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[SIZE="6"]On Alchemy, and the Divine Principles of Creation[/SIZE]
[SIZE="5"]A Thesis on the Nature of Creation, both Divine and Mortal.
By Manannan Maiea, The Magnificent
Wyrm-Watcher
Hedge-Wizard
1382[/SIZE]
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[SIZE="5"]Chapter One
What Nature is.
Nature comprehends the visible and invisible creatures of the whole universe. What we call "Nature" especially, is the universal fire or Anima Mundi, filling the whole system of the Universe, and therefore is a Universal Agent, omnipresent, and endowed with an unerring instinct, and manifests itself in fire and Light. It is the First creature of Divine Omnipotence.
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[SIZE="5"]Chapter Two
How all things proceed therefrom.
Thus the Gods created first this invisible fire and endowed it with an unerring Instinct and a capacity to manifest itself in 3 principles.
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- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"]In its original most universal state it is perfectly invisible, immaterial, cold and occupies no space, in this tranquil state it is of no use to us, yet in this unmoved state it is omnipresent.[/SIZE][/tface]
- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"]In its second state it is manifested by motion or agitation into light. In this state it was separated out of the Chaos, when Selune and Shar were sundered from the primordial darkness. Yet it is still cold. When gently moved or agitated, it manifests warmth and heat, as in the case in all frictions and in fermentation of moist things.[/SIZE][/tface]
- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"]When collected in a sufficient quantity, and violently agitated it is manifested into burning fire. This continues burning as long as it is agitated, and has a fit subject to act upon; when that fails, it returns to its first state of tranquil universality. In the character of burning fire it manifests light and heat. Thus,[/SIZE][/tface]
- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"] (a) we say in its first most universal state it is perfectly invisible and immaterial.[/SIZE][/tface]
- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"] (b) In its second state of manifestation it is visible in light, but remains cold and immaterial.[/SIZE][/tface]
- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"] (c) In its third state of heat and burning fire it is visible, hot or burning, and becomes somewhat material as it occupies room or space whilst in this state.[/SIZE][/tface]
You have seen the 3 distinct powers of the Universal Spirit, but it possesses still more and even some inconceivable powers.
We have told you that the Universal Spirit endowed with an unerring instinct, working by the most simple and nearest way, it has, also, besides its already mentioned conspicuous qualities, two occult powers, viz: attracting and repulsing, and these two powers are inconceivably great!
We see various instances of it in thunder and lightning, in earthquakes, hurricanes and in the surprising effects of alchemical flame.
When the gods created this universal fire, They gave it a power to become material, that is to become vapour, humidity, water and earth, although that fire in its own Universal Nature, is, and remains centrally the same. Thus you see the Beginning of the 4 Elements, viz:
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- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"] burning fire; Vapour or Humidity mixed with Cold fire constitutes atmospheric air,[/SIZE][/tface]
- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"] air, which still more condensed becomes water,[/SIZE][/tface]
- [tface=FellSC][SIZE="5"] and water inspissated becomes earth.[/SIZE][/tface]
Originally it was but one Element; Fire.
Thus the Universal fire became a vapour of immense extent, which by further inspissation became chaotic water, and out of this chaotic water was separated the light, that is: separated the universal invisible fire into light. Thus we see here that universal, at first invisible fire manifested in two principles, light and humidity!
Therefore out of light and water, was created all things.
Water was the first condensation or corporification of the Universal fire, which water nevertheless in its center was, and remains fire, full of life and activity, and the more so, as it was assisted by its equal, the light, separated out of it, as much as was necessary for the creating of all immaterial and material beings, and in success of time for their maintenance.
Of the separated light we have spoken before, we have now to consider its first body humidity or water. This water differs in regards to rarefaction or density; if rarefied to a certain degree it constitutes air, that is fire predominating above water, but if condensed to a degree it becomes humid water, or humidity predominating above fire. Nevertheless, in both, that is in their center lays concealed fire or the Universal spirit.
As soon as the air gets deprived of its Universal fire, which animates it and renders it elastic, it becomes immediately putrid, and thereby declines lower down, becomes humidity, mud, earth and immoveable; it is the same case with water when deprived of fire, or of animated air, it becomes putrid, condenses still further and becomes earth, immoveable.
The gods have ordained it so that the Universal spirit by means of humidity should work all things, because humidity mixes easily with everything, by means of which the spirit can soften, penetrate, generate. destroy and regenerate all things.
Thus humidity or water is the body, the vehicle and tool, but the spirit or fire is the operator, the Universal Agent and fabricator of all natural things.
This universal fire fills that immense space in the Universe between the heavenly bodies. and as it has a power to become material, it generates a subtle vapour or invisible subtle humidity, its first passive principle: It causes therein a gentle reaction, and a general, gentle, most subtle fermentation takes place Universally, and by this reaction the Universal Acid is everywhere generated, which we can deem nothing else than a most subtle incorporeal Nitre. Spiritus Mundi, outwardly cold and inwardly fire.
Thus this spiritual incorporeal nitre or Universal Acid; we deem the second invisible change of the Universal fire, generated out of chaotic invisible humidity: and as this approaches the atmospheres of the heavenly bodies, it becomes gradually more and more material, until it meets an alcaline passive principle wherein it fixes itself and forms native nitre, so that from Spiritus Mundi, it becomes nitre.
Thus we say, not without good reason, that the solar rays of Lathander, are nothing else but a most subtle Spiritual Mundi, which gradually becomes more and more nitreous, as it approaches the Earth, but Sea Salt in the Ocean; animating the atmosphere with fire or life, and thereby giving elasticity to the air, and life and preservation to the water. From this, every man of common understanding may learn what Nature is, and its origin.
We see that between the firmament and Toril continual vapours, clouds, mists and fogs, which ascend like a transpiration of the earth, and are sublimed upwards by the central heat of the earth. This chaotic water and vapours, contain, and are the first matter of all things, and although this appears very simple before our eyes, yet it is two-fold, as it contains fire and humidity, the invisible in the visible, the fire or spirit is the agent, and the water the patient.
Whomsoever wishes to arrive at the fountain of secret wisdom, let him mind this well; and let him go with this central point of truth to the circumference, and for ever imprint in his memory: that from fire and water, or spirit enclosed in humidity all things in the world are generated, preserved, destroyed and regenerated.
Whomsoever comprehends this well will find no difficulty in analising natural things as he may easily volatilize fixt, and fix the volatile: a stinking subject he may convert into a pleasant smelling one, out of poison he can make a salutary medicine because he knows that all things proceed from one root; and return to that root: The distinction is external and regards only the modification of the matter, which is more or less digested or fixed. Therefore the Philosophers say that their matter is in all things, yet they have selected such subjects wherein the Universal spirit is more abundantly contained and more concentrated, and easer to be obtained; otherwise that spirit is All in All.[/SIZE][/tface]