And the Alchemical Art

...appears. But for such an operation, purpose, and final goal, and for the preparation original: "habilitationem," meaning the process of making the elements fit or capable of taking on a specific form of the elements, the influences and virtues In this context, "virtues" refers to the inherent powers or qualities radiated by celestial bodies. of the stars and planets serve greatly. These powers help Nature to work, to join, and to unite the elements, much like the skill within a craftsman. This is the means by which he draws out the figure and shape of an image, just as the image held in the craftsman's heart shapes and formats that same image into the physical material.

It is the same in matter: if the celestial influences serve the matter toward the form of fish, they then help to join, prepare, and ready the elements so that from such a conjunction and union, the form and essence of fish may appear. But if the influences and heavenly powers serve the form of gold, Nature also works through these intermediaries original: "his meditantibus," literally "these things mediating" upon such a compound of elements until the elements are united in such a way that gold arises from that substance and essence.

Just as every specific proportion of elements brings forth a particular appearance, state of form, and essence—much like an accumulation of many different things creates many different species and forms in their gathering—it is united and joined in the elements so that perfect forms exist. These are the forms which the influences or virtues of the stars, descending from the higher realms into matter, were intended to serve. Then the work of Nature ceases, because it has brought its intention to its final end, just as a craftsman stops when he has drawn out the form of the thing which he had held in his heart to bring forth in matter. Thus Nature always works through the stellar influences and virtues, which are the seeds of forms, because through such...