THE FIRST TREATISE

IN THE FOLLOWING TREATISE WE SHALL DISCOURSE ON THE ORIGIN OF THE STONE OF THE PHILOSOPHERS AND THE ART HOW TO PRODUCE IT.

The Philosopher’s Stone The legendary goal of alchemy: a substance believed to transform base metals into gold and grant spiritual or physical perfection. is produced by means of the Greening and Growing Nature.

Hali the Philosopher Likely referring to Khalid ibn Yazid (also known as Calid) or Haly Abenragel, early Arabian alchemists whose works were foundational for Western alchemy., says thereof: “This Stone rises in growing, greening things.” Wherefore when the Green Often referring to Viriditas, the "greenness" or life-force found in nature, which alchemists sought to capture and concentrate. is reduced to its former nature, whereby things sprout and come forth in ordained time, it must be decocted The process of heating or "cooking" a substance to extract its essence or ripen it. and putrefied In alchemy, putrefaction is the essential stage where the matter breaks down and blackens, viewed as a necessary death before its eventual rebirth and transformation. in the way of our secret art. In this way, Art may aid what Nature ripens and breaks down, until she gives it, in due time, the proper form; and our Art A common shorthand for Alchemy, often called "The Sacred Art" or "The Great Work." but adapts and prepares the Matter as becomes Nature for such work, and for such work provides also, with careful wisdom, a suitable vessel Typically the "Philosophical Egg" or a sealed glass container used to hold the alchemical mixture during long periods of heating..

For Art does not undertake to produce Gold and Silver anew, as it cannot endow matter with its first origin, nor is it necessary to search for our Art in the places and caverns of the earth where minerals have their first beginning. Art goes quite another way to work and with a different intention from Nature; therefore does Art also use different tools and instruments.