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The Emerald Tablet
True it is, without falsehood, certain and most true. That which is above is like that which is below, and that which is below is like that which is above, to accomplish the miracle of unity. Everything is formed from the contemplation of unity, and all things come about from unity, by means of adaptation. Thus you shall have the glory of the illumination of all the world, and all obscurity will fly far from you. This is the power of all strength - it overcomes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid substance. This was the means of the creation of the world. In the future wonderful adaptations will be achieved, and this is the way. I am Hermes the Threefold Sage, so named because I hold the three elements of all wisdom.
If you are familiar with my articles about Mars and Venus you know that the associations attached to the gods of the twelve star-signs have changed and grown throughout history. As these associations represent qualities of life, their complexity and the multitude of aspects amongst them gives us insight of the enormity of intelligence needed to invent and maintain what we call life. To the medieval alchemists Mercury was the metal symbolizing duality. Metallic yet liquid, matter yet spirit, cold yet fiery; Mercury was the metal uniting all the opposites. The fact that this metal only adheres to precious metals gave rise to the idea -metaphorically speaking- that Hermes is the god who can show us the way to spiritual gold. It’s not about a physical transformation from lead to gold but about understanding the underlying miracle of unity.
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