THE SPIRIT OF MERCURY

But observe, likewise, that the spirit of salt also destroys the moon, and reduces it to a spiritual essence, according to my teaching, out of which the potable moon may be prepared. This spirit of the moon belongs to the spirit of the sun, as the female answers to the male, by the copulation or conjunction of the spirit of mercury or its oil. 

Water and earth are passive principles, the other three being active. The Spirit of Mercury is the most active, a subtile, piercing, light substance, that is more in motion than either of the others. It causes bodies to grow hence it is found in vegetables and animals, though little in minerals. 

AQUILA — is Birdlime, which appears reddish in the first coagulation. It is also the Spirit that is changed into Earth, i.e., the Spirit of Mercury, the stone itself. The Turba says The perfection of every single thing is in its own order. Therefore the adept fixes ten Eagles, etc. It is also said to be Sal Ammoniac and Fixed Sulphur. 

An Alchemist sat in his workshop after working for many days and nights to meditate on his failure to transmute anything into Gold. Being weary from his labors he fell into a deep sleep and, behold ... the Spirit of Mercury appeared to him and said ... 

It may perhaps simplify matters a little if I give at this point some of the alchemical terms used. The Spirit of Mercury, alternatively called the Quintessence of the Philosophers, Aqua Vitae, Water of Paradise,... 

In the previous chapter I spoke of the substances Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt as being analagous to the Spirit, Soul, and Body. What I intend to convey is that the Spirit of the Metal is the Spirit of Mercury (a volatile essence which in its gaseous state is an Aether), the Sulphur is the Soul or the Blood, and the Salt the Ashes or the Body. 

And that I may further declare what is the Essence, Matter and Form of the Spirit of Mercury, I say, that its Essence is blessed, its Matter spiritual, and its Form earthly, which yet must be understood by an incomprehensible way these are indeed harsh... 

In many ways, both Canada and the United States continue to be involved in a unique experiment of co-operative management of serious environmental issues which plague a shared international resource. Despite the institutional complexity and the history of abuse that man s activities have wrought on the Great Lakes, the experiment to restore and protect them has had several successes typhoid and cholera were eradicated eutrophication problems are now largely under control and where adequate control programs for toxic chemicals have been implemented and enforced (e.g., mercury, DDT, PCBs), there have been associated declines in concentrations in the lakes. These successes have been due in no small way to the spirit of co-operation that has continued to exist between Canada and the United States and the unique institutional arrangements entered into by the two countries. 

The effect of salt is to fix or volatilize, according as it is prepared and used. For the spirit of the salt of tartar, if extracted by itself without any addition, has power to render all metals volatile by dissolution and putrefaction, and to dissolve quick or liquid silver into the true mercury, as my practical directions shew. 

In a later passage Lemery observes the odd fact that the acid of sea salt (hydrochloric) will precipitate mercury previously dissolved by another acid, the spirit of niter (nitric acid) ... 

All the machinery of the world composes only one body, all the parts of which are bound by means which partake of the nature of the extremes. This bond is hidden, this knot is secret but it is not the less real, and it is by mean of it that all these parts lend themselves to mutual aid, since there is a relation, and a true commerce between them. The emissary spirits of the superior natures make and maintain this communication some go away while others come some return to their source while others descend from it the last come takes their place, the others depart in their turn, still others succeed them and by this continual flux and reflux Nature is renewed and maintained. These are the wings of Mercury, by the aid of which this messenger of the gods made such frequent visits to the inhabitants of the Heavens and the Earth. 

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