Sylvia Rose
Secrets of Aqua Vitae in Alchemical Science
Aqua Vitae literally means Water of Life in Latin. It's also called Elixir Vitae or Elixir of Life. Alchemists from ancient Alexandria...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 185 min read
5 Waters of Ancient Alchemy: Aqua Caustic
The Waters of Alchemy are ravenous acids, miraculous solvents and corrosive fluids vital to alchemical process. Not for children ....
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 176 min read
10 Alchemical Metals - Ancient Metals of Alchemy
Ten metals are used in alchemy since its ancient emergence. They are antimony, bismuth, copper, gold, iron, lead, quicksilver (mercury),...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 175 min read
Alchemical Salt: Essential Salts of Alchemy
Salts are ubiquitous in nature and play critical roles in sciences from biology to medicine. In alchemy, salts are standard ingredients....
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 164 min read
Paracelsus: Renegade Renaissance Physician
Renegade physician Paracelsus is one of the most dramatic figures of the European Renaissance. Doctor, alchemist, astrologer,...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 163 min read
The Alembic: Essential Alchemy Equipment
The alembic is an essential alchemical tool. It functions like a retort, which in lead, iron or copper form has been used through...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 164 min read
Literature: Great Literary Patrons in History
Benefactors of literature cultivate intellectual centers of creativity and innovation. Here are five powerful historical patrons whose...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 167 min read
The Pseudos: Underground Alchemy Writers
Who said that? Pseudos are writers whose work is falsely attributed to a major figure. The real writer can be one or more. Many share...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 155 min read
Finding the Philosophers' Egg
Atomic theory first appears in the 5th century BCE. Later examination notes the atom is much like an egg. Atoms have an extremely small,...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 154 min read
Arnaldus de Villanova: Medieval Alchemist
Arnaldus de Villanova (1240 - 1311) is a prominent figure of medieval alchemy, literature and medicine. He comes from Spain, studies at...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 155 min read
White Herb of Maria: Ancient Alchemy Secrets
Maria or Mary the Jewess c. 100 AD is considered the first true alchemist. In her works she mentions a clear white herb growing on small...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 144 min read
Diplosis: Gold Doubling & Multiplication in Alchemy
Displosis is the ancient practice of doubling gold. It's considered to be a skill of alchemists and early metal workers as well. If done...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 143 min read
Ancient Greek Alchemy: ios and iosis
Iosis and ios relate to the final stage of the the alchemical process, or rubedo in Latin. It can be called the reddening or purpling....
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 143 min read
Basil Valentine: Secrets of Medieval Alchemy
Basil Valentine or Basilius Valentinus is an enigmatic medieval Benedictine monk of Germany. It's thought to be a pseudonym, although the...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 137 min read
Divine Water: Sulfuric Acid in Alchemy
Divine Water, oil of vitriol or sulfuric acid, scientifically denoted H₂SO₄, is commonly used in alchemy experiments. A mineral acid, it...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 134 min read
Zinc (Zn): Essential Metal in Alchemy & Medicine
Zinc (Zn) is an essential metal of life and one of the four components in the Tetrasomia of Maria in alchemy. The 30th element on the...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 125 min read
Living Metals & Genders in Ancient Alchemy
The Alexandrian alchemists, as philosophers of nature steeped in Greco-Egyptian thinking, define the properties of metals as living...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 123 min read
Galls & Gall Nuts: Black Ink, Dye, Medicine
Galls and gall nuts are growths on plants, particularly oak trees, used for a number of purposes throughout history. They form due to...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 124 min read
Gold-Making of Maria: Tetrasomia Four Metals
Known as the first true alchemist, Mary or Maria the Jewess is active in Alexandria c. 100 AD. Her work survives through commentaries...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 114 min read
Eirenaeus Philalethes: Alchemy & Death in Renaissance London
Eirenaeus Philalethes is a pseudonym of London alchemist George Starkey (1628 - 1665). It turns out he needs one. Financially he...
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