Gold & Alchemy, Apples to Stop Atalanta
1 Is it true that calcined gold was also used to fix the Mercurius?
True. For those who do not know what the “fixation of Mercurius” is, go and see First-Preparatory Works, Eagle Wings or Volatilization. In short, the product of at least seven volatilizations is called Mercurius, but it is generally so unstable and unmanageable that it must be “stabilized” in some way.
2 Michael Maier even made a cover of it for his Emblemata Nova de Secretis Naturae Chymica, 1618…
The goddess Atalanta only thinks about running and is uncatchable, just like Mercurius. To stop her, young Hyppomenes drops golden apples along the way. Atalanta will stop to pick them up, stopping her “elusive volatility”.
3 Is it just out of boredom that Atalanta stops to pick the golden apples?
No. Atalanta does not stop because of boredom, but because of the insatiable thirst caused by her breathless race. The juicy golden apples will quench her thirst.
4 Atalanta could drink anything along the way, why “golden apples”?
Nothing quenches Atalanta’s thirst like golden apples. She, who is one of the hunting goddesses of Olympus, and therefore mercurial par excellence, is greedy for golden apples. Like Mercurius, she is greedy for gold.
5 Is it true that alchemical symbolism is so full of operational meanings that Atalanta, in addition to herself, represents the entire process?
Atalanta is the Mercurius, but also represents gold’s thirst for Atalanta. The calcined gold is dry and “drinks” the mercurial water represented by Atalanta. For more information see First-Preparatory Works, Eagle Wings or Volatilization.
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- Smelting Metals in the Service of the Sanctuary
- Alchemy & Light, Introduction
- Alchemy & Light, Known Authors
- Alchemy and Modern Physics Particles
- Palingenesis, Seeds in the Wind
- Doubles, Resonances, Unions, Seeds, Embryos, Births, and Processions
- Flow and Reflux
- Solar Alchemy
- Planets, Bells
- Lunar Alchemy
- Stellar Alchemy, the Aerial Ropes
- Stellar Alchemy, the Signatures Palace
- Air Alchemy, the Dust
- Air Alchemy, the Fabric
- Water Alchemy
- Fire Alchemy
- Earth Alchemy
- The Four Alchemical Elements
- The Subtlety of the Exact Proportions
- Alchemical Timing & Astronomical Code
- Differences between Alchemy and Spagyrics
- Concordances and Differences between Alchemy and Ancient Ordinary Chemistry
- The Enigma of the Three Salts, i.e. the Alchemical Physis
- Before Preparatory Work, Spiritus Mundi
- Before Preparatory Work, Magnetization
- First-Preparatory Works, Introduction
- First-Preparatory Works, Eagle Wings or Volatilization
- Second-Main Work
- Third Work
- Concordances and Differences between the Humid and Dry Path
- Gold & Alchemy, or Adorn with a Star Ray
- Gold & Alchemy, Apples to Stop Atalanta
- Gold & Alchemy, Potable Gold
- Alchemy Resounds
- What is the Philosophers Stone?
- The Genesis on a Small Scale
- Transmutation of Metals
- Alchemy and Electricity
- Short Art Ars Brevis
- Inner Alchemy