At every 'circulation', the pairs of elements rearrange themselves such that the analogy which applies to the stage of Calcination, say, is reversed at Separation. We read that our sulphur is a fixed body and, in the next breath, a volatile spirit or that our mercury is at one moment water, at the next, fire.

“Students of alchemy are often bewildered by the mass of contradictions in the recipes. There is no rival to it.Excerpt from Patrick Harpur’s The Philosopher’s Secret Fire It is rare to find an author who can expound with such authority on a subject whose very existence is only to a few initiates. It is probably the most explicit account of the alchemical art ever published - it presents a strong argument for the perfectibility of man and against the species of bloodless asceticism which drives a wedge between spiritual and corporeal love.' THE LITERARY REVIEW 'Each of its 479 mystical pages needs to be closely read, for the dramatic turns in this extraordinary alchemical novel are so well hidden that one dare not skip a single sentence for fear of missing an essential key to the developing mystery. REVIEWS: 'Mercurius is a book written at least as much to elucidate as to entertain. But I give you fair warning that unless you seek the true philosophical gold and not the gold of the vulgar unless your heart is fixed with unbending intent on the true Stone of the Philosophers, unless you are steadfast in your quest, abiding by God's laws in all faith and humility and eschewing all vanity, conceit, falsehood, intemperance, pride, lust and faintheartedness, read no further lest I prove fatal to you. 'Know this: I, Mercurius, have set down a full, true and infallible account of the Great Work.

Mercurius patrick harpur