Letter to the Gold-Seeking Lovers of Chemistry and Alchemy

...are, so that the practitioner original: "Liebhaber," literally "lover" of the art; a common term for a dedicated student of alchemy. does not approach things incorrectly, or seek a thing where it is not to be found.

9. The first obstacle lies in the knowledge of the Matter original Latin: "Materie", or the Subject original Latin: "Subjecto"; refers to the raw material or "base" used for the work., out of which one wishes to make the Stone. How variously the authors original Latin: "Autores" have written about this will be best known by whoever has read such books; however, let one be hindered by nothing, and remain by the above statement of the 7th Article. By virtue of this, the apprentice original Latin: "Tyro"; a novice or beginner. must seek his Matter directly original Latin: "directè" in the mineral kingdom. Yes, many will say: it is easy to suggest the mineral kingdom, but this is so vast that one can go mightily astray within it; it is true, this kingdom is vast and prone to error, but there one must take the best authors to aid, so that they may hand him the thread of Ariadne A reference to the mythological thread that guided Theseus out of the Labyrinth; in alchemy, it refers to the guiding principles that lead a chemist through the complexities of matter.. These will say: Seek the roots of the minerals original: "Mineren", both the simple and the composite; seek their seed; seek their origin; from what such things were generated; follow the trail of their decoction The natural or artificial process of maturing or "cooking" substances within the earth or a vessel.; investigate why one is lead, the...

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