Treatise on the Philosopher's Stone

Concerning the Philosopher’s Stone

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Work and ruin; thus there are many dangers, great expenses, and even when we believe all things are well done and nothing is lacking among these prescribed things, we have perhaps not paid good enough attention, so that we have kept the fire original: "Δ"; the alchemical symbol for fire. too hot or too cold through negligence. If we then now wish to perform projection Projection: The final stage of the alchemical process where the "Stone" or "Medicine" is cast upon a molten base metal to transform it into gold or silver. with our work, and it does nothing as we had intended, and thus we find no use in it, we do not know what must be missing or how it may have happened; yet it comes from a lack of these prescribed manual operations which we have recounted here. Therefore I advise you, my children, that you do not venture to work in the vegetable work Vegetable work: A branch of alchemy (vegetabili opere) that uses plants and organic matter as the starting material, rather than minerals or metals. for the reason recounted before; for because of one small thing the work may be ruined, and then all cost is lost. Therefore I advise you to stay completely clear of the vegetable-work because of the separation of the elements—separation and rectification—which are necessary therein, and the much evil worry for a long time, as well as the many kinds of uncertainty which may occur therein. The time required extends so long that one almost knows no end to the work.

If in the beginning you lose the natural moisture, then your work will become too dry in the composition; or if you lose some spirit of air original: "Spiritum aeris"; refers to the volatile gaseous substance or "breath" released during the process. during distillation due to a defect in the vessel or the luting Luting: A clay or cement (Latin: luti) used to seal the joints of alchemical apparatus to prevent vapors from escaping., then you lose your high projection. If you lose some of the fire, then your Medicine The "Medicine" is another name for the Philosopher's Stone in its curative or transformative state. will not be deeply colored, and you lose—