Preface.

Regarding the works of the old philosophers Philosophis|The "philosophers" or alchemists of antiquity whose writings formed the basis of the Hermetic tradition, it is said: Nature and Art In this context, "Art" refers to Alchemy—the human skill used to perfect or assist natural processes must be together; without Art, Nature does not succeed, and without Nature, Art can begin nothing.

As noble as the magnet is, it costs very little and is easily obtained—namely, the magnet is available at all times. However, the solvent Menstruum|A universal alchemical solvent believed to dissolve substances into their primary essence can only be obtained at a certain time; and when one collects this doubled solvent original: "Menstruum duplicatum", the process must be handled very cleanly; afterwards, it is kept for use. Gold is dissolved very quickly in this solvent, faster than in my other two. What further powers are within it, I shall investigate further, God willing original: "g. G.", likely an abbreviation for "Gott gebe" (God grant) or "geliebt' Gott" (beloved God).

One can sometimes obtain much of this solvent, sometimes little, and sometimes none at all, which is why the time and hour must be well observed; otherwise, the Bird of Paradise Paradies-Vogel|An alchemical metaphor for a volatile, spiritual substance or "spirit" that evaporates or escapes if the apparatus is not sealed or the timing is wrong flies away until another Phoenix burns and a young one arises from it again: Therefore, let nothing be neglected.

This solvent is just as little corrosive as my first two, and it is a true "woman’s work" Weiber-Arbeit|From the Latin "opus mulierum," this refers to a stage of alchemy that is simple, gentle, and requires patience rather than intense heat or heavy labor to catch such a solvent.

In my Macrocosmic Solvent original: "Menstr. Macrocosmo" I find