Treatise on the Philosopher's Stone

Isaac Hollandus

No foreign things that are not of its nature should enter into the Stones, though some wish to bring such things into its nature. However, it is impossible for them to work in such a way that they fix original: "figiren"; in alchemy, "fixation" is the process of making a volatile substance stable under heat so it does not evaporate. the matter. Even when they have fixed it, they are just as close to the goal as they were before; for then it is nothing other than earth that has lost its moisture, is infusible original: "unflüssig"; a substance that will not melt or flow, making it useless for "penetrating" and transforming other metals., and has no entrance original: "Eingang"; the ability of the alchemical medicine to penetrate and transform a base metal.. They stop exactly where they should have first begun to work.

But if they knew of what lineage the Stone was, and recognized its Father and Mother, Sister and Brother The alchemist uses family metaphors to describe the chemical relationship between substances—usually referring to the union of Sulphur (Father) and Mercury (Mother)., arm in arm, mouth in mouth, they would die Refers to "mortification" or "putrefaction," a stage in the alchemical process where the substance "dies" or turns black before being reborn in a purified state. at that very hour. If they recognized and understood these things, they would achieve all their desires through the Art, and all their works would turn out successfully.

Dear Sons original: "Filij" (Latin: filii); a traditional way for alchemical masters to address their students., I have revealed all of this to you in bright, clear words. Therefore, do not begin any foreign operations original: "frembde operationes"; chemical procedures using substances that are not part of the "nature" of the Stone. before you have completed the Great Work. Afterward, begin whatever you wish, and neither cost nor time will hinder you, for you will have everything according to your pleasure. I have told you of many failures that may occur, of which there are many more; but you should know that there is a simple rule about which the Philosophers all speak so strangely, giving parables original: "Gleichnüs" and "parabolas." and setting them forth with hidden names. Yet they all mean the Great Work, and those who can perform the Great Work can also understand all the parables and hidden words.

Furthermore, you should understand and