Sylvia Rose
Sophie Brahe Writer, Alchemist & Astronomer
Sophie Brahe (1556 - 1643) is born into a noble Danish family. Sister of astronomer Tycho Brahe, Sophie is destined for greatness. She...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 45 min read
Valerian: Natural Health & Essential Oils
Valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ) is known for its calming properties. It's a prominent plant in natural health and herbal medicine....
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 43 min read
Fermentation: Yeast & the Active Microworld
Fermentation is among the oldest of alchemical processes. It's used intentionally by c. 8000 BCE to create honey mead, a blend of...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 35 min read
Ethyl Alcohol: Science of Solvents & Booze
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the primary ingredient in alcoholic beverages. A clear, colorless liquid, it has a chemical formula of...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 36 min read
Cleopatra the Divine & the Book of Comarius
Cleopatra the alchemist is active in Alexandria, Egypt c. 300 AD. She may be contemporary to Zosimos , who mentions her in his writings....
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 22 min read
Red & White Tartar: Wine Salts of Alchemy
Red and white tartar are ingredients used by ancients and yet today. Alchemists have great interest in salts, waters, spirits and...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 15 min read
Chemistry of Rust: Minerals & Pigment Colors
Rust, the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel due to exposure to oxygen and moisture is a fascinating display of chemistry....
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 305 min read
Chalcedony Gems: Secrets of Silicon Dioxide
Silicon dioxide (SiO₂), or silica, holds fascinating secrets within its molecular structure. It's one of the most abundant minerals found...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 305 min read
Carbuncle: Red Stone of Magic & Medicine
Carbuncle has many meanings. Today it most often describes a deep red almandine garnet gemstone cut with a smooth, convex face or...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 294 min read
Hydrogen Peroxide: Chemistry, Production, Risks
Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) is one of the most versatile chemicals today due to powerful oxidizing properties and a wide range of...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 293 min read
Natural Iron Oxide Pigments: Extraction, Types & Colors
Iron oxides create beautiful pigments in colors from warm yellow and orange to deep reds, brown, black and even green. Besides industry...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 283 min read
Litharge: Toxic Lead Mineral of Science & Art
Litharge (PbO) is a lead oxide mineral with an alpha and beta structure. It's among the most prominent of the lead oxides known due to...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 273 min read
Steam Distilling Floral & Herbal Essential Oils
Distilling essential oil can be used for aromatherapy, in cuisine, beauty, healing or to set a mood. Here's the methodology to capture...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 264 min read
Johann Glauber: Fulminating Gold & Sodium Sulfate
Johann Rudolf Glauber is a German-Dutch polymath who revolutionizes the scientific world with groundbreaking discoveries and innovative...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 246 min read
Platinum (Pt): Junk Metal to Pure Treasure
Platinum (Pt) is one of the most treasured metals in the world. Known for its durability, rarity and luster, platinum is a symbol of...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 234 min read
Corundum: Secrets of Valuable Gemstones
Corundum is a mineral composed of aluminum oxide. Living deep within the Earth in an environment of intense heat and pressure, the...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 234 min read
Making Sapphire & other Precious Gemstones
Synthetic sapphires and lab-grown gemstones mimic the brilliance and allure of natural gems while often surpassing them in quality and...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 224 min read
Alchemy & Prague: Countess Barbara von Zweibrücken-Neuburg
Barbara von Zweibrücken-Neuburg (1559 - 1618) is described as a striking personality. Intelligent, charismatic and formidable of will,...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 224 min read
Indigo: Extract Dye from Indigofera Tinctoria
Indigo, deep blue dye from the Indigofera tinctoria plant, often associated with blue denim, is one of humanity's oldest dyes. The...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 223 min read
Alchemy: Ancient Mordant Recipes for Fabric & Stones
Alchemy of the ancients includes skills such as preparation of dyes, pigments and mordants for fabric and stone. Purple dyes are...
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