Of Natural and Supernatural Things / Also of the first Tincture, Root, and Spirit of Metals and Minerals, how the same are Conceived, Generated, Brought forth, Changed, and Augmented.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26340

Title

Of Natural and Supernatural Things / Also of the first Tincture, Root, and Spirit of Metals and Minerals, how the same are Conceived, Generated, Brought forth, Changed, and Augmented.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Basilius Valentinus explores the mystical union of natural and supernatural forces in alchemy, arguing that true healing and transmutation require spiritual faith alongside physical art. This 1671 text blends theological discourse with practical instructions for creating the philosopher's stone, aiming to cure diseases and perfect metals through divine grace and disciplined labor.

Summary up to 500 words

In his 1671 alchemical treatise *Of Natural and Supernatural Things*, Benedictine monk Basilius Valentinus delineates the profound distinction between the tangible, natural world and the invisible, supernatural realm governed by divine will. Valentinus posits that while nature handles the visible, the supernatural—encompassing angels, miracles, and spiritual essences—drives true transformation. He asserts that metals and minerals are spiritually conceived by celestial influences, much like human conception, requiring a separation of the soul from the body to unlock their living power. The text serves as both a theological meditation and a manual for the Great Work. Valentinus details the preparation of tinctures for specific metals: the fiery spirit of Gold, the cool, watery spirit of Silver (Luna), and the balanced spirit of Tin (Jupiter). He uses the analogy of flax processing to explain how the 'last matter' (impure, degraded forms like paper or ash) reveals the 'first matter' (the pure, spiritual essence) through purification and distillation. The central goal is the creation of the Philosopher's Stone, described as a red, wax-like substance capable of transmuting base metals into gold and curing all human diseases, from leprosy to consumption. Valentinus provides step-by-step recipes involving the rectification of spirits, the use of vinegar and mercury, and the precise management of fire to achieve the 'perfect redness.' He emphasizes that this work is a divine gift, accessible only to those free from deadly sin and dedicated to God's glory. The text concludes with instructions on using the stone to purify the body, expel evil humors through sweating and purging, and achieve a state of spiritual perfection, warning that misuse or lack of piety will lead to disaster and damnation. Valentinus argues that the Great Work is a union of the microcosm and macrocosm, where the spiritual operates upon the natural to restore health and spiritual perfection.

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Categories

• Medicine
• Alchemy