Alchemy, ancient and modern . ane, we must strip the metals of their outward pro-perties in order to develop the essence within. As saysHelvetius : , . the essences of metals are hidden intheir outward bodies, as the kernel is hidden in thenut. Every earthly body, whether animal, vegetable,or mineral, is the habitation and terrestrial abode ofthat celestial spirit, or influence, which is its principleof life or growth. The secret of Alchemy is thedestruction of the body, which enables the Artistto get at, and utilise for his own purposes, theliving soul. l7 This killing of the outward natureof
Alchemy, ancient and modern . ane, we must strip the metals of their outward pro-perties in order to develop the essence within. As saysHelvetius : , . the essences of metals are hidden intheir outward bodies, as the kernel is hidden in thenut. Every earthly body, whether animal, vegetable,or mineral, is the habitation and terrestrial abode ofthat celestial spirit, or influence, which is its principleof life or growth. The secret of Alchemy is thedestruction of the body, which enables the Artistto get at, and utilise for his own purposes, theliving soul. l7 This killing of the outward natureof material things was to^ be brought about by theprocesses of putrefaction and decay ; hence the reasonwhy such processes figure so largely in alchemisticrecipes for the preparation of the Divine Magistery. 16 See Benedictus Figulus : A Golden and Blessed Casket ofNatures Marvels (translated by A. E. Waite, 1893, pp. 36, 37,and 41). J7 J. F. Helvetius : The Golden Calf ch. iv. (see The HermeticMuseum, vol. iL p. 298), PLATE 4-. SYMBOLICAL ILLUSTRATION Representing theCoction of Gold Amalgam in a Closed Vessel.
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