The Sendivogian Chemical Tripod

Preface.

...curse and damn the one who improperly reveals anything of this secret to the unworthy. Likewise, let no one allow himself to dream that this book contains everything within itself, or that he would have no need to read others: not in the least.

Rather, this treatise is like spectacles for weak eyesight; like a lit candle in a dark house; like a compass needle pointing to the Pole on the wild, unknown sea; like a divining rod original: "glückruth." A tool traditionally used to locate hidden ores or water; here, it symbolizes the book's ability to find hidden truths. for hidden metal; like a door into the Garden of the Hesperides; In Greek mythology, this garden grew golden apples. Alchemists frequently used this as a metaphor for the search for the "Golden" result of the Great Work. like a key to a locked chamber; like a ladder to the high Sun-Tree; original: "Sonnenbaum." A common alchemical illustration representing the final, "solar" stage of the process—the creation of gold or the Philosopher’s Stone. like a bridge over the dangerous Silver-Sea; original: "Silber-Meer." This refers to the "Mercurial" or "Lunar" stage of alchemy, often described as a volatile or "sea-like" state of matter that must be crossed to reach stability. indeed, like a true guide to the correct understanding of philosophical, allegorical, and chemical original: "Chimischen." In this era, chemistry and alchemy were not yet distinct disciplines; the term encompassed both laboratory practice and spiritual theory. writings.

For the sake of such many and manifold uses, it has been deemed advisable that—just as with the twelve little treatises Likely referring to the "Twelve Treatises" of Michael Sendivogius, a famous alchemical work of the period. previously—so now also these two beautiful discourses on Mercury original: "Mercurio." and Sulfur original: "Schwefel." Mercury and Sulfur were considered the two primary principles or "parents" of all metals in alchemical theory. from the
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