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December 1996.
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Subject: PRACTICAL - First steps of alchemical initiation
From: A.M. House
Date: 2 Dec 1996
IDENTIFYING SOME FIRST STEPS OF ALCHEMICAL INITIATION
By Anthony M. House
OUT OF UNITY YOU ARISE, TO RETURN TO UNITY IS YOUR DESTINY, THE MIND DISCOVERS THE PATH OF RETURN WHILE THE HEART PROVIDES THE KEY TO PROGRESS EACH STEP ALONG THE WAY
INNER CONTACT
We must know that we are needing to find our own path in the initiatory work. In addition to the 7 "Fama" commandments proposed for the servants of the Invisible Order, (see lesson 11 of general esoterics) there are no rigid restrictions for the student to comply to, yet, LPN France has generously shown us an outer work indispensable for inner contact to occur.
Experience has shown them that this contact is with the Genius within us all.
The Angel that is your higher self. Your lunar astral vehicle that becomes known to you by the eventual passage into the astral realms. We again individually verify the paths of return to unite with our origin.
Identifying some preparatory steps to research allows us to recover just where we have to look for direction in the initiatory respect of the eclectic paths of alchemy.
This effusive foregoing study will increasingly allow us ample access to the program of the outer work. Gaining a higher access allows for a more complete synthesis to emerge.
When significant contact is made you will know it. I can certify the profound effects that the correctly prepared stone of horsetail (Saturn) holds. A Saturn stone made by Michel Auger of LPN France, put me in contact with Divine Love (the FIRE of Unity).
I personally experienced a profound sorrow and joy simultaneously. I lost control of my emotions as tears filled my eyes, and I sobbed aloud for more than an hour. This happened to me last September 1993, at the LPN seminar.
Later, I consulted Patrice Maleze, Michel Auger, and Yves Arbez about my reaction. Patrice told me to try to laugh, as it has a countering effect on the tears.
Note: I have often observed Jean Dubuis attempting to hold back his emotion and tears while giving the seminars. Also, when Jean Dubuis is on the jazz (communing with the Grandfather (universe) he will often spontaneously grab hold of you, should you be near him at the moment, and press his lips to your forehead, just below the hairline.
One becomes a conduit and through which the great love flows out of Jean Dubuis, into you.
It's a rush! This is the Divine Love kiss of the Magister.
Patrice told me that because Michel A. had prepared it, I should tell him.
Michel Auger smiled knowingly and sat with me for a moment to console me. He didn't seem surprised, but pleased at the stones power, and as they had related in the lecture before giving the stone to those present, they asserted "It gives a Divine Love experience."
Yves, observing my reaction, took me aside and said "You are reborn today, on the inner plane," (fortunately Brigitte Donvez was there to translate for us), as he hugged me with genuine brotherly affection and respect.
This emotional reaction was powerful and fulfilling in many ways. Even today I well-up whenever I recall the experience. New vistas of inner symbolic reality have risen in turn in my conscious life, and today the inner walls blocking my growth, are dissolving away.
I might briefly mention too, that the caraway stone given in Oct. 1992 was a turning inward point for me. I had an instantaneous reaction that deleted all the mental data away and shifted attention to my heart perception. I later told Marc-Gerald Cibard that my brain had turned to mush!
I have always been self reflective and I've experienced deep meditation while completing experiments in seclusion before, but the apparent power that this initiatic stone held, relocated my perception.
It shifted my awareness inwardly. I can also say that I've endured dreams that continue to show me everyday (night) my psyche (this can be a very eye-opening event!), my station in life now, and some means to achieve a balance between everyday experience and inner life challenges. This pleased me greatly, causing some new details to form from within.
There will arise both voluntary and involuntary dreams that develop in the alchemists psyche and the images and symbols are not easy to read in the beginning, yet, they are as real as our waking reality.
See Horary Chart for dream analysis Fig. 1. This chart is useful for sorting out the confusing sequences awakened out of the time-space duality of dreams, while also systematizing from horary or natal information, an astrological approach.
Humanity automatically transmits thought by steps, to unity (the Fountain Source). We are as little kings (queens), on account of our inheritance, and we exchange data with the great king that IS the inner guide.
We are contacting the program of the unconscious realms in our heightened dreams and the resonant powers we contact allow us to temporarily merge with a new level of harmonic energy.
For posterity, and for self study, keeping a notebook of dream activities is a good way to remember a pattern that's unfolding. The symbols in the unconscious are doorways to transcendent meaning.
CARAWAY STONE
Let's begin with a stone of Caraway, which is asserted to be THE vegetable stone to make for initial, albeit temporary, inner lunar astral plane contact with Hod (Mercury) through dream states at first and later - waking visions. The level called Hod has another name called Thoth Hermes.
So it will give you information on Thoth qabala, and on Hermes alchemy. But these will be personal explanations to start your own way.
This stone opens this path. This path is the path of Shin the letter of the fire, but you must understand that this name fire is just like love. And there (path 31) will come the Divine Love path that will let you start alchemy.
When you do your own stone the experience will be strictly personal. A permanent contact in the interior worlds of the sephiroth can be achieved by use of the White and Red Stones of the metallic kingdom. A later article can cover the Flamel Path and initiation steps. Now, some steps to take in the vegetable kingdom.
METHOD: 98-99% alcohol is poured over approximately 12 lbs of seeds of caraway for 24 hours to mark the alcohol with the seeds. Then the alcohol is distilled off and set aside to be used later.
SULFUR
Fresh seeds (recommended up to 40 lbs.) are steam distilled with distilled rain water (or distilled water) for the essential oil. The thoroughly depleted seeds are then calcined and leached. Note that by allowing the seeds to rest and cool for 12 to 24 hours you can often get the same amount of oil from the same seeds. Just leave the seeds in the same flask and variate between work (distilling) and rest (cooling).
SALT
What you have to know first is that in nature 2 states occur. The crystalline one that's the state of order, and the amorphous state, the chaos one. The alchemical experiments are supported by the order state. So we will speak about certain types of crystals and some rules concerning these crystals.
But just what's necessary for alchemy. The crystals come from the fact that the atoms have a spiritual volume. And you can only put these spirits within 2 types.
With spheres like a cubic pattern or like the rhombohedric pattern. In reality the spheres don't touch, they are far from one another, but they always respect these 2 rules of network. See Fig. 2. And these 2 rules of network are based, and give 7 types of crystals in nature. In qabalistic and alchemistic tradition there are crystal attributions that are types of crystals. Plants are chosen according to the crystallization of the salt of the sulfur corresponding
Saturn/Cubic,
Earth - has no particular crystallization, but may be set on any of the sephirotic levels of crystallization. Here Drosera is known to carry all 7 planetary flows, like its counterpart antimony.
So every sephirotic level is a resonance level in your inner world. We have not checked every level but I think for 2 of these levels we have to pick experiments that show that the tradition is right.
The first type of crystal is the cubic crystal.
This crystal is on the sephirotic level (of) Binah (3). There are 2 types of crystals that are perfect. Cubic and Rhombohedrical. The cubic one is the most perfect, because all its sides are equal and all its angles are right. And along the path down to the density of matter, crystals lose their perfection. If you want to work in alchemy, if you want to make stones and bring them to a sephirotic level, you must have the corresponding crystal to the self.
N.B. Let's examine briefly this important Self aspect. An example given by LPN France is this:
Given that you would produce a stone of whatsoever level, in this case let's continue with the Hod (Mercury) stone of caraway. The personal initiation can guide you to undertake further improvements (thus more power) in your technique and manipulation of the three essentials and FIRE from the atmosphere.
So an initiatic stone at the level of Hod (Mercury) produced by a person of a lower, or perhaps higher level than the stone obtained, may or may not react appreciatively to that level upon using the stones.
It should be noted that the inner level of the person (during its making) is imprinted upon the matrix of the stone and cannot rise above the stage of your own level. Determining your personal inner level is a sure way to get started rightly in the initiatory personal path.
The example supplied here draws a distinction to be recognized that alchemically, initiatic stones can be above, or below the inner level of your inner self.
You see that in alchemy, every step from higher to lower and vice versa requires starting at the onset.
Graduating to the fix the volatile and volatilize the fixed formula of this alchemical program, demands a really precise understanding (gained by experience) of the raising of the FIRE (Angel or secret fire).
Some help in this regard has been presented by LPN France.
Raising the secret fire in the amalgam (of the Flamel Work) for instance, to produce animated (raised initiatic energy) mercury, and the examples of transfer of life and energy in the kingdoms has back up statements covered in the Mendeleyev table of elements presentation, this allows some means of testing the power of stones, elixirs, elements etc. that have initiatic strength (force).
I can see several different research levels that would involve obtaining (principally) initiatic plant stones that are quickly produced (please see article in issue #1 of Ora et Labora), verses stones that are of the white stages and require a more rigorous and lengthy preparation. To deliberately answer whether the same initiatic strength is present in both.
Presently, we have from LPN France long experience about making truly, initiatic preparations. As well as their collective investigations of effects from their use. For months, and even years at a time. After significant initial contact, using the plant stones is no longer necessary. Again, the time for making inner world contact varies with each person.
We may find too, that our older stones produced from the beginning of our work, may not have as much strength as more recently improved stones do. Time and experience will show us.
PHILOSOPHICAL SEPARATION
If, (as the argument goes), whether or not a plant stone can - separate the three essentials from an immersion into a macerating media - is possible (some recent disclosure from Russ and Sue House says that these stones can cause a simple separation), it's proper to note, as well, that stones further produced by them, from the real philosophic separation of these essentials; by a correctly prepared plant stone, obtain and allow a higher (meaning - more harmonious) effect on the inner levels.
Still, in all, the inner self has a level and this level needs to be explored out for personal contact on the paths of return.
SALT continued..
Crystals (salt of the sulfur) can be obtained through the cloudy water obtained from the distillation in an oil separation device, (See Fig. 3, also refer to article in Ora et Labora, issue #2) and must be passed through solve coagula to obtain the crystals very large and transparent.
We'll see later, how to obtain the salt of the sulfur needed for sephirotic comparison, in the white stages section of the article.
Note: In Guelph, Canada, Jean Dubuis showed those present a jar filled with caraway crystals that were very clear (transparent) and large. Crystals will grow like tiny branches in the saturated cloudy water when we slowly evaporate (don't boil) the water, thus reducing the amount of extraneous water by vaporizing it and carefully scooping out the crystals as they form on the surface of the liquid. Dry them, and set these newly formed crystals aside.
The first crystals to appear can be separated from the later solve coagulae (crystallizations). These former crystals can be used as seeds to push coagulation along when saturation is weakened and the salt crystals begin to stop forming. Adding a few of these first crystals to the water will allow the formation to begin again. Finally, we obtain a point where the salt crystals refuse to form, this is the highest degree of purification.
Note: A high percentage of alcohol can be produced by macerating rectified wine - about 94-95% - in a warm place with potassium carbonate, then it's distilled with boiling stones, alembic, and/or kjeldahl flask, and a potassium trap at the vacuum tap - see excerpt from Lesson 29 Spagyrics below:
MERCURY
The first thing to obtain is a perfect Mercury. If it isn't absolute, it contains water; so 99 % alcohol still contains 10 ml of water per liter. This water dissolves a little bit of mine-ral salt and the Mercury/Salt separation can't be perfect. We sup-pose that thanks to our preceding lessons you have easily ob-tained a Mercury of at least 90 %.
To understand the means we chose in the process we are going to describe, we should know what we call "the wear and tear" of things, from the alchemical point of view.
For example, if we throw a small amount of salt in water; at first the water is at rest; the salt dissolves very rapidly. Add some more salt: the dissolution is slower. Add more salt and there is refusal: the water is saturated and doesn't want to dissolve any more salt.
You can heat the water to give it some more strength: eventually the dissolution of the salt will stop once more when a new saturation occurs. Potassium carbonate absorbs the water of the alcohol, but the more it absorbs of this water the less dynamic it becomes.
This same phenomenon renders the preparation of absolute alcohol difficult. The less water in it, the more avidity for water; the more the carbonate absorbed water, the less avidity it has for it. In addition, potassium carbonate attacks glass; the flask or bottle you use should only serve for this particular operation because frosted glass can never be completely cleaned.
Experience shows that in this operation potassium carbonate agglomerates into a lump and the attempts to remove it from the round bottom flask often results in the flask or the bottle breaking.
Following the same alchemical principles, it is better to re-use the potassium carbonate because it becomes more refined and opens correspondingly to the number of times it is used.
For the following operations we used canning jars made of glass, which have several advantages, in addition to being cheap. They can take water-baths, resist vacuum, and have air-tight caps. The only disadvantage is their cover: for distillation, you must either buy a reactor-cover which fits the type of jar you chose, or bore a hole 8 mm in diameter through the glass cover and adapt a standard tube of 8 mm. The boring is easy and requires only a few minutes. We should then obtain a carbide drill (bit) well sharpened. During the operation, lubricate with turpentine ; as soon as the bit comes through the other side, reverse the piece to complete the hole.
When our material is ready, the sequence of the operations proceeds as follows: calcine the potassium carbonate at 350 C (662 F) for at least an hour. Fill the jar half-way with the carbonate and pour 90 % alcohol within 2 cm ( one inch) of the top. Close with an air-tight cover and let the mix act for 24 hrs.
Shake two or three times during that period. The jar is then placed in a water-bath regulated by a thermostat or placed on an electric plate with a thermostat. The temperature of the water in the water-bath is maintained at 85 C (185 F).
Of course, during this operation, the jar is capped by an 8 mm tube equipped cover.
The distillation train is equipped with a check-valve, a con-denser and a round bottom flask; the whole forming an air-tight unit which prevents the alcohol from absorbing atmospheric mois-ture.
Again, if you do not have a good mastery of distillation, and you are not certain of the capacity for removing heat of the condenser, the airtightness of the system can cause an explosion.
You can avoid this inconvenience and at the same time prevent atmospheric moisture from entering by adding a moisture trap: an air outlet tube can be mounted on the receiving flask and this tube emerges in the atmosphere by means of a tube of 8 mm diame-ter and 20 to 25 cm long.
This tube is filled with calcined potassium carbonate which is maintained in place at both extremi-ties with stoppers made with cotton padding. Distillation with this equipment yields an alcohol that reads between 96 % and 98 %. With this alcohol we repeat the same process again but with only 1/6 of the volume of carbonate in the flask. The distilla-tion will then yield an alcohol that reads more than 99 %.
A third distillation with 25 g of carbonate per liter will yield an alcohol reading a minimum of 99.8 %. This alcohol must be used immediately because it cannot be easily kept at that percentage. You need a perfectly air-tight ground glass flask which must be full to insure the preservation of this alcohol for some time.
After use, dissolve the carbonate in distilled water and filter the liquor. The liquor spontaneously separates into two parts: one is light and the other heavy. This is due to the fact that the carbonate also fixes a certain quantity of alcohol. The distillation of this liquor recollects the alcohol. One can also take advantage of this distillation to concentrate the liquor. Pour the liquor into a pyrex dish and slowly evaporate. Keep the carbonate you collect kept in an air-tight flask, it can be used again.
If after coagulation the carbonate is not perfectly white, do not calcine it. It must be dissolved, filtered and coagulated again. This process demonstrates furthermore how many impurities can be extracted from the alcohol.
WHITE STAGES of Vegetable Kingdom
With this very pure Mercury, we are going to undertake the making of the white stage of the elixirs, thus called because the three principles which compose it are white or transparent when they are ready for the final coagulation.
With this perfect Mercury, we need a plant as perfect as possible. The dry plant will be rid of its dust and damaged parts, etc. If it contains a residue of water, it will weaken the Mercury and so you should carefully dry the plant.
This can take place, for example, in a desiccating jar. After you place the plant in a jar, add vacuum-tubes on one side of the water pump and on the other side toward the round bottom flask which contains the calcined potassium carbonate.
As the vacuum is made, you must close the circuit on the side of the water pump in order to avoid moisture from entering. The jar is maintained in a water-bath regulated at 60 C (140 F) for two to three hours. Under vacuum, at this temperature, the plant releases its resi-dual water in the form of vapor absorbed by the carbonate.
Place the plant in the thimble of a Soxhlet which is filled with absolute alcohol. The upper part of the condenser of the extractor is closed with a silicon stopper so as to prevent moisture from entering. The round bottom flask of the extrac-tor is heated to 85 C (185 F) in a water-bath so the Sulfur doesn't overheat. Several days of extraction are required to make sure the Sulfur has been extracted. Complete extraction of the Sulfur is essential.
The residue in the thimble is calcined and leached until the Salt becomes whiter than snow. You can recognize complete extrac-tion of the Sulfur by the fact that the Salt is not sticky. Often this salt sparkles because it forms small crystals.
Distil the tincture. If the alcohol collected in this manner is no longer absolute, it can be treated with calcined carbonate as before.
When the tincture reaches the thickness of honey pour it into a crucible and calcine it. A black residue is obtained that is ground as fine as possible. Place it then in a quartz or porcelain dish, but not glass. Pour on the residue a distilled water solution containing 5% alcohol of the alcohol just col-lected.
Pour this solution on the residue until it covers it to a depth of 1/2 to 1 cm. After a night of maceration, the solution is slowly evaporated. The residue is calcined, reduced to powder and the cycle starts again. In a very few days the residue be-comes sparkling white, whiter than snow: it is the Salt of the Sulfur. The crystals which appear in the Salt indicate the plane-tary attribution of the plant by their structure. This Salt of Sulfur is mixed in equal parts with the Salt obtained during the calcination of the plant. If there is a correct imbibition per-formed with the Mercury just collected, and it is put into the incubator, we are beginning to form the Vegetable Stone.
If you poured on a large quantity of Mercury, the volatile qua-lity will prevail. However, the alcohol only becomes charged with Salt and Sulfur through repeated distillations. The volatile must progressively make the fixed volatile.
PURIFICATION OF SULFUR
Purification of the essential oils of oil producing plants and seeds is simple and only requires adding the steamed oil that floats on the distilled water, back into the lower flask from which the plants or seeds are being boiled.
The oil must become more clear and pure. Caraway essential oil looks cloudy the first few times it's separated. It gradually becomes more clear and pristine as the oil is re-steamed. You may note too, that for the planetary herbs chosen by LPN we have the following:
Saturn/Horsetail,
Jupiter/Melissa,
Mars/Madder,
Sun/Eyebright Euphrasia,
Venus/Alchemilla or Yarrow,
Mercury/Caraway or Lavender flowers,
Moon/Veronica,
Earth/Drosera i.e., Sundew.
I'm sure you'll note that many of these herbs lack adequate quantities of essential oil and this has proved to be a problem for LPN France, although they are now researching intensively to simplify, for everybody, extraction of the sulfur of these essential oil deficient plants.
Further research regarding plants or seeds etc. that exhibit a matrix that gives salt of sulfur crystals matching the sephirotic levels, deserves some pioneering attention.
If plants or seeds don't yield a sufficient amount of essential oils, or none at all, you need not dispense with their use, but check the salt crystals that arise from its honey-like resins (refer to the white stages of preparation).
LPN is extracting with hexane in the case of horsetail or with acetone, in a soxhlet, and slow evaporation is necessary to allow sufficient removal for the above mentioned plants.. The oil is then a honey-like consistency.
THE INCUBATOR
The incubator is very important because an even temperature must be maintained for the Angel (secret fire) of the angel water to be gradually raised in strength and power. You must be sure you have a good deliquescence, and carefully distill the resultant oil from the potassium carbonate that dissolved in the atmospheric dew. The fire (heater) outside the vessel (containing your developing stone) is the fire against nature and the inner fire (inside the 'egg') is to be coaxed out of its secret abode by this external constant temperature. This is the Vulcan aspect of the work and definitely demands certain standards to be maintained.
As to the construction of the incubator, with some steel wool and some wire we can construct an inner cubic structure where the hot plate can be fitted into place. The size is up to you. The heat source can be a deciding factor in the dimensions of your inner cubic chamber.
You'll want to gain access to your confecting stone, so you should install a door that allows full or partial viewing of the 'egg' inside. It's possible to use a rather thick heat resistant glass for the door.
Surrounding this inner chamber (but not the access door) is vermiculite (silica) enclosed with an outer shell also equipped with a sufficiently sealable door, again shaped like a cube.
Sheet metal can easily be shaped and soldered to complete the incubator. Use a heater that can be trusted to keep an even temperature for very long periods of time.
If you use light bulb heat make sure the bulb is painted black and the paint is heat resistant. No electrical light can be shined on the developing stone. Beware of light from the bulb leaking through cracks.
THE EGG
The essential oil, once it's purified, is imbibed (added to) the crystals, but only in a carefully sealed 'egg' so that no parasitic odors or sulfurs can contaminate or determine the prepared salts by exposure.
LPN uses a small glass vessel or 'egg' with a wide mouth and cork that has a stirring mechanism made of bent glass tubing going through the cork and an opening for a syringe filled with the essential oil to be inserted for imbibation (cohobation).
Keep in mind that when a syringe filled with essential oil is added by drops into the egg, the opening for the syringe must be closed off and sealed when imbibition is done, a good solution is a tube with a stop cock that can be closed and opened.
The oil is imbibed every week one hour after sunrise on wednesday (for this stone of caraway is ruled by this planetary genius at this hour) it is stirred, incorporating the oil with salt, and incubated at 40 C until reaching a saturation point.
Then the same imbibation is done with the marked alcohol mentioned above to saturation, and again incubated. Lastly, deliquesced potassium carbonate (exposed to the night air) is distilled obtaining angel water, which is this distilled water charged by the atmospheric moisture with gur (prana), is added to its saturation point and again incubated, always at 40 C.
This is to charge the stone with initiatic fire energy. The initial stone is beige in color, but with up to 2 years of incubation it ripens to red-brown. Then it's completed. It will be ground into small crystals.
The crystals of all stones including caraway stone are taken with wine.
METHOD FOR TAKING CRYSTAL STONES OF PLANTS:
1. Coat finger with saliva
2. Touch finger on the desired dosage of crystals to be taken at the 1st hour on the day of the ruling intelligence
3. Touch finger with crystals adhering to tongue top
4. Red wine chaser
Apparently the idea is to swallow the crystals right away, they are dissolved with the wine in the stomach and release their fire and energy in the solar plexus. A distinction must be seen regarding the differences between medicinal and initiatory medicines here.
SOURCES: Spagyric Lesson 29; Transcript of LPN videos: Inner Consciousness through Dreams Oct. 1992; Horary Chart from The Hermetic Dream, 1978 - A highly recommended book.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Looking for Fresh Myrrh and Saffron
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 12:52:05 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Fresh Myrrh and Saffron.
Does anyone know were the above may be obtained ? I am wanting to
make the elexir Proprietatis with a Circulatum Minus.
Blessings,
+Gilbert
Subject: PRACTICAL - Blowing beakers
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 09:40:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Peggy Brown
Is anyone interested in blowing glass beakers and such
inspired by pictures of those found in alchemical manuscripts?
This is something I would like to learn how to do, though it
seems a formidable task, particularly since you need access to
a big furnace and tools and someone to first teach the glass-blowing
craft.
Has anyone else done this or have any advice on how to start?
Thanks,
Peggy
Subject: PRACTICAL - Blowing beakers
From: Pavel Korensky
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 11:40:37 +0100 (GMT+0100)
> From: Peggy Brown
> Is anyone interested in blowing glass beakers and such
> inspired by pictures of those found in alchemical manuscripts?
> This is something I would like to learn how to do, though it
> seems a formidable task, particularly since you need access to
> a big furnace and tools and someone to first teach the glass-blowing
> craft.
> Has anyone else done this or have any advice on how to start?
We have the glass blowing school here in Czech Republic. The length of the
school is five years and this is only a basic education.
I saw the information material about this school once and there was written that
this is the only school in Europe. I don't know if this is true.
The glass blowing school is in the city "Jablonec nad Nisou" in the northern
region of Czech Republic. The school is small, only several students per year.
I will try to find the mail address of this school for you. I don't think that
you will want to study here, but maybe you can try to contact them and ask them
about some literature.
Greetings all.... my name is Dylan and I'm both an alchemist
and a glassblower (I'm trained in scientific apparatus.) I can
create and modify existing labware (as long as it fits in my
current oven: 17in wide 14.5in deep and 12in tall). I cannot
(yet, though soon) make large flasks as that requires a furnace
and blowpipe... any inquiries may be sent to:
Dylan Roelofs
droelofs@jersey.uoregon.edu
**********************************************************************
Best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
Subject: PRACTICAL - Blowing beakers
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 15:24:50 +0100
From: Joel Tetard
Peggy Brown wrote:
>
> Is anyone interested in blowing glass beakers and such
> inspired by pictures of those found in alchemical manuscripts?
> Has anyone else done this or have any advice on how to start?
You'll find some very interesting information on this art in a Danish
book written by Finn Lynggard : "Glas Handbogen", available from J. Fr.
Clausens Forlaf, Aschebourg. Copenhague 1975.
A French translation exists too, available from Dessain et Tolra
publishers, 10 rue Cassette, 75010 Paris, 1980. ISBN : 2-249-27083-X.
It's a good introduction to the main technics of glass working :
You'll find large chapters on blowing but mainly from an "artistic"
point of view (i.e. how to make cups and so on). Glass blowing of lab
equipment (i.e."pipe working" with a little gas burner) is not
developed in this book.
I have some French books concerning lab equipment but I can't give you
at this moment. I gave them to one of my friends and I think he'll give
me them back in the coming weeks (I hope !...). I'll send you a more
complete list as soon as possible.
There is a specialised school in Paris but only for youngsters.
Some dealers are active in France. One of them is :
RICHOUX S.A.
Rue des Carrieres
BP10
F 94310 Orly
Fax : (+33) 01 45 60 58 87
Richoux deals a large range of products, pipe blowings, tools, burners
and so on.
A specialised on-line database concerning all "glass" subjects is
"Glassfile", available from ESA, Questel-Orbit or Knight-Rider (I don't
remember which provider exactly, sorry !).
I said to Adam that I'll send to the Web site some technical drawings of old lab
vessels found in Paris and made during the Middle-Age area. I'll do
scans as soon as possible but I am rather busy at this moment ... Note
making such glass equipment seems to be not easy !
"Le philosophe, c'est celui qui sait faire le verre" répondit la
Sibylle, interrogée sur ce point... Atorène
"Bon courage" Peggy
Regards to all
Joel
Subject: PRACTICAL - Blowing beakers
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 16:20:34 -0500
From: Raymond P. Cullen
> From: Peggy Brown
> Is anyone interested in blowing glass beakers and such
> inspired by pictures of those found in alchemical manuscripts?
There are at least three major types of glassblowing practiced
currently:
1) Trinket making - you see this in the mall during the Christmas rush.
glass rod is turned into "art objects". This practice is not suitable
for "beaker making."
2) Blown glass - this is the practice of making "art objects" from
molten globs of lime (low temperature) glass. You need a furnace that has
a cavity as large as the object for annealing, and another furnace for
melting the glass and for intermediate heating of the object. You can
make beakers or retorts using this method. I would guess a couple of
years of apprenticing would be required plus a substantial investment
for equipment.
3) Scientific - this method eliminates the use of the initial furnace
and starts with preformed borosilicate or quartz shapes (rod, tubing,
flasks, beakers) and adds features using a small oxy-gas torch. For
instance, a retort could be made by selective heating of a long-necked
flask. Annealing of borosilicate glass, although required, is not as
stringent as for lime glass. Big items are made in expensive lathes. I
agree with Mr. Korensky that an apprenticeship for five years or more is
needed to be useful in a glass shop. I have known two scientific
glassblowers for 30 years and have watched their continuous improvement
over this time.
So, unless you want to spend a number of years learning the art, I would
suggest that you buy rather than make.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Blowing beakers
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 09:32:09 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
I have been using such equipment for some time, made both from Pyrex
and High Temp. clay. E-mail me privately and I will give you my
glassblower's coordinates.
Blessings,
Gilbert
arnoldg@em.agr.ca
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
From: Steve Kalec
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 00:03:46 -0500
My deep interests in alchemy have been mainly of
the inner practice but I have always well understood the
the correspondences between inner and outer practical
laboratory work. I have recently started reading with much
interest ( Plant Alchemy ) by Manfred Junius and I am very
impressed with what lab practice has to offer. I am looking
forward to making my first plant stone. My problem is that
I have no equipment set up yet. Are there any tips and
suggestions on how to acquire equipment ? Is there a place
on the Internet where one might shop for alchemical lab
equipment ? And how does one find all the various plants
and herbs , some of these herbs have never been heard of
in ordinary herb shops. Is there a place on the net for
herbs ect. ? How do some of you get your equipment
and other necessary requirements ?
Steve Kalec
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 10:48:08 -0500
From: Jfruther
Dear Steve,
A good source for the beginning alchemist is John H. Reid III. "Course on
Practical Plant Alchemy", which you will find on Adams web-page. Some of the
chapters which would be of interest for you are not on the web, Mr. Reid
might help you with a copy, but I can not speak for him. In one of the first
chapters you will find a good list of equipment needed to get ready to
start.
In the beginning you can use herbs bought at a herb shop, but very soon you
will find, only the ones you pick yourself are really usefull.
Good look, keep on working, for practice only is the guide to success!
LITLLUW
J. Ruther
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 10:55:38 -0500
From: John H. Reid III
Steve, for glassware you can check out
Kontes Glassware (1-609-692-8500) in Vineland New Jersey here in the
States, or Reliance Glassworks (1-708-766-1816) in Bensenville IL, also
in the States. Both of these companies will make custom laboratory
glassware for you.
As far as herbs go you should be able to find them in your neighborhood
health food store. There are also sources that you can mail order herbs
from. One place you could deffinately try is Triad. It's a company owned
by a friend of mine Russ House. They have all sorts of herbs, oils etc
(630-665-1417).
May I suggest that you start out with making a simple extract from the
herb using a mason jar. You can calcine the remaining herb body using a
flame proof dish or a corning ware pot on top of your stove (small
amounts).
Though it is not necessary I would suggest that you take a first year
chemistry course to familarize yourself with the use of glassware. One
can spend thousands of dollars on glassware that is not used.
John H. Reid III
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 17:25:58 +0100
From: Joel Tetard
> From: Steve Kalec
>
> Are there any tips and
> suggestions on how to acquire equipment ? Is there a place
> on the Internet where one might shop for alchemical lab
> equipment ? Is there a place on the net for
> herbs ect. ? How do some of you get your equipment
> and other necessary requirements ?
Some days ago I did a very quick research on ALTAVISTA and I found :
Trading of lab equipments : http://www.labx.com/
A list exists which could be very interesting for all americans lovers
of Alchemy : sci.chem.labware
The greatest part of my lab equipment came from chemistry industries and
schools : I asked them for any obsolete equipment. I explained I planned
to make kinetic sculptures with old glassware !
About plants , you can check :
The agricultural Genome Information Server
http://probe.nalusda.gov:8000/index.html
AGIS provides many links toward specialised databases of great interest :
http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/mpnadb
http://probe.nalusda.gov:8000/related/aboutethnobotdb.html
The Ethnobotany Cafe on Web provides a great deal of links related to
this topic :
http://countrylife.net/ethnobotany/
See for instance :
http://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb
http://www.umma.lsa.umich.edu/ethnobotany/ethnobotany.html
http://nabalu.flas.ufl.edu/kperkins/bibfla/bibecon.html
ftp://ftp.crl.com/users/ro/robbee/HERB/
http://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb
Best regards.
Joel
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
From: Philosophers of Nature
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 12:22:35 -0600
Dear Steve,
The following is a list of some of the resources we listed in our
November issue of The Stone, the newsletter of the Philosophers
of Nature. It is by no means exhaustive, but should at least provide
a start. Also, there are some additional links on our website
at http://www.mcs.net/~alchemy/links.html
I also think that you might find our courses of interest:
http://www.mcs.net/~alchemy/courses.html
With regards,
Russ House
President, The Philosophers of Nature, Inc.
Resources:
We want to list useful references for laboratory equipment, supplies,
and materials to support the efforts of our researchers. Please inform
us of new suppliers, and let us know if supplier addresses and phone
numbers change. We do not list suppliers of medicines for internal use,
for practical reasons.
Alchemical Resources
Al-Kemi
1807 2nd St., Suite 9
Santa Fe, NM 87505 USA
Tel: 1.505.988.7315 (Noon -- 10 PM MST)
Glassware for alchemical work
Bryant Laboratory, Inc.
1101 Fifth St.,
Berkeley, CA 94710 USA
Tel: 1.510.526.3141
or 1.800.367.3141
Fax: 1.510.528-2948
Mail-order labware and chemicals
Centaur Forge, Ltd.
117 North Spring St.,
PO Box 340, Burlington, WI 53105-0340 USA
Tel: 1.414.763.9175. Fax: 1.414.763.8350
Temperature crayons, forges, blacksmiths' supplies,
such as tongs, aprons, etc.
David Shannon
6649 E. Rustic Drive, Mesa, AZ 85215 USA
Tel/Fax: 602.985.0557
Minerals by the specimen or in bulk from a
first-class mineralogist
Dr. Michael's Herbs
5109 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625 USA
Tel: 1.312.271.7738
Herbs
Hagenow Laboratories
1302 Washington St.
Manitowoc, WI 54220 USA
Tel: 1.414.683-3339
Bargain priced labware and supplies by mail-order
TRIAD
125 West Front Street, Suite 275
Wheaton, IL 60187 USA
Email: majrcana@aol.com
Request price listing.
Stibnite, Alchemical books, Marseilles Tarot
Deck, high purity essential oils, hard-to-find items.
Mon Dec 16 10:18:13 1996
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 21:27:15 -0800
From: Mark House
Steve,
You can start only where you feel comfortable. To rush out and buy a lot
of equipment meant to impress others or to fill up a workspace is not
desired. A few things will suffice to get involved i.e., a distillation
train, for your alcohol, a sulfur extraction apparatus, for your oils,
and calcining equipment for your salts. These will do for practice.
A.M.W. House
PS. For herbs you can also go to
http://algy.com/herb/herb.html
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
From: Steve Kalec
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 00:13:14 -0500
To... J.Ruther
Joel Tetard
John H. Reid III
Russ House
Thank you all very much for all your kind responses.
The various information you all have forwarded me are very
helpful and are greatly appreciated. I will certainly for sure
look up and browse through all those neat addresses that
you all have gifted me with. Thank you all for your advises,
tips and encouragements.
Gratefully yours,
Steve Kalec
Subject: PRACTICAL - Antimony glass
From: Adrian Monk
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 15:02:53 GMT
Peggy Brown wrote:
>> Is anyone interested in blowing glass beakers and such
>> inspired by pictures of those found in alchemical manuscripts?
May I extend the question, and ask whether anyone has any interest in,
or experience of, making antimony glass? It is possible, using a flux,
to produce a vitreous form of antimony (as described by Valentine and
others), but only - at least as far as I was able to establish - in
very small quantities.
I was for a long time interested in the statement to be found in one
form or other throughout the literature, that the vessel (i.e. the
athanor/furnace/fire) and the matter are one.
Adrian Monk
Wed Dec 18 22:54:08 1996
Subject: PRACTICAL - Valentine's Keys
Date: 18th Dec 1996
From: Posted anonymously with agreement of Adam McLean
"I have read most of the postings concerning Basil Valentine's "Keys".
I wonder if there is anyone who would enjoy a discussion on how some
of the pictoral keys could correspond with preparation procedures for
alkahests.
In order for me me to enjoy this discussion I would like to hear opinions
from people who have worked and made alkahests; for example I have
made (among other things) vinegar of antimony (in liter quantities) that
smells like acetic acid but was made from antimony ore and rainwater
and does what Basil says it will do. My circulatum minus (also in liter
quantities) separates from the time it has come over twice. Real stuff,
please.
And no, I'm not secretive. I've published, sometimes "anonymously"
enough information that a reader with the proper intent could duplicate
the procedures. I'd also like to discuss the issue of the materials to use
for the Circulatum Majus. I have reasons to think that it is not Antimony. "
Subject: PRACTICAL - Antimony glass
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 08:56:40 +0100
From: Joel Tetard
Adrian Monk wrote:
> May I [...] ask whether anyone has any interest in,
> or experience of, making antimony glass?
Summary of Glaser's recipe for making the Antimony glass (1667):
Take any amount you want of "Antimony" (Note "Antimony" is the ancient
name of Stibnite and is not our modern metal Sb. Be aware of this
important point ...) and crushe it. Put the powder in a strong and wide
vessel and calcinate in a good fireplace. Take greatest cares of the
toxic fumes. Shake the powder during all the calcination in order to
avoid it agglomerates. If such a problem occures, cruche the Antimony in
a mortar and calcinate it again.
Calcinate the Antimony until the fumes stop and its color becames
similar to ashes.
Put the calcinated Antimony in a strong crucible. Make a violent fire in
order to fuse the Antimony. Taking a sample of the matter with a rod of
iron, you 'll see the good momemnt for stopping the fusion.
Poor the content of the crucible in a wide plate of copper and you'll
obtain a beautifull glass of Antimony.
Glaser proposes a recipe for purifying this glass. You have to mixte 2
parts of glass with 3 1/2 parts of well purified salspetre. Poor the
mixture in a hot crucible (spounfull by spuonfull). When all the mixture
is liquid, stop the operation. Crushe the result in order to obtain a
very subtle powder and mixte it with (slightly) hot water.
Decante the water in order to obtain a coarse powder and put the
remaining liquid in a vessel where a very subtle powder of Antimony
glass will be obtained
"Traduttore, traditore" ... ;
Sorry for my English.
Best regards to all.
Joel
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
From "Traite de la Chymie", by Cristophle Glaser (1663) :
Verre d'Antimoine.
Prenez telle quantité qu'il vous plaira d'Antimoine en poudre, calcinez
le à feu lent dans une terrine plate non vernie, & propre à resister au
feu, faites la calcination sous une cheminée; en un lieu aéré, & évitez
les exhalaisons sulphureuses de l'Antimoine, très nuisibles surtout à la
poitrine. Remuez continuellemrnt la poudre d'Antimoine durant sa
calcination, pour empecher qu'elle ne se grumelle, & si cela arrive,
pulvérisez la de nouveau dans un mortier, & la recalcinez, & continuez
la calcination jusques à ce que l'Antimoine ne fume plus, & soit réduit
en poudre de couleur de cendre, & privé de son soufre superficiel,
lequel empecherait la vitrification, ou rendrait le verre opaque.
Mettez alors cette chaux au feu de fusion dans un très bon creusets,
placé sur un petit rondeau de terre : donnez le feu violent, & le tenez
en cet etat, en sorte que la matière soit en continuelle fusion, &
jusques à ce qu'elle devienne bien diaphane; ce que vous connaitrez en
introduisant dans la matière le bout d'une petite verge de fer, à
laquelle s'attachera quelques peu de la matière, que vous pouvez séparer
en frappant dessus avec un petit marteau, & lorsque la matière sera bien
transparente, vous la verserez dans une bassine plate de cuivre, & vous
aurez un fort beau verre d'antimoine de couleur jaune, tirant sur le
rouge, préparé sans addition d'aucune chose.
[...]
Correction du verre d'Antimoine.
Pulverisez subtilement deux onces de verre d'Antimoine, préparé comme
nous venons de le dire, & trois onces & demie de nitre bien affiné, &
les mélez ensemble, puis ayaez un pot de terre non verni, & propre à
resister au feu, & le mettez dans un un fourneau entre les charbons
ardents, & le faites rougir, & étant rougi mettez-y dedans une pleine
cueillere de la poudre, laquelle vous ferez rougir, en remettrez une
cueillerée, & ainsi continuerez peu à peu, cueillerée à cueillerée, tant
que toute la poudre soit employée & rougie au feu.
Tirez ensuite le pot du feu, & étant refroidi, pulverisez subtilement la
matière, & l'édulcorez avec deux pintes d'eau tièdelete [JT:
"légèrement" tiède ...], laquelle vous verserez sur la poudre en la
remuant promptement, & versant l'eau trouble dans un autre vaisseau, &
laissant dans le fonds du premier vaisseau la poudre la plus grossière ;
versez par inclination l'eau dès que la poudre sera bien rassise, &
faites sécher la poudre, laquelle sera impalpable, & la gardez pour
l'usage, comme un très bon & très commode vomitif pour toutes sortes
d'ages."
Subject: PRACTICAL - Antimony glass
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 16:07:41 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Adrian Monk wrote;
"May I extend the question, and ask whether anyone has any interest in,
or experience of, making antimony glass? It is possible, using a flux,
to produce a vitreous form of antimony (as described by Valentine and
others), but only - at least as far as I was able to establish - in
very small quantities. "
The making of Antimony glass is detailed in the Triumphant Chariot. It can
be made
1) With or without flux
2) Out of calcined or sublimed material
How have you proceded so far ?
Adrian Monk also wrote;
"I was for a long time interested in the statement to be found in one
form or other throughout the literature, that the vessel (i.e. the
athanor/furnace/fire) and the matter are one. "
How have you proceded so far ?
Blessings,
Gilbert
Subject: PRACTICAL - Valentine's Keys
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 23:02:03 GMT
From: Adrian Monk
(extract)
>"I have read most of the postings concerning Basil Valentine's "Keys".
>I wonder if there is anyone who would enjoy a discussion on how some
>of the pictoral keys could correspond with preparation procedures for
>alkahests.
I have read the above posting with considerable interest, and would
enjoy again doing some work on the Keys. I spent several years
working, predominantly but not only, with antimony, in the main
following Basilius, Weidenfeld and von Bernus. Although I did
experiment with the vinegar described by Basilius, I however did more
work on butyrum antimonii and other Sb compounds, mainly extractions
using menstruums such as those described by Kerckringius and others.
At one stage I managed seemingly by chance to produce a small quantity
of a greenish gum, however in such a small quantity that I was unable
to investigate or process it further. I was, alas, never able to
reproduce it, as it appeared seemingly of its own accord, and so never
was able to determine whether this was an extraneous impurity or
something of significance.
As almost 20 years have in the meantime elapsed, and as I have in any
case for some time been intending to take up once again the
"antimonial work", this would seem to be a good time to dust off my
old notes and records and to take a look at the Keys with fresh eyes.
Adrian Monk
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 08:53:46 -0800
From: Mark House
> From: Steve Kalec
> Very well put. I do want to start slowly and well. I don't feel
> I know enough to rush into this profound practice. Yes thats what I
> do need, ....
>Distillation train,
Steve, your ability to distill alcohol is a determining factor for your
work with separation of oils etc., and is your gauge for purity and
adeptness. Please read my article on First Steps of Alchemical
Initiation found in former postings in both Inner and Practical forums.
While there are many ways to separate oils from plants etc., your
alcohol must be made by you through distillation. Become adept at
distilling wine. You will not regret the work when you have done so.
Albertus used to say: "When we will do it, it shall be done."
>Alembic
A still is o.k. but a good coil condenser, bulb, approximately 2Ml -
10Ml will do nicely, and a recepticle of approximate size again 2Ml - 10
Ml is appropriate.
>Calcining equipment.
For calcining in the begining it's o.k. to use stainless steel pans
under an electric burner or under propane. Do these calcinations in a
well ventilated area. Preferably outside because of the large volume of
smoke and lasting odors that will inevitably arise from the herbs etc.,
before they reach the carbon stage. When they become black and stop
smoking you're at that stage. Keep the heat up and go through the grey
stages. Beyond that you will have to leach your ashes to acheive salts
of a crystalline nature. Many stages will occur. Please refer to the
First steps of Alchemical Initiation article mentioned above. Notice the
section on salts.
>A burner of some kind.
Steve, the burner can be a regulated device such as a single burner unit
that is flat and fairly precise in temperature. Take one from your local
hardware store. Medium price works better than too cheap.
>Soxhlet - what are your opinions versus the more ordinary method.
Soxhlet's are great for specific types of separations of oils etc. More
ordinary methods can vary depending on your intention and purpose, which
herb you are preparing, and what you will use the preparation for. Many
variables in a complex yet satisfying research project.
Good luck, have fun, and be cautious!
Mark
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 10:11:38 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Ordinary soxhlet's do not separate essential oils; they extract tinctures
at high temperatures, if not used under vacuum. Liquid to liquid soxhlet's
may extract some oils.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Lab Equipment
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 11:03:26 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
There is information on Adam's webpage, PON lessons and Journals and
Michael Junius's book about processing herbs. Some plants have thermo
sensitive chemicals that could be destroyed by the relatively high
temperatures occuring during a soxhlet extraction. And as one speaker
at a recent PON conference mentioned, alkaline salts added back to a
tincture containing oils may produce saponins. Michael Moore's
webpage has good information on extraction procedures.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Antimony glass
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 16:16:40 -0500
From: Craig Kott
Joel Tetard quoted Glaser's recipe for making the Antimony glass (1667):
> Poor the content of the crucible in a wide plate of copper and you'll
> obtain a beautifull glass of Antimony.
Is this "glass" in the form of a irregular crystalline solid which is
semi-transparent and can flow (e.g., common glass), or is it a polished
metallic surface? Isn't "glass" also a term for "mirror?" The surface
of the regulus of Sb was bright & reflective (hence its name); are we
sure that this is not what's being referred to?
Craig A. Kott
Subject: PRACTICAL - Antimony glass
From: Russ House
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 02:07:02 -0600
Craig Kott wrote, regarding Glaser's recipe for making the Antimony glass:
"Is this "glass" in the form of a irregular crystalline solid which is
semi-transparent and can flow (e.g., common glass), or is it a polished
metallic surface? Isn't "glass" also a term for "mirror?" The surface
of the regulus of Sb was bright & reflective (hence its name); are we
sure that this is not what's being referred to?"
This glass is not the reflective surface of the regulus, but is vitrified material.
It can be cloudy, translucent, or quite transparent, can appear in various
colors: red, orange, amber, yellow, pale green, emerald green, black, clear,
and blue (at least). It is generally poured on a heated metal plate and allowed
to cool (be careful not to get burned). Allowing it to flow into a thin mass helps
with the laborious task of grinding it to dust (wear a respirator and gloves).
I once made what I thought was black glass, but held up to a strong light, it
was ruby red with a cast of violet.
It can be made with or without fluxing agents (borax and other agents help the
material to vitrify more readily). It would be better to work without contaminants
if you have an oven or gas furnace that can reach the required temperatures.
Work outside or with *excellent* ventilation as often 1/2 of the antimony will
"fume away" as a toxic oxide dust. Temperatures are 1700 to 2100 for as
much as 2-3 hours. Your experience may be different. It is said by the
ancients to work on antimony when the sky is clear.
As a quick experiment to see what this glass looks like, a mixture of borax and
antimony oxide or antimony trisulfide (1:4) can be heated in a small crucible
over a high temperature Bunsen or similar burner. Again, beware of the
smoke, and getting burned by a hot crucible or a splash. The colors are
different depending on heats, amount of time to mature, whether sulphur and
other contaminants are present or not, and whether fluxing agents are used.
You may accidentally get a regulus -- I was after regulus when I got the black
glass!
I recommend this as a good experiment if necessary precautions are taken.
I do not think that making antimonial medicines following Valentine's Triumphal
Chariot of Antimony and taking them or giving them to others is a good exper-
iment, however. There are problems in rendering the end products non-
toxic. This is not to say that there is not some possibility here, but rather to
say that this is not something to be done lightly, and without thinking about
the grave responsibility one has in participating in accidental poisoning.
With regards,
Russ House
Subject: PRACTICAL - Spagyrics in Pharmacopoeias
From: Leonid M. Kokun
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 96 15:38:23 +0300
In Germany, manufacturing of spagyric tinctures is regulated by the
Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia; several manufacturing procedures are
described, and some tinctures.
When seeking for analogous legal regulations in the US, I so far found
nothing of that kind. Perhaps, someone from the US will refer me to such
act(s)/document(s)? I mean regulations concerning technology, not those
concerning rights to practice alchemical medicine, or to sell medicines.
Also, even though it concerns alchemy rather indirectly, could you
tell me whether unorthodox attenuations, such as Fincke's, are still used
by anybody? And if so, which is their legal status?
Thanks
Subject: PRACTICAL - Basilius' Keys by Yves Arbez
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 10:23:00 -0800
From: Anthony M. House
Hello Group!
Below you'll find an interpretation based upon many years of study. In
brief, yet enough to understand the content of the summary. Yves Arbez
was the vice president of the LPN of France and a very good practicing
alchemist. This excerpt is from a transcript I made of the video tapes
from 1992 at LPN USA's first gathering with the team members of LPN that
came to the USA. I hope it will add light to the dark shadows of the
KEYS....
A.M. House
"Just very rapidly I will explain the Basil Valentine pictures.
The 12 Keys of Basil.
1st - Here are the 2 first agents that you will work on. Here is the
antimony, the fire. Conjunction of both and it's the preparation of the
two first agents.
2nd - Here is the dragon, antimony. It gives the Regulus where you can
see the antimony here and the 2 natures. Since the antimony Regulus is
said - kind of frolics.
3rd - This is purification of mercury by fire washing. This is the snake
mercury and here is the cock, and we have the double mercury, the
animated mercury.
4th - This is feeding, the Red Lion with the blood of the Green Dragon.
The green Lion you know what it is, it's the crude antimony. And the Red
Lion is the Regulus.
5th - This is the development of the seed of the philosophical sulfur.
You see here Vulcan, the heat, the Red Lion which is gold. This is
mercury animated, it has 7 flowers - 7 Eagles.
6th - When you get this Red powder the philosophical sulfur, you join it
to the mercury (animated). This is the conjunction of earth and sky.
7th - This is development of putrefaction, substances become black and
colored.
8th - This is the crow beneath and this is the phoenix (?)
9th - This is the flowering of the 2 stones after multiplication. This
is the Red Lion and he's eating the mercury. It means that to multiply
the stone this red powder must be put again in mercury (animated). There
are 2 stones - Red and White.
10th - This is making the precious flask. You put the philosophical
stone with gold, it remains two hours and it gives a glass that gives
the transmutation powder.
There is no time to explain the details. You can see there's a lot of
details on these pictures."
To all forum participants: The entire transcript is available through
the PON at www.mcs.net/~alchemy/index1.html. It comes I think included
with the tapes of the event.
A.M. House
Subject: PRACTICAL - John Reid's Book on practical alchemy
From: Adam McLean
Date: 30th Dec 1996
John Reid III has kindly allowed the full text of his book on practical alchemy to be made available on the alchemy web site.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Flowers in Basil's keys
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 11:50:29 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
I have noticed that in Keys I,V and XII the presence of flowers in these
woodcuts. The "Queen" in plate I is carrying flowers in one hand and a
brush made on peacocks feathers in the other.
This makes me wonder if the queen is not telling us that glass of
antimony (many colours such as the peacock) should me made from
"flowers" (sublimate). other items in Plate I suggest a purification and
removal of toxins (Old man swallowing a snake, maybe acquiring
wisdom). Plate V shows a maiden with flowers, pursued by a
gentleman with a bellows. Blowing air on calcining or molten antimony
will oxidise it and help it sublimate.
Just part of my search for the "optimal" glass of antimony.
Any practical ideas?
Blessings,
+Gilbert
Subject: PRACTICAL - Flowers in Basil's keys
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:14:16 -0500
From: Craig Kott
Gilbert Arnold wrote:
> I have noticed that in Keys I,V and XII the presence of flowers in these
> woodcuts. The "Queen" in plate I is carrying flowers in one hand and a
> brush made on peacocks feathers in the other.
>
> This makes me wonder if the queen is not telling us that glass of
> antimony (many colours such as the peacock) should me made from
> "flowers" (sublimate).
I must have missed something in this discussion. Did you see Sb glass
elsewhere in the keys?
Thanks,
Craig Kott
Subject: PRACTICAL - Flowers in Basil's keys
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 1996 10:46:07 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Craig Kott had written;
>I must have missed something in this discussion [About Basil Valentine's Keys].
>Did you see Sb glass elsewhere in the keys?
It had been suggested that the keys be discussed based on practical lab
experience. So I have started with the subject that I have been
wodering about; the meaning of the flowers as it relates to the process
of sublimation.
Blessings,
Gilbert
Subject: PRACTICAL - John Reid III Book
From: Steve Kalec
Date: Wed, 1 Jan 1997 17:50:08 -0500
To John Reid III,
Dear John, thank you very much for your kindness in
gifting us with your very beautiful and informative book. With
me it will be put into my very special treasure chest of alchemical
goodies.
Thank you a million,
Bright Blessings,
Best Regards,
Steve Kalec
Subject: PRACTICAL - Basil's key IV
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 1997 11:27:24 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Just noting the presence of the defoliated and cut tree in key 4 and a
possible relation to tartarus foliatum and products of pyrolignious
distillation.
Seing that the skeleton is out of the coffin I am wondering if the
menstruum should be poured on the matter, left to blacken, separated
and incubated in candle's heat in darkness.
Blessings,
Gilbert
Subject: PRACTICAL - Alchemilla
Date: Sat, 04 Jan 1997 14:15:41 +0100
From: Nicolas R. Kropacek
4th January, 1997.
I think that may be useful to the Brothers and Friends of this practical
alchemy list to repost the letter that I wrote in reply to Mrs. Gillick in the
alchemy forum, alchemy-list@levity.com
I will appreciate any comment and extension in treating the theme.
Sorry for my imperfect English.
From Mrs. Marcella Gillick,
>I wonder if anybody could tell me something about the historical (or any
>other) alchemical connections of the above plant from the Family Rosaceae
>(also called Lady's Mantle, Lion's Foot and Stellaria)?
I think that it is a very educated subject to be treated in an alchemic
forum.
I think that it is very beautifully 'symbolic' that this theme is gently
requested, and opened, by a lady. Alchemilla is traditionally
- for symbology and for practical applications - a very exquisite feminine
plant.
The etymology of the name of this plant is discussed, but I think it is
indubitably derived from our Great Matter: Alchemy!
Its other name, Stellaria, refers to the shape of the leaf, similar to a star,
with the sub-leaves like little vulvas that flow together in the center.
This image is extremely important for many reasons, that I will
explain in the following.
As you exactly write, alchemilla is very particular and has remarkable
efficiency in collecting dew drops, and this process is due to the form
of the leaf: many little drops, that arrive from the ground at the stalk,
stay at the borders of the sub-leaves, as in the lips of vulvas, and at
the minimum vibration fall down into the center, forming a great drop, very
similar to a pearl of dew.
For the form (similar to the feminine "yoni"), for the afore-mentioned pearl,
is an important 'signature', they remind us of the best and beautiful
part of the world, the feminine one, and particulary the Moon.
Lunar influence was specifically referred by the Renaissance belief
(verisimilar exoteric emanation of an esoteric symbol) that gave to the
alchemilla plant the ability of giving back the virginity to women.
If you note that virginity is an attribute of Goddess Artemis-Diana, the
Virgin that hunts by night with her dogs (dogs that we can see again,
symbolized in the tarot XVIII lamed named "The Moon").
Alchemists searched for alchemilla dewdrops, very important
as vibrations, plentiful with celestial 'Nitro' and the lunar influences,
absorbed through the symbolic analogy to the moon, i.e., "the mirror".
As for that, this dew may be used for specific alchemical purposes:
you can study, among others, the 'Mutus liber' and several alchemy books.
With S.V. [Spiritus vini], alchemilla dew is useful to be used for preparing the
Paracelsial "arcanum" of some plants, as Melissa.
It is peculiar also that alchemilla collects dew not only in the final winter
and first spring months, but continues for many months, up to the first
period of summer, when there is no more dew in the fields!
Remarkable, and interesting as an alchemic symbol, is the circulation that
is done by dew in the leaves, similar to a distillation or a cohobation,
for it goes up and subsequently falls into the center of the leaf.
The plant - but also the dew, for "energetic lunar impregnation" - may be
used in an external and internal way, and may be prepared as an incomparable
lunar elixir, useful for feminine and genital (internal and external) diseases,
for menstrual and ovaric diseases or methrorragy, for climatheric diseases.
Very good also for the external genitals, for the body, for the face and
cosmetic use. Traditional is the indication for the breasts, that are
younger-looking and hardened by alchemilla.
I think that to prepare elixir of alchemilla, the best thing would be to
use alchemilla dew with the plant, collected obviously on Monday in a lunar
hour (better the first hour, from midnight to 1 A.M., in an increasing moon near
to full moon). It is better if it is enlightened by moonlight when is collected.
A metal knife or scissors are not to be used, but only silver is allowed (lunar
metal) or only using hands. Iron is absolutely not to be used.
Dew may be collected in the morning (if possible, before sunrise, but it
can be critical only for special magical or alchemical use), with a glass
dropper, and collected in a dark glass bottle, and kept in the dark, out of
electromagnetical or human vibrations: it is very sensitive, as the moon
"captures" the light or the energies, changing its vibration and losing
lunar vibrations.
Nicolas R. Kropacek.
Subject: PRACTICAL - John Reid III Book
Date: Sat, 04 Jan 1997 14:15:56 +0100
From: Nicolas R. Kropacek
4th January, 1997.
I associate myself to other Friends and Brothers in Hermes with many
thanks to Brother John Reid for giving us a free online reading of his
very important and so much practical treatise.
May the Blessings of The Almight plentiful fall upon him.
Nicolas R. Kropacek
Subject: PRACTICAL - Symbolism in Practical Work
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 14:27:55 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
I was reading over Urbiger's works when the following items looked
good for discussion;
"Having in our Travels fortuned to meet with some Persons of true
Principles in Philosophy and Religion, we could not but embrace them and
instruct them towards its farther Perfection, which cannot be attained
without the true knowledge of our Celestial Art. by which comprehending
all the Mystery of Mysteries, we learn also how to serve God in Faith
and Truth." from http://www.levity.com/alchemy/urbigeri.html
and
"III. Out of Diana's undetermined Tears, when Appollo has appeared,
after the Separation of the three Elements, Determination, Digestion and
glorious Resurrection, we can, without the Addition of any other created
thing, prepare this our determined Elixir: Which is the first, noblest, and
secretest way of the Philosophers." from
http://www.levity.com/alchemy/circulat.html
Now it would appear to me that Urbiger's background would be strongly
Christian, so that perhaps some hindsight type wisdom could be
extracted from the Aphorisms. For this reason I am cross-posting this to
the inner to the Inner forum, whose members probably know quite a bit
about symbolism. I also intend to discus the actual making of the
Circulatum Minus.
I'll open by saying that in retrospect Diana=Mary (Sophia) aka "mother of
God". Apollo aka Logos aka Jesus Christ.
The term "Out of Diana's undetermined Tears" seems to correspond to
wine spits, ie alcool distilled off of wine. This alcool seems to work the
best. Legend has it that Mary cried tears of blood at the crucifixion, and
linking this to the Christian link of Blood and Wine results in a pointer to
alcool distilled off of wine.
Things get a little interesting when the subject of Apollo aka Logos aka
Jesus Christ comes along. IMO, this symbolises the materials derived
from the essential oil obtained from steam distillation of certain plants.
In order for this process to work, the oil is first "born" by a distillation
through a narrow neck. It then requires a purification by a humid
sublimation through a wide neck into a helmet type distilling head.
The resultant purified "body" is then put into the "prepared tomb" (purified
salts) and "annointed" with a resinous type substance. It is written in the
Bible that the body of Jesus was annointed with spices that included
resinous substances.
And then of course, everything rises to glory, after a suitable time "in the
earth".
Comments?
Blessings,
+Gilbert
Subject: PRACTICAL - Plants containing lead
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 13:36:42 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
From; http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/
Plants Containing LEAD
1.Nyssa sylvatica MARSHALL - Black Gum (Leaf) 0.2-182 ppm
2.Symphoricarpos orbiculatus MOENCH. - Buckbush (Stem) 2-176
ppm
3.Juniperus virginiana L. - Red Cedar (Shoot) 0.7-132 ppm
4.Nyssa sylvatica MARSHALL - Black Gum (Stem) 0.1-132 ppm
5.Prunus serotina EHRH. - Black Cherry (Stem) 0.2-108 ppm
6.Carya glabra (MILLER) SWEET - Pignut Hickory (Shoot) 2-103 ppm
7.Rhus copallina L. - Dwarf Sumac (Stem) 0.2-92 ppm
8.Fucus vesiculosus L. - Bladderwrack (Plant) 91 ppm
9.Diospyros virginiana L. - American Persimmon (Stem) 0.2-81 ppm
10.Quercus alba L. - White Oak (Stem) 0.2-76 ppm
11.Prunus serotina EHRH. - Black Cherry (Leaf) 0.3-67 ppm
12.Rhus copallina L. - Dwarf Sumac (Leaf) 0.2-67 ppm
13.Malus domestica BORKH. - Apple (Fruit) 0.002-64 ppm
14.Pinus echinata MILLER - Shortleaf Pine (Shoot) 1.7-63 ppm
15.Lycopersicon esculentum MILLER - Tomato (Fruit) 0.003-60 ppm
16.Quercus stellata WANGENH. - Post Oak (Stem) 0.7-59 ppm
17.Liquidambar styraciflua L. - American Styrax (Stem) 0.2-57 ppm
18.Carya ovata (MILL.) K. KOCH - Shagbark Hickory (Shoot) 0.7-46
ppm
19.Sassafras albidum (NUTT.) NEES - Sassafras (Stem) 0.1-37 ppm
20.Diospyros virginiana L. - American Persimmon (Leaf) 0.5-35 ppm
21.Sassafras albidum (NUTT.) NEES - Sassafras (Leaf) 1-34 ppm
22.Quercus velutina LAM. - Black Oak (Stem) 1.5-31 ppm
23.Asparagus officinalis L. - Asparagus (Shoot) 1.5-30 ppm
24.Liquidambar styraciflua L. - American Styrax (Leaf) 0.4-25 ppm
25.Quercus phellos L. - Willow Oak (Stem) 0.4-21 ppm
26.Rhus glabra L. - Smooth Sumac (Stem) 0.4-20 ppm
27.Hypericum perforatum L. - Common St. Johnswort (Leaf) 6-18 ppm
28.Quercus rubra L. - Northern Red Oak (Stem) 1.4-17 ppm
29.Zea mays L. - Corn (Seed) 0-14 ppm
30.Hypericum perforatum L. - Common St. Johnswort (Plant) 2-12 ppm
31.Prunus domestica L. - Plum (Fruit) 0.02-11.9 ppm
32.Phaseolus vulgaris L. - Blackbean (Fruit) 0.01-10.5 ppm
33.Cinnamomum sieboldii - Japanese Cinnamon (Root Bark) 9 ppm
34.Vitis vinifera L. - Grape (Fruit) 0.02-9 ppm
35.Vigna unguiculata (L.) WALP. - Cowpea (Seed) 0.4-8.4 ppm
36.Cinnamomum sieboldii - Japanese Cinnamon (Bark) 8 ppm
37.Citrus paradisi MacFAD. - Grapefruit (Fruit) 0.02-7.7 ppm
38.Lactuca sativa L. - Lettuce (Leaf) 0.02-6 ppm
39.Urtica dioica L. - European Nettle (Leaf) 1-6 ppm
40.Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L. - Cabbage (Leaf) 0.002-5.8
ppm
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Tue Jan 14 13:31:58 US/Eastern 1997
Biological Activities of LEAD
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Subject: PRACTICAL- Plants containing tin
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 13:46:22 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
From: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/
Plants Containing TIN
Schisandra chinensis (TURCZ.) BAILL. - Chinese Magnoliavine (Fruit)
940 ppm
Elytrigia repens (L.) NEVSKI - Couchgrass (Plant) 67 ppm
Juniperus communis L. - Common Juniper (Fruit) 63 ppm
Silybum marianum (L.) GAERTN. - Milk Thistle (Plant) 42 ppm
Gentiana lutea L. - Yellow Gentian (Root) 40 ppm
Cypripedium pubescens WILLD. - Ladyslipper (Root) 33 ppm
Rhodymenia palmata - Dulse (Plant) 33 ppm
Althaea officinalis L. - Marshmallow (Root) 29 ppm
Valeriana officinalis L. - Valerian (Root) 28 ppm
Chondrus crispus (L.) STACKH. - Irish Moss (Plant) 27 ppm
Urtica dioica L. - European Nettle (Leaf) 27 ppm
Achillea millefolium L. - Yarrow (Plant) 26 ppm
Berberis vulgaris L. - Barberry (Root) 26 ppm
Cnicus benedictus L. - Blessed Thistle (Plant) 25 ppm
Trifolium pratense L. - Red Clover (Flower) 25 ppm
Fucus vesiculosus L. - Bladderwrack (Plant) 24 ppm
Glycyrrhiza glabra L. - Licorice (Root) 24 ppm
Harpagophytum procumbens DC. - Devil's Claw (Root) 24 ppm
Mentha pulegium L. - European Pennyroyal (Plant) 24 ppm
Rumex crispus L. - Curly Dock (Root) 24 ppm
Cucurbita pepo L. - Pumpkin (Seed) 23 ppm
Humulus lupulus L. - Hops (Fruit) 22 ppm
Myrica cerifera L. - Bayberry (Bark) 22 ppm
Rosa canina L. - Rose (Fruit) 22 ppm
Arctium lappa L. - Gobo (Root) 21 ppm
Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) MICHX. - Blue Cohosh (Root) 21 ppm
Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) BERNH. - Feverfew (Plant) 21 ppm
Plantago psyllium L. - Psyllium (Seed) 21 ppm
Ruscus aculeatus L. - Butcher's Broom (Root) 21 ppm
Dioscorea sp. - Wild Yam (Root) 19 ppm
Smilax spp - Sarsaparilla (Root) 18 ppm
Viburnum opulus L. - Crampbark (Bark) 18 ppm
Viscum album L. - European Mistletoe (Leaf) 18 ppm
Echinacea spp - Coneflower (Root) 17 ppm
Thymus vulgaris L. - Common Thyme (Leaf) 17 ppm
Panax ginseng C. MEYER - Chinese Ginseng (Root) 16 ppm
Ulmus rubra MUHLENB. - Slippery Elm (Bark) 16 ppm
Stevia rebaudiana (BERT.) HEMSL. - Ca-A-E (Leaf) 15 ppm
Equisetum arvense L. - Field Horsetail (Plant) 14 ppm
Larrea tridentata (SESSE & MOC. ex DC.) COV. - Chaparral (Plant) 14
ppm
Crataegus oxycantha L. - Hawthorn (Fruit) 13 ppm
Polygonum multiflorum THUNB. - Chinese Cornbind (Root) 13 ppm
Taraxacum officinale WIGG. - Dandelion (Root) 13 ppm
Zingiber officinale ROSCOE - Ginger (Rhizome) 13 ppm
Centella asiatica (L.) URBAN - Gotu Kola (Leaf) 12 ppm
Hordeum vulgare L. - Barley (Stem) 12 ppm
Juglans nigra L. - Black Walnut (Fruit) 12 ppm
Salix alba L. - White Willow (Bark) 12 ppm
Verbascum thapsus L. - Mullein (Leaf) 12 ppm
Vitis vinifera L. - Grape (Stem) 12 ppm
Agathosma betulina (BERGIUS) PILL. - Buchu (Leaf) 11 ppm
Aloe vera (L.) BURM. f. - Bitter Aloes (Leaf) 11 ppm
Barosma betulina (BERG.) BARTL. & WENDL. f. - Buchu (Leaf) 11 ppm
Ephedra sinica STAPF - Ma Huang (Plant) 11 ppm
Foeniculum vulgare MILLER - Fennel (Fruit) 11 ppm
Hydrangea arborescens L. - Smooth Hydrangea (Root) 11 ppm
Mentha x piperita L. - Peppermint (Leaf) 11 ppm
Nepeta cataria L. - Catnip (Plant) 11 ppm
Turnera diffusa WILLD. - Damiana (Leaf) 11 ppm
Carthamus tinctorius L. - Safflower (Flower) 10 ppm
Chamaemelum nobile (L.) ALL. - Garden Camomile (Flower) 10 ppm
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. - Roselle (Flower) 10 ppm
Prunus persica (L.) BATSCH - Peach (Bark) 9.4 ppm
Hydrastis canadensis L. - Goldenseal (Root) 9.3 ppm
Euphrasia officinalis L. - Eyebright (Plant) 8 ppm
Salvia officinalis L. - Sage (Leaf) 8 ppm
Yucca baccata TORR. - Spanish Bayonet (Root) 8 ppm
Cymbopogon citratus (DC. ex NEES) STAPF - West Indian Lemongrass
(Plant) 7.1 ppm
Lobelia inflata L. - Indian Tobacco (Leaf) 7 ppm
Symphytum officinale L. - Comfrey (Root) 6.7 ppm
Allium sativum L. - Garlic (Bulb) 6 ppm
Avena sativa L. - Oats (Plant) 6 ppm
Rhamnus purshianus DC. - Cascara Sagrada (Bark) 5.1 ppm
Capsicum annuum L. - Bell Pepper (Fruit) 5 ppm
Angelica sinensis (OLIV.) DIELS - Dang Gui (Root) 4 ppm
Trigonella foenum-graecum L. - Fenugreek (Seed) 4 ppm
Tabebuia heptaphylla (VELL.) TOLEDO - Pau D'Arco (Bark) 3.7 ppm
Bertholletia excelsa HUMB. & BONPL. - Brazilnut (Seed) 3.5 ppm
Citrus paradisi MacFAD. - Grapefruit (Fruit) 0.66-3.3 ppm
Carya ovata (MILL.) K. KOCH - Shagbark Hickory (Seed) 3.2 ppm
Daucus carota L. - Carrot (Root) 0-3 ppm
Beta vulgaris L. - Beet (Root) 0.8-2.8 ppm
Corylus avellana L. - English Filbert (Seed) 2.7 ppm
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus MOENCH. - Buckbush (Stem) 0.5-2.6 ppm
Quercus alba L. - White Oak (Bark) 2.2 ppm
Carya illinoensis (WANGENH.) K. KOCH - Pecan (Seed) 1.8 ppm
Zea mays L. - Corn (Seed) 1-1.8 ppm
Juglans nigra L. - Black Walnut (Seed) 1.7 ppm
Cocos nucifera L. - Coconut (Seed) 1.5 ppm
Scutellaria lateriflora L. - Maddog Skullcap (Plant) 1.2 ppm
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Tue Jan 14 13:44:51 US/Eastern 1997
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Plants containing iron
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 13:50:01 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
From; http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/
Plants Containing IRON
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Tue Jan 14 13:48:58 US/Eastern 1997
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Plants containing gold (none)
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 13:54:45 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Tue Jan 14 13:52:51 US/Eastern 1997
Biological Activities of GOLD
Antiarthritic ; Antiulcer MAR; Nephrotoxic ;
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Plants containing copper
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 13:57:32 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
From: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/
Plants Containing COPPER
1.Prunus serotina EHRH. - Black Cherry (Stem) 1.3-378 ppm
2.Liquidambar styraciflua L. - American Styrax (Stem) 0.6-360 ppm
3.Nyssa sylvatica MARSHALL - Black Gum (Leaf) 1.25-182 ppm
4.Liquidambar styraciflua L. - American Styrax (Leaf) 2.8-164 ppm
5.Symphoricarpos orbiculatus MOENCH. - Buckbush (Stem) 3.8-132
ppm
6.Diospyros virginiana L. - American Persimmon (Stem) 0.2-108 ppm
7.Sassafras albidum (NUTT.) NEES - Sassafras (Leaf) 1.6-102 ppm
8.Lycopersicon esculentum MILLER - Tomato (Fruit) 0.4-100 ppm
9.Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L. - Cabbage (Leaf) 0.3-87 ppm
10.Corylus avellana L. - English Filbert (Seed) 13-82 ppm
11.Sassafras albidum (NUTT.) NEES - Sassafras (Stem) 0.2-56 ppm
12.Sesamum indicum L. - Sesame (Plant) 14-56 ppm
13.Carya glabra (MILLER) SWEET - Pignut Hickory (Shoot) 0.9-55 ppm
14.Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L. - Broccoli (Leaf) 0.68-52 ppm
15.Carya ovata (MILL.) K. KOCH - Shagbark Hickory (Shoot) 1.25-45 ppm
16.Phaseolus vulgaris L. - Blackbean (Fruit) 0.62-45 ppm
17.Brassica oleracea L. - Collards (Leaf) 2-43 ppm
18.Cucumis sativus L. - Cucumber (Fruit) 0.3-42 ppm
19.Quercus stellata WANGENH. - Post Oak (Stem) 1.2-42 ppm
20.Anacardium occidentale L. - Cashew (Seed) 22-37 ppm
21.Rosa canina L. - Rose (Fruit) 1.8-36 ppm
22.Eupatorium odoratum L. - Jack na bush (Leaf) 35 ppm
23.Rhizophora mangle L. - Red Mangrove (Leaf) 35 ppm
24.Prunus domestica L. - Plum (Fruit) 0.33-34 ppm
25.Cocos nucifera L. - Coconut (Seed) 3.2-33 ppm
26.Pistacia vera L. - Pistachio (Seed) 11-33 ppm
27.Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. - Asparagus Pea (Seed) 28-33 ppm
28.Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.IRWIN & BARNEBY - Sicklepod (Seed) 9-32 ppm
29.Nyssa sylvatica MARSHALL - Black Gum (Stem) 0.3-31 ppm
30.Quercus velutina LAM. - Black Oak (Stem) 1.5-31 ppm
31.Cucurbita maxima DUCH. - Pumpkin (Leaf) 4.2-30 ppm
32.Helianthus tuberosus L. - Jerusalem Artichoke (Plant) 8-30 ppm
33.Momordica charantia L. - Bitter Melon (Fruit) 30 ppm
34.Prunus persica (L.) BATSCH - Peach (Fruit) 0.3-30 ppm
35.Rhus copallina L. - Dwarf Sumac (Stem) 1.8-30 ppm
36.Rumex acetosa L. - Garden Sorrel (Leaf) 3-30 ppm
37.Arctium lappa L. - Gobo (Root) 29 ppm
38.Lactuca sativa L. - Lettuce (Leaf) 0.36-29 ppm
39.Prunus serotina EHRH. - Black Cherry (Leaf) 0.8-29 ppm
40.Quercus phellos L. - Willow Oak (Stem) 1-29 ppm
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Tue Jan 14 13:53:58 US/Eastern 1997
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Plants containing mercury (Hg)
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 14:00:25 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Tue Jan 14 13:57:08 US/Eastern 1997
Biological Activities of MERCURY
Nephrotoxic PAM;
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Plants containing silver
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 14:02:20 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
From; http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/
Plants Containing SILVER
1.Lycopersicon esculentum MILLER - Tomato (Fruit) 0-1.4 ppm
2.Quercus rubra L. - Northern Red Oak (Stem) 0-1.32 ppm
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Tue Jan 14 13:59:20 US/Eastern 1997
Biological Activities of SILVER
Astringent ; Bactericide MAR; Pesticide ;
Phytochemeco Database - USDA - ARS - NGRL
Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke
The USDA does not recommend self diagnosis or self medication.
Please see the disclaimer for more information.
Subject: PRACTICAL - Plants containing planetary metals
From: Leonid M. Kokun
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 97 22:08:05 +0300
In cases when metals or other elements should be introduced into the human
organism via plants, they can be added in appropriate proportion to the soil
on which the plants are grown. For example, the anthroposophic substance
CUPRUM PER CHAMOMILLA signifies the plant Matricaria chamomilla L.
grown on soil enriched with copper.
The content of (micro)physiological components in plants depends, among
other things, on the country where the plant has grown; a well knowm example
are the qualitative (!) differences in contents of alkaloids between specimens
of Erythroxylon coca Lamk. grown in South America and in Indonesia,
respectively. Precise figures have sense only for specimens grown in identical
conditions.
And this is the rationale why many ancient prescriptions instruct to use
remedy components of particular provenance (e.g., "Cilician myrrh", and no
other brand of myrrh for a given purpose).
Leo Kokun
Subject: PRACTICAL: High-temperature distillation
Date: 25 Jan 97 20:07:54 EST
From: Beat Krummenacher
The alchemists often used acids and bases in their preparatory work, which
they have gained from natural sources. For the preparation of the oil of vitriol
they dryly distilled sulphates, they gained the spirit of salt from a mixture of
chlorides and sulphates or chlorides and sulphuric acid etc.
The problem in such distillations is the necessary high temperature. Today
we own good furnaces, with their help the high temperatures are easily are
reached and can be maintained steadily. Against it we have today another
urgent problem: Which vessels can be used for such distillations?
If the maximum temperature totals about 500 degrees Celsius, laboratory glass
can be used. If one must distill at higher temperatures, metallic vessels or
such from stoneware, ceramics or porcelain, suit. Relating to this I have a
question: Has anyone already have gathered experience with high-temperature
distillations from ceramic retorts? I plan such distillations, and I would be
pleased, if somebody tells about their experiences.
Kind regards
Beat Krummenacher
Subject: PRACTICAL: High-temperature distillation
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 16:42:33 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Beat Krummenacher wrote:
>Has anyone already have gathered experience with high-temperature
>distillations from ceramic retorts? I plan such distillations, and I would
>be pleased, if somebody tells about their experiences"
I have worked with vessels made from clay, both ceramic and assay
crucible high temp clay. In your part of the world, Solazaref
(France) used to make and sell excellent examples of such. However I
am trying not to use them all; making these preparations is hard on the
equipment.
I have found it necessary to learn the art of pottery; this takes some time.
In the mean time, I am using Glaubers method; for each operation, make
an LPN type furnace out of inexpensive high temp concrete with a grate
on the bottom; place coals and light, or heat the bottom with a torch, or
use a large assay crucible, cover the whole thing with a clay helmet and
direct the distillate in such a fashion that it is properly cooled and
collected. Please note that the ancients also added "pebbles" (silica).
Blessings,
Gilbert
Subject: PRACTICAL: High-temperature distillation
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 11:52:27 -0500 (EST)
From: J F Ruther
Hello,
What you wrote was very intersting, but I have still one question. Can you
give me a hint what << an LPN type furnace >> is?
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
J. R.
Subject: PRACTICAL - High temperature distillation
Date: 28 Jan 97 19:05:54 EST
From: Beat Krummenacher
Dear Gilbert,
Thank you very much for your statements. Today I already make my
crucibles and shells personally. Once one governs the technology, these
commodities can be manufactured simply and cheaply. Willy nilly I will
presumably have to manufacture the corresponding retorts and flasks from ceramic materials likewise personally.
As alternative to the action following Glauber mentioned by you is worth
considering. How do you arrange things, that the aggressive vapors do not
escape from the instruments?
Kind regards
Beat
Subject: PRACTICAL - High temperature distillation
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 11:01:43 -0500
From: Gilbert Arnold
Dear Beat,
You may want to obtain the book "Chemical Technology 1872"
(http://www.keynet.net/~lindsay/secrets/) by Wagner published by
Lindsay publications (http://www.keynet.net/~lindsay/). Some of
Solazaref's illustrations resemble Wagner's. I seem to recall that this
book was either translated into German or was originally written in
German. It also contains a wealth of information concerning clays, lutes,
beermaking etc... This book contains diagrams that will show you how to
manage the vapors. Sometimes this is done by a series of interlinked
and cooled recipients, sometimes by bubbling. I usually adopt the spoon
by spoon approach to these types of distillation. I usually lute in the
Ayurvedic fashion, by using cotton soaked in fireclay.
Some versions of Glauber's writings have diagrams of his equipment. I
have never seen these diagrams. Another fairly good book is the Art of
Distillation by John French.
J F Ruther asked about the LPN Furnace. Diagrams of this are
probably available from PON. It is a propane gas crucible furnace.
Lindsay also carries books about gas crucible furnaces. Remember to
check if you need oxidising or non oxidising heat.
Dry distillation should be done slowly; for example, a well conducted
distillation of tartar shoul produce no smoke at the exit tubes after the
condensers.
Blessings,
+Gilbert
Lindsay also carries 'De Re Metallica' by Agricola; it is also handy to
consult modern chemical technology and engineering books.
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