26

The 9th Chapter.

...be preserved. Without Mercury original: "Mercurio" and Vitriol original: "Vitriolo", and without the proper, orderly proportion of both, nothing can come into being or persist; because Mercury thins everything, but Vitriol thickens everything. The proportion of both—depending on whether a thing should be thin or thick, hard or soft, fluid or stable; indeed, according to how much air, water, or earth joined the movement into each body, and as the form and shape of the womb original: "Matrix" allows—creates a magnificent harmony, and ensures that these two agents original: "Würcker" with their unequal properties become one.

The joining original: "Conjunctio" of Mercury and Vitriol.

Mercury, with its constant thinning, preserves the spirit, soul, and life. Vitriol, with its constant thickening, preserves the body and the womb. As soon as the artist or an external accident changes the proper proportion, a being is brought out of its former shape. If there is too much Mercury, it is thinned, bloated, dissolved, fermented, and even led to rot and final destruction. But if the weight original: "pondus" of the Vitriol is increased, then a thin, fluid, loose, porous, and bloated thing

27

Concerning the World-Slime.

contracts, becomes thick, firm, and hard, sinks down, and is changed into stone and metal.

The origin of our World-Slime is from humanity and the air; therefore, the poor man has more and better of it than the king. For this reason, it cannot be bought anywhere, because it would be worth nothing and too little of it can be used. Thus, it is to be found everywhere, because man carries the Matter of the Magnet In alchemy, a "Magnet" is a substance—often derived from biological or atmospheric sources—that "attracts" the invisible celestial spirit. everywhere with him, and by means of simple hand-movements and instruments, if he wishes, he can catch the general spirit of the air and turn it into salt.

This happens indeed at all times of the year, on water and land, on mountains and in valleys; yet one does not always obtain the same amount of Mercury.

Our Matter is found on the highest mountains: for when a man works with his magnet on the highest mountain, his hand—in which the magnet lies—along with the instrument into which the spiritual salt comes, is even higher than the mountain, and higher than the highest point.

The Universal Matter of the Magnet is thrown out of the pharmacies and spice shops, poured onto the manure pile by the maids, found on the public streets, and often serves children for their...