[Around the central figure at top] Spirit original: "Sperit" Soul original: "Anima" Body original: "Corpus" [Right margin adjacent to diagram] Acting in the earth Fire in water Earth in fire Fire in earth In earth and in fire by calcining Calcination: the process of heating a substance to high temperatures to reduce it to powder. [Labels within the circular medallions, clockwise from top left] Calcination Fixation The process of making a volatile substance stable under heat. Separation Conjunction The union of opposites, often symbolized as a marriage. Putrefaction The stage of decay or "blackness" (Nigredo) necessary for rebirth. Cibation The "feeding" of the matter with liquid to sustain its growth. Sublimation The process of vaporising and re-solidifying a substance to purify it. [Labels inside each medallion] Spirit Soul Body

the black Sea the black Sea

The "Black Sea" refers to the Nigredo stage, where the matter dissolves into a dark, chaotic state.

The Last of the White stone & the beginning of the Red stone

The earth stands, the wave washes, the spirit purifies, the Spirit enters

original Latin: "Terra stat unda lavat pür purgat Spiritus intrat". This describes the elemental purification of the prime matter.

[Interlinear notes between columns] The matter of colours be there of colours be west of of waters be water

From the sun take your light
The red gum original: "gome"; refers to a resinous alchemical substance it is bright
And from the moon do also
The white gum there be too
The philosophers' sulphur with
This is called without strife
Kibrit and Zubic Kibrit and Zubic: Arabic-derived alchemical terms for Sulphur and Mercury. called also
and many more other names
From them draw out a tincture
and

From the Sun take the light
The red gum it is bright
And from the moon do also
the white gum there be two
The Philosophers' sulphur with
this called without strife
Kibrit & Zubic called also
& many more other names
of them draw out a tincture

[Labels on the lower vessel and foliage] Spirit Spirit Soul Body Spirit Soul Body