This configuration of the two half circles creates the symbol of the Moon. It shows a half circle with a point or center within it, as well as a second half circle inside the first. We now come to the second metal, silver, which was represented by the ancients as in figure 35. That is why we said that the mined gold should be dissolved in its own mercury-water, which consists of the Sulfur of Gold and silver, a solution of two salts that are, in essence, one and the same. This can be done quite easily if one correctly creates the solvent solution, and if one understands well the nature of gold. This can be accomplished by following the true philosophical rules applying to this process, which include dissolving it in a solution of its own mercury-water. But because of this its form is not easily recognizable as the true Gold of which we speak, unless it is completely purified of the foreign particles it had accumulated while in the Earth. The gold that is mined from the mountains has been formed into a pure body by its pure matrix. This essential gold can exist in a number of forms and without this gold or Sulfur or pure mercury-water no creature can exist or last for even a moment in time. We believe that this figure also says something about the microcosm of individual human existence as well, since the Cabbala suggests that there exists within each human being the essence of gold (Aphar min Haadamah), and that this is nothing other than his indestructible immortal body. The old genuine Cabbala portrays the macrocosm and the microcosm as in figure 34 in order to show that just as the point is surrounded by its circumference or circle, so too, this world is surrounded by Schamajim (that is, by the wonder-Fire of which we just spoke). We can best observe an example of eternal and constant movement by looking at Fire and Water. A circle, globe, or sphere represents the shape of Fire and water. Thus, there can be no greater perfection than these two bodies, which are both entirely composed of an essential Fire, the blood-red Heavenly Sulfur, with which no earthly fre can ever compare, and which can only be mastered by heavenly Water. That there could be nothing more perfect than these two bodies is evident in the symbol itself, for there can be no more perfect figure drawn from a point or dot than a circle. This was to help us to understand that both are in their innermost essence one and the same, composed of the essential Fire of Schamajim. It was represented by the ancients with the symbol found in figure 33, which also designated the Sun. In the following parts we will speak about the symbols for metals, minerals and salts and begin to speak about gold.

Alchemist symbols