragment of memory
decides for us just what or what not to do. That the thinker and his thoughts are one. This means
that we are all automatic, mechanical, repetitive, or in a state of self-hypnosis - constantly
obliged to meet the present with the past, and never able to see a fact of relationship as a fact. K's
communication to the world is that this state can be brought to an end by the individual who will
give the time, interest and energy to the search. BY his (K.'s) living presence he has shown that a
new state of consciousness is possible, that a mind liberated from conditioning can be
experienced; that all pain, sorrow and disease are the results of our intentions in relationship, and
above all, that we alone can save ourselves.

"Throughout his communications K. has spoken of self-awareness leading to self-knowledge,

and self-knowledge as necessary to right-thinking. Note that K. defines right-thinking as "passive
awareness of what is", and has nothing to do with our so-called thinking, which is but
recollecting some fragment of that contained within memory, when challenged by our
environment. For this passive awareness to function, a state of "unforced stillness" must be
present in ' the mind i.e.., the mind must of its own volition be completely unoccupied. It seems
that nothing but the realization that the mind is completely inadequate in dealing with any
problem or search for Truth in any angle of relationship, will be sufficient for the attention to
leave the field of thought (memory) and watch for significances and implications contained
within the experience. K. points out that we do not have to act upon Truth but rather Truth will
act upon us.

"So throughout K.'s communications you cannot find methods, techniques, lessons, precepts, do's
or don'ts because all these are appertaining to that factor in consciousness which must cease to
function, if Truth God, Love, or Reality is to come into being. It is pointed out that self-
knowledge leads to practical wisdom, which means that capacity to see Truth and the ability to
carry it into action, free from the compulsion of memory.

"The purpose of existence is seen to be the finding out for oneself-independent of all authorities
how the mind thinks, functions and operates; and then, go beyond it. It seems that Truth can only
be found in the full cycle of challenge and response only know in relationship, from moment to
moment. K. once said: "When the mind is choicelessly aware that it is conditioned in this
awareness, there comes a state which is not conditioned".

"Now how do we, the 'average person', measure up against this NEW state which K. describes as
'creative'?

i. "We appear to be sound asleep, mechanical, and automatic in our responses and reaction.

ii. "We appear to act under the compulsion of our memory the end results of which are entirely
unpredictable.
iii. "We cannot see Truth anyhow, anywhere, or at any time. We can only react mentally or
emotionally according to our own conditioned memory or background.
iv. "We can find no permanent solution of our problems individually or collectively.
v. "We cannot find uninterrupted happiness. We only experience joy and sorrow alternating.
vi. "We live and have our being within the world of opposites, from which we are obliged to
choose with no Truth to guide us.
vii. "We are in conflict individually and collectively and eventually set in motion all wars that
take place. We are our own executioners.

Although there are no precepts, techniques or methods contained in K's communications, there
are innumerable significances and implications contained in the concepts which can be seen
when the mind is still. If the seeing leads to experimental living and a revolution or radical
transformation in the way of life, then K. has been responsible for leading yet another to that first
and last freedom: the freedom from the conditioned mind.

ASTRONOMY FOR ASTROLOGERS V

THE MOON'S MOTION AND PHASES

The Moon's motion is extremely complex due to the interplay of the Sun, Earth, and Moon,and
their relative positions are never exactly repeated. Indeed, there are about 150 principal periodic
motions along the ecliptic, and just as many perpendicular to itplus about 500 smaller
perturbations!

However, the astrologer need only be interested in the few principal perturbations which are
primarily caused by the Sun's gravitational attraction on the Earth-Moon system.

COMMON CENTRE OF GRAVITY

Perhaps first we should realize that the Moon does not revolve round the centre of the Earth.
Both bodies revolve about a common centre of gravity. As the mass of the Earth is eightyone
times the mass of the Moon, their centre of gravity is eighty times nearer the centre of the Earth
than it is to the centre of the Moon. This point round which they both revolve is, in fact, about
1,000 miles below the Earth's surface - roughly 3,000 miles from the Earth's centre. It is this
centre of gravity of the Earth-Moon system, and not the centre of the Earth, that describes an
elliptical orbit round the Sun.

In Fig.1 this motion is described. The sphere of the Earth is shown in its relative position to the
Earth-Moon common centre of gravity at each of the quarters of the lunation. It will be seen that
this centre remains constantly at the same distance beneath the Earth's surface. At full Moon the
Earth is on the sunward side of the centre of gravity; at New Moon on the opposite side.
Therefore, distinct from its annual ecliptical orbit of the Sun, the Earth, due to sharing this
common centre of gravity with the Moon, also travels round a little circle of 3,000 miles radius
in the period of a lunation, being farther from the Sun by this amount at New Moon and nearer at
Full Moon. The effect of this is to make the Sun appear 6.5" of arc in front of its mean place at
the Moon's first Quarter, and 6.5" behind it at the Last Quarter.

Fig.1 Earth-Moon Common Centre of Gravity

MOON'S NODES AND DECLINATION

Fig.2 illustrates the combined movement of the Earth Moon system. By its gravitational hold on
the Moon the Earth appears to carry its satellite with it along the ecliptic. But, unlike the Earth,
the Moon's orbit is not in the ecliptic, but inclines at an average angle of 5o8' with it. The two
points in the Moon's orbit where it cuts the plane of the ecliptic are called the nodes. The
ascending node called by the ancients the Dragon's Head, and generally by astrologers the north
node, is where the Moon crosses the ecliptic from south to north. The descending node, or south
node (Dragon's Tail), where the ecliptic is crossed from north to south, is known by its reverse
symbol Astronomers refer to the line joining these two points as the Nodal Line, which is the line
of intersection the plane of the Earth's path and that of the Moon's path.

Fig. 2. Combined Motion of Earth and Moon

Fig.3 describes the derivation of the moon's nodes and also explains the angle known as
declination in the case of the Moon. The regression of the Moon's nodes is a retrograde motion
along the ecliptic of about 19o in a year. This can be checked from Raphael's Ephemerides for
any year. For example, on 1st January 1965 Moon's north node cut the ecliptic at Gemini 21o57';
on 31st December 1965 at Gemini 2o 41' = a retrograde distance of 19o16' of arc. The line of
nodes (Nodal Line), with the plane of the Moon's orbit, performs a complete retrograde
revolution in 6793.4 days (about 18.6 years).

The angle of inclination of the Moon's orbit to the Earth's equator (declination) is subject to
periodic variations due to this regression of the nodes, and because the Moon's orbit is not in the
same plane as the Earth's equator. If you look through several ephemerides for consecutive years
you will notice that the maximum declination attained by the Moon varies from month to month,
year to year, reaching a maximum of perhaps 28o35' and a minimum of about 18o19' in a period
of 19 years. When the Moon's orbit coincides with the First Point of Aries the ascending node
will be at Aries (fig.3), though at the vernal equinox the node's position may not be exactly Aries
0o. The Moon then attains its greatest inclination (declination) to the Earth's equator during the
19 years' cycle, about 28o35'. This figure is arrived at by adding the angle of the equator to the
ecliptic (23o27'), to the average angle of the Moon's orbit to the ecliptic (5o8'). 23o27' + 5o8' =
28o35'.

You can check this yourself if you have an ephemeris for a year when the Moon's north node
reaches Aries 0o. This last occurred in August 1950, and on 19th September maximum
declination reached 28o44'. About 9.5 years later, when the ascending node intersects the
autumnal equinox (Libra), the Moon's inclination to the Earth's equator reaches its lowest in the
19 years cycle. This last occurred in 1959, when the Moon's declination at maximum was as low
as 18o10'.
 Fig.3 Moon's Nodes and Inclination of Orbit.

It can be seen that the maximum angle of declination attained by the Moon during a lunation
depends upon the position of the nodes in the Moon's orbit to the First Point of Aries.

- grateful acknowledgement to "The Astrologer's Astronomical Handbook" by Jeff Mayo.

Astronomy for Astrologers VI

 PARACHEMICA
Volume 4: Number 3 Autumn 1980

One of the most famous of the alchemical and Hermetic philosophers, was Paracelsus, who was born on the 14th of November 482 years ago. Paracelsus
who was also a physician, dedicated his life to relieving the sufferings of a sick humanity. The advanced knowledge and understanding of this great man is
not as yet recognized by the world but continues to be an inspirational landmark for aspiring students of alchemy even today.

Editorial: The Cause Self & The Result Self

Astrology and the Four Elements
Separation in the Microcosm
Astronomy for Astrologers VI

EDITORIAL: THE CAUSE SELF & THE RESULT SELF

The great proportion of people on Earth believe themselves fundamentally to be victims of the
circumstances in which they find themselves.

People usually believe things just "happen" to them a bad "flu"; a nasty "whiplash" road
accident; a delinquent child; a large win on the "Pools"; an unfortunate burglary, etc.

People also believe that they get angry, depressed, badly "hurt", jealous, resentful, very excited -
because "he or she did this to me" or the Unions or Government did it, or "the Stock Market is
very low at the moment", etc.

The fact is we are victims only when we identify with the Ego, Lower or Result Self.
While we are locked into the conditioned belief patterns of the Result Self we are trapped by our
emotional reactions and what the world appears to do to us. This is victim consciousness.

Only when we start to see that our circumstances and negative emotions result directly from false
belief patterns, then we can work on changing our beliefs.

We have a Cause Self, our True Self which recognizes our false beliefs if we can but begin to
listen and stop identifying with the Result Self. Given a chance the Cause Self will reveal to us a
whole new belief structure which will release us from what we see as external circumstances,
opening unsuspected potentials as we take steps to identify with the unlimited Cause Self, that
God within us all with whom we must learn to converse if we really want to break out and grow.

"To know means to know all.

Not to know all means not to know.
To know all it is necessary to know very little;
but to know this little,
it is first necessary to know pretty much."
- G. I. Gurdjieff.

ASTROLOGY AND THE FOUR ELEMENTS

THE HOLISTIC BASIS OF ASTROLOGY

Astrology is a language of symbols which can be used as a way of reuniting man with his
innermost self, with nature, and with the evolutionary process of the universe. it is essentially
holistic, in that it sees the entire universe as one whole system, and that, within the great whole.
there are lesser wholes, whose structures, patterns and functions correspond completely to those
of the greater whole. "As above, so below." In the words of Emerson, "The Laws by which the
Universe is organized reappear at every point and will rule it."

Astrology is thus a way of understanding the order inherent in all life, and a tool which can help
us toward self-knowledge. It is not a technique for fortunetelling or the prediction of definite
events, but rather a way of understanding the significance of inner experience. Even the
"predictive techniques" of transits and progressions are essentially a guide to reveal the
influences affecting us so that we may more easily work in harmony with these influences, and
come to terms with the meaning of new experiences.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR EXPERIENCES

Too often, in popular books and magazines, astrology is used as a simplistic justification for
imbalances and negative behaviour. Mars in Aries can indicate anger (as well as impulsiveness
and strong energy) but it is not an excuse to indulge in anger. It is a guideline, revealing a
potential strength and weakness. We are not victims of these planetary influences is our
responsibility to understand them and to work on ourselves, progressively freeing ourselves from
identifying with our negative traits.

The Law of Karma (action and reaction) necessitates that we attract the experiences essential for
our growth, and that if we fail to understand the significance of an experience, it will be repeated
again and again, in different ways, until it is grasped. Thus a strong Sun/Saturn aspect
(particularly a conjunction, square or opposition) is likely to cause an individual to experience
continuing struggles (inhibitions, insecurity, self-conflict and problems with vitality). Saturn is
called "The Tester", yet also "The Redeemer", for if one learns, little by little, through the
struggles, one becomes more in touch with one's true self, more in harmany with the planets, and
less subject to the illusion of "maya", the illusion that we commonly call reality.

LEARNING: RESISTANCE OR HARMONY

Learning need not be painful. As Paul Solomon says, it is only when there is resistance to growth
that there is pain. When one is in harmony with the learning process then it can be joyful. It is
interesting to consider the "Saturn Return" in this light. This occurs when the transiting Saturn
conjuncts the natal Saturn in one's birth chart. Since the revolution of Saturn around the Sun
takes approximately 29.5 years, the Saturn Return is experienced at the age of 29.5, 59 and again
at 88.5 (if one is still corporeal at this age). For many individuals the return of Saturn is a crucial
time, often coinciding with a painful breakdown of belief structures, value systems and
relationships. However it need not be like this. If one has already begun making progress on the
path of self-understanding, the return of Saturn may just strengthen this work.

THE CONSCIOUSNESS FACTOR

The identical planetary aspect (or birth chart) can manifect very differently in the lives of two
individuals, depending on the level of consciousness with which they deal with their experience.
Thus a Venus/ mars square aspect in his natal chart may influence an individual to seek
gratification through continual sexual encounters. Another person may develop the highly
loving, creative powers of Venus, which, expressed through the energy of Mars, enables him to
love passionately and deeply, or to be artistically creative.

THE FOUR ELEMENTS

The Law of the Four Elements is an important key in understanding the emphasis in a chart.
Many contemporary astrologers, even those calling themselves "traditional" in their approach,
concentrate on aspects and pay only superficial attention to the elements. There is an increasing
group, however, of astrologers who have been' deeply influenced by Jung, Carter and Rudhyar,
who see the birth chart in a holistic way and who are aware of the fundamental significance of
the elements. In theit view, the Four Elements are not merely Osymbols" or abstract concepts,
but rather refer to the vital forces that make up the entire creation that can be perceived by the
physin-al senses. They also represent specific types of consciousness and perception, and reveal
the ability to experience certain realms of being and to tune in to specific fields of life
experience.
Frater Albertus teaches five laws of astrology. of these, the fourth law is the major key, the Law
of the Four Elements.

The Fire triangle links Aries, Leo and Sagittarius The Earth triangle links Taurus, Virgo and
Capricorn The Air triangle links Gemini, Libra and Aquarius and The Water triangle links
Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

THE ELEMENTS AND PLANETARY ASPECTS

An understanding of the elements helps us to under stand aspects (or energy connections
between planets). An exact trine, 120o aspect, is passive or harmonious because it joins planets in
the same element, whereas as exact square is active, growth-producing (and often difficult)
because it connects planets in incompatible elements. Because of the orbs allowed when
calculating an aspect, a trine may occur between two planets in in compatible elements, e.g. Sun
1o Capricorn and Moon 29o Aries. There is an orb here of 2o. It is still a trine, and still
harmonious, but not as beneficial as a trine in the same element.

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE ELEMENTS

Fire and Air are considered active or positive, and Water and Earth are passive and receptive or
negative. (The use of the words "positive" and "negative" in this sense does not mean "good" or
"bad".)

THE FOUR SPECIFIC TYPES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The element Fire refers to ENERGY, and the fire signs exemplify high spirits, confidence in
themselves, enthusiasm, inspiration, strength and a direct honesty. They may also be willful and
impatient.

The element Air is compatible with Fire, and it refers to the MIND. Air signs see reality in terms
of ideas, theories, concepts, thought and opinions, and can lack deep emotion.
The element Water refers to EMOTION, feeling re sponses and sensitivity. At their highest,
water signs can be psychically intuitive, and at their lowest, subject to compulsive desires, fears
and emotional in stability.

The element Earth is compatible with Water and refers to the PHYSICAL SENSES, the body,
and the reality of the material world. Earth signs rely on practical reason and are usually more
patient, cautious and selfdisciplined than the other signs, but can also lack imagination and be
unable to deal with the abstract realms.

THE ELEMENTS AND THE "PERSONAL POINTS" OF THE BIRTH CHART

It is very important to consider the elements of the "personal points", the Sun sign, Moon and
Ascendant, then Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn, and lastly the trans-Saturnian lanets.
For a detailed discussion of these and also the elements of the houses, it is valuable to consu lt
the book Astrology, Psychology and the Four Elements, written by Stephen Arroyo.

The element of the Sun sign (e.g. the Sun in Taurus is in the element Earth) reveals the
attunement of one's basic vitality and the fundamental quality of one's consciousness. It also
helps to show what is "real" to the "for it is the unconscious assumption of what individual, is
particularly real and what isn't that determines how the person will focus his energy." The fire
signs are motivated by their inspirations and aspirations, the earth signs by their material needs,
the air signs by intellectual concepts, and the water signs by their deepest emotional yearnings.

The element of our Sun sign is the source of our basic vitality, and the power which enables us to
revitalize ourselves in order to cope with the stresses and demands of daily life. If we are "out of
our element" in our work or activities, we begin to feel depleted and lose self-confidence.

The Moon relates to the unconscious, so the element of the Moon sign will indicate inner drives
and desires, also instinctual reactions.

The Ascendant influences the way we deal with our environment, the way we project ourselves
and the immediate impressions that others may have of us.

To Look at an example, a woman with her Sun in Scorpio (a water sign) Moon in Libra (air) and
Capricorn Ascendant (earth) may seem on the surface, because of the Ascendant, to be at ease
with the demands of practical reality, but the intensely emotional Sun (water element) will be
more fundamental to her sense of reality and she will also experience the more unconscious,
instinctual drive of the Moon to evaluate everything objectively, be detached and think before
acting. (air element) In this example, the woman would feel some conflict because air and water
are not compatible elements - water wanting emotional expression and air wanting to stop and
think first.

BALANCE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS

In looking at birth charts, often two elements prevail, or there is too much emphasis on one
element in particular, or an element may be completely lacking. Whatever the case may be, it is
important that we express our strengths and work to consciously cultivate the qualities and
attunements we lack. This means that if we are basically an air/water person, we should continue
to express ourself through thoughts and emotions, but also be aware of the energy and direction
of fire, and the practical material strength of earth, and try to be open to the validity of these
elements.

"TO IDENTIFY, OR TO WATCH, THAT IS THE QUESTION"

There is a part of our mind that can be called "The Watchman". Usually we identify with our
thoughts and emotions to such an extent that we even say "I am happy" or "I think such and
such". If however we can detach ourselves and stand back from the drama of our own egos, we
can see that it is really more accurate to say, "My emotions are happy" or "My mind has had a
thought, for that part of us that watches is not the ego.

If we try to use the technique of "The Watchman" as often as possible, we begin to see the
habitual play of physical senses, energy states, thoughts and emotions, and it is very clear which
elements we are attuned to and which we have limited understanding of. This is not a repressive
technique, but simply a means of self-observation, which can work with our understanding of
astrology to assist our growth towards wholeness.

From the still point at the centre

which is Unity
Springs forth the four corners of diversity
Fire, Earth, Air and Water which,
in perfect balance
Are One.

-Lenni Foster

References :
1. Stephen Arroyo Astrology, Psychology_and the Four Elements CRCS Publication USA 1975
2. Paul Solomon Dynamic Meditation Workshop, Melbourne 1979

It is easier to produce volumes of philosophical writing than to put one principle into practice.
Anonymous.

SEPARATION IN THE MICROCOSM

From the Prima Class we have learnt that the 3 essential steps of the Alchemical process are:

1. SEPARATION
2. PURIFICATION
3. COHOBATION
We are all familiar with what this means in the physical laboratory, particularly in dealing with
the herbal kingdom, but it will also prove useful to try and understand what these 3 processes
mean in the Microcosm.

By the Microcosm, I mean Man himself, the inner Man, his soul or consciousness.

The Macrocosm being all that which lies outside of the body of Man.

It is essential to understand and Work the 3 steps in the Microcosm and Macrocosm
simultaneously

Since if one aspires to the perfection of the Philosopher's Stone, it cannot be made materially in
the Macrocosm until one becomes The Stone in the Microcosm.

Now what do these steps mean in the Microcosm?

SEPARATION in the Microcosm means the removal of our identification of Self with our ego
and the identification of Self with our source or God.

Thus the separation is from our ego or that part of us which identifies with the duality of the
material world with its associated beliefs and emotions.

Paradoxically, this separation leads to a union. When operating from the Divided or Higher Self
there is no identification with negative emotions or with prejudicial belief structures and the Self
can then operate in the material world with clear sight (clairvoyance) and True Objectivity and
thus with True Action. When one is in this state of consciousness, it could be said that one is in
this world but is not of this world.

How do we achieve this Separation?

The answer from many sources of wisdom is predominantly by SELF-OBSERVATION.

This of course can take many forms and is practised by all religions in a great variety of
disciplines of the mind, body and emotions.

These methods attempt to contact, utilize, evoke and develop the Higher Self within, at the same
time quieting the emotions and beliefs of the Reactional Self or Ego.
A simple approach to self-observation is the exercise of the "Watchman" as described by
Ouspensky, whereby one attempts each day to separate or stand aside from oneself and the
World as a Watcher or observer. Ouspensky called this Self-remembering.

Its characteristic feature being the division of attention. He presented this in the following way:

"When I observe something, my attention is directed towards what I observe - a line with one
arrowhead:

I ---------------> the observed phenomena

When at the same time, I try to remember myself, my attention is directed both towards the object
observed and towards myself. A second arrowhead appears on the line:

I <--------------> the observed phenomena

Having defined this I saw that the problem consisted in directing attention on oneself without
weakening or obliterating the attention directed on something else. Moreoever this 'something
else' could as well be within me as outside me."

The "Watchman" exercise may also be performed in the following way:

Let the body come in view (that is, become aware of the feet on the ground, the back against the
seat, the breathing in the chest, the tension in the neck, the activity of the hands, etc.)

Let the awareness open out (i.e., be aware of all the senses, the sights and sounds all around, the
smells and general feeling of the total environment). maintain this dual awareness of the self and
environment Tor as long as possible. This causes the ceaseless activity of the mind and emotions
to fall silent. Initially it is very difficult to maintain this attention of self-observation for more
than a minute or two.

However, even regular attempts at this brings increased awareness of the way we think and the
origin of our emotions. This observation will reveal how we are controlled by habitual and
automatic thought, belief and emotional patterns which have no basis in reality; that we are quite
enslaved by much of our conditioned beliefs and have no consistent Will but instead many little
wills which each take control over us at different times according to what particular belief or
associated emotion is in control at that time. Practise of the exercise as a conscious Witness
during relating with others can also be very enlightening, particularly when we follow through as
to why we acted or reacted in such a way to such an interaction with another.

Equally, observation of the outside World shows us the perpetual interplay of opposing factors in
the world of duality of Nature and Man's affairs of politics and power, diverse cultures and
religions, Unions and employers, Science and the Arts, physical laws, etc. Such observation can
quickly teach us not to identify with such duality or the fashion of the day.
Another modern teacher, Paul Solomon, shows a selfobservation process for dealing with
emotion. His precept is that all negative emotion arises solely because of an associated false
belief. His technique is to detect the "trigger" at the point of the arising of the emotion. The
"trigger" encounter will show what belief is being challenged to cause the emotion. The growth
value of this technique lies in being able to rid oneself of the belief which then eliminates the
emotional response. Unfortunately, most of us are full of irrational belief which is the basis of all
our fears, jealousies, hurts, pride and vanity, anger and depression.

These beliefs and negative emotions lock us into the world of the Reactional Self; into the world
of duality and subjectivity. One belief can only be held at the expense of its opposite. To quote
John Bennett "If we become a little more free from the mutual exclusion of opposites and, instead
of being at one pole or the other either being attracted or repelled, we will experience the force
between them in ourselves. This is the force of life that lifts us out of the mechanical life and it is
for this that the Reactional Self exists.

Only when the opposites can be experienced together in us can we begin to be aware of our own
human nature. This nature that we have is something with enormous depth and if we are caught
by our reactions we are condemned to live only a surface existence; but if we can use the force of
our reactions we have a way of penetrating to what lies within us. The rightful place of the
Reactional Self is that of a generator of energies and the combination of opposites is that
condition of transformation in which higher grades of energy can be produced Just as with
electricity it is impossible to generate a current unless we have learnt how to separate the
positive and negatives poles, so it is only when we have learnt how to separate the positive and
negative forces of our Reactional Self that we can gain from our activites a source of energy for
our inner work."

The above illustration of the Devil, the Tarot card representing Ayin, the 26th Path, of the Tree
of Life of the QBL is none other than the Reactional Self. The 26th Path passes from Hod
(Mercury) to Tiphareth (Sun), from the analytical mind of Mercury to the Higher Self of the Sun.
It is a path of overcoming the duality of the analytical mind.

Although outwardly formidable, the goat of the world has no real power to keep man from his
heavenly destiny.

There is no devil except of man's creation, and here it is evident that men are chained by their
own wrong choices. However, the chains about their necks are loose and can be removed at will,
by separating the 'Yes' and 'No'.

"A vivid life is one in which there is 'yes' and 'no' at the same time; affirmation and denial.

When it is like that, the Reactional Self is the seat of an organ of perception of vast power which
can help us to live our lives fully and to share in the lives of others.

Far from leading to additional suffering, this way of life releases us from a great amount of
unnecessary suffering."

This is what Gurdjieff meant when he said, "Sacrifice your suffering".

We have to come to realize that what comes out of the sensitive interaction we have with the
conditions of life is not what we are but the energy that we can use to be.

One particular aid we were given in the Prima class to help us in the process of separation and
the formation of the higher, Divided self, was the traditional seven cardinal vices and virtues,
with the aim of transforming the vices into the virtues. To the superficial observer this
admonition may appear even trite and laughable.

Let's look at our triangle again. Here again, we are not talking about changing, for example,
Pride into Humility, but rather transforming pride and humility into True pride, which is also
True humility. Thus we are seeking the Pride which is Humility and the Humility which is Pride.

We should be proud if we are called to be sons of God, but it is false pride to ascribe to ourselves
qualities that we do not have. Likewise the same reasoning is operative with the other vices and
virtues - there is false charity and True charity, etc. The True occurs when 'yes' and 'no' are both
operating simultaneously, when there is a separation from identification with either pole.

This separation from the poles is thus a synthesis for the Divided self via transformation of
polarity (see diagram again).

Finally, let us look at the Tree of Life of the QBL in order to further illustrate this process of
separation. The fundamental teaching of the QBL is the Law of Polarity and how it is used in
evolution and finally itself overcome.

The Tree of the QBL is nothing but an embodiment of the Law of Polarity, its extensions and
higher laws.
I want to focus on the lower cross of 'the Tree' particularly since this cross represents in the
Microcosm the four elements in the being of Man and the four aspects of Jungian psychology.

Here above we see the Microcosm of the self represented on the lower "Tree". In relating this
diagram to the previous one, Hod, Yesod and Netzach become the field of the Reactional Self,
and through the balancing development of One Will, a separation of identification with these 3
aspects of self is achieved so that the self then becomes centred in Tiphareth, the Divided or
Higher Self.

The role of Will, Faith and Grace will be discussed in a following article on Purification.

-Don Foster

ASTRONOMY FOR ASTROLOGERS VI

PERIGEE AND APOGEE

The Moon's orbit of the Earth observes the same law of equal areas as the Earth in its orbit of the
Sun. The Moon's distance from the Earth, and speed in its orbit, varies. It is nearest to the Earth
at perigee, farthest at apogee. At perigee the Moon's rate of motion in its orbit is fastest, at
apogee slowest. The student will be interested to check this phenomenon with Raphael's
Ephemerides. Since 1899 the perigee and apogee times of the Moon have been listed annually.

As an example, the Moon was in apogee 2nd January 1965, and the distance it covered in
longitude was 11o47'.

Just after midnight 16th-17th January the Moon was in perigee, and for the 24 hours from noon
16th to noon 17th we find the Moon's motion in longitude was as much as 15o14'.

The moon's average maximum distance (apogee) from the Earth is about 252,000 miles; at
perigee 225,000 miles; mean distance around 239,000 miles.

LUNATION PHASES
The sidereal month defines the Moon's period of revolution with respect to the stars; the nodical
month defines the interval required by the Moon to orbit the Earth from one node back to the
same node; the synodic month defines the interval between two successive New Moons. The
relationship in mean solar time between these three lunar periods is:

1 synodic month = 29.53 days

1 sidereal month = 27.32 days
1 nodical month = 27.21 days

Fig.4 Difference Between Moon's Synodic Period and Sidereal Period

Fig.4 shows the reason for the difference between a sidereal month and a synodic month being as
much as two days. For our example, let us say the sidereal and synodic months both begin at the
New Moon when the Earth is in position A in its orbit. When the Earth has moved to position B
the Moon has completed exactly one synodic month, with respect to the Sun. Yet it would have
been more that two days earlier that the position of the Moon with respect to the stars, as seen
from the Earth was repeated, completing a sidereal month.

The synodic month or period is more familiarly known to astrologers as a lunation. This cycle of
the Moon begins at New Moon, when the Sun and Moon are in direct line, or conjunction,
viewed from the Earth. The four familiar phases of the lunation are shown in Fig.5.

A. New Moon (Sun conjunction Moon)

C. First Quarter (Sun square Moon)
E. Full Moon (Sun opposition)
G. Last Quarter (Sun square Moon)

The letters B,D,F,H represent the intermediate points between the four principle phases. Thus,
the inner partially-shaded circles show the Moon in eight successive positions, or 45o arcs called
octants. Outside these circles, the corresponding figures show the appearance of the Moon as we
see it in the sky at each octant. Of course, at A or New Moon (completely black square) we never
see the Moon at night-contrary to the popular belief expressed by poets and songwriters! - since
our satellite is then close to the Sun and at night they would both be below the horizon. At E the
Moon appears full, because it is on thre opposite side of the Earth to the Sun. At the quarters, C
and G, only half the Moon's disc is visible, ie., the half facing the Sun. Between A and C and G
and A less than half the disc is illuminated by the Sun, and we speak of the crescent Moon.
Between C and E, and E and G, more than half the Moon can be seen and at these stages the
Moon's appearance is said to be gibbous. The same term is applied to the planets at similar stages
in their synodic period.

At both conjunction and opposition the Moon is said to be in syzygy.

Fig.5 The Moons's Phases

 PARACHEMICA
Volume 4: Number 4 Winter 1980

The Enneagram within the flask.

This is the symbol of the Paracelsus College/Utah Institute of Parachemistry.
The word enneagram means 9-lined figure and it is an ancient symbol of profound significance.
The understanding of its use has been passed down through hidden spiritual brotherhoods for well over 2,000 years. The enneagram was used as a method
of passing on traditional teachings of the principles underlying the laws of the Universe.

Editorial: We Only Have Now

A Students View of Mental Alchemy
Questions and Answers
Web of Life

EDITORIAL: We Only Have Now

Only in the Now can we act to evolve. The Now decides if our Future will be a True Future or
merely a treadmill of the Past. Dwelling on a lost past and worry and fear on a possible Future
lock us onto the treadmill of illusion where the future is nothing but a cyclic variation on the
past, where no real growth in consciousness occurs, only illusory change.

However, conscious action in the Now dissolves non existant pasts and imaginary futures to
produce Eternity in the Now. This is a difficult concept to understand and in order to do so it
needs to be experienced or at least glimpsed.
The Now in fact is an everpresent crossroad where the choice is always whether to follow the
treadmill of cyclic time and subscribe to past conditioned habits and beliefs, or make "the
quantum leap" and find Eternity in the Now breaking free and seeing that the nature of time is
completely dependant on our consciousness.

It is our beliefs and conditioning which determine our concept of Time, our past, present and
future.

Previous cultures and recent primitive societies in terms of their technology, lived to some extent
in the Eternity of the Now. The Australian Aborigine had a "Dreamtime" which coexisted with
conditioned time and which was the continual source of conditioned time. The consciousness of
the Aborigine was rooted in the "Dreamtime" since this was the True Reality of Timelessness or
Eternal Now.

Our conception of Time therefore should be tied to our state of consciousness or evolution of
awareness and not to the stream of events, facts, fashion and changes which are unreal by virtue
of their continual dissipation and change.

Rather we could see our future in the higher consciousness of another and see in us the other's
past.

Let us therefore begin NOW to be HERE NOW.

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A Students View Of Mental Alchemy

by Kevin Masman

INTRODUCTION

A previous article on alchemy in Parachemica, gave the general principles of physical alchemy
in brief outline. Alchemy is very much alive and well, incorporating a spiritual science of the
physical plane. Undifferentiatedin both material Substance and Creative Energy, the creative
aspect of the One God differentiates and becomes the innumerable diverse forms of the physical
world. Alchemists seek to reach behind these outer forms to isolate the purified "essenceof
material manifestation. This "essence" of a given substance, whether of the animal, plant, or
mineral world, naturally falls into three Essentials; termed Mercury (spirit/life force), Sulfur
(soul/consciousness) and Salt (Body/vehicle). It is interesting to note that the Essentials of each
kingdom bear striking similarities. Sulfur assumes the form of an oil in all three kingdoms, Salt
as mineral salts, and Mercury as a fiery penetrative spirit in all kingdoms. This uniformity among
kingdoms suggests that the three kingdoms are not as diverse as they outwardly appear. The
history of alchemy is a chequered one. At times it has been thought of as a purely physical
science which lent itself to the deceptions and gullability of the unscrupulous and ignorant
"puffers". More recently the pendulum has swung to the non-physical, psychic polarity of
alchemy, with the penetrative work of Jung and his students, in the form of analytical
psychology. Jungian psychology is undoubtedly based on genuine alchemical principles,
revolving around the central theme of "individuation". The latter is the process of integration into
the inner Self, of those aspects of our psychic constitution that are unconscious and undeveloped
(Jung's term is "undifferentiated")- Jung, like the alchemists, placed the highest value on this
process.

Due to ignorance, we tend to get caught up in the pairs of opposites characterising the ego. For
example, the greater the intensity of ego love, the greater the potential for ego hate - which is
bound to be experienced sooner or later, as the Law of Polarity swings the ego from one polarity
to the other. The resulting unhappiness and frustration in our lives drive us eventually to seek a
life founded on inner peace. Peace can be realized (made real) through the alchemical process of
transformation. What follows is a student's view of the application of the basic principles of
alchemy, to the transformation of the inner man.

As Above, So Below

In the early Egyptian; Dynastic period, The Tabula Smaragdina, thought to have been written by
Hermes Trismegistus, says in part "What is below, is like what is above. And what is above is
like what is below, so that the miracle of the One may be accomplished". This key aphorism,
known to all Hermeticists is fundamentally a statement of correspondence among the planes of
manifestation, and has several important applications.

Paracelsus (an alchemist and doctor among other things), some five hundred years ago, re-
iterated it thus - "The world is the Macrocosm, and man the Microcosm, and the elements of all
that exist in the former exist in the latter ... ", and "Man lives within the invisible world
comparable to the yolk of an egg. The chicken grows from the white of the egg, and man is
nourished by the chaos. Within man are the sun and moon, the planets and all the rest of the
stars, and also the Chaos. "'

He spoke of the correspondence of the seven planetary principles pervading each level of Nature
in his well known "if I have manna in my constitution I can attract manna from heaven. Saturn is
not only in the sky, but also deep in the earth and in the ocean. What is Venus but the artemisia
that grows in your garden? What is iron but Mars? That is to say, Venus and artemisia are
products of the same essence, and Mars and iron are both manifestations of the same cause.
What is the human body but a constellation of the same powers that formed the stars in the sky?
He who knows what iron is, knows the attributes of Mars. He who knows Mars, knows the
qualities of iron." He, like Jung, held the view that microcosmic and macrocosmic events are
synchronistic, as the One cause has its expression in both, so that "the miracle" of transformation
may be played out. This theme has its fullest expression in the science of astrology.

Natal astrology is essential to the alchemist in providing a map of who he is, through the patterns
and relationships of planets, representing the basic psychic functions, in signs and houses. Being
a reflection of the macrocosm at the time of birth, he can look to astronomy to chart these
relationships and influences. Thus he is provided with a personal starting point of information
pertaining to his innate psychological constitution. The real advantage is that he can be himself,
rather than what others expect of him. Understanding his weaknesses and inner stresses (between
the planetary/psychological principles), he can work at reversing polarity and manifesting
corresponding strengths. Why do this? So that he can progressively enjoy an independant state of
peace and joy.

As every alchemist knows: if he uses too much heat too quickly, his preparation is destroyed. For
example, a salt calcined in too violent a fire changes in colour from black to grey then to red
rather than to white. Here the body (salts) of the herb have been burned out and from an
alchemystical viewpoint are useless. Too little heat results in no manifestation.

In a corresponding way, if too much psychological pressure (pressure in physics generated heat)
is applied to change, from a polarity of weakness to strength, serious damage can result in the
form of -nervous breakdown" or neurosis. In this case the polarity is too great, between the ideal
aspired towards, and the actual undifferentiated and unevolved psychic function.

An example of this is an afflicted saturnian function, manifesting in one way as a lack of

discipline. If one was to introduce a harsh programme of discipline overnight, so to speak, then
problems may arise in the form of periods of overindulgence or rebellion etc. or the inner
conflict is projected and outer conflict results between self and others. Build discipline in small
ways at first, then work to a point where discipline is in balance with selfnurturing and
spontaneity. This way, out of balance (lack of) Saturn has become balanced Saturn, and harmony
is achieved. Just applying a steady and constant pressure oriented toward growth by a gently
purifying fire (this process is well known in yoga as tapasya - tapas - fire) has validity on both
the physical and psychological levels.

STATICS

Physical laboratory alchemy makes use of certain subdivisions of Nature the main ones being (a)
Unity (b) Polarity (c) Trinity - Essentials (d) Quarternity four elements (e) Quintessence (f)
Seven planetary principles. Applying the law of "as above, so below", these divisions have
corresponding inner counterparts as given below, in the opinion of the author. They have been
termed "statics", as they are the basic tools manipulated and used in their own proper place in
"dynamics", the other term coined, which is the process itself.

Physical
- Specimen from nature, from which
the elixir is to be made
- Specimen brought to perfection as the
alchemical elixir
Non-Physical
- Sum total of the psyche
- the mind totally resolved and integrated back into pure
unconditioned consciousness

(b) POLARITY
Physical Non-Physical
Any of the pairs of oposites such as heat/cold, All psychic opposites like courage/fear,
gross/refined, light/heavy, fixed/volatile love/hate, conscious/unconscious

This principle pervades the whole creation. Other statics are themselves in polar form, and are
manifest by virtue of polarity. This is revealed fully by contemplation of the patterns of the
Qabalistic Tree of Life.

(c)TRINITY

Physical Non-Physical
- Mercury (spirit) - alcohol in plants, blood in -Mercury - power of animation and life
animals and alkahest in minerals force.
- Sulfur - the "Essential I - Consciousness -
-Sulfur (soul) - oils in all kingdoms
the inner witness
- Salt (body) - Mineral salts in all kingdoms -Salt - the form aspect of the mind

Concerning the Essential I, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says - "You cannot see That which is
the Seer of seeing; you cannot hear That which is the Hearer of hearing; you cannot think That
which is the Thinker of thought; you cannot know That which is the Knower of knowledge. This
is your Self, that is within all."

Mental forms (thoughts and feelings etc), the Salt Essential, are animated by life-force, the
Mercury Essential, and both are witnessed and controlled by awareness, the Sulfur Essential.

(d)QUATERNARY

The four elements are the three states of matter (solids = earth, liquids = water and gases = air)
plus energy - fire. Heat interpenetrates the three states as atomic motion, is independent of them,
and is the agent of change of state from one to the other.
Empirically, three states of consciousness are experienced viz waking, dreaming and deep sleep.
The experiencer of these states is the fourth, independent of them, but interpenetrating them.

Physical Non-Physical
- Fire - heat Fire - The experiencer (of)
- Air - gases Air - Deep Sleep state
-Water - liquids Water - Dream State
- Earth - solids Earth - Waking State

There is a certain correspondence of these with the Four Worlds of the Qabalists - (a) Fire =
World of Archetypes (b) Air = World of Creation (c) Water = World of Formation (d) Earth =
World of Action.
 (e) QUINTESSENCE

Physical
The Fifth is found within the four
elements - is not an element but the
Essential which contains the healing
virtue
Non-Physical
That inner Being, unlimited by time as space, the
changeless Witness of all, eternally complete and
fulfilled, that the alchemist seeks to liberate from an
impure mind.

(f) SEVEN PLANETARY PRINCIPLES

Physical (Kingdoms)

Planet Mineral K Plant K* Animal K

Sun gold chamomile heart
Moon silver moonwort brain
Mercury mercury Fennel lungs
Venus copper artemisia kidneys
Mars iron nettle gall bladder
Jupiter tin dandelion liver
Saturn lead comfrey spleen

*Only one herb has been selected out of innumerable herbs of each planet.

Non-Physical

Unevolved Evolved
Warm hearted, confident, selfless, creative co-
Sun- Egotistical, selfish, arrogant, overbearing
ordinator
Instability, easily led, unreliability, fussiness Sensitive, responsive, sympathetic, nurturing.
Gossip, nervousness, superficial, knowledge, Skill, observant, versatility, communication,
criticism logic
Vanity, promiscuity, gaudiness, confusion Love, appreciation of beauty, harmony, charm
Impatience, irritability, brutality, recklessness Energy, strength, courage, pioneer
Extravagance, blind optimism, exaggeration Idealism, compassion, joviality, just generosity
Scepticism, mistrust, depression, inertia, Self control, justice, patience, realism,
miserliness. responsibility

These classifications can be extended to include all human traits.

DYNAMICS
As was pointed out in the previous article on physical alchemy, the process consists of (a)
Separatio (b) Purificatio and (c) Cohobatio (conjunction). In this brief outline of the dynamics of
alchemy, the above "statics" are the fundamental tools used. To illustrate

A herb under the rulership of Jupiter (Planetary Principle) is selected in order to cure a
malfunctioning liver (Planetary Principle). Water (Element water) is added, and heat (Element
fire) is applied to effect a steam (Element air) distillation which separates the essential oil
(Essential Sulfur), which to undergo purification is redistilled to separate the fine oils (subtle
Polarity) from the fats and waxes (gross Polarity). Each operation is performed in glass vessels
(practically speaking is the Element earth), and so on. The Physical herbal process is represented
diagramatically below -

It is the Sulfur that has the power of cohesion to combine Essential Mercury and Salt into one
unit. The herb now no longer partakes of the herbal kingdom but of the higher vibratory rate of
the animal kingdom. The remedy used with correct dosage acts on the physical and mental level
of the Mercury planetary principle of the patient, in this example.

Separation, purification and cohobation are stages which, "in order" that the miracle of the One
may be accomplished, manifest "above" and "below". Two aspects of the inner (the "above")
polarity of alchemy are briefly mentioned below - the passive meditational aspect, and the active
ceremonial aspect.

SEPARATION
If one takes the time to turn within, one very fundamental fact becomes evident, that is, that the
contents of the mind are witnessed by an inner Essential I. in our usual state, this I identifies (is
at one) with the contents and states of the mind and thereby experiences happiness or misery,
according to whichever state the mind adopt at a given time. A convenient analogy of this
situation is uncorruptible gold - the Essential I, is mixed with corruptible base metals (of the
unevolved ego). Alchemists speak of the base metals as diseased. But the problem is that the
nature of the mind is change, and it largely depends on outer factors. Real happiness is a fleeting
affair, as it is subject to corrosion by egocentric, unevolved personality traits.

Separation is the disentanglement of Essential I from the objects of awareness. The latter are
witnessed not with any personal value judgement, but as what they really are - a play of the One
creative energy. The base metals are still present, but they have been separated from the gold.
But it will be found that much time and energy has to be invested in this practice to arrive at
anything near a sustained separation.

The mind level, in Qabalistic terminology, the World of Formation, can be subdivided into seven
groups of psychic functions. Seven, because this is a microcosmic reflection of the classical solar
system macrocosm, and affords a convenience in practical work, to deal with but one of these
functions (Planetary Principles) at a time. The choice of planetary/psychic (in the Jungian sense
of psychic) function depends on two factors: (a) The need for regular cleansing and
transforming. Here the inner work is accomplished according to a definite plan, based on the
living symbol of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. Using the relationships of the World of Formation,
consisting of the six planetary Sephiroth surrounding the sun/Tipheret centre (see below), is of
the most general use.

Psychic functions to be worked on are chosen in pairs, i.e.

Mars/Jupiter; Mercury/Venus; Saturn/Moon; Mars/Venus; Mercury/Jupiter, etc. maintaining by
definition of symmetry involved, a built-in balance. The solar function cannot be worked on too
much, as it is vital to have access to a psychic centre of balance and moderation in all of life's
situations. This is analogous to the use of medicinal general tonics. (b) The need for special
workings. These are to be selected according to needs of a short term nature, and is analogous to
taking specific remedies for an acute condition under the same rulership.

Having selected which psychic function is to be worked on, it is now to be brought through to
consciousness from the general mass of the psyche. The previous quotes from Paracelsus hinted
at correspondences of every aspect of Nature on every plane. The mind is aided in its
concentration on the desired planetary function, by introducing into consciousness specific
triggers. Thus there are particular perfumes, colours, shapes, anthropomorphic forms, sounds (the
God Names) and appropriate music for each of the planets/sephiroth. As these sensory data are
built into the mind (using both physical and subtle counterparts), they can be used to arouse a
corresponding feeling at will.
When the Essential I (Sulfur) witnesses these related but manifold sensory factors (Salt),
synthesised into a living (Mercury) inner reality - separation has occurred. Consciousness
(Sulfur) has the power of decision to animate a given form of the mind, which was in an
analogous way noted in the herbal outline above. The degree to which this is done depends on
the mind's ability to concentrate, which in turn depends on (a) the simplicity and quality of the
triggers used, (b) the feeling aroused and (c) a relaxed but alert state of mind. (d) interest. The
planetary psychic functions at issue in the natal chart are often found to be difficult to work with,
because of blocks in corresponding feelings, or problems with the sense triggers. Such a situation
indicates that the central consciousness has not got overall control, and such dis-integration was
termed by alchemists "corruption" or dis-ease.

Meditative techniques make use of the above, but often using simple or abstract objects or
triggers of concentration. The physical body is inactive, and the process is enacted purely
mentally. But the physically active aspect of ceremonial enjoins the body in the drama created in
the mind, by the use of gestures and physical intonation. Separation of a psychic function by way
of ceremonial is termed invocation. Degree of success rests on the harmony, coordination and
synthesis of the physical enactment, with the inner mental drama. The gentle pressure of will to
perform this is analogous to the controlled heat applied in the outer laboratory to achieve
separation. In both passive and active methods, sound vibration commands a special place in all
three processes. According to scriptures of both East and West, God manifested by way of, and
firstly as (sound) vibration. On the mental level, Separatio is concentration.

PURIFICATION

In physical alchemy, purificatio is the elimination of that which is not essential, to leave revealed
pure essence. What is not essential in human nature are the many little I's, all clamouring to be
heard. "I like this", "I don't like that", "I am a male", "I am ugly, miserable, worthless", and
countless other similar scripts. One minute I am cheerful, the next I am sad; one condition
activating while the rest become latent. The innumerable latent states comprising the
unconscious, having a portion of psychic energy invested in them, are in mutual conflict, causing
anxiety and psychosomatic disease. This general condition of relative disintegration, caused by
the pull of the opposites, is analogous to the ' corrupt, diseased' base metals in need of
redemption by passing them through the fires of purification.
What is essential, however, is the awareness of "I am" - subject without object -subject without
modification. The word for myself, "I", is the only word in the English language that retains a
single capital letter, no matter where it is placed in a sentence. The omniscient, omnipresent, and
omnipotent Self has been, is, and will always be Self-fulfilled, needing nothing other than it-Self.
The incorruptible gold has always been pure within itself, despite its coverings.

How is purificatio to be achieved? In a general way by the cultivation of the higher polarity of
each planet (see statics), which is the use of the seven psychic functions, not for personal ego
ends, but for the sake of the Essential I. The mind with its (seven) functions is a neutral tool, but
it is how and why it is being used that is the crux of the matter.

Modern psychology has coined one alchemical term, describing this process "sublimation".
Sublimation in its physical sense is dry distillation, but again only the pure subtle portion rises
and recrystallizes. One important example of inner sublimation is the one Desire for union with
the supreme One swallowing up the many petty, ego oriented desires seeking fulfillment in the
outer world. The former is more refined and subtle, but also more integrated and pervasive than
the latter, offering real and lasting satisfaction. Worthy of note is that the subtle is drawn from
the gross in distillation, and in the same way, old mental patterns break down, releasing their
psychic energy which coagulates at a less egocentric level.

Conscious restraint, guided by the precepts of the Wisdom Tradition, of egocentric mental and
physical activity, alongside cultivation of more refined values, tends to create friction between
ego and Self, resulting in a kind of psychic heat (referred to as pressure earlier). The path of Self
love is trodden between excessive harshness on one hand, and too little self control on the other.
Too much heat burns out part of the delicate humanity within us, and too little produces no
change. Distillation, calcination, and rectification require just the right amount of fire, as any
experience with practical alchemy will reveal.

In regular spiritual practices of the passive kind, the master key to purification is mental sound
vibration. The Name of God - whichever of the numerous is chosen, is a special sequence of
vibrations, with an inherent power to attract the pure energy of the Supreme Self. The Name
repeated quietly with love and respect over a long period of time purifies the mind in a gradual
but firm way. Whatever the mind dwells on, it becomes. By repeating God's Name(s), the mind
itself eventually becomes God, or pure consciousness, if performed with the awareness of what
the Name signifies.

Ceremonial too makes use of sound vibration, but incorporates the physical polarity of sound.
Calls are interwoven in ritual gestures and symbolic actions that portray directly to the
suggestible mind the state of perfection that is sought. Ritual is virtually ineffective if it is not
performed simultaneously within, in attitude, as without in gesture. A well known symbolic
action is circumambulation (circling), which is a simple but powerful symbol of the state of
integration and timeless perfection, just as the circle has no beginning or end; only a centre.

Each of these means, if practised steadily and regularly can refine the mind to such an extent that
it can serve as the perfect vehicle for the manifestation of the supreme Self, so that it may shine
unimpeded by impurities. The Sepher Yetzirah refers to the mind at this stage as the "Pure and
Clear intelligence". At the summit of purificatio the mind still exists, but as a flawless mirror,
reflecting the Self back on itself, making it aware of its divinity.

COHOBATION

In many of the world's traditions an inner symbolic marriage is spoken of. The marriage of Shiva
and Shakti of Hinduism and Yin and Yang of the Chinese Taoists are forms of the alchemical
marriage, where two principles are indissolubly married (i.e. real marriage). In alchemical
literature, the two principles are symbolised as (a) sun, the alchemical sulfur and (b) moon, the
alchemical mercury and salt together.

On the physical plane, this can be demonstrated tangibly by the creation of a herbal or
philosopher's (of the mineral world) stone. If heat was critical before, it is even more critical now
as a new entity is being nourished and prepared for rebirth. A vegetable stone is the outcome of
absolutely pure essences being repeatedly brought together in a closed vessel, until the
previously immiscible substances actually merge into one another to form a waxen solid. This is
an in between state where the fixed has been volatilised, and the volatile fixed, as one alchemical
aphorism puts it. The key to cohobation is the binding and integrating power of Sulfur, the oil,
which alone can mediate between the opposites of very volatile Mercury (alcohol) and the fixed
nature of Salt (mineral ash).

It has then some rather unique properties - (a) it is the herb in a perfected state, and
accomplishment brought about only by man, but using Nature's own laws. Should a man reach a
corresponding state, he too is perfect. The healing powers specific for the herb of the Stone are
very much enhanced over a tincture of the same herb. (b) The Stone will not dissolve in solvents,
and is an indication of a successful marriage. The fully Self-realized man too cannot fall from his
exalted state. (c) The Stone will transmute any other specimens of the herbal kingdom if
immersed together in a medium such as water. The pure essences of the herbs supposedly rise
toward the Stone, and the dross is repelled. Many a saint has brought the best qualities out in
those with whom they have come in contact; a real form of transmutation. Scooping off the pure
essences will give an elixir of the herb, without the usual lengthy spagyric process, needed to
come up with the same result.

The inner alchemy of cohobation is exceedingly subtle. Up to this stage the Essential I has
identified with one or the other pairs of opposites. The moon principle itself is polar-
encompassing volatile Mercury and fixed Salt. in true inner cohobation, these opposites become
reabsorbed back into the Essential I, and their opposing properties fuse into pure unconditioned
Cosmic Consciousness.

Rather than being a mixture of opposites, it is a NEW exalted state. Cosmic Consciousness is the
One Essence of all three Essentials. As the latter are demonstrated in laboratory alchemy to
pervade the whole world (and universe as an extention), so too the experience of Cosmic
Consciousness is all pervasive. There is nothing which is not It, whether force or form good or
bad. If indeed this is then the One God, omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent, then It cannot
be separate from us at any time, or place; it has only to be realised. It is the state we are all
consciously or unconsciously seeking, - that is, unshakeable, unchangeable eternal peace and
happiness.

After sufficient purification, the merging of the mind into its source and substance, the Essential
I is true cohobation. Should this union resist dissolution by any of the elements referred to by
Jung as the four psychic functions of the mind), then an alchemical Marriage has manifested.

In meditative practice after a sufficient time of awareness steadily flowing toward its object of
meditation, which in this case is one of the seven principles, a degree of purity of the mind
occurs such that the mind merges into the Witness Self. This cohobation is known as samadhi in
the orient. The mind becomes One with the vibration of the Name, which is identical with Self.
With the herbal stone process, repeated purification and cohobation is necessary to achieve an
indissoluble physical marriage. Likewise in the passive path, repeated meditation (=purification)
and merging of the mind into the Essential I (=cohobation), results in a completely new level of
awareness, beyond the mind, which eventually becomes permanent and indissoluble.
Ceremonially, cohobation is the return of, out of the field of awareness to the unconscious, the
invoked and purified psychic function by the technique of banishing. However, when the mind,
both conscious and unconscious, has been progressively purified to the point where there are no
inner conflicts created in the first place by the division of conscious and unconscious - there is no
unconscious to banish the energy into. Planetary sephiroth of the opposing pillars of the Tree of
Life have merged over a period of time into the self conscious, central mediator, sephirah of
Tiphereth. At this point, the physical aspect of ceremonial has served its purpose, for the actual
cohobation occurs as described before in the non-physical realm.

Of special importance is this central sphere of the Sun, as it is a reflection on the mind level
(Qabalistic World of Yetzirah) of the Essential I. In Qabalistic terminology it is referred to as the
Lesser Countenance of God, while the Essential I, the Ultimate Mediator, is the Greater
Countenance of God. "Like father, like son" is the relationship between them. Residing in
Sephirah MaIkuth, the feminine (Holy Ghost) aspect of the Duty, called the Shekinah, returns via
Tiphereth (the Son), to re-unite in marriage with the Father, in Kether. The situation can arise at
the final stages of Purificatio where the absolutely pure essences are mixed but will not fuse into
a new substance, of a Stone. In attempting cohobation the requisite substances can just sit there
and look at each other. Similarly on the inner level, the mind can be free of perturbations, but it
is still witnessed by the Essential I. Real cohobation depends on one key factor - a catalyst, that
is, the Grace of God, the hand of redemption of a higher intelligence, an agent relatively external
to the opposites being cohobated.

CONCLUSION

In these brief notes on alchemy, mention has been made of such diverse things as laboratory
glassware, and Cosmic Consciousness, but encompassed by a common theme. The thesis is that
the common theme running through occultism and mysticism is transformation, that is, alchemy
and its process. In fact the whole of the creation is slowly but surely evolving towards the
predestined state of perfection of the Creator. We as a microcosm can accelerate this natural
process by aiming at the complete reabsorption of the mind back into its Source of pure
awareness. Man's identity with God is then realized.

Note 1. Life and Doctrines of Paracelsus by Franz Hartmann.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q. In "Questions An Answers" of last Parachemica p. 14 it was mentioned that a suitable mixture
of acetic acid and water is used to obtain the fixed tincture of antimony. What do yo mean with 'a
suitable mixture'?

A. Basically the acid extracts the tincture, but using a greater or lesser quantity of water with it,
will also extract the salt (convert antimony into antimony acetate) with which the extracted
alchemical sulphur (the tincture) forms a bond. From the washed acetate the fixed tincture can
thereafter easily be extracted with pure alcohol. The colour of the acetate will vary from near
white to reddish brown. The less acid in the menstruum the lighter the acetate and consequently
the smaller the yield of tincture. If on the other hand too much acid is used more alchemical
sulphur will be extracted than what the salt can hold. During the process of freeing the extract
from the acid (called washing) this excess alchemical sulphur will settle out and float on top as
an acidic oil, which hinders the washing of the acetate and could result in loss of alchemical
sulphur through evaporation.

Q. Exposing calcined tartar to the air (Parachemica Vol. 1, No. 3, page 16) I find that only very
little moisture is attracted to it and that it does not become a liquid. Could I use distilled rain
water to wet the black powder and filter the salts out ?

A. Yes. Patience and favourable conditions, however, will make it absorb enough moisture to run
into liquid.

Q. Is incombustible oil the same as incombustible sulphur and if not, please explain?

A. They are not the same. Incombustible oil is one of the many names given to the Philosopher's
Stone. The term incombustible sulphur, as applied by Sendivogius when he says: 'Burn the
sulphur till it becomes sulphur incombustible', refers to Philosophical Earth. This might be
confusing seeing that the P.R.S. teaches that oil is the sulphur (carrier or vehicle of
consciousness) However, different alchemical texts have different terminology depending on the
concepts of the author following a certain line of thought. Therefore, when studying alchemical
writings it is necessary to get to know the author s way of thinking in order to understand what is
meant. It can also be said that once one understands one knows what is meant.

THE WEB OF LIFE

By

Chief Seattle, Chief of the Dwamish,

upon surrendering his land
to Governor Isaac Stevens in 1854.

The Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land.
The Great Chief also sends us words of friendship and goodwill.
This is kind of him, since we know he has little need of our friendship in return.
But we will consider your offer.

For we know that if we do not sell, the white man may

come with guns and take our land.
The idea is strange to us.
If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?
Every part of this earth is sacred to my people.
Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing, and
humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people.
The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man.

So, when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks
much of us.
The Great Chief sends word he will reserve us a place so that we can live comfortably by
ourselves.
He will be our father and we will be his children.
So we will consider your offer to buy our land.
But it will not be easy. For this land is sacred to us.

This shining water that lives in the streams and rivers is not just water but the blood of our
ancestors.
If we sell you land, you must remember that it is sacred, and you must teach your children that it
is sacred and that each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and
memories in the life of my people.

The water's murmur is the voice of my father's father.

The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst.
The rivers carry our canoes, and feed our children.
If we sell you our land, you must remember, and teach your children that the rivers are our
brothers, and yours, and henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother.

The white man's dead forget the country of their birth_ when they go to walk among the stars.
Our dead never forget this beautiful earth, for it is the mother of the red man.
We are part of the earth, and it is part of us.
The perfumed flowers are our sisters, the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers.
The rocky crests, the juices of the meadows, the body heat of the pony, and man - all belong to
the same family.

The red man has always retreated before the advancing white man, as the mist of the mountain
runs before the morning sun.
But the ashes of our fathers are sacred.
Their graves are holy ground, and so these hills, these trees, this portion of the earth is
consecrated to us.

We know that the white man does not understand our ways.
One portion of land is the same to him as the next, for he is a stranger who comes in the night
and takes from the land whatever he needs.
The earth is not his brother, but his enemy, and when he has conquered it, he moves on. He
leaves his fathers' graves behind, and he does not care.
He kidnaps the earth from his children.
He does not care.
His fathers' graves and his children's birthright are forgotten.
He treats his mother, the earth, and his brother, the sky, as things to be bought, plundered, sold
like sheep, or bright beads.
His appetite will devour the earth and leave behind only a desert.

I do not know. Our ways are different from your ways

The sight of your cities pains the eyes of the red man
But perhaps it is because the red man is a savage and does not understand.
There is no quiet place in the white man's cities.
No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring or the rustle of an insect's wings.
But perhaps it is because I am a savage and do not understand.
The clatter only seems to insult the ears.
And what is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the
arguments of the frogs around the pond at night?
I am a red man an A do not understand.
The indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of a pond, and the smell of the
wind itself, cleansed by a mid-day rain, or scented with the pinon pine.

The air is precious to the red man, for all things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the
man, they all share the same breath.
The white man does not seem to notice the air he breathes
Like a man dying for many days, he is numb to the stench.
But if we sell you our land, you must remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares
it's spirit with all the life it supports.
The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath, also receives his last sigh, and the wind must
also give our children the spirit of life.
And if we sell you our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where even the white
man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow's flowers.

So we will consider your offer to buy our land, if we decide to accept, I will make one condition
the white man must treat the beasts of this land as his brothers.
I am a savage and I do not understand any other way. I have seen a thousand rotting buffaloes on
the prairie, left by the white man who shot them from a passing train.

I am a savage and do not understand how the smoking iron horse can be more important than the
buffalo that we kill only to stay alive.
What is a man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great
loneliness of spirit.
For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected.

You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of our grandfathers.
So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin.
Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons of the earth.
If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves.

This we know, the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth.
This we know, all things are connected, like the blood which unites one family.
All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons of the earth.
Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it.
Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.

But we will consider your offer to go to the reservation you have for my people.
We will live apart and in peace.
It matters little where we spend the rest of our days.
Our children have seen their fathers humbled in defeat.
Our warriors have felt shame, and after defeat they turn their days in idleness and contaminate
their bodies with sweet food and strong drink.
It matters little where we spend the rest of our days.
They are not many.

A few more hours, a few more winters, and none of the children of the great tribes that once
lived on this earth or that roam now in small bands in the woods, will be left to mourn the graves
of a people once as powerful and hopeful as yours.
But why should I mourn the passing of my people?
Tribes are made of men, nothing more. Men come and go, like the waves of the sea.
Even the white man, whose God walks and talks with him as friend to friend, cannot be exempt
from the common destiny.
We may be brothers after all, we shall see.
One thing we know, which the white man may one day discover - our God is the same God.
You may think now that you own Him as you wish to own our land, but you cannot.
He is the God of man, and His compassion is equal for the red man and the white.
This earth is precious to Him, and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on it's Creator.
The whites too shall pass, perhaps sooner than all other tribes.

Continue to contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.
But in your perishing you will shine brightly, fired by the strength of the God who brought you
to this land for some special purpose, gave you dominion over this land and over the red man.
That destiny is a mystery to us, for we do not understand when the buffalo are all slaughtered,
the wild horses are tamed, the secret corners of the forest heavy with the scent of many men, and
the view of the ripe hills blotted by talking wires.
Where is the thicket? Gone
Where is the eagle? Gone
And what is it to say goodbye to the swift pony and the hunt?
The end of living and the beginning of survival.

So we will consider your offer to by our land.

If we agree, it will be to secure the reservation you have promised.
There, perhaps we may live out our brief days as we wish.
When the last red man has vanished from the earth, and his memory is only the shadow of a
cloud moving across the prairie, those shores and forests will still hold spirits of my people, for
they love this earth as the newborn loves it's mother's heartbeat.

So if we sell you our land, love it as we have loved it.

Care for it as we have cared for it, hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you
take it. And with all your strength, with allyour mind, with all your heart, preserve it for your
children, and love it ... as God loves us all.

One thing we know.

Our God is the same God.
The earth is precious to Him.
Even the white man cannot be exempt from the common destiny.
We may be brothers after all.
We shall see.

Chief Seattle, 1854

Back cover
Today people distinguish intellectuality from sentimentality, but in point of fact, intellectuality
cannot be perfect without sentimentality. Neither can the thinking power be nurtured, nor the
faculty of reasoning be sustained, without a continual outflow of feeling. In this age of
materialism we seem to have lost the value of feeling. We speak of heart, but we do not see its
real importance, although it is the principle thing, the root of the plant of life. The heart quality is
something which sustains the whole life. All virtues such as sincerity, respect, thoughtfulness,
consideration, appreciation, all these qualities come through their heart-quality. If he has no
heart, a person is not capable of appreciating, nor of being grateful, nor capable of expressing his
own soul, nor of receiving goodness and help from another. A person without heart-quality
remains selfish, even foolishly selfish. If he were wisely selfish it would be worthwhile.

-The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan Vol.IV.