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

phrastus Theophrastus von Hohenheim, better known as Paracelsus (1493–1541), a Swiss physician and alchemist who revolutionized medicine by using chemistry., in his little book The Tincture of the Physicians original: "Tinctura Physicorum"; one of Paracelsus's most famous alchemical treatises., diligently and above all others considered and followed such a path prescribed by God. In that work, he sufficiently described the Matter original: "Materiam"; the raw substance used as the starting point for alchemical transformation. and the Practice original: "praxin"; the practical, hands-on application of alchemical theory. or manual work of the entire Great Work—according both to the opinion of the ancient philosophers and to his own true, corrected understanding.

Therefore, I will not set down any other practice here, but rather provide a brief introduction to the understanding of that same book. Through this, beginning students of this art (I do not write for the highly learned), by means of diligent reading and with God’s blessing, may happily attain and achieve not only the knowledge and understanding of the theoretical foundation set forth above, but also the true execution and all necessary manual work of the entire process from beginning to end.

And Theophrastus maintains, in his description of this our Philosophical Work original: "Philosophischen Wercks"; refers to the "Magnum Opus" or the creation of the Philosopher's Stone. and creation—which is nothing other than a Microcosm original: "kleine Welt"; a "little world" or miniature version of the universe that mirrors the larger cosmos., since within it is found a likeness and shared participation of all things—