Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

“Elixir” must possess the activity of a “nascent” substance, just as “nascent” hydrogen combines with arsenic (in “Marsh’s test”) when the ordinary form of the gas is inert. Again, oxygen satisfied by sodium or diluted by nitrogen will not attack combustible materials with the vehemence proper to the pure gas. We may summarize this thesis by sayîng that Àlcîiemy includes as many possible operations as tliere are original ideas inberent in nature. Alchemy resembles évocation in its sélection of appropriate material bases for the manifestation of the Will5 but differs from it in proceeding without personification, or the intervention of alien planes. 1 It may be more closely compared with Initiation; for the effective element of the Product is of the essence of its own nature, and inhérent therein; the Work similarly consists in isolating it from its accretions. Now just as the Aspirant, on the Threshold of Initiation, finds himself assailed by the “complexes” which hâve corrupted him, their externalization excruciating him, and his agonized réluctance to their élimination plunging him into such ordeals that he seems (both to himself and to others) to hâve turned from a noble and upright man into an unutterable scoundrel ; so does the First Matter blacken and putrefy as the Alchemist breaks up its coagu¬ lations of impurity. The student may work out for himself the varions analogies involved, and discover the “Black Dragon”, the “Green Lion”, the “Lunar Water”, the “Raven’s Head”, and so forth. The indi¬ cations above given should suffice ail who possess aptitude for Alchemical Research. Only one further reflection appears necessary; namely, that the Eucharist, with which this chapter is properly preoccupied, must be conceived as one case — as the critical case — of the Art of the Alchemist. The reader will hâve observed, perhaps with surprise, that The Master Therion describes several types of Eucharist. The reason is that given above; there is no substance incompetent to I. Some alchemists may object to this statement. I prefer to express no final opinion on the matter. — 188