Treatise On The Great Art

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Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Treatise On The Great Art

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

An 18th-century manual blending practical alchemical lab instructions with spiritual commentary on the Magnum Opus. Pernety argues that Hermetic philosophy is a physical science rooted in nature, not mere mysticism, guiding seekers through the transmutation of metals and the spiritual emancipation of man via the Astral Light and innate fire.

Summary up to 500 words

In his *Treatise On The Great Art*, Antoine-Joseph Pernety presents a systematic and methodical approach to Hermetic philosophy, distinguishing true alchemical science from obscure mysticism. Published in the 18th century, the work serves as both a technical guide for laboratory operations and a profound philosophical treatise on the divine principles governing nature. Pernety argues that modern science offers no clue to these ancient truths, which remain the sole path to the Universal Panacea. He posits that Light is a spiritual substance animating matter, while Fire represents its movement. The text details the preparation of the Philosophers' Stone through the union of Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt, utilizing the Athanor furnace and the cyclical processes of Imbibition and Coagulation. Pernety emphasizes that the Art requires immense patience and will-power, inviting the student to recreate the atmosphere of ancient masters to access lost knowledge. He asserts that Hermetism begins with the study of Nature's operations and ends with the knowledge of the Divine Principle. The work warns against relying on modern scientific investigation, which Pernety views as antithetical to the Spagyric Art. Instead, he advocates for a method of Evocation, where the student recreates the intellectual and spiritual atmosphere of a chosen Master to receive their influence. This process involves deep study of the Master's life, works, and habits, allowing the student to become a docile instrument through which the Master's interrupted work can continue. The treatise explores the nature of Light as a vivifying spirit and the Moist Radical as the basis of all beings. It explains that the bond between form and matter is maintained by the union of Innate Fire and Humid Radical. Pernety urges readers to reject preconceived ideas and embrace the absolute reality of the Hermetic tradition, where symbols express the Absolute rather than merely positive or negative propositions. Ultimately, the text stands as a call to restore the integrity of the Lost Science, free from the distortions of pseudo-adepts and the limitations of contemporary chemistry, offering a sure guide through the maze of occult symbols.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Occult
• Hermeticism
• Alchemy