The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy

53Three kinds of most beautiful flowers must be sought, indeed found, in the garden of the wise: crimson violets, the shining lily, and the purple, immortal amaranth. Not far from that fountain at the threshold, the flowering violets will meet you first. Watered through rivulets from a plentiful golden river, they will take on the most brilliant colour of a somewhat dark sapphire. The sun will give you signs. Do not separate flowers so precious from their root until you compose the stone, for freshly gathered they have more juice and tincture. Then pluck them diligently with a delicate and skilful hand: unless the fates oppose, they will follow easily, and when one flower is plucked, another golden one will not be lacking. With longer care and labour the lily and amaranth will follow.