Introductory Alchemic Terms
Alchemy, noun also: alchemical or alchemic, adjective; alchemically, adverb; alchemise, verb
1. the practice of transmutation utilizing physical substances and chemicals
2. the process of taking the ordinary and changing it to a more perfect form
3. the search for perfection
I am Delair Dedralitte. Before I begin, I warn you that this book is not a tome of experiments or recipes; nor is it an all-encompassing study of the art. Herein lie the most common terminologies and tools utilized throughout the practice. I do not intend to lead you; rather, I intend to entice you to seek of your own accord.
Alchemy, at its finest, is a delicate study passed down from generation to generation by the teachers and scholars who came before us. The alchemy detailed here is of the physical brand, improving upon pre-existing substances to bring them closer to perfection- the heart of it all. Such is the core of alchemy.
The first step to the practice of alchemy is to become acquainted with safety equipment. An explosion in the lab may lead to a number of side-effects, such as poisoning; injury; or death. That is why one must possess sturdy aprons, gloves, sleeves, masks and eyewear to minimize contact with dangerous chemicals.
Next is to understand the tools themselves. Herein is a collection of what must be present for a lab to be prepared.
Alembic: Used for the distillation and separation of liquids and substances; consists of a pear-shaped body topped by a venting hood. By attaching tubes to the hood, heated vapors may be emptied into a waiting receptacle.
Aqua fortis: "Strong water"; acid prepared via distilling saltpeter with vitriol or oil of vitriol, composed primarily of nitric acids.
Aqua regis: "Royal water"; acid capable of dissolving gold, prepared by dissolving sal ammoniac in aqua fortis.
Aqua vitae: "Water of life"; a concentrated solution of distilled alcohol, typically wine.
Balance & Scales: Necessary for accurate measuring of weights and amounts, typically made from steel or bronze.
Braziers: Small brazier for heating an individual or bottle; can be loaded with candles or charcoal, depending on size and degree of control.
Burettes: Thin glass tubes blown into long cylinders to measure from 1/10th ounce to full ounce.
Corks: Used to stopper any containers from glass vials to ceramic jars; specialized corks have holes drilled through them so tubes and coils can be connected to heated beakers or alembics for distillations.
Crucible: Porcelain or ceramic vessel in which things are heated to high temperatures, often to melting point; each lab should have one large and one small crucible.
Cupel: A shallow, porous, heat-resistant vessel used to separate noble metals from base metals, usually within kiln; commonly used for silver refining.
Distilling coil: Piece of glassware allowing vaporous condensation. Vapors rise from crucible or alembic into coil, condensing back into a new liquid by radiating away heat as it moves down the coil to collect in a condensation beaker.
Glassware: Small, medium and large pieces of glassware- beakers, tubes, vials, jars, bottles and cups; some are opaque to protect contents from light.
Kiln or oven: An iron oven or charcoal-heated ceramic kiln is necessary for creation of powders and higher-end alchemical substances.
Mortar & pestle: A crushing implement used to break up or combine ingredients for compounds and substances.
Retort: Glass alembic with sealable openings at both ends, used for distillation of liquids.
Finally, a budding alchemist may acquaint themselves with the basic notions of natural alchemy: the Three Primes, the Four Principles, and the Seven Aspects.
The three primes, also called "tria prima", are Sulfur (flammability), Quicksilver (volatility) and Salt (solidity).
The four principles are the four natural elements: fire (heat), air (cold), earth (dryness) and water (moisture). If we follow the philosophy of Chessentan alchemy, these go hand-in-hand with the four stages: black melanosis (to cleanse into black matter), white leucosis (to wash away impurities), yellow xanthosis (to transform the remains) and red iosis (to make the imperfect whole).
Many alchemical branches consider these to be key components of creating one's magnum opus, or great work. They may be attained through the alchemical processes, which will be explained in a future volume.
The seven aspects and their dominating planets are gold (Sol), silver (Selûne), copper (Anadia), iron (Coliar), tin (Karpri), quicksilver (H'catha), and lead (Glyth). These aspects are considered to be core components of alchemy, both physical and philosophical.
With this scant knowledge, I entrust you to the spirit of alchemy: experimentation. Whether it is a transmutation of organic substance or transformation of spiritual self, to experiment is to learn. Through experimentation, we study the way different substances coincide or counteract. We consider the alloys and their strengths to improve further upon their weaknesses.
We challenge ourselves, our people, our existence to be greater. Thus equipped with knowledge of the world and the self, we are able to ascend imperfection and become what we must be.