Candida Phoenix Philosophica

Passages: I.034.1; II.176.1.

Green and red lions

Alchemical figures invoked in connection with a change from green to red. At the end of Chapter Five the author speaks of making the red lion’s blood from the green lion’s blood and refers expressly to vitriol. This local explanation does not establish one material identity for every lion elsewhere.

Passages: II.120.1.

Homogeneous

Homogeneus

Of the same nature or essence. Homogeneity governs the possibility of fixation and the account of what philosophical Mercury can receive into itself. It is a qualitative relation within the author’s matter theory, not automatically the modern physical description of a uniform mixture.

Passages: II.077.1; II.219.2.

Hypostasis

A subsistent form, constituent or constituted being, according to context. Chapter Two uses the word for the distinct manifestations of the threefold spirit. The later account of human constitution uses one hypostasis for the joined bodily substance and soul.

Passages: II.086.1; II.220.2.

Inspissation

Inspissatio

Thickening or concentration toward a denser condition. It occurs in accounts of subterranean generation and the reported preparation of a transparent greenish mass from Bier’s water. The word itself does not identify the resulting substance by modern analysis.

Passages: II.113.1; II.117.2.

Logos, substantial or subsistent

λόγος ὑποστατικός; verbum Dei universale

God’s universal Word, understood as subsistent divine reality and primary creative cause. Both universal and particular natures depend upon it. The term is distinguished from the particular uttered command while the two remain inseparable in their causal relation.

Passages: I.009.2; II.063.2; II.064.1; II.066.1.

Logos, uttered

λόγος προφορικός; verbum Dei particulare

The particular word or command pronounced in creation, such as a command that the earth bring forth plants. It functions as a subordinate cause assigning particular activity. “Uttered” and “spoken” render the same technical distinction according to the passage’s syntax.

Passages: I.009.2; II.063.2; II.067.2.

Magistery

Magisterium

The philosophical work considered as an accomplishment, or its perfected product. The term can embrace a course of operations and the result they achieve. It should not be confused with an ecclesiastical teaching office in these passages.

Passages: II.057.2; II.108.1; II.198.1.

Matrix

Matrix; generative womb

A receptive generative setting or material in which development takes place. The author cites one seed and one matrix as the source of diverse legitimate tinctures, and describes a prepared matrix in the earth as conditioning the metal that results.

Passages: II.091.2; II.113.1.

Matter, first or prime

Materia prima

A starting material or originating condition whose meaning depends upon the philosophical usage at issue. The author explicitly warns that Hermetic and ordinary philosophers may call first and second matter by reversed names. Remote rainwater and a proximate deposit are also distinguished.

Passages: I.033.1; II.128.1.

Mercury, philosophical

Mercurius Philosophorum

In the author’s explicit account of the three principles, air and the spiritual principle. In operative passages it has further qualified forms and must be distinguished from ordinary metallic mercury. The book repeatedly warns against treating the common name as sufficient identification of the subject.

Passages: II.085.1; II.086.1; II.147.1; II.219.2.

Multiplication

Multiplicatio

Increase of the work’s power or quantity. The author connects capacity for multiplication with the universal origin of matter and later explains that even a perfected magistery requires a further conjunction with mercurial water. The word can also refer to the propagation of living creatures.

Passages: II.067.1; II.191.1; II.197.2; II.198.1.

Nature

Natura; Natur

Defined as the substance and essence of each visible creature, and described as capacity or subject in which God acts. The author denies created nature independent agency while acknowledging its divinely established properties and operations. Universal and particular nature must therefore be read together with his account of the Word.

Passages: II.059.1; II.063.1; II.103.1.

Particular

Particulare; particularis

Specified or limited in nature or power. The word can refer to an individual creature or material, but also to a limited alchemical preparation or work. A legitimate particular tincture may proceed from the universal source; a collection of unrelated particulars does not thereby become universal.

Passages: I.010.1; II.075.1; II.091.2.

Phoenix

Phœnix

The bird rising from flames in the author’s heraldic emblem. Its legend expressly presents the bird restored to life as a figure of Christ. The title’s candida gives whiteness or brightness; the work’s wider argument concerns purification, perfection and renewal rather than one colour alone.

Passages: PRE.EMBLEM.

Philosophical earth

The corporeal or solid vehicle appropriate to the work, distinguished from the ordinary ground trodden underfoot. Chapter Seven requires a pure earth without superfluity and calls it an earth that has hovered above human heads. Its paradoxical descriptions should be retained rather than replaced by an unverified modern ingredient.

Passages: II.159.2; II.160.1; II.176.1.

Putrefaction

Putrefactio; Fäulung