Alchemical Order
The Alchemical Process must unfold in a very precise order. Modern interpretations can create a confusion concerning the Fourth Step of the in the process.
Believing this to be a mistake, correlations and correspondences where used to explore the intended “true order of things.” In the alchemical process of the transmutation from “Lead into Gold,” a confusion occurs with at the 4th step. Using the Heliocentristic model of how we now understand our solar system, the fourth step would be the planet Venus instead of the Sun. But this gives rise to numerous contradictions and breaks the correspondence with other mystical traditions. This would also then denote that steps 5, 6, and 7 are now out of sequence.
As any philosophical or mystical endeavor, it is through personal communion with one’s higher being that ultimately unfolds truth. I offer this suggestion for others to verify so that the transmutative process of these teachings can be best utilized for the development of the Soul and the “True Birth of Consciousness.”
Conjunction: The Conception of the Soul (personal title for this process)
Understanding the complex symbolism of this Alchemical Process can shed illumination into the profound meaning of CONJUNCTION.
To begin this journey into the fourth step of the Alchemical Process of Transmutation, it is imperative that we use correlations across multiple disciplines to arrive at truth– namely being that the fourth step is not that of Copper or the planet Venus but rather that of Gold and the Sun.
First, we will explore what most likely created this confusion and second, correlations that support this conclusion. Correlating the alchemical steps with their correct symbolism is a cipher that unlocks knowledge across disciplines and is completely necessary to traverse the path of Gnosis.
Believing the mistake arose out of the Geocentric vs Heliocentric operations of the planets around the sun, one must forgo modern science and hold to the ancient symbolic meaning solely.
Furthering this proof, other mystical modalities will demonstrate and reinforce the symbolism in this case. Those being:
- Alchemical Metals and Planetary Symbols
- The Sepher Yetzirah and the Hebrew Double Letters
- Emerald Tablet and the Seven Hermetic Principles
- Genesis Creation and Numerology
- Alchemical Depictions
- Splendor Solis
- Azoth
- Philosophia Reformata
- Pretiosa Margarita (precious new pearl)
- Tarot
In some case ahead, the historical depictions have been portrayed in a manner where symbolism correlates with Additive Light. Even though the color symbolism is not addressed directly in this blog (Alchemy of Color), it is encouraged that you explore this concept and information.
Geocentric verses Heliocentric
The antiquity of the profound insights of the Alchemical Transmutation of Consciousness is often forgotten. The ancient alchemical teachings predate modern cosmological understandings. One such factor is the misconstruction of the planetary order in regards to the alchemical process.
Geocentrism
Claudius Ptolemy (c. AD 100 – c. 170) was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer and astrologer that developed the Geocentric Model of the solar system. The geocentric model (also known as Geocentrism,) is a superseded description of the Universe with Earth at the center.
Under the geocentric model, the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets all orbited Earth. The geocentric model was the predominant description of the cosmos in many ancient civilizations, such as those of Aristotle in Classical Greece and Ptolemy in Roman Egypt.
Heliocentrism
Copernican heliocentrism is the name given to the astronomical model developed by Nicolaus Copernicus and published in 1543. This model positioned the Sun near the center of the Universe, motionless, with Earth and the other planets orbiting around it in circular paths, modified by epicycles, and at uniform speeds.
The Copernican model displaced the geocentric model of Ptolemy that had prevailed for centuries, which had placed Earth at the center of the Universe. But in doing so, it caused a great disparity in the understanding of the progression of Transmutation of the Consciousness. It was also a profound way to hide ancient truths in plain sight.
The Geocentric model must be used when referring to the Alchemical Process. This correlation is made in the context of time and history. The order of the alchemical principles were created from the symbolism of the Geocentric model of the solar system where the Earth was the center of the universe. The order of the planets is of great importance as it relates to the procedural process of the journey through consciousness that was most probably the initial teaching. These symbolic principles became confused when modern science changed the way the ancients viewed the cosmos. This discrepancy has caused tremendous deception and ignorance into the true interpretation and has prevented the true unfoldment in all its “spiritual”/mystical application.
Alchemical Metals and Planetary Symbols
Alchemically, there is a correlation between the symbols of the alchemical metals and the planetary symbols. The alchemical symbol for the metal is also the symbol of a planet. Using the geocentric model, the alchemical process would be in the above order of progression. Using this correlation, other correlations can be added which expound the order of progressive transmutation.
SEPHER YETZIRAH
One can also arrive at the order outside of the Geocentric correlation through study of the Hebrew alphabet. This can be accomplished by researching the Double Letters of the Hebrew alphabet as one of the primary correlations.
The clue to the order of the Alchemical process can be found in the Sepher Yetzirah (Book of Formation, or Book of Creation). The Sepher Yetzirah is the earliest extant book on Jewish esotericism. Yetzirah is more literally translated as “Formation” because the word Briah is used for “Creation”. The Sepher Yetzirah, most likely having been composed before the 16th century, would have used the symbolism of the geocentric order of the planets. In the Sepher Yetazirah, a correlation is spelled out between the seven double letters and their meaning with the Seven Planets. Take special not of Kaf and its location in the 4 stage.
Seven Double Letters of the Hebrew Alphabet
The Double Meaning of Gold
The fourth double letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Kaf. Out of all the double letters, Kaf alone holds two numeric assignments. Kaf rules over Life and Death. It through this interpretation that Life and Death are joined into on grand creation.
The Emerald Tablet and The Seven Hermetic Principles
Another correlation can be explored in the Emerald Tablet. When each paragraph of the Emerald Tablet is correlated to one of each of the Seven Hermetic Principles, the Forth Hermetic Principle of Polarity gives extended insight into the dual function of this alchemical step.
“Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry. It ascends from the earth to the heaven and again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior.”
-A translation by Isaac Newton is found among his alchemical papers that are currently housed in King’s College Library, Cambridge University. Fourth Paragraph.
The graphics (right) briefly illustrate the Seven Hermetic Principles corresponding to the paragraphs of the Emerald Tablet. The right side correlating the spiritual creation of the Spiritual, Mental and Physical Planes. The left corresponding to the correlation of the temporal creation of the Mineral, Plant and Animal Kingdoms.
The principle of polarity give rise to the division of the Temporal and Spiritual Creation. The fusion of the two becoming the Antimony or formation of the Soul. This is the purpose and process of creating the Philosopher’s Stone. In other words, the 4th Principle being a Temporal function, has a paired 8th Spiritual Function (not addressed as it lies beyond death) but is the Birth of Soul into the next level of existence.
Seven Day of Creation (Genesis & Numerology)
Using Genesis or the Story of Creation, a correlation is established when on the 4th day when the Two Great Lights were created and divided. Another symbolic representation of polarity. Numerological meaning also supports this concept through opposition.
On the Seventh Day, the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Splendor Solis (“The Splendour of the Sun”) is illuminated alchemical text attributed to Salomon Trismosin, 1582 (again within the 16th century time period.) The symbolic process shows the classical alchemical death and rebirth of the king, and incorporates a series of seven flasks, each associated with one of the seven planets. This being visible on the topmost portion of the illumination. This is of great worth as it further denotes the linear progression of the process as well as introduces another correlation of the transformative nature of the sequence.
Within each flask, a process is shown involving the transformation of bird and animal symbols into the Queen and King, the white and the red tincture.
Here again we can see a remnant of the original order of symbolic transformation. This can lend further understanding to each of the alchemical stages of transformation.
In Basil Valentine’s Azoth, it also clearly shows the fourth step as being the alchemical symbol for the Sun.
Azoth was considered to be a universal medication or universal solvent, and was sought for in alchemy. Similar to another alchemical idealized substance, alkahest, azoth was the aim, goal and vision of many alchemical works. Its symbol was the Caduceus.
The term, originally a term for a formula sought by alchemists such as the philosopher’s stone, became a poetic word for the element mercury. The name is Medieval Latin, an alteration of azoc, being originally derived from the Arabic ”al-zā’būq”, “the mercury.” It has become a common misconception to link “Azoth” to mercury alone. Rather “Azoth is the integration of mercury, salt and sulfur when it comes to the senses and symbols.
The Caduceus symbol is crucial for understanding both the temporal and spiritual creation of the Human and the integration into both creations into a Living Soul.
Temporal and Spiritual Creations unite to conceive at BIRTH the Human Mind/Soul Body, which is only an embryo that develops throughout its life physical earth. At DEATH, Conscious Soul Body is born into a higher plane of existence. Death is the Birth of the Individualized Soul that was matured in the womb of the Mother Earth. The Physical Life is then understood as a maturation of consciousness. What one does and learns matters as it relates Soul Maturation.
It is not until death of the Physical Body that the Spiritual Birth of a Living Soul is created. An entire lifetime of Subjective Experiences creates a biochemical and electoral-spiritual blueprint for a unique SOUL to be individualized. This creation being related to the completion of all Seven Alchemical Processes that give rise to the creation of Antimony (the Eighth Step and reflection of the 4th).
The tarot also contains a correlation to this seven-step process of the creation and birth of a Living Soul. It is represented by the Seven Double Letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The order of the tarotic-story having become confused and confounded. It’s only when used in correlation with other mystical traditions that the story of the conception of SOUL unfolds.
Hebrew Letter Correspondence
Rider-Waite Tarot
Rider-Waite Tarot Deck. Originally published 1910. Illustrator Pamela Colman Smith on instructions of academic and mystic A. E. Waite. Published by the Rider Company.
Rosicrucian Egyptian Tarot
Spencer Lewis, (Imperator of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, from 1915 – 1939), Twenty-two cards of the Tarot’s Major Arcana as part of the Kabbalah Unveiled series by “Frater Aquarius, Scribe.” 1933.
The Confusion over the Forth Alchemical Step seems profound. The actual goal of the Alchemical process was to create the Philosopher’s Stone (Antimony or the Living Soul) that would then be used to transform any metal into gold and give Life Eternal, not to create Gold itself. Gold only being a symbol of preciousness and not the conclusion of the process.
Using this hidden cipher orders the spiritual message being conveyed to those of the mystic traditions in this era. Placing the alchemical steps in this order brings clarity and a harmonic correspondence across many disciplines. It is a powerful codex for personal unfoldment and understanding the evolution of consciousness on a psychic level.
Please consider this “True Order.” Having this message correct allows others who lack ancient and antique written resources to arrive at a conscious awakening of the purpose for human life on the earth planet. Once enlightened, purpose is found in developing the Mind in a way that will expand SOUL in the most useful and direct manner.
