ALCHEMICAL
LABORATORY
BULLETINS
Vol. II, No. 1
1970
INDEX
Announcements
New Subscription Rates
Class Applications
Mini-Dwadashamsas
X. the Pupil of Meyrink
1970 Symposium
Vacuum Extraction
Questions and Answers
A Word of Apprecicrtion
Rare Book Additions
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE NEW BULLETIN
With this issue a new version of Alchemical Labortory Bulletin makes its appearance. In this, the second ten year cycle, some far reaching changes will be incorporated. Special emphasis will be focused upon a permanent question and answer space. Since many of the questions asked the P.R.S. are of importance to other readers, hereafter, they shall appear in print to avoid duplication. This has not been done previously because beginners might fill the space with questions to be covered in the normal class instruction. Since during the past ten years many students have progressed and beginners are in the minority, we shall take this into consideration. During the ten years just ended we touched upon many and varied subjects, some of which, at times, were only remotely connected with the practical aspects of alchemy. This was purposely done in order to lay secure foundation that would make it possible to build thereon the many ramifications of alchemical manifestation. In the future practical laboratory work shall have pre-eminence, with a special section of rare and heretofore unpublished ancient, medieval and contemporary alchemical discourses and findings. It has been the privilege of the P.R.S. to get some very costly and extremely rare old books on alchemy from Europe. These books and documents are priceless. For the first time translations of some of their important contents will be made public in the Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins. Some have never before appeared in the English language. This will make the Bulletins worth much more than their subscription price for some of these very rare books have been acquired at considerable cost and in the most unusual manner.
The Alchemical Laboratory Bulletin is a quarterly publication of the Paracelsus Research Society, P. O. Box 6006, (Salt Lake City, Utah, 84106, U.S.A. Annual subscription $6.00. This price includes one complimentary copy to be mailed to an institution of learning or as otherwise designated by the subscriber. Individuals and institutions unable to pay the annual subscription fee may upon verification of their request, receive the Bulletin gratis. Copyrighted and printed in the U.S.A.
NEW SUBSCRIPTION RATES
This issue of the Alchemical Laboratory Bulletin inaugurates a change of policy. The former three dollar per year subscription rate is herewith cancelled. Commencing with the first issue of the 1970 Bulletin each subscriber will automatically become a sponsor to a University Library. On his behalf a copy of the Bulletin will be mailed to such an institution at the same time the subscriber's copy is sent. This will serve a two-fold purpose.
First: Printing expenses are not covered by the limited number of subscribers who receive the Bulletin.
Second: The Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins should be made available where they will do the most good. We can think of no better way than to make the material available to students in colleges and universities who would otherwise not know of the subjects covered. Since this represents an altruistic purpose, we sincerely hope that this announcement will find wholehearted subscriber support. If subscribers wish to designate an institution of their choice or any individual to receive the Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins this will be considered. If such should be the case please state your choice when making your annual remittance of $6.00 (six dollars). We sincerely hope and trust that you will support Paracelsus Research Society in its endeavor to make the alchemical knowledge available to a wider circle of sincere students.
Please fill out and return the enclosed subscription and information sheet.
CLASS APPLICATIONS
For 1970 applications will be accepted for the fall classes only. Four classes will be available. Please note on page 7 the official announcement concerning changes of class identification for future years.
MINI-DWADASHAMSAS
Students of astrocyclic pulsations will be pleased to know that we have issued a limited number, 250 copies, of the above Mini-Dwadashamsas. These make possible a further division of the 12 signs, 36 decans, 144 dwadashamsas into 1728 individual Mini-Dwadashamsas. Now you can delve into the secrets of human behavior patterns that were formerly impossible through generally accepted astrological means. These tables are complete for the entire zodiac. No calculation need be done by ithe student provided he knows how to find the Dwadashamsa. Since only 250 copies have been printed they will be mailed in the order that requests are received. The price is $1.75 per copy, postpaid.
SUBSCRIPTION NUMBERS
Commencing with this issue handnumbering the Bulletins will be omitted.
OUR COLORED COVER
The front cover is the artwork of Alice Whipple, Hollywood, California, the back is the artwork of Carl Sherrell, Kansas City, Missouri. Both are students of many years standing with the P.R.S.
X, The Pupil of Meyrink
Gustav Meyrink, the mystic of Prague, became well known through his European writings at about the turn of the century. 'X' as he will be designated was one of Meyrink's few pupils. Eberhard Maria Koerner has consented to have his name used as an eyewitness to the following events. It would be useless for readers to ask the P.R.S. for the identity of 'X.' He does not care to be known except to those to whom he wishes to reveal his connections.
It was December 26, 1968, about 4 p.m., in Kirchrode, a suburb of Hanover, when X was present at a small gathering of people deeply interested in matters esoteric and metaphysical. X, of medium height and build, whom one would guess to be about sixty years of age, had traveled about 100 kilometers to be with those present. No doubt there was a pleasant radiation coming forth from him. For some time X had also been in India, near Madras, under the tutelage of a Guru. As one of those present seemed to have some doubts about the genuineness of X's spiritual personality X asked for the skeptics hand. Holding it in his, X said very pronouncedly: "Now," and on both hands of the skeptic could be seen a triangle in the palm, with point upward. These lasted for several hours as all present could observe. After a while X held his hands in a burning candle flame, of which several were near to commemorate the Christmas season. For about three minutes he literally bathed his hands in the hot flame. Turning around he said: "The whole secret of why my hands are not burned is that my own self is not with them." He kept on conversing while his hands became covered with soot from the flame. Later when he had washed up there was nothing to indicate that the hands had been subjected to fire or that any harm had befallen them. Others tried it too but could not endure the flame of the candle for even five seconds.
During the conversation it was mentioned that what Teilhard de Chardin had advocated by way of his hypothesis, X had proven by practical demonstration.
"Now let us try to move a picture from the wall through the power of our thoughts," X said casually. A painting was decided upon and everyone present made certain that the hook, whereon the picture was fastened, was securely embedded in the wall. "I shall now attempt to move the hook, including the dowel, from the wall, wherein the painting is fastened and hung. Now help me." Concentration upon a triangle to overcome the law of polarity, as he named it, was always of importance to him. Again he said: "Now," and every one present saw how the nail and the painting fastened to it moved from the wall to the point where it would have fallen off if someone had not reached for it. There was nothing mysterious about X. He just smiled gently.
Hanging on the library wall was a black and white reproduction of the famed Emerald Table of Hermes. "We shall now try to place a triangle upon this picture" he said nonchalantly. Not speaking out loud but directing, with his thoughts, one of those present to get a red pencil out of the desk and in his mind draw a red triangle upon this picture hanging on the wall, he waited a little while and again said, "Now." There appeared under the glass for all to unmistakably see, a red triangle. Only one point was not as sharp at the rest. The person who had concentrated upon it admitted that he was vague upon this point in his thoughts, apparently being distracted. Late that evening this red triangle was still visible for anyone to see.
Then he had one present concentrate upon his name, but the one asked to do so converted, according to cabalistic teachings, each letter into its numerical value while holding a book in his hand. When he opened the book he held he found neatly written in light bluish coloring every numeral as he had thought of it. The handwriting appeared so much like his own that everyone looked on in amazement.
At another time X took some plain tapwater and gave it to whoever cared to drink. It was changed to an aromatic flavor that everyone recognized as lemon. Upon the question asked by one: "Have we deserved to witness all this", he replied: "Yes."
A person standing in the center of the room saw a book coming toward him and falling off his shoulder, which everyone else present also plainly observed. It was a volume of Greek mythology. "But," explained the owner of the home, "this book was stacked among others in the library on my desk!" When X was asked how it was possible to bring all this about that had been witnessed during the afternoon and evening of this memorable 26th of December 1968 he said, "It is up to each of us to free ourselves from the net wherein manifold and chaotic thoughts hold us entangled."
Indeed it was a memorable day for all who were privileged to witness that which had taken place.
1970 Symposium
The 1970 Symposium will be held in the Southern Hemisphere. By the time subscribers receive this Bulletin Frater A. will have left for New Zealand and Australia to teach in each country one 'classis prima' (Herbalia). He is expected to return by the end of February to continue preparations for this year's only 'classis septa' (Alkahest). This latter class will receive approximately a one month's postponement because of the rescheduled trip of Frater A. abroad.
Simple Vacuum Extraction Method
Vacuum extraction has long been known to be more efficient, quicker and to utilize lower heats than standard methods. The disadvantage with standard methods is the cumbersome and costly equipment usually necessary. Following is a description of a simple vacuum extraction method. The listed materials and sizes have been found most practical for individual use but they can, of course, be used as a guide to customize other setups.
Basically we need a flask wherein the materials "cook," plus a glass tube long enough and of enough bore to allow sufficient vacuum; also an auto vacuum gauge and a heat source are required. For the flask a 500 ml Erlenmeyer is a good size. The condensing tube which is placed atop the Erlenmeyer should be at least 18 inches long in order to create a reasonable vacuum. A good running vacuum is around 15 inches of mercury. Both condenser tubes and the loose inner tube of Liebig Condensers' have been used. If caustic materials that will attack rubber stoppers are being used, then, of course, it is best to use a condenser tube with a ground T joint and a compatible Erlenmeyer. Any auto vacuum gauge will be the least expensive. The lower end of the condenser tube must be placed through a rubber stopper sufficiently that the condensing vapors may return to the flask. When stoppering the top of the condensing tube be sure to insert the vacuum gauge far enough through so it can register vacuum. All fittings must be snug and air tight. (Silicon lubricant goes a long way).
Once the necessary materials are at hand proceed as follows: Having placed your materials in the Erlenmeyer for extraction affix on top of the flask the stopper with inserted condenser tube immediately sealing this portion of your vacuum system. Now place over heat source and lightly stopper top of your condenser tube with rubber stopper containing vacuum gauge. (DO NOT TIGHTLY STOPPER YET) Slowly bring liquid to a LOW boil, watching for its vapors to rise up the condensing tube. In some liquids the vapors cannot be too readily seen and one has to feel for temperature changes to determine the height to which they have risen. Once the vapors start rising watch your gauge carefully and release upper stopper each time the gauge shows a pressure reading. Continue releasing the pressure as it builds until the vapors reach the top of your condensing tube, thereby indicating that all air is out of the system. Quickly remove the setup from heat, seal the system and let stand until you get at least a 10 to 15 inches of vacuum reading. The higher the vacuum the more efficient your extraction; it is not suggested to go above 25 inches of vacuum when cold as there is a chance of your vessel collapsing. Once you have obtained a good vacuum reading, you may then return the system to its heat source. You will now be operating at a lower temperature than the boiling point of your liquid, so it is necessary to monitor your system for at least an hour until you are sure it is maintaining the proper vacuum. Your gauge will indicate whether you need more or less heat. If you have too much heat the vacuum will drop. It will also drop if your system is not air tight. If you have too little heat the vacuum will rise. As an example alcohol boils at 78 degrees centigrade but under vacuum it boils at about 60 degrees.
This vacuum system can be used with almost any extraction and will be found to cut the extraction time by at least 50 per cent if not 75 per cent. In highly volatile liquid, this adds a degree of safety since one does not have to be as concerned about a flask "blowing its cork" as it were. Best of all, no water cooling is necessary with this vacuum system.
New Class Designations and Dormitory Fee
All former class designations such as First Year, Second Year A, Second Year B, and Special Class are herewith rescinded. As of 1970 classes will be defined as follows:
Classis prima |
(Herbal) |
secunda |
(Mineralia A) |
tertia |
(Mineralia B) |
quarta |
(Animalia) |
quinta |
(Tartarii) |
serta |
(Metallorum) |
septa |
(Alkahest) |
Classes will follow in the above named order. Students who have completed one or several classes may, at their option, repeat any class up to the last one they have attended. This will enable those who would like to fortify their knowledge or who may not have assimilated the teachings to their satisfaction to better prepare themselves for the following instructions. The previous requirement for special permission to repeat a class is herewith cancelled.
Due to an increase in maintenance costs the dormitory fee will be $6.00 per day. Waiver of dormitory fee is to be had for financially handicapped students through the "Paul Buecheler Memorial Fund," also known to subscribers as the "Penny Ritual." Individuals, groups, etc. wishing to contribute to this fund may do so with the specific understanding that all monies donated must be used only for student help as herein stated.
Students planning to attend any of the above listed classes in the U.S.A. and foreign countries are requested to place their applications well ahead of time, as classes will be scheduled according to demand. Please state preference of spring, fall or winter classes.
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Note: For easier reference, beginning with this issue, all questions and answers will be numbered. Please state your questions concisely.
QUESTION NO. 1--In the "Triumphant Chariot of Antimony" by Valentinus mention is made on page 109 about Omphacium. Trying to find this word in the dictionary or any place else has proved fruitless. Can you help?
Answer: The word Omphacium refers to unripe grapes, the green unripened flesh of the grapes. Even as there is a difference between raw meat and cooked meat, so is there a difference between unripened and fully ripened grapes.'Dr. Kerkringius' translation into Latin out of the original German made use of the Greek originated word Omphacium. "Omphacium" was also used by A. E. Waite in his English translation. In the original German it reads: "darnach wird darauf gegossen ein ausgepresster Saft von unzeitigen Wein-Trauben" (orig. Germ. ed. 1676 at P.R.S. archive). Translated it reads literally "thereafter will have to be poured upon the expressed juice of untimely grapes." The word "unzeitigen" means immatured or not yet fully ripened.
QUESTION NO. 2~--HOW can I get the sodium borate out of the glass of antimony that had been added according to the formula of Valentinus?
Answer: Wash it out. The glass must be pulverized very finely for the sodium borate to dissolve in the water. When the pH factor shows neutral it is reasonably free. If you have a Soxhlet Extractor with draincock place the glass to be washed in the thimble. Extract with water as usual. Wheh the water is about to syphon down open the draincock sufficiently to make the pH factor test. Continue the extraction until the water tests neutral. You will notice when allowing the distilled water to stand over night in the thimble chamber that it will again test negative (alkaline). This is due to the undissolved sodium borate that could only be freed after thorough saturation. It is quite difficult to get the borax completely washed out.
QUESTION NO. 3: I saw a bound volume of all the Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins in-the P.R.S. Library. Later I found that some students had purchased such a volume. How much does one cost?
Answer: You did not see a bound volume of "all" the Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins. At one time a dozen volumes of Bulletins were bound comprising the five years 1960-64. These have all been sold. But we have good news! We have sufficient of Bulletin No. 1 to have 20 complete sets of the first ten years of the Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins, 1960 to 1969, bound. These will be bound uniformly with our other books--dark blue with silver lettering--and will constitute the last complete sets of the Bulletin to be available. The price will be $27.50 per volume.
For those who have already purchased the five years-1960-64 volume of Bulletins we will have a dozen volumes of 1966-1969 bound in the same manner as the first. The cost of this volume will be $16.00.
Orders will be filled as received.
QUESTION NO. 4-Would you please confirm or deny the rumor that the P.R.S. is doing research in which the National Cancer Institute of Maryland is interested?
Answer: It is no rumor but an established fact that the above named institute has, since August 1968, been testing a preparation of the P.R.;S. Research Laboratories for luekemia. This was done by request of the medical profession and by invitation from the National Cancer Institute. We may have more to say about this in the near future.
QUESTION NO. 5--Is there a purpose behind the schooling one receives through the P.R.S.? Specifically, are there possibilities for those having gone through the available class teachings to perform special tasks which they should be capable of performing?
Answer: P.R.S. schooling will enable individuals through selected activities to be better prepared to serve mankind all over the world. Some such activities fostered by the P.R.S. but functioning entirely inaependently will be announced in the following Bulletins. For some, the ten years of probation have now ended and preparations are beginning to emerge for those ready to assume such assignments. Gradually some of these P.R.S. students will be selected and entrusted to perform projects which have been fully outlined many years previously, waiting only for the opportune time and the properly prepared administrators.
QUESTION NO. 6--In the herbal work we are told that a stone of the plant world can be made. You showed us a white stone that one of the students had made and told us that it was not yet perfected. I did not quite understand what was meant by that.
Answer: In the Collectanea Chemica mention was made, and, as we recall, we also read to you from it that such a stone has the medicinal potencies enhanced in it. The repetition of imbibing and calcining, to bring the preparation to a greater state of potency was what we meant by that statement. It will then change color, becoming yellow and eventually reddish, similar to the Great Work, where such color changes are indicated.
QUESTION NO. 7--In your book on the Qabalah you made some changes that are not generally recognized, such as the planetary symbols for as yet undiscovered planets. You also changed some accepted planetary placements in the various houses and signs such as Neptune to Taurus and Uranus to Virgo. Why did you do that?
Answer: To put it mildly, the changes revealed in the book are just some preliminaries. There are more yet to come. In order-not to fall with the door in the house, as the saying goes, in the forthcoming portfolio which we hopefully anticipate will be ready by the middle of the year, you will find some such further additional changes and explanations as to why these have been made public. This portfolio, incidentally, will be considerably larger than the announced size.
A Word of Apprecicrtion
As the new year begins, and with it a new cycle for the P.R.S., we of the staff wish to express our sincere appreciation for the effort put forth by the student body and in the generous help they have shown in maintaining the enlarged laboratory and classroom facilities. It is an unmistakable sign of their willingness and determination to be of help to their own fellow students and to those who have not had the opportunity of attending classes and undergoing practical instruction.
Nevertheless, these latter, through the research conducted in the enlarged, better equipped facilities, are recipients of the further developed alchemical procedures and other advancements put forth in the Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins and by personal contacts with those in the environment, who did participate in the P.R.S. activities.
Notwithstanding all the efforts shown, their pledged monetary goal has fallen short of their anticipations. It is to be hoped that with renewed vigor among those who have experienced greater success in their alchemical work, that the annual student contributions will reach the desired amount necessary to keep the laboratories open for all concerned. This project inaugurated a few years ago is entirely student sponsored and we shall do all we can here at the P.R.S. to support their worthy endeavors in every way possible.
When we pay tribute to Sorer Viola Engel of Kansas City, Missouri, as chairman of the Student Laboratory Maintenance Fund, for her unselfish service rendered in behalf of the student donors such acknowledgment is applicable to all students, subscribers, and area chairmen who participated in this project.
Last, but not least, the generous contributions from individuals and institutions towards the acquisition of advanced laboratory equipment have added tremendously to the furtherance of the research and student activities here at the P.R.S. Such contributions in the form of laboratory equipment come under the same category as the funds set by the student body and if added, their monetary goal would then have actually been exceeded. However, the necessary monetary outlay currently required to pay for the laboratory maintenance and upkeep which is necessary in order to pay the current expenses of the entire project was the goal referred to in the beginning.
With the enthusiasm shown and its steady increase nothing but confidence prevails that the worthy project started by the students and subscribers will see a long life ahead.
Rare Book Additions to Our Library
While in Europe last summer we acquired several old, rare, and valuable books which have been added to our library. Among the books which will enrich the knowledge of all those who will read them and put into practice what they contain, will be found a further substantiation and proof of the P.R.S. teachings.
It was our good fortune to add to our library the complete "Works of Basilius Valentinus" in the original pigskin binding written in the original mediaeval German language. Sendivogius and Scotus also grace the eyes of the searching alchemical aspirant as well as another copy of the original "Triumphal Chariot of Antimony" dated 1676. The practically unknown work of the private physician of a former Queen Mother of England, including priceless alchemical formulas, is another such vital addition. Isaacus of Holland and others, among them Gichtel, the pupil of Jacob Boehme, and Kuhnrath's "Amphytheatrum" which he wrote in 1604, are filling the space in the safe where these valuable books are beginning to crowd out other important items put there for safekeeping.
Students who had the good fortune to handle these above mentioned additions to our library were equally delighted when translations were read to them because they realized how important it is to have the original texts available for reference.
It should be emphasized here that the P.R.S. is not accumulating these books because of their antiquarian value but for their contents in the original language. Available translations may be and are in most cases good literary translations but not always. In fact, in many cases they do NOT render the alchemical terminology and understanding thereof symbolically and otherwise which only an initiated alchemist is able to recognize and can properly describe and explain.
With the next Bulletin we shall begin to include such renditions.
Important Notice
You will not receive another Alchemical Laboratory Bulletin unless you have filled out and mailed to us the enclosed subscription renewal form. It will not matter whether you include your remittance or not, but your subscription renewal form MUST be in our hands before another Bulletin will be mailed to you. NO EXCEPTION will be made.
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