The New Olympic and Blessed Rosary

Fourth, what the four waters are that flow through the garden of paradise.

the composition of the spirits

The Tree of Good and Evil was likened to our root: the earth to our Mercury the foundational, transformative metallic substance, in which our root accomplished its perfect tincture, for it receives our King. The poisonous snake is our dissolving water, which is, Mercury resolved in water. The four rivers to refresh the Tree of Life of our root are nothing other than our mercurial water, in which our King is dissolved; and that same water divides itself into four main rivers, which encompass the earth. The first water is called Pison, which goes around the whole land of India, in which there is much gold, precious and pure. This water signifies our mercurial water, for it looks around all of India, in which there is much precious gold. Understand this as our root, when it is encompassed by the mercurial water, for therein is found very pure and precious Indian gold. Thus understand that the main river and the first divided water called Pison are one and the same meaning for our mercurial water. For it is indeed the first main river, from which the first river and water divide themselves—understand the elements.

The second water is called Gihon, which flows around the whole land of Ethiopia, it is equated to water bringing about blackness. The third water is called Hiddekel, for that one turns and flows toward the East. This water signifies the element of air, for through the air comes forth the seed of man and woman completely. The fourth water is called Euphrates, which signifies the element of fire and the end of our stone.

When the King is converted into a spirit, just keep the degree of fire equal; it rises and falls until such time as it lies down again in the bottom of the glass in a white shape and color. When you see that, do not hurry too much; give it plenty of room so that the work becomes the more perfect. Then proceed with the same degree of fire up to redness. Unless the seed of the man is joined with the seed of the woman, you will accomplish nothing in the work.

There are 11 keys of the Art. The first is solution dissolution into liquid state and putrefaction the decay or 'death' phase. The second is sublimation purification through vaporization or separation. The third is the perfection of mixing the seed of man and woman with a natural marriage, and to unite them entirely and utterly with each other. The fourth is the Seal of Hermes original: "Sigillum Hermetis"; putrefaction is accomplished in 42 days: but it would be better to be somewhat longer, for no harm comes from this. The chief care of the whole work is that the heat is not increased too much. The fire of putrefaction should be made from a feather-alum alumen plumosum, a fibrous mineral used for gentle, even heat