Selected Alchemical Writings

THE EMERALD TABLET OF HERMES

By Hermes Trismegistus

True, without falsehood, certain and most true, that which is above is as that which is below, and that which is below is as that which is above, for the performance of the miracles of the One Thing. And as all things are from One, by the mediation of One, so all things have their birth from this One Thing by adaptation. The Sun is its father, the Moon its mother, and the Wind carries it in its belly, its nurse is the Earth. This is the father of all perfection, or consummation of the whole world. Its power is integrating, if it be turned into earth.

Thou shalt separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, suavely, and with great ingenuity. It ascends from earth to heaven and descends again to earth, and receives the power of the superiors and of the inferiors. So thou hast the glory of the whole world; therefore let all obscurity flee before thee. This is the strong force of all forces, overcoming every subtle and penetrating every solid thing. So the world was created. Hence were all wonderful adaptations, of which this is the manner. Therefore am I called Hermes Trismegistus, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world. What I have to tell is completed, concerning the Operation of the Sun.

 

 

The Pattern on the Tresleboard

By Paul Foster Case

This is the Truth about the Self:

  1. All the Power that ever was or will be is here now.
  2. I am a center of expression for the Primal Will to Good that eternally creates and sustains the Universe.
  3. Through me its unfailing Wisdom takes for in thought and word.
  4. Filled with Understanding of its perfect law I am guided moment by moment along the path of liberation.
  5. From the exhaustless riches of its Limitless Substance, I draw all things needful both spiritual and material.
  6. I recognize the manifestation of the Undeviating Justice in all the circumstances of my life.
  7. In all things, great and small, I see the Beauty of the Divine Expression.
  8. Living from that Will, supported by its unfailing Wisdom and Understanding, mine is the Victorious Life.
  9. I look forward with confidence to the perfect realization of the Eternal Splendor of the Limitless Light.
  10. In thought and word and deed, I rest my life from day to day upon the sure Foundation of Eternal Being.
  11. The Kingdom of Spirit is embodied in my flesh.

 

 

Two Prayers for Alchemists

By Karl von Eckartshausen

I

  1. Light Supreme, who art the Divine in Nature and dwellest in its innermost parts as in Heaven, hallowed be thy qualities and laws!

  2. Wherever thou art, all is brought to perfection; may the realm of thy Knowledge become subject unto thee.

  3. May our will in all our work be only thee, self-moving Power of Light! And as in the whole of Nature thou accomplishes all things, so accomplish all things in our work also.

  4. Give us of the Dew of Heaven, and the Fat of the Earth, the Fruits of Sun and Moon from the Tree of Life.

  5. And forgive us all errors which we have committed in our work without knowledge of thee, as we seek to turn from their errors those who have offended our precepts. And leave us not to our own darkness and our own science, but deliver us from all evil through the perfection of thy Work, Amen.

II

  1. Hail, pure self-moving Source, O Form, pure for receiving the Light! The Light of all things unites itself with thee alone.

  2. Most blessed art thou among all receptive forms, and blessed is the Fruit that thou conceives, the Essence of Light united with warm substance.

  3. Pure Form, Mother of the most perfect Being, lift thyself up to the Light for us, now as we toil and in the hour when we complete the Work!

 

The Golden and Rosy Cross

From Geheime figuren, 18th century German manuscript

The Golden and Rosy Cross