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Hermaphrodite Child of the Sun and Moon VIITranslated by Mike Brenner. Copyright Mike Brenner 1997. Permission given to freely copy this, as long as this copyright remains attached.Back to Hermaphrodite Child of the Sun and Moon. EXPLANATION OF FIGURE 7 The number 7 is very symbolic of the stages of the Work, including 7 planets, 7 days, 7 weeks, 7 circulations, and 7 systemic periods. The spiritual energy of Nature courses through the Mystical Substance using the 7-spoked wheel of the planets. The mystical Earth is readied by the 7-day work, a symbolical months-time, and then 7 weeks makes a systemic period. The 7 circulations, occuring in both the magical and natural rhythms, bring the Work all the way throught to the white Tincture. Figure 7 reveals the Gold, Silver, and Mercury from Paragraph 6 and Canon 6 fully. The Sun represents the Child emanating from Saturn, or Jupiters Stone, or the Gold of the Philosophers still half-shrouded in darkness, whose internal heat draws in and devours the magnetic whiteness of the Mercury-Water of his sister the radical humidity. The Moon represents this Mercury-Water, the mystical Silver. When Sun and Moon are equally mixed they accomplish the true Wedding of the red Servant with his good smelling white sister. Mercury, the hermaphrodite spirit with both masculine and feminine attributes, the off-spring of the Sun and the Moon, is symbolized by the cross connecting these sacred siblings. This Mystical Mercury or quicksilver has a positive and negative aspect. Its negative aspect is being dissolved in the very Mercurial Water it magnetically attracts to itself. Its positive aspect is that it binds this Water and solidifies it. Like red and white roses grow form ordinary stems, Silver and Gold flowers grow from the stem of mystical Mercury. PARAGRAPH 7 Here the Work begins, A duality gives the power To heal, The elixir of long life. A duality separated by a moist fire, Bestowing health and wealth. That is how to see this Figure. EXPLANATION OF PARAGRAPH 7 The results of the Work can only be attained in Fire wet with sweat by this alchemical wedding of the red groom to his white sister. No one knows this better than those who strived for ages without the benefit of this paragraph. Had they only placed the red groom at the altar between the center of the heavens and the earth, and then brought his pure, liquid sister-bride to kiss him there. Then they would have been well along their Path to stable health and limitless wealth, the by-products of the white and the red elixirs. CANON 7 Do not pollute me, Just dissolve me, coagulate me, And turn me upside down. That how to do good Work. EXPLANATION OF CANON 7 In these 4 verses Northon tosses all the the other Alchemists a rock to stub their toes on. (1) Guard It from pollution by any external substances that are not homogenous and harmonious. (2) Pour your water on the fire without putting the fire out so the water escapes as steam. (3) Following the ancient wisdom, give Fire to the fire and Mercury to the mercury. (4) As they melt into each other, their tight embrace dissolves them and finally coagulates them. (5) Then a doubled Mercury dissolves and coagulates itself through a strengthened or doubled Fire. As Mercury completes the circle by returning to fiery Earth, like a flower turned stem-up, you become master of the art of the Stone and complete the Work. If you have problems understanding these alchemical texts, Adam McLean now provides a study course entitled How to read alchemical texts : a guide for the perplexed. |