The Book of Aquarius: Excerpt

Chapters 3
What is Alchemy?

Nature enjoys its Nature, Nature contains Nature, improves Nature, reduces Nature, Nature is superior to Nature.
A Magnificent and Select Tract on Philosophical Water
by Anonymous, 13th - 17th Cen. (?)
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Alchemy is the art of imitating and accelerating Nature. It is a natural art and science. In alchemy we do not really make anything, all we do is provide a condition for Nature to do what Nature does. So the Philosophers' Stone is not really made by the alchemist, it is made by Nature. The alchemist only provides the conditions so that Nature can operate effectively and without being disturbed.

Many Sages, Scholars, and learned men have in all ages, and (according to Hermes) even so early as the days before the Flood, written much concerning the preparation of the Philosopher's Stone; and if their books could be understood without a knowledge of the living processes of Nature, one might almost say that they are calculated to supersede the study of the real world around us. But though they never departed from the simple ways of Nature, they have something to teach us, which we, in these more sophisticated times, still need to learn, because we have applied ourselves to what are regarded as the more advanced branches of knowledge, and despise the study of so "simple" a thing as natural Generation. Hence we pay more heed to impossible things than to those objects which are broadly exhibited before our very eyes; we excel more in subtle speculations than in a sober study of Nature, and of the meaning of the Sages. It is one of the most remarkable features of human nature that we neglect those things which seem familiar, and are eager for new and strange information. The workman who has attained the highest degree of excellence in his Art, neglects it, and applies himself to something else, or else abuses his knowledge. Our longing for an increase of knowledge urges us ever onward towards some final goal, in which we imagine that we shall find full rest and satisfaction

[...] Nature, then, is one, true, simple, self-contained, created by God and informed with a certain universal spirit. Its end and origin are God. Its unity is also found in God, because God made all things. Nature is the one source of all things: nor is anything in the world outside Nature, or contrary to Nature.

[...] if Art would produce any solid and permanent effect, it must follow in the footsteps of Nature, and be guided by her methods. It must trust itself to the guidance of Nature as far as Nature will lead, and go beyond her by still adhering to her rules.

[...] Now in our Art you should closely imitate these natural processes. There should be the Central Heat, the change of the water into air, the driving upward of the air, its diffusion through the pores of the earth, its reappearance as condensed but volatilized water.

The New Chemical Light, by Michael Sendivogius, 17th Cen.
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Nature, says Florus, is one, and if any man strays away from her guidance, he mars his labour.

[...] In changing the base metals into gold and silver by the projection of the Stone, it follows (by an accelerated process) the method of nature, and therefore is natural.

[...] The fact is that, in producing gold, the Art of Alchemy does not pretend to imitate in the whole work of Nature. It does not create metals, or even develop them out of the metallic first substance; it only takes up the unfinished handiwork of Nature (i.e., the imperfect metals), and completes it (transmutes metals into gold).

The New Pearl of Great Price, by Peter Bonus, 1338 AD
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An alchemist then only makes the Stone in the same way that you make a tree by planting the seed and leaving it for a few years. Once the seed is set, if the conditions are right then it just grows by itself, in accordance with Nature.
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For as Men, Corn and Herbs are, every one of them, generated and born out of their own Specific Seed, so or in the same manner is the true Medicine of the Ancients (than which there cannot be a better) generated and prepared out of the most perfect bodies and essence

[...] Everything generated or begotten is generated and born of his own specific seed (1) and in his proper (2) matrix.

The Chemists Key, by Henry Nollius, 1617 AD
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there is no true generation, but of things agreeing in nature. So that things be not made but according to their natures. The elder or oak trees will not bring forth pears; nor can you gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles, things bring not forth, but only their like, or what agrees with the in nature, each tree its own fruit.

[...] Thus the wise man does that by art in a short time, which nature cannot perform in less than the revolution of a thousand years. Yet notwithstanding, it is not we that make the metal, but nature herself that does it. --- Nor do or can we change one thing into another; but it is nature that changes them. We are no more than mere servants in the work.

The Root of the World, by Roger Bacon, 13th Cen.
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If you are wondering how this leads to the Philosophers' Stone, I will explain it more clearly. The Philosophers' Stone is a natural occurrence of Nature, in fact it is the aim of Nature. Therefore if you can find a substance which is very pure and infused with life-energy, then put it under protected conditions which are advantageous for its natural development, you will allow Nature to take its course in an accelerated manner. When this is complete, Nature will have made for you the Philosophers' Stone. It's very simple and entirely natural, which is the biggest part of the secret.

I will explain again in another way: the Philosophers' Stone is the name of the thing that you get when Nature has finished doing what it does all day long. The Earth and the entire universe is going through this process. If, however, you find a substance already quite well matured by Nature, clean it up, then put it into a closed system, or microcosm, Nature will finish this thing long before it finishes everything else. So you get the result of Nature earlier and can enjoy all its wonderful properties while the rest of the world is still in shit.
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the chemical development of our substance is internal, and caused by the operation of Nature


[...] Our wise Teacher Plato says: "Every husbandman who sows good seed, first chooses a fertile field, ploughs and manures it well, and weeds it of all tares; he also takes care that his own grain is free from every foreign admixture. When he has committed the seed to the ground, he needs moisture, or rain, to decompose the grain, and to raise it to new life. He also requires fire, that is, the warmth of the Sun, to bring it to maturity." The needs of our Art are of an analogous nature. First, you must prepare your seed, i.e., cleanse your Matter from all impurity, by a method which you will find set forth at length in the Dicta of the Sages which I subjoin to this Treatise. Then you must have good soil in which to sow your Mercury and Sun; this earth must first be weeded of all foreign elements if it is to yield a good crop.

The Glory of the World, Or, Table of Paradise, by Anonymous, 1526 AD
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For of this composition, combining as it does the virtues of all things, there may truly be said that in one drop the whole world is present.

Man, the Best and Most Perfect of God's Creatures
by Benedictus Figulus, 1607 AD
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Besides the science of the stone is so sublime and magnificent, that therein almost all Nature and the whole universe of beings is beheld, as in a certain clear looking glass. For it is like a lesser world [...] God wrought out his compacted being of the world by certain harmony and musical proportion alleyed to one another, that which are in the superior world are in the inferior also, but in a terrestrial manner: that which likeness are in the inferiors, may also be seen in the superious, in a celestial manner indeed, and according to the cause. [...] Some Philosophers have compared the work of the stone to the creation of the world. Likewise to the generation of man, and to his naturalness.

Book of the Chemical Art, by Marsilius Ficinus, 15th Cen.
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The inspired Apostle, St Peter, tells us that the Earth and its work shall consume therein, and a new world shall be born, beautiful and good, as is described in the Apocalypse.

An Anonymous Treatise Concerning the Philosopher's Stone
by Anonymous, 12th - 17th Cen. (?)
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The ancient writers call our Stone a microcosm; and there can be no doubt that its composition greatly resembles that of the world in which we live

The Chemical Treatise, Or, The Ordinal of Alchemy
by Thomas Norton, 1477 AD
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To understand aright, how out of this our Chaos we are to form our Philosophical Microcosm, we must first of necessity rightly comprehend the great Mystery and Proceeding in the Creation of the Macrocosm: it being extremely necessary to imitate and use the very same Method in the Creation of our little one, that the Creator of all things has used in the Formation of the great One.

Aphorisms of Urbigerus, by Baro Urbigerus, 1690 AD
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this water cannot be prepared using strange methods in the world, but rather, it can only be prepared using natural means; together with Nature and from nature. These words are bright and clear to those who understand

A Magnificent and Select Tract on Philosophical Water
by Anonymous, 13th - 17th Cen. (?)
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Alchemy is therefore the art of the microcosm and the acceleration of Nature through the microcosm.

There is only one method for the entire work. We only do one thing, and that is to allow Nature to take its course. Admittedly however, we do first clean up our substance and remove what is not needed.
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For the knowledge of this art consisteth not in the multiplicity, or great number of things, but in unity; our stone is but one, the matter is one, and the vessel is one. The government is one, and the disposition is one. The whole art and work thereof is one, and begins in one manner, and in one manner it is finished.

The Root of the World, by Roger Bacon, 13th Cen.
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It is prepared from one substance, with which the art of chemistry is conversant, to which nothing is added, from which nothing is taken away, except that its superfluities are removed.

A Brief Guide to the Celestial Ruby, by Eirenaeus Philalethes, 1694 AD

The Book of Aquarius

http://www.forgottenbooks.org/bookofaquarius

The Book of Aquarius was anonymously emailed into Forgotten Books in March 2011. The book itself is remarkable. In it the anonymous author claims to be making the Philosophers Stone, which he or she claims is a real and physical object capable of turning metals into gold and silver, and making any person who eats it live forever. The author includes a full theory on how the Philosophers Stone works, and includes detailed practical instructions on how to make it youself!

We have given you 4 ways to read the book. You can read the full text online here, or you can download it in PDF format, or a ZIP file containing the original files in RTF format, or you can download an MOBI format ebook to read on your ebook reader (compatible with Kindle). To read the ebook on your Kindle just drop it into the Documents directory with your Kindle attached to your computer.
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You can also read the PDF version at The Konformist:

http://www.konformist.com/2011/bookofaquarius.pdf

The Philosopher Stone

03-24-11
http://www.shout.net/~bigred/cn.html

(Melchizedek Communique, MC032411) An anonymous author claims to be making the Philosopher's Stone. His 129-page manuscript is being evaluated. The manuscript, The Book of Aquarius, is available at no cost at the following link:

http://www.forgottenbooks.org/bookofaquarius/

The Philosopher's Stone, also referred to as the Stone, can be either the White Stone or the Red Stone. Claims the anonymous author, "...for a lasting effect the Stone should be ingested (eaten) daily, else your body and mind will begin deteriorating again. If ingested it will cure all disease, and in higher concentrations will make an old person healthy and fitter than they were even in their youth."

This seems astonishing enough, but the anonymous author goes on to claim, "Taken regularly in high concentration, it will be unnecessary to eat, drink or even breathe. Although these may be done anyway. The body will never grow old."

There have been claims for persons such as Cagliostro that they had lived hundreds of years. Aging baby boomers cherish hopes that they will live much beyond the Biblically-alloted 3-score and 10 years. But the anonymous author here seems to be saying that through the Philosopher's Stone one need never die!

In 2005, authors Philip Gardiner and Gary Osborn published their book, The Serpent Grail (London: Watkins Publishing, 2005). Gardiner and Osborn had discovered "mounting evidence" supporting their theory that the Elixir of Life, the Philosopher's Stone, and the Holy Grail not only were more than stories but "worked in precisely the way described in ancient myths and legends." But Masters of the Craft used metaphors to hide the true facts about the Grail.

Serpent cults appear to have once been worldwide. For example the serpent mound in Ohio bears witness to a long-ago snake worship. The island of Rhodes, said to have once "swarmed with snakes," in fact once swarmed with snake followers. Quetzalcoatl was the plumed serpent god of Central America. Ailing like King Arthur, he sailed away on a barge but promised to return as the "once and future king." Serpent worship was once common in Ireland until Christianity’s dominance systematically wiped it out.

When Jesus promised "eternal life" He may have meant more than an after-life in the Beyond. What secrets did He learn from Egypt during His years there? The Bible is notably silent on those years. Jesus may have been a "snake handler," similar to how some Appalachian religions also involve snake handling. Various saviours have offered "eternal life." This may have a medicinal meaning besides a spiritual one. Aesculapius, said to have been a man-god, knew how to revive the dying (and even the dead) by using the blood or venom of a snake. The Rod of Aesculapius features one twining snake. The Caduceus, emblem of modern medicine, includes two twining snakes.

The Naasenes, a sect which flourished ca. 110-140 AD, were the Nazar, the Guardians, associated with the serpent. "Nazar" also links with the Nazarenes. There was no city of Nazareth, and Jesus of Nazareth translates as Guardian of the Serpent. Trained by the Therapeutae in Egypt, Jesus was known as the "Son of the Serpent." ("I am the Lizard King." -- Jim Morrison) The "wine and gall" offered to Jesus at the crucifixion was blood and snake venom, meant to strengthen the Lord. Nicodemus applied aloes and myrrh to the body of Jesus in the tomb to expel the surplus poison. Jesus left behind his shroud in the tomb, like a snake shedding its skin, when He "rose from the dead." The Turin Shroud symbolizes the "sloughed skin" of the Lizard (Wizard) King.

The Grail is associated with the Holy Ghost. It occupies a crucial mid-point between positive and negative cycles, called the zero point. Consider a sine wave. It undulates like a snake, going above and below an arbitrary line. At the point where the wave crosses the line, opposites are momentarily united or canceled out. Since the point has no dimension, it both does and does not exist. The zero point represents eternity, sexual fusion, and annihilation of mundane consciousness. At that point where opposites are in balance, a portal opens between Heaven and Earth and the Holy Ghost is seen. The Grail Castle represents that portal. Stonehenge, the "Revolving Castle," may have hosted Grail mixing bowl ceremonies. Avebury, near Stonehenge, is believed to have been a "Serpent Temple." Avelon, to which destination Arthur, the Wounded King, finally went, seems to have been Avebury.

The Grail, according to Wolfram von Eschenbach's account (Parzifal), is a stone brought from Heaven to Earth by the Neutral Angels. Those angels did not take sides in the battle between God and Lucifer. The Neutral Angels may also be "The Watchers" a.k.a. the "Nephilim." In Ireland they were called the Tuatha de Danaan, "Shining Ones" and early inhabitants of Eire. St. Patrick did not chase the snakes out of Ireland, he chased the Tuatha de Danaan from the land. Knightly battles with dragons also echo the theme. The Tuatha de Danaan brought four items with them into Ireland: the Sword of Lugh; a magic spear; the round Stone of Destiny; and the cauldron of their god Dagda. (Swords, Wands, Disks, Cups, of the Tarot deck; a.k.a. Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, and Hearts, of the playing card deck.)

The Elixir of Life is mixed in the Grail. Snake venom and snake blood are said to be the two ingredients. The blood, besides making the venom harmless, yielded a powerful medicine, it is said. That medicine, if Gardiner and Osborn's theory is correct, cured diseases and even extended life. The Phoenix which rises from the ashes is paralleled by the Dove (Holy Ghost) which visited the Grail Castle once a year, on Good Friday. This day is in other words the Vernal Equinox, a zero point on the sine wave (snake wave) and having potency as opening a portal between Heaven and Earth. Extremes of the sine wave occur at the Winter and Summer Solstices.

In the 19th century, "snake oil" was peddled. Mostly, no actual snake oil was contained. Real snake oil was praised and said to be beneficial to health. It is known that American Indians used snake oil for various health problems. Modern medicine has been cautiously examining health products derived from snakes. In 2008, a mass mailing for a then-new magazine, "Science Illustrated," included the following: "Snake Venom: It's a tremendously deadly weapon, refined over the course of more than 100 million years. It kills tens of thousands of people every year. And thanks to new research, it may soon be the basis for cures that save the lives of many more." Various dilutions of snake venom are now being tried for pain relief, hypertension, and as an anti-coagulant. Products of snake venom may even dramatically boost the immune system. For the ancient, vanished people of the Grail, dilution of snake venom with the snake's own blood, which apparently contains an anti-venom, may have been an effective cure-all.

Is this the Philosopher's Stone sought by the anonymous author? His manuscript is still being evaluated by Melchizedek Communique. (Note: This editor speaks as a layman and no medical advice is being offered.)