From the book
The Sophic Hydrolith, Water Stone of the Wise
Anonymous and companion authors · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Meaning
Precious stones serve several different comparisons. In the main treatise, carbuncle and diamond provide a standard of brilliance surpassed by the special water; later defective gems and tinged crystal belong to alleged material benefits, while the art itself is called a jewel; its material marvels are nevertheless valued below heavenly knowledge. Nature's dialogue uses ruby and diamond as examples receiving form from heaven and matter from earth. The First Response first includes gems among worldly riches and later forbids the recipients to take them independently: only the guide may allot them. These occurrences concern radiance, natural formation, value, and restraint, not one gem-making procedure. Nor does the catalogue of names independently establish modern mineral identifications for every historical term.
Places to read
- Part II: matter and the work · unit 13The water outshines the gleam of carbuncle and diamond.
- Part III: benefits and their rank · unit 12Deficient gems are to be improved, and the noblest gems provide the standard.; The art itself is called a jewel given by God.
- Nature’s Demonstration to the Erring Alchemist · unit 7Ruby and diamond parallel gold’s receipt of beautiful celestial form and good earthly matter.
- First Response · unit 2Jewels initially appear as desired worldly wealth.
- First Response · unit 15Every imaginable jewel accompanies the tincture, but recipients may take none except what the guide gives.
Attested forms
Carbunckel; diamant; mangelhafften Edelsteinen; Edelsten gesteinen; Kleinnoth; Edelgestein; Rubin; Demant; alle Edelgesteine; selbst nichts nehmen