Alchemy Chapter I

Chapter I

Summary of the First Chapter: Explanation of the basic signs that compose the Hermetic ideograms: the Cross, the Square, the Triangle, the Circle and their symbolism in Alchemy. - The active Force and the passive Force in the Cross. - The four elements in the Square. - The Tetragram - Divinity in the Triangle - The Pyramid - The Circle, Unity - Combinations of the basic signs - Salt, Nitre, Verdigris.

When one opens a book on occult science - on Alchemy in particular - one sees that the authors have used symbolic signs in order to indicate certain things or express certain ideas. After careful study of these symbolic figures, one sees that they are usually composed of one or more simple figures combined according to a certain method.

In general, four simple figures can be found in such works: the cross, the square, the triangle and the circle. Unity is demonstrated by the circle, duality by the cross, the ternary by the triangle and the quaternary by the square. We shall now give a brief explanation of each of these figures. Let us begin with the Cross.

The CROSS is the symbol of the harmony that issues from the union of two principles that are necessary to all life, in both the Universe and in every being. Of these two principles, one is male and impregnates (fecundates) continually. It is the first agent, the 'natura naturans' of Fabre d'Olivet. Symbolically it is expressed by the vertical straight line of the cross, the 'phallus' of the ancients. The second principle is feminine and passive and is the impregnated agent, the 'natura naturata', the horizontal line of the cross, the κτεις (pudendum) ^[1] of the ancients. We can find this signature in everything. Whatever refers to horizontality at rest is characteristic of the passive, the feminine and secondary element. Verticality, on the contrary, clearly designates the male principle, activity and movement. The symbolism of the cross alone, without any other figure besides, is always considered general, on all three levels.

The cross in which the horizontal line is placed at the bottom of the vertical one shows the involution of the spirit and the inverse figure shows its evolution. Jesus crucified indicates the divine evolution in Matter and His baptism represents His involution by the inverted cross, which is symbolically expressed by the Holy Spirit to Jesus (vertical line) and by John the Baptist and humankind (horizontal line). This last diagram is the complete symbol of the involution of Jesus' divinity.

At first sight, the SQUARE is composed of two vertical lines and two horizontal lines. By following the tracing, we note that the vertical and horizontal lines succeed one another, thus making the active follow after the passive. As shown by its number, every principle is doubled and we thus find an active active, an active passive, a passive active and a passive passive. This expresses the four forms or states that substance can have states that the Ancients and the Hermetists named the four elements: the igneous (combustible) element or fire, the gaseous element or air, the liquid element or water and the solid element or earth. According to Wirth, there is a great analogy between the square and the cross because of their angular similarities, for both are formed by four right angles. In a superior application, we find in it the expression of the Tetragrammaton, the incessant action of 'iod' , which is a pre eminently active Principle (the Ego), on the 'he' a pre eminently passive Principle (the Non ego), and both united by the 'vau' the connective relation of the Ego to the Non ego. Then, the action of these three passes on to another world or mode, that which in Creation is symbolized by the second 'he' .

The TRIANGLE is the figure that symbolizes the spirit. In fact we see that it is composed of only three lines. Each of these responds to one of these letters I H V or that begin the Tetragrammaton, the union of the active and the passive principle and their mutual activity in all eternity. The Triangle expresses the three agents of Nature in their continual movement: the active, the passive and their consequence, the neutral: sulphur, mercury and salt; father mother and child. The Triangle gives us a concept of the divine Trinity in Unity, and Unity in the Trinity, the three levels, the three bodies, etc.

Antiquity expressed the high initiation that it possessed by the erection of symbolic monuments such as the Pyramids, which are composed of the square and the triangle. Their square base symbolized the four elements and each side of this square served as the base of a triangle so as to provide the idea of each state symbolically in the three levels, and even in the Divinity, and their tendency to the sublime unification in the mystery of the magister.

For those interested in the science of numbers, I can say that the four sides added to four times the three angles of intersection make 16, a number that becomes 7, (4+[4x3] = 16 = 7), which is the complete number of universal life and expresses the manifestation of the Spirit 3 within Matter 4. The Tarot gives to this number the chariot of Hermes; this number is the key to Hermetism, If we examine the angles of intersection alone, without going into an analysis, we see 8 lines, 4 of which are horizontal and 4 vertical, and they all converge to the same point. We can break up this hieroglyph into two squares that symbolize the scales (balance) and have a meaning that corresponds to the sign of the infinite .

The pyramidal form provides us perfectly with the idea of the squaring of the circle, for we see the triangle squared without undergoing any change. The tops of the four triangles converge towards the same point so as to express the unification of the result and the qualities of the Magister, which must participate in all the states of the being.

The CIRCLE has no beginning and no end. The first idea that comes to the mind of one who contemplates it is to attribute to it the symbol of Unity and Eternity and, more materially in Alchemy, the symbol of Chaos - the reunion of all without any form. In this case, the circle expresses inert Matter which, through the work of the Alchemist, must become sufficiently evolved in order to be made animate Matter, polarized, androgynous and possessing within it the active and passive qualities that are necessary for life. In order to reach this result, one must be able to communicate to it firstly a principle of receptivity so that, upon contact with the active principle, life will be manifest. By a secret operation, the Alchemist will communicate to Matter this fixed feminine principle and then this state will be symbolized by the circle crossed by a horizontal bar and named Salt. By a corresponding operation, chaotic Matter is wrought and is then in possession of the active principle named Nitre by the adepts, and whose number is 10. Thus, as one can see, by these two figures we have:

1) Matter endowed with a passive energy - Salt, and

2) Matter endowed with an active energy - Nitre.

In the combination of these two natures, we know that union takes place in the following proportions: 2 elements of the active principle for 1 element of the passive principle. The union of these two agents will be resolved by the symbolic figure of the philosophic Vitriol (sulphuric acid), an androgynous Matter to Alchemists.

The crucial figure inserted in the circle shows the verdigris of the Hermetists, a state of Matter that responds - as regards its qualities and defects - to the verdigris of copper oxide. It is the expression of the intimate union of the two principles of Matter - vegetal life.

Selaït-Ha