ALCHEMY AND ASTROLOGY 243 



impurities will bum away and leave us in possession of 

 unadulterated wisdom. 



5 . h Saturn. The Life-principle. Saturn says : " My 

 six brothers have relegated me and expelled me from 

 the spiritual kingdom. They have forced me to live in 

 a corruptible form. I have to submit to be that which 

 they refuse to be. My body is attracted to the earth, so 

 that everything I embrace becomes earthly ; but it would 

 not be well for the world to know all the virtue hidden in 

 me and all that I may accomplish." This means that the 

 human mind (Manas) is the connecting-link between spirit 

 and matter. If the inquisitive scientist were to know 

 the divine life within his own constitution, and could 

 develop it before he has attained innocence and virtue, 

 he would become an incarnate devil instead of a god. 



6. C Luna — Moon. Imagination. "The principal 

 thing to know in regard to Luna is its origin. It is the 

 seventh metal, containing the six others in a spiritual 

 state, and it is externally corporeal and material." This 

 goes to show that Lunxi, in its external aspect, means 

 matter with its phenomena, which are always illusive as 

 long as we do not know their true origin. If we wish 

 to gain absolute knowledge of all things in Nature, we 

 must attain the knowledge of God. 



7. Sol — Sun. The Life, or Wisdom. " It is pure 

 fire, and has within itself all the other six metals (prin- 

 ciples)." Everything that exists is a manifestation and 

 product of the one life in the universe, from which all 

 things receive their vitality and powers ; " for that which 

 is visible is merely the vehicle, but the element therein is a 

 spirit, and lives in all things as the soul lives in the body. 

 This is the prima materia of the elements, invisible and in- 

 comprehensible, but nevertheless present in all ; for 'prima 

 materia is nothing else than the life itself in all creatures. 

 That which is without life is no longer an element, but 

 within the ultima materia, wherein is contained neither 

 virtue nor energy " (Fhilosophia ad AthenienseSj vol. viiL). 



