CHAPTER I.

...or it may be the first element, from which all physical bodies originate and in which they are contained. And then, that the Virgin Earth original: "Jungfräuliche Erde"; in alchemy, this refers to primordial, uncorrupted matter or the "first earth" before it has produced anything, the drifting sand, is the second element—a secondary quality—one and the same with the first. From this, it is to be recognized how this world and all its created parts consist of Water $\nabla$ The symbol $\nabla$ represents the element of Water. We must also remind the reader, as if in passing (yet not in vain or by chance), how from what has been said so far, one may precisely recognize the origin, essence, colors, and content of all ores lying before our eyes—namely, all pebbles and stones, whose "breaking point" or origin is the heavens. Thus, we now take up once again the broken thread from Letter m. §. 12. and continue with the description of the Systema Magicum The "Magical System," a diagram or conceptual model of the cosmos common in 17th-century hermetic texts conducted there, and say: F. G. is the Circle or Region of the subterranean Fire $\triangle$ The symbol $\triangle$ represents the element of Fire.

Letter E. In this Air F. G. [which is coarser than the Fire $\triangle$ C. D., in which the outflows of the Sun $\odot$, Moon, and Stars (as shown in Letter h. §. 10.) form into corporeal little spirits] the essential quality of the cold night—after it has sunk there through its rays—or of the stars and the moon, congeals into the material, sand-making Water $\nabla$ E. F. That this happens is taught to us by daily experience in the upper Fire $\triangle$ C. D. The author here uses the fire symbol $\triangle$ to refer to the upper atmosphere or the "fiery" region of the heavens through rain, snow, frost, dew, and hail. Truly, all those skilled in mining know all too well of the subterranean Air-Region by the "storms" original: "Gewittern"; in a mining context, this refers to dangerous damp or atmospheric pressures/vapors within the tunnels in the underground mountains and chasms. Indeed, the sorrowful histories of terrifying earthquakes, both in past times and our own, should be witness enough that this must be so. They leave no doubt regarding this subterranean Air-Region, which, according to the natural order cited above, must unavoidably exist there, and thus this also has its ground and correctness.

Letter F. We come then to the last, innermost, and central region: namely, the subterranean Fire $\triangle$. Just as the living, fiery fire, Shamayim original Hebrew: "Schamajim" (שמים), meaning the Heavens; here used to denote the celestial fire, occupies the highest seat of all regions of this Universe, so this coarse, earthly fire of these "great kitchens" has taken up the very lowest region in the center of the Globe of the Earth. For the Region of Shamayim A. B. is opposed to the central, material, fiery Globe G.; the Region B. C. is opposed to the subterranean coarse Air-Region F. G.; the upper Air-Region or subtler Water $\nabla$ C. D. is opposed to the sand- and stone-making waters E. F. The seas and the gravel of the earth, however, are common to the aforementioned upper and lower regions as receptacles for their "out-throwings" Refers to the residues or products of elemental processes. For just as the upper powers unite in the air, as proven above, and are brought down to us through the light of the Sun $\odot$ or rays of Fire $\triangle$, so the subterranean Fire $\triangle$ drives the powers of the stars (which have radiated into the subterranean Fire $\triangle$) into the region of the great assembly of waters—namely, the sand-making waters E. F.—and there boils them thoroughly into corporeal little bodies. As has been extensively proven above, no one to whom the primal sources of nature are known will deny that such a subterranean Fire $\triangle$ exists. It is also perfectly known to all miners; the eras of the world have taught us this lamentably enough through the many outbreaks of fire from the earth. Indeed, during earthquakes here and there, this has been observed all too well. And what should a rational person think of that "singular pool" in Japan Likely a reference to the volcanic boiling springs or "Hells" (Jigoku) of Beppu or similar geothermal features reported by travelers known to us through Oriental travels, and other such irreproachable evidence that could be brought forth? Nevertheless, we will leave it at what daily experience in the mountains and chasms teaches us: namely, that there is such a subterranean and central Fire $\triangle$, which shows its powers to the lovers of truth most of all in the harshest winter. For when, at the approach of winter, the Fire $\triangle$ Here referring to the atmosphere or the elemental balance is filled with many coarse dampnesses, with which the heavenly seed is everywhere mixed (which was generated throughout the summer during the Sun's high position by the Moon and stars, but could not all come down in the thin, delicate summer Fire $\triangle$), and these dampnesses then—due to their weight and the recessed Sun $\odot$ at this time of year—come down to us frequently as rain and snow and are locked into the earth, the Sun $\odot$ has retreated far enough and the ground is covered by frost as if by a strong armor. This is so that these sunken powers cannot escape again and return to their Chaos In alchemy, "Chaos" often refers to the atmospheric ether or the unorganized state of matter, and Letter G. leave the ground unmoistened. Then these heavenly powers are "boiled out" by the subterranean Fire $\triangle$ into a viscous water $\nabla$ (which specifies and adapts itself according to the nature and property of each seed). This viscous water $\nabla$ is further driven upward by the subterranean fire at the approach of spring into the trees and many other plants. Here we must also observe the wonderful and wise ordinance of God in the frost of these climates; for if it comes at the right time and lasts until the right term, we have hope for good and fruitful times for the reasons mentioned above. If, on the contrary, the Lord visits us with wet, slushy winter weather, then this heavenly life-sap is mightily lacking, as it is entirely weathered away by the subterranean Fire $\triangle$ and driven back into its Chaos. Nothing remains for us then but a coarse material water $\nabla$, prone to rot, from the Circle D. E. (see Figure No. 1). Through these superfluous dampnesses prone to rot, all kinds of ailments and diseases are generated for us in the spring and summer. And so, what the Psalmist says remains true: Psalm 104:27 "He has ordered everything wisely; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord," etc. Thus, we have fully proven and described the Systema Magicum to the lovers of truth and divine mysteries, as promised in §. 12, Letter l.

§. 18. And we can now all the better, and with stronger reasons, prove and demonstrate what was said in §. 11, Letter k.: namely, that the Sun $\odot$ in its innermost part is an essential Fire $\triangle$, etc. That the Fire $\triangle$, as well in the sea as in the whole earth, [is generated] by the Sun, Moon, and Stars...