The Resurrected Brother Basil Valentine: An Explanation of the Process for the Great Stone of the Ancient Sages

First Part /

predestined—namely, produced and formed into Metallic Generation—so must the Art, in like manner, perfect and multiply such matter original: "Materiam." The raw substance of the work. with its own form. For there is nothing that Nature generates and transmutes by means of a seed that Art—in following Nature—is not also able to compose by means of that same seed. However, without preceding Nature, no one is able to do such a thing, except God alone, who can make something out of nothing, and nothing out of something.

Now, however, Nature has its own seed for the birthing of metals, which the ancient Philosophers have posited to be in Sulphur and Silver original: "Argento." In this context, it refers to Quicksilver (Mercury) as the passive "matter" paired with the active "form" of Sulphur., that is, Form and Matter; and Theophrastus Referring to Paracelsus (Theophrastus von Hohenheim, 1493–1541), the famous Swiss-German physician and alchemist who established the "Tria Prima" or three primary substances. [posited it] to be in Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt, which has the nearest power enclosed within itself, so that it is fulfilled toward the metallic nature and form. Therefore, without the unique and metallic seed, all men's work and labor is in vain.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear; for through this argument, innumerable errors and sophistications original: "Sophisticationes." In alchemical literature, this refers to fraudulent or "deceptive" chemistry that produces something looking like gold but lacking its internal essence. are prevented.

Here it is well to note: that Art can never follow Nature in the remote things original: "Remotis." Distant or primary foundations., that is, in the principles original: "Principiis." out of which the aforementioned seed has grown (which are the four elements original: "Elementa." Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.), so as to produce a metallic seed. Instead, [Art] must [take] those same principles in