I.

System of Hermeticism.

Fifth Section.

The only true subject of Hermeticism, with regard to modern chemistry.

§. 73.

Introduction.

Since the ArtIn alchemical traditions, "The Art" refers to the Great Work (the Magnum Opus) or the practice of alchemy itself., as we have shown, creates no matter and consequently also creates no metallic seedoriginal: "Metallsaamen." Alchemists believed that metals possessed a "seed" or life-force that allowed them to grow in the earth or be transformed in the laboratory. (§. 43.), as the same is present in a matured state only and solely in gold and silver (§. 26.), and since finally both the fixedThe "fixed" part refers to the stable component of a substance that resists the heat of the fire. and the volatileThe "volatile" part refers to the component that easily evaporates or escapes when heated. parts [are apparent] to every ration-