Transmutation of Metals

The name of the saffron powder is Projection Powder, and it is the first degree of ripeness before the achievement of the perfect red (see Third Work).

True, in fact Projection Powder tests whether the amount of Secret Fire/Spiritus Mundi/Seed of Metals is enough for the alchemical child to evolve in Embryo in order to get to the Philosophical Egg. And, yes, the test consists of trying to transmute a melted metal into gold.

That’s exactly how it is, in fact. All the steps of the humid path, once the Mercurius has been obtained, are based on the dissolving abilities of the Mercurius: everything must transform into Mercurius (the philosopher’s egg is only the extreme consequence and final stage). Therefore it is essential to test the qualities of the “main tool”.

A transmutation, even if it perhaps occurs with tin at relatively low temperatures, is comparable to a metallurgical process. In fact, the colors rotation are only noticeable in the humid path, in the dry-metallurgical path there are no peculiar rotations of colors (black-white-red) but screeches and whistles can be heard. In conclusion, the answer to the question is no, the visual situation is not very different from a fusion of the metal to be transmuted, often lead or tin, in the sudden fusion of the incoming metal, that is, gold. A goldsmith knows what I am talking about.

Because in the Projection Powder lies the seed of metals. Alchemists said that Projection Powder was true “seminal gold”.

In Alchemy, after all, the steps are always doubling or “mirroring”. Just like seeds. We know that the work of Mercurius is mostly a work of doublings. See Doubles, Resonances, Unions, Seeds, Embryos, Births, and Processions and Second-Main Work.

Most likely, the transmutation of metals into gold is based on the same principle that would lead to the Philosophers’ Stone, i.e. it would involve unidentified “waves”. Even in modern chemistry, it is said that each element of the Mendeleev scale has a peculiar frequency that depends on the electron cloud. The alchemical mechanism for transmutation could be similar.

Most likely a modern physicist would say that by some strange system the metal to be transmuted has been convinced to “tune in” to the same “waves” as the noble metal. In fact, today we know that every substance has characteristic fundamental frequencies.

Everything that exists emits frequencies, including metals. The idea that by forcing the change of frequencies you can transmute the metal is an idea that has been circulating in the chemical world since at least as long as the power of frequencies was discovered. But that’s easier said than done.

As in Greek mythology where Zeus swallowed to obtain the power of something or someone, also in Alchemy the symbol of “swallow” means “obtain the power of this/become this”.

Because metals are considered very simple bodies, as composed of single “individuals”, that is, they are not a mixture of cells and salts like biological ones.

Obviously the entire process is secret, but in broad terms, just to understand what we are talking about, it was customary to enclose the powder in a paper bag or disperse it in sealing wax and then, after having brought the metal to be transmuted to melting temperature, the paper or sealing tear was sunk in with the help of a stick.

Yes, it’s true.

Lead, but also tin. These were easily available metals. Back at baroque age, tin was very present in kitchen ware and had a melting point that was easily obtainable even by those who did not have professional equipment available.

In theory, antimony, bismuth, zinc, iron. Ironically, the metals most used in Alchemy.

J.Dee’s theory and intention was exactly this. The outcome of the experiment is not known. However, the idea behind it was to intervene on the soul of earthly matter. See Alchemy & Light, Known Authors.

In fact, I think it is logical to think that, if it is true that alchemists considered gold as the first metal created during Genesis, an alchemical transmutation could be seen as “genesis on a small scale”. See also The Genesis on a Small Scale.

Long-term success depended on many factors. A modern physicist would say that probably the “waves” that convinced the common metal to transform into noble metal suddenly weakened and returned to what they were originally. An alchemist would say that the metal transmuted into gold has suddenly lost the “seminal power of gold.” The languages are different, but perhaps the meaning is if not the same at least analogous.

For true alchemists, personal enrichment is prohibited. Their ultimate goal is the Philosophers’ Stone.

Between the end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the eighteenth century, alchemists temporarily lifted the veil of secrecy over the transmutations of metals and invited scientists, doctors, iatrochemists, aristocrats and rulers to assist, and therefore to testify, to true transmutations of metals into gold and silver. We must point out that in that era Alchemy became a real trend in Europe.

True. Alchemists have often attempted to expand their possible audience, and often hid these “baits”, that’s to say ampoules contained a sample of projection powder for transmuting gold or silver metals, in order to bring the sacred science closer to deserving people who lived too far from the closed contexts typical of Alchemy.

Obviously, in almost all cases, those lay people were not able to reconstruct the operational mechanisms that led to the highest degrees.