The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy

Historical Reception: The Times of the Stone

The interpretation below is reproduced from page 50 of Westcott’s 1893 English volume. Related Signifer material appears after the Arcanum in the 1650 English collection. It is absent from the complete 1623 Arcanum consulted for this translation and is therefore printed as a later transmission layer, not as an additional canon by the anonymous Latin author.

The Interpretation of the Philosophers’ Significator

To every Planet two Houses were assigned by the Ancients, Sol and Luna excepted ; whereof the planet Saturn hath his two houses adjoining. Philosophers in handling their Philosophical work, begin their years in Winter, to wit; the Sun being in Capricorn, which is the former House of Saturn ; and so come towards the right hand. In the Second place the other House of Saturn is found in Aquarius, at which time Saturn, i.e., the Blackness of the work of the Magistery begins after the forty-fifth or fiftieth day. Sol coming into Pisces the work is black, blacker than black, and the head of the Crow begins to appear. The third month being ended, and Sol entering into Aries, the sublimation or separation of the Elements begin. Those which follow unto Cancer make the Work White. Cancer addeth the greatest whiteness and splendour, and doth perfectly fill up all the days of the Stone, or white Sulphur, or the Lunar work of Sulphur ; Luna sitting and reigning gloriously in her House. In Leo, the Regal Mansion of the Sun, the Solar work begins, which in Libra is terminated into a Ruby Stone or perfect Sulphur. The two signs Scorpio and Sagittarius which remain are required for the completing of the Elixir. And thus the Philosophers’ admirable offspring taketh its beginning in the Reign of Saturn, and its end and perfection in the Dominion of Jupiter.