A decorative typographical ornament consisting of two horizontal bars meeting a central fleur-de-lis motif, with smaller stylized floral terminals on either end.

TO THE KIND

READER

GREETINGS.

You will perhaps ask, friend and brother: where or from what source shall we find the water, or the Mastery of the wise? original: "Magisterium sapientum"; the "Mastery" refers to the Great Work or the successful creation of the Philosopher's Stone. For Geber The Latinized name of Jabir ibn Hayyan, an 8th-century polymath and a foundational figure in alchemy. says: our water is the water of the clouds. original: "aqua nubium"; likely referring to a substance that has been purified or "exalted" through the process of distillation. Aristotle While the Greek philosopher wrote on the natural world, many alchemical texts were attributed to him in the Middle Ages and Renaissance to grant them prestige. indeed says: our water is dry water. original: "aqua sicca"; a famous alchemical paradox usually describing metallic mercury, which behaves like a liquid but does not wet the hands. Hermes Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary "Thrice-Great" founder of the hermetic and alchemical traditions. says: our water [comes] from a filthy and foul menstrual matter original: "ex sordidâ ac fœtidâ menstruali materiâ"; in the symbolic language of alchemy, this refers to the Prima Materia or "First Matter"—the raw, unrefined state of nature that the alchemist must clean and transform.