Chemical Works

tion: he knows how to deck out and confirm his process In alchemy, a "process" refers to the specific set of instructions or recipe used to achieve a transmutation or create a medicine. with the sayings of the philosophers to such an extent that one might well swear a thousand oaths that it could not and must not be otherwise, and that it is the right path and the most certain truth. But when it comes to the test, one sees clearly that the imagined and strongly hoped-for treasure has turned into nothing but coals (as the proverb goes), or rather into slag and ash; thus, time, labor, and expense are all lost.

If this man were a true philosopher and knew the true foundation of the mystery of nature original: Mysterii Naturæ, he would have no need to run about with it and offer it for money like bad merchandise. Truly, he thereby reveals his own ignorance of the work. For if he were on the right path, he would well consider the words of Brother Basil Valentine original: Fratris Basilii Valentini. A legendary 15th-century Benedictine monk and alchemist whose writings were highly influential in the 17th century., where he says: you must not chatter much of this before the common crowd, but should be minded in your heart to keep all such secrets original: Heimlichkeiten. This refers to the hermetic tradition of secrecy, where sacred knowledge was only to be shared with the worthy. until...