A New Light of Alchemy

2In plants, seeds appear outside; the kidneys of their digestion are warm air. In animals, seed appears within and without; the kidneys of its digestion are the man’s kidneys. In minerals, water is the seed at the centre of their heart and life; the kidneys of its digestion are fire. The receptacle of vegetable seed is earth. The receptacle of animal seed is the female’s womb. The receptacle of the watery mineral seed is air. These are the receptacles of seeds, which serve the congealing of bodies. Digestion is dissolution; putrefaction is destruction. The power of every seed is to join itself to each thing within its own kingdom, because it is subtle and nothing but air, congealed in water through fatness. It is recognised in this way: it does not naturally mix itself with anything outside its kingdom. It is congealed rather than dissolved, because it needs congealing, not dissolution. The pores of bodies must therefore be opened so that sperm may be emitted. At its centre lies the seed, which is air. When this reaches the proper womb, it congeals and congeals whatever it finds, whether pure or impure mixed with pure.