The Hermetic Museum, Vol. II — trans. A. E. Waite (1893)

Now, according to the ancient Sages there are two principles of things, and more particularly of metals, namely, Sulphur and Mercury ; according to the Moderns there are three: Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, and the source of these principles are the elements ; of which it therefore behoves us to speak first. Beit known to the students of this Art that there are four elements, and that each has at its centre another element which makes it whatitis. "These are the four pillars of the world. "They were in the beginning evolved and moulded out of chaos by the hand of the Creator; and it is their contrary action. which keeps up the harmony and equilibrium of the mundane machinery ; it is they which, through the virtue of celestial influences, produce all things above and beneath the earth. We will say a few words about each of them in due order of succession ; and first of all about the nearest element, Earth.

ZUR ONDE, - ORBI ACA DLIGET. I3I

Concerning Elementary EavtA.

Earth is an element of considerable quality and dignity. In this element the other three, especially fire, ave latent. It is admirably adapted both to the concealment and to the manifestation of things committed to it. Itisgross and porous, specifically heavy, but naturally light. It is also the Centre of the World and of the other elements ; through its centre passes the axis of the earth to both poles. It is porous, as we have said, like a sponge, and produces nothing of itself; but it receives all that the other three project into it, conscientiously conceals what it should hide, and brings to light that which it should manifest. Whatsoever is committed to it putrefies in it through the action of motive heat, and is multiplied by the separation of the pure from the impure. Heavy substances are hidden in it. Light substances are driven by heat toits surface. It is the nurse and womb of all seed and commixtion ; and these seeds and compounds it faithfully preserves and fosters till the season of maturity. It is cold and dry, but its dryness is tempered with water ; outwardly it is visible and fixed ; inwardly it is invisible and volatile. It isa virgin substance, and dead residue of the creative distillation of the world, which God will one day calcine, and after extracting the humour, create out of it a new crystalline earth. In its present state it consists of a pure and an impure element. "The first is used by water for producing natural forms ; the latter remains where it is. It is also the storehouse of all treasures, and in its centre is the Gehennal fire, conserving the machine of the world, and this by the expression of water, which it converts into air. "This fire is produced by perpetual motion, and the influences of the Stars; it is aided by the Solar heat, which is tempered by the atmosphere, and the two together mature the growth of all things. For this reason the element of earth has fire intrinsically, and the earth is purified by this inward fire, as every element is purified by that which is in it. The inmost part, or centre of the earth, is then the highest purity mixed with fire, in which there is ceaseless motion, and we have shewn at some length in the twelve Treatises that it is, as it were, an empty space, into which the other elements project their products. It is enough for us to remember that this elementary earth is like a sponge, and the receptacle of all other elements.

I2

Concerning Elementary Water.