第30章

Organic Alchemy deals exclusively with living, organic things, and in this connection differs from the Alchemy of inorganic matter.These two aspects may, in this one respect, be compared to organic and inorganic chemistry, to which originally they belonged; as astrology did to astronomy.Alchemy and astrology--twin sisters--were the parents of the modern offspring, known in chemistry and astronomy as exact science.These latter, however, deal with shadows and phenomenal illusions, while the former concern the living realities, which produce them.Therefore, there can be "no new thing under the sun," saith Solomon.

First, let us deal with the most lovely form of our art, that which pertains to the floral and vegetable kingdoms.Every flower or blade of grass, every tree of the forest and stagnant weed of the swamp, is the outcome of, and ever surrounded by, its corresponding degree of spirituallife.There is not a single atom but what is the external expression of some separate, living force, within the spaces of Aeth, acting in unison with the dominant power corresponding with the type of life.

If science could only behold this wonderful laboratory within the vital storehouse of Nature, she would no longer vainly seek for THE ORIGIN OF LIFE, nor wonder, what may have become of the missing link in scientific evolution, because, she would quickly realize that, biogenesis is the one grand truth of both animate and inanimate Nature, the central, living source of which is God.Science would also, further realize that, this biune life is ever in motion throughout the manifested universe; circulating around the focii of creative activities, which we term suns, stars, and planets, awaiting the conditions which are ever present for material incarnation; and under all possible combinations of circumstances and conditions, conceivable and inconceivable, adapting itself to continuous phenomenal expression.Links, so called, in this mighty chain of evolution, may appear to be missing here and there, and, for that matter, whole types may seem to be wanting, but, this is only because of our imperfect perception, and, in any case, can make no real difference with the facts, because, if such be a reality, if there be what we may term MISSING LINKS in the scheme of evolution, it only shows that spirit, although associated with, is ever independent of matter.

But matter--what is to become of it? Is it independent of spirit? The kindness of the Divine spirit heeds not the unconscious mind of matter and its boasted independence, and works silently on, and at last, accomplishes its mission--the evolution of matter, the uplifting of the soul of man, as well as the universe.The blindness of man is dense, and the saddest part to admit is that, they will so stubbornly remain so.

If, for one instant, the penetrating eye of the soul could shine forth through the physical orbs of vision, and imprint the scenes, beheld behind the veil, upon the tablets of the brain of the physical organism, a fire would be kindled that, could never be quenched by the fascinating allurements of the material, perishable things, of matter.

That development of the real atom of biune life can, and does, go forward, irrespective of the gradation of physical types, needs noconvincing proof, other than visible Nature.

MAN IS NOT THE OUTCOME OF PHYSICAL EVOLUTION, andproduced by a series of blind laws, that lead him upward from protozoa to man, as a child climbs up stairs, advancing regularly, ONE STEP AS A TIME.This latter conception, we know, is the theory of exact science, but not of Alchemy, not of the science of Occultism.Man, according to Wallace, Darwin, Huxley, and Tyndall, is what progressive stages of physical evolution have made him.But the very reverse is true.The fauna and flora of past geological periods are what the human soul has produced, by virtue of its gradual advancement to higher states and conditions of life, so that, so far from man being the outcome of the planet's development, such material progress is the outgrowth of man's advancement, proving again that, matter is not independent of spirit, neither can spirit be independent of matter for its expressions.They so interblend that, the dividing line cannot be detected by the untrained eye of the exact scientist.But, that time is not far distant, when the scientists will prepare and evolve their interior being to take up the spiritual thread, exactly where the visible thread ends, and carry forth the work, as far as the mortal mind of man can penetrate, while embodied in the physical form.

God hasten this day is my prayer, for then man will become more spiritual and aspiring for advancement and knowledge, thus, setting up vibrations that will create higher and loftier conditions for the physical man.Aye! then they will know that, even the birth of the world itself, owes its primal genesis to the desire of the human atom for earthly embodiment.

Here is where exact science, or the counterpart of Alchemy, becomes both profitable and helpful.Says Paracelsus: "The true use of chemistry is not to make gold, but to prepare medicines." He admits four elements--the STAR, the ROOT, the ELEMENT and the SPERM.These elements were composed of the three principles, SIDERIC SALT, SULPHUR, and MERCURY.Mercury, or spirit, sulphur, or oil, and salt, and the passive principles, water and earth.Herein we see the harmony of the two words, Alchemy and Chemistry.One is but the continuation of the other, and they blend so into each other that, they are not complete, apart.