Hermaphrodite Child of the Sun and Moon XI

Translated 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 11

The White Stone appears as a swan standing on both feet, wearing a silver crown,
which transmutes all metals into Silver.

The twelve stars of the zodiac conduct the last rites as the Water dies and turns to Stone.

The Astral force field represented by the cross first multiplies its power by marrying it with its
Acid, then supplies it with Dry Fire, coloring it yellow like Venus and Mars, and finally reddens it
as the Sun.

PARAGRAPH 11

Diana shines through
When the proud peacock gives up his tail
The white swan Diana appears
Like the man-in-the-moon
You can transmute Venus, Mars, Mercury, and Tin
Into Silver:
Just think about what he did,
And do it the same way:
Then the power of the swan grows,
And changes all metals into Silver.

EXPLANATION OF PARAGRAPH 11

When the peacock gives up his tail colors, a tiny circulation of white opens up. Shortly after
this everything turns white in the blink of an eye.

Be careful not to break the glass and shiny figure too soon, or else the Fire goes out, the
uncooked product is wasted, and better luck next time. It has to harden by itself, so it shatters
like a piece of glass.

It is important, each time you use Virgin Milk (its Acid) to dissolve and precipitate it, to multiply it
by 10, going from 10 to 100, 100 to 1000, etc., ad infinitum.

My favorite is the Method of Projection where you dissolve the Stone in its White Oil (its fermentation)
until it turns to oil. Put quicksilver in the vessel with some of this oil, and cook until solid. This
precipitate transmutes lead, tin, or copper into Silver.

You can also do this process with the Solid Red Sulphur or Stone.

Before combining it with quicksilver, mix a little of this oil with some wine or brandy. This produces
the world-famous Aurum Potabile (liquid gold) which cures every illness of the human body.

CANON 11

Keep going until it turns red,
If that happens, thank the Lord: for
The Sun is the beauty that is in all the metals,
The Sun is the power that turns those metals into Gold.

EXPLANATION OF CANON 11

Inside the Black (the attribute of the body) dwells the White (attribute of the spirit), inside the
White dwells the Red (attribute of soul). Thus Alchemists work in three worlds, the outer dark
world, the paradisiacal spiritual world, and the celestial Light beyond.

The first Work is done through Water and Earth (according to the outer mundane qualities),
the second through Air and Salt, and the third through Fire and Light.

Whoever knows how to make the Solid White Stone from the celestial Light, that is, from the
mystical Dry Fire, knows how to conduct the marriage of the solid queen and the solid red king.

So simmer it in Dry Fire, and in Dry Calcination, until it is red as cinnabar. Do not add water or
anything else. Wait until it is brewed to complete redness.

Before you get any red, a gray ash appears which contains the hidden Phoenix. Then yellow or
orange Red emerges from that ash, turning into red.

By simmer it a while longer and the Salamander appears, who first takes on a yellowish Red,
and finally a lack Red color. The Salamander is solid and fire-proof, and actually enjoys being in
and feeding on the Fire.

The multiplication and projection of Paragraph 11 are now clear with nothing more to do except
what I left out in the interest of brevity.

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.