On Secret Sciences, Initiations, and Modern Societies

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Chapter One.

All bodies in this lower worldReferring to the "sublunary" realm in Aristotelian philosophy—the physical world below the moon which is subject to change and decay. take their origin from the four elements: fire, air, water, and earth. They arise not through a mere composition or accumulation of parts, but through the transformation of one into the other, and upon their destruction, they are dissolved back into the elements. None of these sensible elementsElements that can be perceived by the human senses, as opposed to "pure" philosophical elements. is entirely pure; rather, they are more or less mixed, and one may be transformed into another. Thus, for example, pure earth—or saltIn the alchemical tradition, "Salt" often represents the principle of solidity and the physical body.—becomes water when in water; when thickened, it becomes earth again; driven upward by heat, it becomes air, and there, through further heating, it becomes fire. In the same way, it descends again step by step to earth, stone, sulfurIn alchemy, "Sulfur" represents the principle of inflammability, oiliness, and the soul., and so forth. Each element has two essential qualities, one of which belongs to it alone, while the other is regarded as a medium of unionA bridge or connecting principle; elements share one quality with their "neighboring" element, allowing for a natural transition between states. with the following element. Thus, fire is warm and