Alchemy

The Three Principles:

Salt is the third heavenly substance in alchemy and represents the final manifestation of the perfected Stone. The Emerald Tablet calls it “the Glory of the Whole Universe.” For Paracelsus, Salt was like a balsam the body produced to shield itself from decay. It has also been associated with the Ouroboros, the Stone, and the Astral Body. In general, Salt represents the action of thought on matter, be it the One Mind acting on the One Thing of the universe or the alchemist meditating in his inner laboratory.

It is an abundant, tasteless, odorless, multivalent non-metal. Sulfur, in its native form, is a yellow crystalline solid. In nature, it can be found as the pure element or as sulfide and sulfate minerals. It is an essential element for life and is found in several amino acids. Also considered a transcendent elemental alchemy symbol – sulfur represents the multiplicity of human nature and the eternal aspiration to reach enlightenment. As indicated by the symbol, sulfur represents the triad of ascension – which can be viewed as a holy trinity. Sulfur is also one of the three heavenly substances in alchemical science.

A heavy, silvery, transition metal, mercury is one of only two elements that are liquid at room temperature. Also referred to as Quicksilver this elemental alchemy symbol is highly revered because of its dual nature. Therefore, Mercury is often seen as a transcendent element.