The Microcosmic Animal Stone, or the Supreme Medicine from the Little World of the Human Body

...[proceda]mus This suffix likely concludes a Latin word like procedamus ("let us proceed") from the preceding page.. This one is now properly called the Great Work, the Blessed Stone, and the Stone of All Stones. To this Stone belong all the attributes, operations, and effects original: "Attributa, Operationes & Effecta." mentioned in the Assembly of Truth original: "Turba Veritatis." Most likely referring to the Turba Philosophorum, one of the most influential early Latin alchemical texts. and other books of the Sages. Its operation cannot be learned by any human diligence, nor through any books, processes, or writings. This is the true Macrocosmic Stone Lapis Macrocosmicus: The "Stone of the Greater World," representing a universal medicine or transmuting agent that affects the entire universe, not just a specific kingdom of nature. For its preparation and formation, no Vegetable, Mineral, or Microcosmic seed, field, or labor is required; rather, one must proceed macrocosmically from beginning to end, if it is to operate and work most universally original: "Universalissime."—that is, upon the whole of nature, including humans, cattle, metals, precious stones, herbs, and trees.

This Stone is capable of exalting and increasing the perfection of all the other three stones The Vegetable, Mineral, and Animal stones mentioned previously., all of which it encompasses beneath itself as subordinate universals original: "Universalia subalterna.". Its Matter original: "Materia." is common and of no value; it is found on land and in the sea, everywhere and in all places. Nothing that breathes and has life can do without this matter. Its work takes place in one vessel, in one container, in one—and yet no—earthly fire. Its work is the simplest dissolution and simplest coagulation original: "simplicissima Solutio & simplicissima Coagulatio."—easy, swift, and without effort or any labor. It is called the work of women and the play of children original: "Opus Mulierum & Ludus Puerorum." A famous alchemical aphorism suggesting that once the "First Matter" is found, the actual chemistry is as easy as boiling water or playing a game.. In short, it is a work of three days original: "opus trium dierum." A symbolic timeframe for the final stage of the transmutation. for one who knows...