Emerald Tablet
Esoteric deep dive
As my art is rich with symbols and dreamlike imagery, I decided to delve more deeply into the context of esoteric knowledge. The Emerald Tablet seemed a good place to look.
The Emerald Tablet is a Hermetic text. It was apparently held in high regard by early alchemists.
Things to ponder
The text of the Emerald Tablet, as translated by Isaac Newton, is as follows:
Tis true without lying, certain & most true.
That which is below is like that which is above & that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracles of one only thing.
The Sun is its father, the moon its mother, the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth is its nurse.
The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.
Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.
Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry.
It ascends from the earth to the heaven & again it descends to the earth & receives the force of things superior & inferior.
By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world.
& thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.
Its force is above all force. For it vanquishes every subtle thing & penetrates every solid thing.
So was the world created.
From this are & do come admirable adaptations whereof the means (or process) is here in this. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegist, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.
That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished & ended.
Analysis
According to my research, the central idea is contained in the line:
That which is below is like that which is above & that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracles of one only thing.
Alchemy is defined as consciousness relating to matter. The above is consciousness and the below is the physical realm. The physical realm is structured thought. The mind is the intermediary between consciousness and structured thought.
Philosopher’s Stone
(also known as the Great Work)
Depicts three Alchemical symbols combined.
Outer Circle: infinite potential-undifferentiated consciousness- infinity
Triangle: Soul-Spirit-Body
Square: four elements (fire, water, air, earth)
Inner Circle: the one thing-Infinity-all of it brought together.
Philosophy of alchemy
Everything in life comes from the one same source which is the first matter, the prima materia.
The first matter always expresses itself in one of three ways: sulfur, mercury, and salt.
All expression is seen as a trinity. That trinity was “the one.” And “the one” was the source.
Sulfur is the soul. Mercury is the spirit. Salt is the body.
SALT: According to Webster’s Dictionary, a body is a material structure that embodies or gives concrete reality to an abstract thing. Abstract means an idea. Therefor, a body is structured ideas.
MERCURY: According to Webster’s Dictionary, Spirit is the mind. Mind is an inherent faculty of consciousness. Faculty is power. Therefore, Mind is the inherent power of consciousness.
SULFUR: Soul is the actuating cause.
Being and thinking create reality.