Sylvia Rose
Alchemy Tria Prima of Paracelsus: Three Primes
The Three Primes or tria prima of alchemy come from renegade Renaissance physician Paracelsus. The tria prima are salt , sulfur and...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 215 min read
Chrysopoeia - Turning Lead into Gold
Chrysopoeia is Greek for "goldsmithing." It's the alchemical process or action of turning a base metal such as lead into the noble metal...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 124 min read
Ruby, Rubies: Passion, Blood and Fire
Ruby is one of the five cardinal gems, together with diamond, amethyst, sapphire and emerald. From bright pink to deep blood red,...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 125 min read
Baltic Amber in Folklore and Myth
Amber mythology, amber origin legends, magic and folklore include the undersea castle of Baltic lore, and the death of Phaëton, son of...
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Sylvia Rose
May 316 min read
Vermilion - Scarlet Pigment of Death
Vermilion (vermillion) is a brilliant red, orange-red or scarlet pigment obtained by grinding cinnabar (HgS), a sulfur and mercury ore. A...
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Sylvia Rose
May 306 min read
Cinnabar (Mercury Sulfide) Red Death
Cinnabar or mercury sulfide (HgS) is a rock composed of mercury (Hg) and sulfur (S). Historically it's used to make vermillion or scarlet...
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Sylvia Rose
May 257 min read
Cypriot Copper & Ancient Cyprus
The mining industry of Cyprus dates back to c. 4000 BCE, primarily focused on copper extraction. Cyprus derives its name from Kúpros, the...
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Sylvia Rose
May 174 min read
Baltic Aetsi & the Roman Amber Texts
The Aetsi are a north Germanic-Baltic group described by Roman Tacitus in 98 CE. With strong connections to the trade of coveted amber,...
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Sylvia Rose
May 95 min read
Electrum: Metal of Money & Myth
Electrum is a natural alloy of silver and gold . In the ancient world, electrum is a metal of superior value due to its hardness and...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 157 min read
Verdigris: Coveted Blue Green Copper Pigment
Verdigris is the green rust or patina on copper, created as the metal reacts with oxygen in the environment. Copper corrodes green to...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 138 min read
Çayönü Tepesi: Blood of the Earth
Çayönü Tepesi (Cayonu) is a Neolithic settlement in SE Turkey. From c. 8630-6800 BCE it's a site of innovation, agriculture and human...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 35 min read
Limonite: Ancient Earth Pigments
Limonite is an iron earth mineraloid among the first colors of the Stone Age palette. Grinding limonite produces yellow ochre. Other...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 15, 20233 min read
Carnelian - Sunny Gems of the Ancient World
Carnelian (early: cornelean ) is already used in the Stone Age to make beads. Pebbles of the reddish orange gemstone might be polished by...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 13, 20235 min read
Jade - Jadeite, Nephrite & Jade Roads
Nephrite jade is the foremost commodity to travel along the Pacific Coasts of the East. The seaway route is the original Jade Road named...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 12, 20233 min read
Hattusa Green Stone - Mystic Secrets
Myth and mystery surround the natural green cube of nephrite found at Hattusa. A Bronze Age capital of the Hatti and Hittite Empires,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 7, 20235 min read
Spiritual Alchemy: Key Elements to Growth
Spiritual alchemy uses the principles of alchemy to achieve harmony and fulfillment in life. Alchemy incorporates shapes, symbols,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 27, 20234 min read
Spiritual Alchemy: Touching the Divine
Spiritual alchemy uses the power of nature, psychology and metaphysical processes of alchemy to transcend the limitations of the mortal...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 26, 20234 min read
Amber Trade - Bronze Age on the Baltic
During the late Bronze Age 2000 - 1200 BCE and after, the Amber Roads form passage for trade, merchants, craftspeople, criminals,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 26, 20233 min read
Phosphorus: Element of Fatal Fascination
Phosphorus is the first element not known since ancient times. This glowing substance is discovered by German alchemist Hennig Brand in...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 25, 20232 min read
What is the Philosopher's Stone?
The Philosopher's Stone (latin: lapis philosophorum ) conjures elements of primal lore and eternal powers. In history and legend,...
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