The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE KEY OF THE MYSTERIES the one by the other; that absolute rest is nowhere in uni- versal living matter, but that the fixed attracts the volatile in order to fix it; while the volatile attacks the fixed in order to volatilize it. That the supposed rest of particles apparently fixed, is nothing but a more desperate struggle and a greater tension of their fluidic forces, which by neutralizing each other make themselves immobile. It is thus that, as Hermes says, that which is above is like that which is below; the same force which expands steam, contracts and hardens the icicle; everything obeys the laws of life which are inherent in the original substance; this substance attracts and repels, coagulates itself and dissolves itself, with a constant harmony; it is double; it is androgynous; it embraces itself, and fertilizes itself, it struggles, triumphs, destoys, renews; but never aban- dons itself to inertia, because inertia, for it, would be death. It is this original substance to which the hieratic recital of Genesis refers when the word of the Elohim creates light by commanding it to exist. The Elohim said, ‘Let there be light!” and there was light. This light, whose Hebrew name is Wx, aowr, is the fluidic and living gold of the hermetic philosophy. Its positive principle is their sulphur; its negative principle, their mercury; and its equilibrated principles form what they call their salt. One must then, in place of the sixth aphorism of Mesmer which reads thus: ‘“‘ Matter is indifferent as to whether it is in movement or at rest,” establish this proposition: “The universal matter is compelled to movement by its double magnetization, and its fate is to seek equilibrium.” III