Pernety - A Treatise On The Great Art.pdf - cyjack.com

The Great Art page 96The Philosophers have given all these names simply to the different phases, or changes which theyhave observed in the Vessel. When they have perceived the Matter exhale in subtle smoke, and mountto the top of the Vase, they have called this ascension, Sublimation. Then, seeing this vapour descendto the bottom of the Vase, they have named this Descension, Distillation. Consequently Morien says:Our entire operation consists in extracting the Water from its Earth, and in returning it until the Earthrots and putrifies. When they have perceived that this Water, mixed with its Earth, coagulated, orthickened, that it became black and ill-smelling: they have said that this was Putrefaction, theprinciple of generation. This putrefaction lasts until the Matter has become white.This matter being black is reduced to powder, when it begins to turn gray; this appearance of asheshas given rise to the idea of Calcination, Inceration, 79 Incineration, Dealbation; and when it hasreached a swan-like whiteness, they have called it Perfect Calcination. Seeing that the Matterassumed a sound consistency; that it no longer flowed, it has formed their Congelation, theirInduration; this is why they have said that the entire Magisterium consists in naturally dissolving andcoagulating.This same Matter congealed, and hardened so that it will no longer dissolve in water, has calledthem to say, that it was necessary to dry it and to fix it; they, therefore, have given to this pretendedoperation the names, Desiccation, Fixation, Ceration, because they explain these terms by a perfectunion of the volatile part with the fixed under the form of a powder, or white stone.Therefore this operation must be regarded as unique, but expressed in different terms. One willknow then that all the following expressions signify also the same thing: To distil per Alembic; toseparate the soul from the body; to burn; to aquefy; to calcine; “cérer.” 80 , to give to drink; to adapt; to79 INCERATION, or Imbibition, or Cohobation, are almost synonymous terms for indicating that part of the Operation whenthe Matter, enclosed in the Sophic Egg, ascends in form of vapours tot eh superior part of the Vessel, where not finding anegress is compelled to fall upon itself, until Matter being fixed, all circulation ceases. Pernety-Dict.Mytho-Herm.80 See footnote, page 87 : Ceration.