The Sophic Nucleus: An Interpretation of the Tincture of the Physicists of Paracelsus

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original: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA"

A circular alchemical or Rosicrucian emblem is displayed here. The outermost ring contains the words Hermetic Philosophy. Inside this ring is a green Ouroboros, a serpent consuming its own tail, which represents the eternal cycle of nature and the unity of matter. The center of the emblem features a blue oval with a golden sun at the top radiating light downwards. In the middle of the oval, a white pelican is shown in its piety, pecking at its breast to nourish its young with its own blood. This image serves as a traditional symbol of self sacrifice and the alchemical process of refining the soul. The pelican and its nest sit atop a stone pedestal decorated with a red saltire, or X shaped cross, and four red roses. This combination of the cross and roses is a hallmark of Rosicrucian symbolism. The entire emblem is printed on a small rectangular piece of white paper pasted onto a larger folio page.