Comments on: The Four Elements and Metallic Transmutation http://unurthed.com/2007/07/09/the-four-elements-and-metallic-transmutation/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:46:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ellie http://unurthed.com/2007/07/09/the-four-elements-and-metallic-transmutation/comment-page-1/#comment-23892 Ellie Sat, 13 Aug 2011 19:36:45 +0000 http://unurthed.com/?p=119#comment-23892 I think I may not have filled in my email...please get back to me when you get a chance! Thanks I think I may not have filled in my email…please get back to me when you get a chance!

Thanks

]]> By: Ellie http://unurthed.com/2007/07/09/the-four-elements-and-metallic-transmutation/comment-page-1/#comment-23888 Ellie Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:46:42 +0000 http://unurthed.com/?p=119#comment-23888 Hello! I was wondering if you owned the circular image of the sun/moon/mercury or if you know the source and whether I could use it on a small website? Thanks a lot, Ellie Hello! I was wondering if you owned the circular image of the sun/moon/mercury or if you know the source and whether I could use it on a small website?

Thanks a lot,

Ellie

]]> By: Greg Pass http://unurthed.com/2007/07/09/the-four-elements-and-metallic-transmutation/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Greg Pass Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:23:25 +0000 http://unurthed.com/?p=119#comment-66 From Milton's Paradise Lost (b5, l180-185): Air, and ye elements the eldest birth Of nature's womb, that in quaternion run Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix And nourish all things, let your ceaseless change Vary to our great maker still new praise. From Milton’s Paradise Lost (b5, l180-185):

Air, and ye elements the eldest birth
Of nature’s womb, that in quaternion run
Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix
And nourish all things, let your ceaseless change
Vary to our great maker still new praise.

]]> By: Mirco http://unurthed.com/2007/07/09/the-four-elements-and-metallic-transmutation/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Mirco Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:56:59 +0000 http://unurthed.com/?p=119#comment-65 Greg, 1) indeed: the piramid and the counter-piramid of the previous postings are precisely generated by the rotation of the square around the central axis, where the fifth essence hides. The elements are restless... 2) the quinta essentia is EXTRACTED by the practical alchemists, as a result of manipulating the other more tangible four: the elements do come FROM the center, and go back TO the center. In the preface of the First Book of Pantagruel, Francois Rabelais states: Written Many Years Ago by Maitre Alcofribas Extractor of the Fifth, or Celestial, Essence Talking of practical alchemy, there is a good ref online here (only for the Lesser Circulation, aka the Work on Plants): http://www.levity.com/alchemy/johnreid.html Greg,

1) indeed: the piramid and the counter-piramid of the previous postings are precisely generated by the rotation of the square around the central axis, where the fifth essence hides.

The elements are restless…

2) the quinta essentia is EXTRACTED by the practical alchemists, as a result of manipulating the other more tangible four:

the elements do come FROM the center, and go back TO the center.

In the preface of the First Book of Pantagruel, Francois Rabelais states:

Written Many Years Ago by
Maitre Alcofribas
Extractor of the Fifth,
or Celestial, Essence

Talking of practical alchemy, there is a good ref online here (only for the Lesser Circulation, aka the Work on Plants):

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/johnreid.html

]]> By: Greg Pass http://unurthed.com/2007/07/09/the-four-elements-and-metallic-transmutation/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Greg Pass Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:49:04 +0000 http://unurthed.com/?p=119#comment-64 Thanks for your mucronated notes, Mirco. The square in the circle, the circle in the square, as it is said in that practice. Also the polyhedron we've discussed is composed of triangular faces (see Zheng's chapter on the triangle in the circle). As the non-terrestrial, unchangeable fifth element was little employed by "practical" alchemists, I left it out of this one. But "from whence is this & that, if not out of the Center"? Thanks for your mucronated notes, Mirco.

The square in the circle, the circle in the square, as it is said in that practice. Also the polyhedron we’ve discussed is composed of triangular faces (see Zheng’s chapter on the triangle in the circle).

As the non-terrestrial, unchangeable fifth element was little employed by “practical” alchemists, I left it out of this one. But “from whence is this & that, if not out of the Center”?

]]> By: Mirco http://unurthed.com/2007/07/09/the-four-elements-and-metallic-transmutation/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Mirco Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:31:39 +0000 http://unurthed.com/?p=119#comment-63 A couple of notes -en passant-: 1) the four elements are united in the FIFTH, or quinta essentia (see wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_(classical_element)), which is the CENTER of the square. 2) the seasoned taiji practictioner will not fail to recognize a familiar picture: the BA MEN, or eight gates, the eight directions of power. Just like the eight gates are a DYNAMIC diagram, so are the 4 elements + the 4 qualities: they ROTATE forming a circle aound the central axis. Best Mirco A couple of notes -en passant-:

1) the four elements are united in the FIFTH, or quinta essentia (see wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_(classical_element)), which is the CENTER of the square.

2) the seasoned taiji practictioner will not fail to recognize a familiar picture: the BA MEN, or eight gates, the eight directions of power. Just like the eight gates are a DYNAMIC diagram, so are the 4 elements + the 4 qualities: they ROTATE forming a circle aound the central axis.

Best
Mirco

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