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Anonymous (traditionally attributed to Anton Joseph Kirchweger)

The Golden Chain of Homer

A New Translation from the German Edition of 1723

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The Golden Chain of Homer10 the Tree of Dulcification and the Mineral Arcanum

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Facing Pages · Branch 444 of 504

10 the Tree of Dulcification and the Mineral Arcanum

German & Latin

1723 pp 376–378

Nun so betrachte, GOtt hat ein sichtbares erschaffen, wie wirs täglich vor Augen sehen, nemlich 2 Dinge, aus welchen alles entsprungen, das Universal-Chaotische Wasser als ein corpus, Gehäus und Instrument des Geistes oder Samens, solches ist sicht- und greiffbar; der Geist aber oder der Same als Inwohner ist unsichtbar, so lange, bis er durch die nach einander folgende gradus putrefactionis & fixationis sichtbar, greifflich und corporalisch wird, wie wir oben sufficient expliciret. Nun siehe das Wasser ist recolaceum und wird mit dem Samen und samt ihm kein corpus, ausser wenn ihm ein corpus zu machen höchst vonnöthen ist, das andere jagt er durch Feuer und Hitze mit Gewalt aus. Nun mercke wohl: Die Aqua recolacea NB. ist ein Instrument und Wohnung des Universal-Geistes oder Samen, vermittelst welchen der Geist seine Operation, sich selbst zu figiren oder volatilisiren, flüchtig oder fix zu machen, himmlisch oder irdisch, verrichten muß, und ohne welches Wasser der Geist trocken wäre, und also ohne Wirckung gleichsam eingeschlaffert oder verstorben da liegen müste: Denn so lange das Aqua recolacea beym Geist ist, oder Geist beym Wasser, so hat er nimmer keine Ruhe, denn er wird immer allezeit aufgewecket zu agiren. Solches siehet man klar an denen mineralibus und vegetabilibus, voraus an denen, die da überflüßig feucht sind, in welchen das aqua recolacea nicht separiret ist. Darum so lange das animale und vegetabile grünet und lebet, so wandert dieser Geist oder Samen in den feuchten Gliedern und Adern herum mit dem Wasser und digeriret, putrificiret, separiret und coaguliret, und theilet also die Nahrung zum Wachsthum und Erhaltung des subjecti aus. Gehet aber das subjectum zu seinem Untergang und Verderben, dorret ab oder stirbet, so kehret der Geist um, und an statt, daß er dem vegetabili & animali zuvor aufgeholffen und Nahrung geleistet, so hebt er (in puncto kaum das Thier oder Kraut seinen balsamischen Lebens-Geist verlohren) wieder an, bringet es in seine putrefaction & solutionem, bis ferner in die generation in aliud und solches alles thut er durch und vermittelst des Wassers, ohne welches er nicht agiren kan, wie beweißlich.

1723 pp 376–378

The Golden Chain of Homer: 10 the Tree of Dulcification and the Mineral Arcanum

1723 pp 376–378

Now consider: God created something visible, as we see daily before our eyes—namely, two things from which everything has arisen. There is the universal chaotic water as a body, dwelling, and instrument of the spirit or seed; this is visible and tangible. But the spirit or seed that dwells within it is invisible until, through the successive degrees of putrefaction and fixation, it becomes visible, tangible, and bodily, as we have adequately explained above. Observe now that the water is recolaceum and does not become a body with the seed and alongside it, except when it is absolutely necessary for the seed to make itself a body; the rest it forcibly drives out through fire and heat. Mark this well: aqua recolacea is the instrument and dwelling of the universal spirit or seed, by means of which the spirit must perform its operation of fixing or volatilizing itself, making itself volatile or fixed, heavenly or earthly. Without this water the spirit would be dry and would therefore lie inactive, as though asleep or dead. For as long as aqua recolacea is with the spirit, or the spirit with the water, it never rests, being continually awakened to act. This is clearly seen in minerals and vegetables, especially those that are excessively moist and from which the aqua recolacea has not been separated. Thus, as long as the animal and vegetable flourish and live, this spirit or seed travels with the water through their moist members and vessels, digesting, putrefying, separating, and coagulating, and so distributes nourishment for the growth and preservation of the subject. But when the subject approaches its decline and destruction, withers or dies, the spirit turns about. Instead of assisting the vegetable and animal and providing nourishment as before, it begins again—the instant the animal or plant has scarcely lost its balsamic spirit of life—and brings it into putrefaction and dissolution, then onward into generation as something else. All this it does through and by means of the water, without which it cannot act, as can be demonstrated.

1723 pp 376–378

About This Reading Edition

The two-book alchemical work of 1723 in German with a new English translation, 399 notes, eight historical diagrams, chapter outlines, keyword essays, a glossary, bibliography, subject index, and 400 discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Aurea Catena Homeri. Frankfurt and Leipzig: Johann Georg Böhme, 1723. Traditionally attributed to Anton Joseph Kirchweger; the attribution remains uncertain. Historical diagrams from the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung copy digitized by e-rara.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The supplied edition identifies the 1723 German source and historical diagrams as public-domain material. Its new English translation and editorial apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization. The complete original files are retained unchanged.