ALCHEMICAL

LABORATORY

BULLETINS

 

 

 

Vol. II, No. 2

1970

 

INDEX

Announcements

Official Birthday "Lotus"

Questions and Answers

Easter Egg Experiment

Planetary Influences on Oils of Metals

The Next Bulletin

Translations from Our Old Books

Old Alchemists Prayer

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BOOK NOW AVAILABLE

The last availaible copies of "PARACELSUS" by Telepnef have arrived. Orders will be filled now. This little volume would make an excellent gift for birthdays and other occasions for individuals who like to read condensed biographies. In this book you will find a concise, easily understandable, history of Paracelsus the man and the alchemist, and of his wanderings and activities. It contains a chart of his travels authenticated from the most reliable sources available. There will be no reprint of this book in the forseeable future. The price is $2.20 prepaid.

NO CLASSES IN EUROPE

Due to Frater Albertus' belated return from New Zealand and Australia and the amount of unfinished business at the P.R.S. he will be unable to go to Europe to teach during this year (1970). We deeply regret this but as classes are scheduled in the U.S.A. the end of August to last until December, and with the necessary work involved for the publication of books and other literature requiring his attention, we hope that students in Europe will understand.

FALL CLASSES IN THE U.S.A.

Fall classes for 1970 are now allocated. The schedule is as follows:

Classis prima

August 30 - September 12

secunda

September 13 - September 26

tertia

November 22 - December 5

quarta

October 11 - October 24

quinta

September 27 - October 10

serta

November 8 - November 21

septa

October 25 - November 7

 

MINI-DWADASHAMSA

If you have not ordered your Mini-Dwadashamsa as subscriber to the Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins please do so now, as the supply is dwindling fast.

APPLICATIONS

We have received word that some subscribers did not receive an application renewal form with their last Bulletin, while some had misplaced theirs. We are therefore enclosing one more application form for those who have not replied. This form must be returned to keep you on the mailing list.

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.

Official Birthday of 'Lotus' in New Zealand

On March 2, 1970, in the city of Taupo, County Rotorua, New Zealand, the documents for the transfer of 67 acres of land to the "Lotus Cultural Research Center of New Zealand" were signed in the presence of the solicitor (attorney at law). This document also included the functions of the Trust under which "Lotus" will operate. (In the future a printed copy of the trust will be made available to those interested.)

The donor of the land is Frater Clive Hull, one of the first students to attend classes in 1962, when the P.R.S. began to teach openly. Frater Hull, his wife Jill, and Frater Albertus are heading the Trust, with Frater Albertus as Chancellor, Frater Hull as Vice-Chancellor and Sorer Hull as Secretary -Treasurer. Eventually "Lotus" in New Zealand and surrounding countries will become instrumental in the emanation of the teachings of the P.R.S. Readers are referred to Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins of some years ago, where statements to this effect can be found. The scope of "Lotus" will be more far reaching to begin with than the inception of the Paracelsus Research Society. "Lotus" will begin immediately with the outer functions, which have been withheld from the P.R..S. for specific reasons, as this too will soon have to function in the United States of America as a separate unit under a different name. "Lotus" with its outer function as a "Cultural Research Center" has as its inner core the same motives as found in the P.R.S.

Since names are only incidental to the essential work to be performed "Lotus" has been chosen as appropriate for New Zealand. It is symbolic of the inauguration of a new cycle, a completely new start end not the reactivation of former corporate organizations or brotherhoods.

It is in the "New Land (isle) of the Sea," about which mystics and other visionaries centuries ago have written where the "New Organum" will emerge and begin to flourish. Similar to the old Land (isle) of the Sea (Great Britain) which performed its preliminary work of colonization on the material plane, whereby the physical contact of lands and their inhabitants came about, laying thereby the foundation for a physically united world brotherhood presently in the making. The balance requires the spiritual-mental awakening which had its beginning before the turn of the century, when the light from the East, where it shone in ancient times and was preserved, was brought to the materialistically inclined Western World through the physical efforts of seafaring nations, noteably Great Britain.

In Bulletin, Volume II, No. 1, on page 9, Question No. 5, it was asked if there is a purpose behind the P.R.S. teachings. In our answer we made mention that the time had come for some to be assigned to certain tasks. "Lotus" is evidence of one such typical case where individuals are being chosen to perform just such assignments in the furtherance of the enlightenment of mankind in specific ways as practica idealists. Other avenues of approach, in this and other countries, are available waiting only for those who are ready to be given the assignments that are seldom the same but always unique.

The truly enthusiastic response evidenced by those attending classes in New Zealand and Australia is most encouraging. In the accompanying picture New Zealand students of all age groups can be seen, literally from seventeen to seventy. Even in physical size we encountered the unusual-one student from the University of Wellington, towered over seven feet high.

There is a very definite quickening in the quest for the demonstrable proof of universal laws manifesting in New Zealand and Australia.

In Australia we had a comparatively small class but of excellent caliber. The doctor in whose clinic the class took place offered his well-equipped laboratories and evidenced a keen desire for additional knowledge concerning alchemy based upon his scientific preparatory work, preceding the P.R.S. instruction.

It does not matter, whether in Europe, India, the Americas or below the.Equator, everywhere the same enthusiasm gives proof of the validity of the knowledge made available to those who search for the practical demonstrable proof of alchemical and esoteric universal laws.

The future will tell if our hopes, our faith, and our trust in the integrity and ability of those selected is justified. Knowing what the future holds in store we are confident it will be.

Persons or groups interested in "Lotus" New Zealand Cultural Research Center may obtain a copy of a brief outline of its functions free of charge by requesting it from the P.R.S. or direct from "Lotus," Broadlands South, Repora, Rotorua, N. Z. When writing to the latter please enclose coupons for return mail.

 

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

QUESTION NO. 8--Will all chicken eggs putrefy?

Answer: We have on hand a report from a student in New Zealand who conducted the following experiment with chicken eggs in an attempt to shed some light on the vital question concerning putrefaction in alchemy. This represents a scientific endeavor and is not to be taken lightly. The experimenter is an Oxford scholar and deeply interested in esotericism. His wife assisted him with this experiment. Unfortunately this published report could not appear in the last issue of the Bulletin so other students could perform the experiment at this Easter time. A year from now we anticipate receiving further results of tests and lawful explanations.

Report on experiments to verify or disprove the ancient tradition that hen's eggs are sensitive to cosmic influences--in particular those held to be active during the three days that constitute the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Easter-tide.

The Churches have for some time now been involved in controversy over the date of the Easter festival. It is at present--as is well known--a movable feast in the Christian Year. Being celebrated according to the Roman rule established in England in 669 AD; which is that Easter Day is the first Sunday after the 14th day of the calendar moon (not the real moon) which happens on or next after the Spring Equinox (March 21st). One of the bitterest points of division between the Celtic and Roman Churches in Britain was the date of keeping the Easter festival. To this day the Eastern Orthodox Church observes Easter a fortnight later according to the old unreformed calendar still in use there. Many times the proposal of fixing Easter has been muted, and in 1928 the British Parliament passed an Act providing that it should fall on the first Sunday after the second Saturday in April. The Order in Council required to bring the Act into force has never been made however.

The experiments to be reported herewith may therefore shed some little light on this controversial question; and raise the further question whether if all calendars are man-made, some are perhaps more so than others?

The connection of the hen's egg with Easter originates with the Jewish Pesach or Passover festival. The Pesach is the Jewish term for the Paschal lamb which is symbolically represented in the modern festival of the Passover by a shank-bone placed on the Sedar plate, together with an egg.

It was therefore decided to keep for a period of seven months, two each of the eggs laid during Holy Week, i.e. two eggs for each day of the week, which were carefully marked with the date, care being taken to ensure that the eggs had actually been laid on that day.

This has now been done for two years running namely Easter 1968 and Easter 1969. The results are tabulated below:

The eggs were opened after seven months, this being sufficient time for normal putrefaction to have occurred.

Easter week 1968

Monday -- Both eggs totally putrefied--yolk black.

Tuesday -- Both eggs totally putrefied--yolk black.

Wednesday-Both eggs totally putrefied--yolk black.

Thursday--Both eggs totally putrefied--yolk black

Good Friday. Of these two eggs one had been fertilized, the other not.

Both eggs had some dehydration of the albumen, but were otherwise perfectly sound. There was no putrefaction, discoloration, or bad smell, with the astounding exception that in the case of the fertilized egg the embryo only had turned black without contaminating the yolk. Both eggs were given to the cat who ate them with every sign of relish.

Easter-Saturday. Both eggs perfectly sound as above.

Easter-Sunday. Both eggs sound, and given to the cat as before.

Holy-Week 1969.

The results as above were repeated. This time my wife and family were eye-witnesses and will corroborate the findings as reported here. There were however, some variations insofar that the Good-Friday egg was not fertile and therefore had no "black-spot"; and we extended the experiment through to Easter Monday, All eggs laid from Good-Friday through to Easter Monday inclusive were without any sign of putrefaction.

It is intended to repeat this experiment this coming Easter also only this time extending the dates covered to include the Jewish Orthodox festivals as well.

Should anyone feel inclined to repeat this highly significant experiment for themselves and report on their findings, the results would be of the greatest possible interest to the author of this report. Here is a chance to perform an Alchemical experiment with no apparatus at all, other than that provided by nature and the cosmos. Only one condition is suggested--that only eggs from fowls kept under natural conditions be used.

As the writer notes specifically that only eggs from chickens living under natural conditions should be used this will of course exclude any store bought eggs, or such that one may get "first hand" fresh from a chicken farm where the fowl is kept confined to their coops. Free running chickens should be watched as to where they lay their eggs and above all the time and day involved. Naturally this requires some time and attention, but then, this is an experiment that has to be verified to qualify as scientific. It may be added that the moon's phase, sign etc. as it prevailed at Eastertime, should be noted and by inference and deduction similar prevailing conditions used for the experiment.

QUESTION NO. 9--When in my Soxhlet Extractor the thimble has become worn and no replacements are available for some time, is there any other way to keep on extracting without a thimble?

Answer: Yes, there is. Lay a piece of sterile cotton on the bottom of the extractor so that it forms a filter for the opening of the syphon tube and leaves a layer of about 1/2 -1 inch on the bottom of the extractor. You will now have more room to put your substance to be extracted in the Extractor chamber than when using a thimble. Keep extracting the usual way. The cotton will prevent the clogging of the syphon tube with solids and will become colored from the extract. When the cotton again washes white it is a sure sign that your extraction is completed.

QUESTION NO. 10--In Bulletin No. 41, 1969, on page 489 it reads that all measurements used by the P.R.S. are to be "Troy Weight." This is confusing with present day standards. Why do you use this kind of measurement?

Answer: We were not specific enough in our announcement. The above refers to those formulas as given by former alchemists when their weights and measures were listed. Any such repeated experiment will use the formula as given in Bulletin No. 41. In our present day investigations and tests we use the worldwide scientifically used and accepted metric system.

QUESTION NO. 11--What can be done to get a higher degree of heat from an ordinary Fisher burner?

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Answer: Use some ordinary cement asbestos transite pipe. Cut so that you can partly immerse your crucible in the cylinder and yet have it above the flame of the burner. Cut some air holes in the bottom for oxygen supply and leave enough of an opening on top so that the flame will not be extinguished for lack of oxygen.

QUESTION NO. l2--Will a distillate contain all the essentials to be obtained from a menstrum?

Answer: It will contain as much as can be distilled from it. However, the first one seventh up to one fourth of either steam (water) or other volatile (alcohol etc.) extracted tincture actually contains the volatile essence by way of distillation. The sulphur and salt will ordinarily stay behind.

QUESTION NO. 13-Salt of calcined Melissa was fused in a furnace and showed yellow. When dissolved again in dist. water it produced a yellow tincture from the originally white calcined salt (mineral). How come?

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Answer: Apparently not all the alchem. sulphur was taken out by either maceration or extraction methods used and showed up again in the above water solution.

QUESTION NO. 14--The ancient alchemists claimed that the heavenly influences play an important part in the extraction of their elixiers. Is this so?

Answer: Students attending classes are well aware of this fact. Their own results in their home laboratories has only too often revealed this sometimes aggravating and disappointing evidence. What had been done by them in the P.R.S. Laboratories with ease could not be repeated at home. Lack of knowledge of these contributing factors is the cause. We take from the file a recent report from a student who after years of likewise futile experiments has come up with some of his own experiences concerning your question. Here are his findings:

Planetary Influences on the Oils of Metals

PRS Students concerned with producing the Oils of Metals have repeatedly posed the question: "Why so great a variation in the time of extraction? It appears that some oils are produced in a matter of hours, others take weeks or months. In one instance there was no result after almost two years. In such a case it may be presumed that an oil will never manifest. These unsatisfactory results led to a number of evaluations based on Tropical Astrology.

Accurate records were kept and charted on many experiments for the time a menstrum was poured over a metal. This should be called a Conception Chart because it is certainly not the time of the birth of an Oil; it is the time which begins a process. Charts were also erected on experiments that had been previously initiated when the day was known.

In the beginning both Midnight Conception (Solar type) and Natal (for the moment of Conception) Charts were erected. It soon became apparent that, in most cases, it was only necessary to erect a simple Solar Chart with the Sign occupied by the Sun placed in the first House. These figures were easily obtained from an Ephemeris.

At first all recognized planetary configurations were plotted but the results were obscure. The patterns of reaction were not clearly defined. Then Vulcan's placement was added to the charts. The book that Frater Carl Stahl had so generously given to the Subscribers of the PRS Bulletins in January of 1968, describing in detail how to find the position of Vulcan for any date, was dusted off and pressed into service. When the placement of Vulcan was added to the charts the patterns of reaction became more apparent.

The following material is best presented by anology because the correspondences are analogus, not actual. For instance, the Sun is said to represent the Soul as well as Sulphur analagously. The idea of analogy and the basic Astrology taught in the First Year Class is all that is necessary for a clear understanding of that which follows. The logic is elementary.

The Sun represents the Alchemical Element Sulphur. The Planet Mercury represents the Alchemical Element Mercury and Menstrum. The ruling planet of the metal (say the Moon for Silver) represents the Alchemical Element.Salt. The Planet Vulcan represents the INNER FIRE. As we have been taught, in Alchemy the regulation of the fire is of primary importance. In these extractions the Inner Fire is the only one that we have to regulate. This is of special importance since the menstrum used is the very volatile, etherial menstrum revealed in the Mineralia B Class. All other planets are irrelevant and may be disregarded in these charts. The planets that demand attention are those that represent Sulphur, Salt, Mercury, and the Inner Fire.

To combine our analogy, it was observed that from the most rapid, satisfactory result the relevant planets, with the sometime exception of the Salt ruler, should be in the same House at the time of conception. This appears to be a logical sequence since the House represents the Form or Mould into which the planetary influences are poured. The House symbolically represents the pot or Cosmic Flask in which the Sulphur, Mercury and Fire are placed in order to produce an oil.

It was observed that Vulcan produced its best result when positioned at the bottom of the flask; that is, to possess the greatest degree of arc below the meridian or the cusp of the first House. Too, if heat is desired it should be placed below that which is to be heated else there is a drying action. The Sun should be between Mercury and Vulcan. If the Salt be represented in the same House, which it seldom is, then the Salt should be nearest the cusp of the House; that is, to have the least degree of are.

The following is a segment of a Midnight Conception Chart for an experiment set up to extract the Oil of Siver on November 9, 1969. The Oil of Silver was produced in approximately 96 hours. This chart displays the most ideal relative planetary values that have been observed to date.

It will be noted from the diagram that Vulcan is positioned at the bottom of the House or Cosmic flask. Rising, there is the Sun which represents the Sulphur or oil that is to be extracted, Mercury which represents the menstrum which must actively extract the oil and the Moon which represents the Salt from which the Sulphur is to be separated.

It is patent that the planets have an apparent counterclockwise motion in such a chart since they travel in their orbits in that direction. However, it is also plain that a House rises clockwise approximately fifteen degrees per hour due to the rotation of the Earth. Therefore, initial activity is in a clockwise or rising direction. This explanation is offered for suggesting that the relevant planets be placed in their relative positions--aside from the fact that these are positions that produce results.

If the Chart for the Oil of Silver for the above date were complete Saturn would be found five degrees retrograde in Taurus and Mars three degrees in Aquarius. Therefore, Saturn is in opposition to our Mercury and Salt and Mars squares them. It was upon this basis and other charts with similar malific aspects that it was decided to disregard the position of irrelevant planets.

Lunar aspects were considered but it appears that the general sign and position of the Moon is not of great importance; however, the Moon's phases are important. When relevant planets were properly positioned the most significant results were obtained on the increase of the Moon and at the first, second and full quarters. The decrease of the Moon and the fourth quarter appear not to be conducive to a rapid result. The above mentioned Oil of Silver was set up on the day of the New Moon, so both the quarter and the increase were favorable.

The best position for the planet representing the Salt has not been determined. It has been observed that when the Salt joined the other relevants in the House of Conception that the Salt should be nearest the cusp. In general the Salt was observed to occupy the most prolific position when above the Horizon but not squared or in opposition to the Sun, Vulcan or Mercury.

When Vulcan occupies a House adjacent to the House of Conception results were considerably slowed, and similarly with Mercury. If both planets are located in an adjacent House at conception a result will probably never appear. Even with Mercury in an adjacent House and Vulcan within two degrees of the Cusp of an adjacent House results are unlikely.

The experiments were performed on the oxides of Reagent Grade Metals except in the case of Gold and Silver where Hastings Foil was used. The menstrum revealed in the Mineralia B Class was used throughout. Flasks of an erlenmeyer shape (slope sided) and neoprene (non-reactive) stoppers were used. The seven basic metals were chiefly considered though the halftone metals appear to respond in an identical manner.

Experiments run under partial vacuum render a more rapid result but the conditions of the seven basics tested were uniformly under normal atmospheric pressure. Be advised that when producing a partial vacuum to obtain an oil with the above mentioned menstrum an asperator or vacuum pump should be used. To apply heat to this menstrum is to court disaster. An asperator can produce 16 inches of vacuum with no difficulty.

This report is far from conclusive. Many more experiments must be initiated. It is hoped that those who have had the training will join in this investigation. To those who do be consistent. Use the same grade metals and menstrum as well as the same type flask and stoppers. Do not use the black, reactive rubber stoppers unless covered with a nonreactive material such .as saran wrap. Record the time the menstrum is poured over the metal at least to the nearest ten minutes. In most cases a Solar Chart is all that is necessary but in other instances a more accurate chart must be constructed to properly reveal relative values, especially in the case of Vulcan. If partial vacuum is used note it. Indicate astrological system used. Tropical was employed exclusively for this report. The Sidereal system could reveal variations though general interpretation should be the same. Do keep a record of the Moon's sign and phase. This could have a great bearing which has not as yet been observed. Be certain that you have an oil. Color or lack of color in a menstrum is not conclusive evidence for an oil. One Frater produced a beautiful color for an Oil of Gold in a short period of time but when it was purified and the menstrum removed there was no trace of an oil.

Bring your results to your next class and compare information. In this manner problems are resolved.

Note: It is most gratifying to the P.R.S. to have students answer by their own results questions for their fellow students. That is the way it should be.

QUESTION NO. 15--My oleum vitelli throws down considerable feces shortly after filtration. Repeated filtrations with slow papers still do not remedy this condition. When the oleum stands, sometimes for weeks and months, there is always a precipitate.

Answer: Take the smallest funnel you have. Insert some cotton to stopper the funnel outlet with just enough cotton on the bottom to keep the cotton from being pushed through the opening with the oil. It is slow filtering but will eliminate your problems.

Translations from Our Old Books

Excert from the work OPUS VEGETABILE by Johannis Isaci Hollandi, Amsterdam, 1659, page 42.

"Since you would ask me what kind of herb and how much of it I have to take, if hot or dry, or whatever nature these may be, I shall answer you: take all kinds of herbs, as I have mentioned before. Hot and cold, dry and moist. The more different kinds of herbs that are being used at one time the better it is.

"As you do find when many people are gathered together their strength increases as one leads the other. So it is with quite a few of the herbs that have attained to their state of perfection. When such are taken by men they will perform wonders, because each herb has its own function to perform, and when combined with herbs will remove all imperfections in men. No affliction that has befallen men can remain within him, except he was born with it, otherwise such medicine could not be called Quinta Essentia.

"If someone would be possessed by the devil and given the Quinta Essentia, at the very hour the evil spirit would have to leave him, because no evil spirit can endure under it."

Old Alchemist's Prayer

O Lord I wish for the love of Thee, that I may keep from all sin. Help me to do all I do to Thy glory and according to Thy will, whether my nature likes it or not. I would fain be to Thee what Thy hand is to man.

In the Next Bulletin

Frater Albertus' personal experience with the firewalkers on a South Sea Island.

About the plant that gives off more moisture the dryer and hotter it gets.

More intriguing questions and answers.

What is Alchemy?

 Alchemical Research
of the Paracelsus Research Society does NOT
constitute an attempt to delve into antiquated
arts or sciences, with an objective of rejuvenating
outmoded and outdated pseudo-scientific
postulations.

 Alchemical Research
of the Paracelsus Research Society DOES consist
of attempts to reinvestigate all scientific en-
deavors ancient, medieval or contemporary,
that may not have received considerations
which they deserve, due to the then prevailing
circumstances.

 Alchemical Research
of the Paracelsus Research Society has revealed
that Alchemy is not a pseudo-science or the
forerunner'of present chemistry alone. In-
stead, Alchemy has been established as the
fountainhead of all arts and sciences. Alchemy
has been found to be the way of evolution
encompassing noumena and phenomena on
terrestrial and supra-terrestrial planes of aware-
ness.

 Alchemical Research
of the Paracelsus Research Society deserves
impartial support and recognition alike from
both scientist and laymen, who seek for the
noumena of all phenomena.

 Alchemical Research
of the Paracelsus Research Society helps to
awaken potentials lying dormant within man.
Sincere investigators participating in this fasci-
nating research will be able to produce the
evidence in the laboratory and within them-
selves.