Description
Book SynopsisThe practice of spagyrics is the application of ancient alchemical working methods to the preparation of tinctures, essences, and other products from medicinal plants. While ordinary tinctures and infusions use only a part of the great curative potential of plants, spagyric methods “open” medicinal plants completely to reveal their more powerful healing properties. Drawing on the rich imagery and symbolism of ancient source materials, Manfred M. Junius describes these methods in great detail, showing readers how to prepare plant remedies alchemically for their own use as well as imparting a knowledge of the ideological world in which alchemistic and hermetic thought flowered. Spagyricsincludes the Plant Magistery of Paracelsus and the Life Elixir recipe of Andreas Libavius among its historic techniques as well as a wealth of scientific information that demonstrates the greater efficacy of alchemical methods of plant essence extraction. This classic source text preserves the nearly forgotten but highly valuable methods of this true hermetic art for preparing natural remedies.
Trade Review“Simply put, this is a classic text on plant alchemy, or spagyrics, for the modern practitioner. . . . Anyone serious about learning alchemy needs to have a copy.” * Mark Stavish, director of the Institute of Hermetic Studies and author of The Path of Alchemy *
"What makes Junius's book so special is that it is a practical primer on the subject. Traditional methods are presented as well as more modernized suggestions, but all within the strict confines of tradition. . . . Highly recommended." * Cauldron Brasil, May 2007 *
If you've always been curious about the real nature of alchemy, this book will help you in that search. If you are looking for more holistic ways to heal, this book will supply many thought-provoking guidelines. It will be cherished by those already familiar with the subject matter, and represents a bold undertaking by its author." * Barbara Bamgerger Scott, Curled Up With a Good Book, Oct 2008 *
"The word means 'to draw out' and 'divide,' a basic principle of alchemy. The techniques date back at least to Paracelsus and have been said to release powerful healing properties from plants." * The American Herb Association, 24:4, February 2010 *
Table of ContentsFOREWORD BY BRIAN COTNOIR
PREFACE1 SPAGYRIA AND SPAGYRICS
2 ADVICE OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS
3 THE THREE PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES AND THE ELEMENTS
4 MERCURY, SULFUR, AND SALT IN THE PLANT WORLD
5 THE EXTRACTION OF THE THREE PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES FROM PLANTS
The Extraction of the Essential Oils, That Is,
of the Volatile Sulfur Mercury
Fixed Sulfur and Its Salt
Salt 6 THE STARS
The Foundations
Stars and Medicinal Plants
Days, Hours, and Rhythms of the Planets
The Exact Horoscope as the Basis for the Works 7 PREPARATION OF SPAGYRIC TINCTURES AND ESSENCES
8 CIRCULATION
9 THE PLANT MAGISTERY OF PARACELSUS
10 THE CIRCULATUM MINUS OF URBIGERUS
11 ELIXIR--CLYSSUS--VEGETABLE STONE
The Opus Vegetabile of M. Johannes Issac Hollandus
Tractatus de Quinta Essentia Vini
12 ALCHEMICAL SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
13 OLD WEIGHTS
EPILOGUE: HOW CAN WE HEAL?
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SPAGYRIC RESOURCES
INDEX
