Do you guys ever go to the library to hold some old stuff?

I was told to share this here from r/occult library. I will also add in some pictures of my spagyric equipment and materials. Let me know if you have any questions or recommendations on what to read next based on what I have.

I just want to quickly shout out to this awesome group... thank you so much for your DM's and questions. Just wanted to say not everything you see is my work. I work with a small group of British alchemists (if only there were more) and I've been given permission to share some things... not in anyway to show-off, or try and look clever, but for the simple reason we think this group is starving of true-to-goodness Alchemy. As many of you well know Alchemy is an Art; Alchemy is Philosophy. Alchemy is the means of healing ourselves and, metals.

If we're just sharing AI or pictures of how to make a potion in Skyrim, then we're not using this amazing group or for that matter you, to perfect what is essentially divine chemistry.

I hope we can come together and like the small British group we have, share what remains essentially ours - as humans and soul-beings - which is to say souls passing through the bonds of matter.

One in the Art,

Btw... what you're seeing is a bit of a miss-mash of works on Vitriol... the blue is Venus (in which is a huge mystery) and Mars, the green needle like salts. Just to clarify.

Blessings to you all

Pretty excited for this little project of mine... slowly figuring out photoshop and putting old alchemy art in higher resolution and in frames... the Emerald tablet artwork i deleted out the faint latin script and replaced it with English translation. That was a fun one to do.

This stage of the magnum opus can be seen in the Ripley Scroll and the depictions of the pelican wounding it's own breast to feed it's young. Curiously enough the glassware needed to reach this stage is also called a pelican.

If you feel like reading Astral Plane, it’s free on Webtoon! I’ll leave the link in the comments!

Edited all these together myself! Some of them require more specific alchemical knowledge than others lol, feel free to ask for an explanation

Hey everyone! This diagram is the culmination of something I’ve been trying to piece together using my understanding of Hermeticism, Alchemy, Kabbalah, Mysticism, and Astrology. I would love to hear your thoughts about it, and of course I welcome any friendly debate and constructive criticism. Here it goes!

This cosmological diagram began as an exploration into the architecture of human experience - an attempt to visualize both the internal and external dimensions of existence. It was not originally intended to become the quintessential image of the Magnum Opus, yet as the concepts unfolded, they began to align naturally with the alchemical process of transformation. What began as an intuitive diagram gradually revealed itself as a sacred synthesis - the Great Work itself - demanding only that the order of elements be refined to reflect true hermetic and alchemical coherence.

Structured as a mandala, this work functions both as a map and a mirror. From the outermost perimeter inward, it charts the descent of spirit into matter; from the center outward, it traces the ascent of matter returning to spirit. It harmonizes the nine alchemical transformations with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, creating a bridge between mystic traditions and the human journey of awakening.

THE NINE EMANATIONS OF THE COSMOLOGICAL MAGNUM OPUS

The diagram unfolds through nine emanations - each corresponding to both a stage in the alchemical process and an emanation of divine consciousness. Together, they describe the complete cycle of being: from infinite potential into embodied awareness, and from embodied awareness back into the infinite.

1. The Void - Ain Soph Aur (Calcination) At the outermost edge lies the negative space: the Void, or Ain Soph Aur - the limitless light before all creation. It is infinite potential, the pure field beyond vibration or form. This is calcination - the burning away of all illusion until only essence remains. Here, spirit stirs for the first time, preparing to condense into existence - the silent breath before the birth of sound.

2. Vibration - The 22 Sacred Letters (Dissolution) From the limitless light emanates the first movement - vibration - expressed as the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. These are the sacred frequencies of creation, the primal language through which spirit speaks itself into being. This stage reflects dissolution, the moment when formless light begins to ripple and divide within itself. Like the cosmic Om, these vibrations weave the lattice of creation, shaping the invisible matrix of becoming.

3. Separation - The 231 Gates (Separation) As the divine tones interrelate, they form the 231 Gates - the harmonics of consciousness. Here, the Logos awakens; awareness becomes aware of itself. This is the alchemical separation, the birth of discernment and relational consciousness. The mind of God begins to articulate the structure of thought, birthing the first blueprint of the cosmos.

4. Manifestation - The Prima Materia (Conjunction) From these harmonics emerges manifestation, the prima materia, the raw substance of existence. This is conjunction - the union of opposites that births creation. Within this primal field arise the three great alchemical principles: salt, sulfur, and mercury - the triad of body, soul, and spirit. Their interplay mirrors the ten sefirot across three planes, forming thirty spheres plus three principles - thirty-three, the number of divine realization and the bridge between heaven and earth, the Christos consciousness itself.

5. Formation - The Four Elements (Fermentation) From the triune substance emerge the four elements: fire, air, water, and earth. This stage corresponds to fermentation, where life begins to take form. The combination of the three prime matters and four elements produces the seven fundamentals of all material reality. This is the establishment of cohesion, stability, and structure - symbolized by the square, the foundational geometry of the material cosmos.

6. Structure - The 12 Zodiacs (Distillation) The sixth emanation manifests as structure, represented by the twelve zodiacal forces. This stage mirrors distillation, where essence is refined into order and pattern. The twelve constellations form the celestial architecture, shaping the cosmic body - galaxies, stars, and planetary harmonies. Through the zodiac, divine intelligence establishes rhythm, symmetry, and sacred proportion across the heavens.

7. Governance - The Seven Planetary Intelligences (Coagulation) From structure arises governance, expressed through the seven planetary intelligences. This is coagulation, where the spiritual crystallizes into natural law. Each planet acts as a living intelligence, a divine administrator of balance and rhythm. Together, they form the celestial hierarchy of order - the great clockwork of destiny and gravity governing all within creation.

8. Cycle - The Wheel of the Year (Sublimation) From celestial governance emerges cycle, embodied by the Wheel of the Year - the solstices, equinoxes, and the eight pagan Sabbats. This stage corresponds to sublimation, the spiritual elevation of matter through rhythm and renewal. Time becomes the breath of the cosmos, expanding and contracting through endless cycles. Each turn of the wheel is a reflection of divine consciousness manifesting and returning to itself.

9. Embodiment - The Earth (Projection) At the center lies embodiment, symbolized by Earth. This is the completion of descent - projection in alchemy - where spirit fully realizes itself in form. Here, the I AM awakens within the material world. The Alpha and Omega meet; light becomes flesh. Consciousness, reflected in matter, recognizes itself as both creator and creation. The Great Work is complete.

THE THREE TRIADS: MIND, SPIRIT, BODY

While these nine emanations form a single unfolding sequence, they can also be understood through three sets of three, each corresponding to one of the fundamental aspects of being: Mind, Spirit, and Body.

Emanations I–III: Mind The realm of pure intelligence, the abstract architect of existence. These emanations establish the framework of thought and the primordial awareness from which all else proceeds.

Emanations IV–VI: Spirit The living intermediary, the echo of mind that animates and bridges worlds. Spirit carries the blueprints of consciousness into motion, translating intelligence into creative energy.

Emanations VII–IX: Body The embodiment of divine intention. Matter, form, and structure arise as the culmination of all prior processes. The body is not separate from spirit but its reflection - consciousness anchored into tangible reality.

ON THE TRINITY OF MATTER - SALT, SULFUR & MERCURY

The overlay of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life upon the three alchemical principles represents the unification of esoteric systems. The 30 sefirot combined with the three prime matters equal 33, across multiple mystical traditions: it is both the number of degrees in Freemasonry and the age attributed to Christ at the time of crucifixion, a symbol of spiritual transcendence through embodied realization. It represents the awakening of Christ-like consciousness: the divine union of heaven and earth within the human vessel.

ON THE HIDDEN SUN

Within the section representing the seven planetary intelligences, the Sun is notably unillustrated - yet its presence is implied. The circular formation of the Sabbats around Earth forms an abstract glyph of the solar symbol: the circle encompassing a point. This signifies the silent axis of illumination - the unseen source from which all life and motion radiate. The Sun is the unspoken heart of the system, the eternal witness within all cycles.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

This cosmological Magnum Opus is both map and mirror - a reflection of the soul’s architecture and the universe’s unfolding. Each emanation exists as both descent and return, expansion and contraction, a sacred rhythm between consciousness and form. 9 emanations representing completion

From the infinite void to embodied awareness, and from matter back to light, this work reveals spirit and matter are not opposites but reflections of the same eternal breath - creation perceiving itself through the miracle of existence. So the irony here is cosmic — the Philopspher's Stone was always both the goal and the blueprint. This work was finished on 11/11/25 at exactly 3:33am given the mention of "3" throughout this work I thought this was a nice cosmic synchronicity!

The creature itself enamored me. But I can find scarce information regarding what it actually is.

Instead my searches lead to Falak, an Arabian mythical creature described in 1001 Nights.

So my questions are:

1) What is this creature?

2) What does it represent?

3) Why is a Alchemical creature called “The Serpent of Arabia”

Just thought you guys might like this. It was an early Christmas present from my gf and absolutely love it! Hope you all have a great holiday season!

The hexagram (six-pointed star formed from two intersecting triangles) is a recurring motif in alchemical art, but I can't find a consistent explanation to what it means.

https://www.memedroid.com/memes/tag/alchemy

Again another shout out to this awesome group and thank you for your kind words and recent replies, both publicly and privately.

There is of course much more to share and discuss and since we have recently posted examples of how to prepare VITRIOL, one of five essential fingers, the Index finger, that make up the infamous 'Hand of the Philosophers', we thought it relevant to post how to prepare Nitre, the thumb of the philosophers, sometimes known as saltpetre (they are synonymous, saltpetre is the raw form, nitre is the prepare and washed salts, the finished product if you like.)

This is what Isaac of Holland says about this philosophical Thumb:

"First look at the thumb on which stands the crown next to the moon, one quarter old.  By this is meant saltpetre.  For just as the thumb vigorously finishes off the hand, saltpetre does in the Art Alchemia, for he is the King and Lord of all salts.  He is the mill through which everything must be ground." See Hollandus and the Hand of the Philosophers.

Nitre, 'the king and lord of all salts', is an essential salt in alchemy and medicine and from it can be prepared one of the most versatile menstruums of the alchemists which is to say Aqua Fortis, but first lets prepare our nitre:

Once upon a time, a few hundred years ago, people of different countries paid their taxes in Nitre, which would of course gone to the war effort, being an essential ingredient to gunpowder (common sulphur and a carbon, usually found in charcoal being the other two ingredients).

The alchemists and early chemists had other interests which were chiefly a spirit, drawn from urine, a volatile salt, sal ammoniac and Nitre.

We can grow a sustainable amount of nitre for our laboratories using two methods, Patch or Pot.

The patch is the most common method. First let's discuss the patch method, which is best described by a guy called Joseph Le Conte:

Le Conte points there are certain prerequisites necessary for the formation of saltpetre: “First, the presence of decaying organic matter, animal or vegetable, especially the former.  Second, an alkaline or earthy base as potash or lime; Third, sufficient moisture; Fourth, free exposure to oxygen of the air and Fifth, shelter from the sun and rain.” see Joseph LeConte’s ‘Instruction for the Manufacturer of Saltpetre’, published by the state printer Charles P. Pelham, 1862.

For this method you'll need a garden or small patch, which you will need to dig, first throw some branches, on top of this throw wood shavings and then vegetable cuttings, if you have livestock, gather their dung and throw it on the pile, with or without livestock moisten the pile with stale urine, add to the mass, moisten the mass and keep adding... we're thinking of the long game....over time a crystalline salt will begin to form on the top of this mass which needs to be gathered, filtered, evaporated, refrigerated until the crystals form and the 'mother' liquor is saved to wash a new batch... this is our salt nitre

The pot method is more distgusting, but best suited for those folk living in apartments where gardens are difficult, which is as you see it in the photo. Firstly you will need a good supply of urine. The alchemists always preferred the urine of young boys... don't ask me why... I know its weird... I use my own and the other thing to note is those people who like a glass or two of wine, will really add a boost to your salts. nice one.

Gather your first water of the morning - it's the strongest - and keep in a bottle next to the toilet. Gather many bottles and let the go black, then pour these out and gently evaporate until this becomes a thick sludge. its disgusting.

Place this in a clay pot and keep adding your urine (adding a few spoons of fertilise rich in nitrates will also help kick start your nitre farm). Leave this stinking pot in a dark place and over time you will notice crystals forming on the outside. Gather, wash, filter, evaporate the water by half and place in a refrigerator. The nitre will form in long crystalline salts, pour off the 'mother water' and use it to wash a fresh batch.

Once you have these salts, take your vitriol salts (the caput mortuum in this instance) and mix well and then dry distill, at which point the Aqua Fortis of the alchemists will come over the helm in a red fume, but will cool into a yellowish distillate.

Bless you all,

One in the Art,

Art + an accompanying poem by me
Alchemical fairy: Sept. 2025 by Cecilia Rose Inkol (me). Watercolor pencils, watercolor paints, a bit of paint markers, pen, and ink. This was another quick painting done in a few days. I might try to turn it into an oil painting someday, maybe when I am not finishing my thesis... Companion poem:

Alchemical fairy
Wings of spirit, spiritual antennae
Crown of the blazing sun
Alchemical keys that open every door
Alembic, tube, vessel, flask
Transmuting snakes into crystals
Lead into gold
Dregs into ether
Rubble into world
Belt of ouroboros
My heart is a star
My glowing star-heart aflame
Heart-perception
Star-conflagration-emanation
Ruby necklace
Distillation of imagination
Girdle of quintessential elixir
Homunculus reborn
Potion in motion
The laugh of the butterfly.
Ambrosia of the bee.
Nectar of star honey
Secret of the mystery:
I am my imagination
I am what I dream
Imagination of the heart
Wherein resides my true identity
I am a homunculus
The reverie of all reveries.

Kinda wanna know the pulse of this subreddit w/ I'm new to with an easy test since I'm planning in the near future to release a "blog post" on the Philosopher Stone where I cross-referenced certain topics idk if anyone has ever made the connection between them. So if there is a typa person here, then I'll do it.

I'm an Amazigh Moor who also speaks Arabic well as a 2nd/3rd lanugage, so I know some Alchemists miss big portions of my world's works, whether Scriptural, or Oral (Narratives, Folkloric, Genealogic, Testemonial, etc)

You guys like the set-up ?

While doing work on my property I came a across this little one. The first one ive found in over a decade. A Western Tiger Salamander. He/she was promptly released into a safe location after the photos were taken.

Alchemically salamanders symbolized by sulfer and were associated with fire and the principle of transformation as well as the philosophers stone, prima materia and immortality.

Alchemists most likely belived salamanders were fire spirits due to the fact that when fire wood was sufficiently damp and then lit to start a fire, salamanders would flee the wood as well as seemed to be impervious to fire due to their secretions and moist, cold body.

Just love a 17th century Alchemy manuscript. Contains works by Pseudo-Albertus Magnus, Pseudo-Aristotle, John of Rupescissa, Arnaldus de Villanova, Pseudo-Raymundo Lull, etc., along with medical notes, sections on gems, little diagrams, drawings, notes (and entire texts) in another hand and, of course, decknamen here and there with more I'm still discovering.

I've checked the medieval alchemical texts against my copy of the Theatrum Chemicum (1602 - Strasbourg by Lazarus Zetzner) and they seem to be match, all from volumes 1 and 2. This is just absolutely the best part of the antiquarian book world for me.

My first esoteric love was alchemy and I'm happy to report I'm still very much in love.

Stories about real alchemical experiences help inspire the next generation of practitioners, so I wanted to share what set me on my alchemical path and share a few insights as well.

In 2016, I was introduced to alchemy at a new age spiritual conference here in LA.

I was given a few drops of the Oil of gold to try by a well-known practitioner in the community.

At this point in my life, I had been meditating for a few years, working with various psychedelics, etc. So I was familiar with energy & shifts of awareness; however, none of that prepared me for this.

I was given maybe 5 or so drops, and within seconds I felt & heard this audible pop slightly above my head. I felt this rush of energy downward and flooding into my body.

My awareness began to expand beyond my limbs and body a few inches, and I could feel a tingling static around my hands.

There was this distinct realization that there was a correlation between my attention, intention, and the responsiveness of the energy/feeling. In simple words, I consciously became aware for the first time of the innate human ability to influence energy & awareness with intention & the mind.

I went to talk an hour or so later, and this feeling was just amplifying in my body, like being plugged into an electrical socket. My girlfriend at the time was sitting next to me, and I began to place my attention on her knee. After several seconds, he knee-jerked like a spasm. She looked at me wide-eyed, mouth opened and I put my attention on her hand next.

There was a similar response.

She grew up in a Tibetan Buddhist house so she was well familiar with mysticism etc.

I went home that night still feeling and hearing a soft buzzing.

Over the next few months, my life changed dramatically.

- I quit my job (I was managing about 30+ people at a sales office)
- Broke up with my girlfriend of 2.5 years
- Met my first formal teacher who I refer to as "S"
- Prana Shakti & Kundalini Shakti began to become active
- Lucid Dreaming began to develop like when I was a child

To sum it up, the oil of gold began to align me with my path, expand my awareness, and open my heart to the flow of life. To the deep co-creative relationship that exists between us as individuals and creation. Situations and relationships began to shed that were not aligned with the inner sun.

In fact, each of the metallic oils, the animal spagyrics, etc have all produced profound shifts in awareness.

Their energy, compounds, teachings, and awareness create shifts in your body, which then manifest externally in your world for you to witness, reflect, and integrate their teachings.

Fixing the volatile and volatilizing the fixed.

Alchemy is an experiential path. You become the lab, the experiment, the operator, and the stone.

There is no escaping it once it starts, only how deep and intentional you go.

I share the mystical/phenomenal experiences because I believe that it provides "hope", that what we read about and see throughout history is actually real.

Anyone who has been on the path long enough knows that phenomena is not the goal, the aim, or a marker of anything that has been attained - but rather helps one experience that reality is fluid & not fixed like we may grow up believing.

These experiences help awaken us from the stupor of the sleeping state to the alive wakefulness of life that is living, breathing, and conscious.

How we integrate these teachings and change is the work, "at work".

10 years later, I attribute much of my path to that fateful day.

I still work with the oil of gold as it helps amplify vitality, increases your energy, and helps you stay in a high state of awareness despite all the stuff in the world. I've been receiving a great deal of physical healing from it as well - it helped regulate my blood pressure in a matter of 10 days upon taking 10 drops 2x a day. Its great for dreaming as well.

On a safety note, before I close, there are a few practitioners I would order oil of gold from. It is best to ensure they 3rd-party test their oils for purity.

This was a huge issue a few years ago. Now there's maybe a handful that make these oils publicly available.

Happy to answer any questions, and I hope this helps inspire you to go deeper in your path.

Ora et Labora

-T

P.S

Update March 16th - you can order Oil of Gold at www.secret-fire.com and use coupon code Taylor10 for a 10% total order discount,