Karrma
Here is a couple of brief summaries on the metal alchemy of mercury, sulfur, and salt.
A good clear website is here.
http://altreligion.about.com/od/westernocculttraditio1/p/salt-sulfer-mercury.htm
Alchemy in the more chemical sense.
Mercury. An element, ailement, now known as the only metal element to be liquid at room temp. Also known as quicksilver. Different metals can be dissolved in Mercury, so it is known as the great dissolver.
Metals were thought to have a metallic seed, which as a seed, could grow and multiply. Thus, a seed of gold, could be nurtured, and grow more gold. Mercury was thought to be the only liquid in which metal seeds (such as gold) could grow. Silver = lunar Liquid = feminine. The white queen. The womb for metal alchemy.
The most common form of mercury salt is Cinnabar, or mercuric sulfide, an impure rock salt.
Heat Cinnabar to boiling, and the sulfide and oxygen form the gas sulfur dioxide, and the mercury gas then cools to form pure mercury.
Reverse the process. Mix and heat mercury and sulfur together, in a Hermetically sealed bottle, (airtight, no oxygen allowed), and the Mercury and sulfur combine to form Vermillion Red, a purified salt.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/2008/10/d830e807-d27c-4633-a17a-b8327f08f373HiRes.JPG
Sulfur, is Brimstone. It is yellow, can be mixed with the metals and changes them, can burn. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sulfur-burning-at-night.png
So it is hot, dry, the active changer = masculine. The Red King.
A more complex picture of alchemy symbolism and animals can be found here. http://www.alchemywebsite.com/animal.html
I hope there is enough different types of information, that it will become a bit easier to remember.
A good clear website is here.
http://altreligion.about.com/od/westernocculttraditio1/p/salt-sulfer-mercury.htm
Alchemy in the more chemical sense.
Mercury. An element, ailement, now known as the only metal element to be liquid at room temp. Also known as quicksilver. Different metals can be dissolved in Mercury, so it is known as the great dissolver.
Metals were thought to have a metallic seed, which as a seed, could grow and multiply. Thus, a seed of gold, could be nurtured, and grow more gold. Mercury was thought to be the only liquid in which metal seeds (such as gold) could grow. Silver = lunar Liquid = feminine. The white queen. The womb for metal alchemy.
The most common form of mercury salt is Cinnabar, or mercuric sulfide, an impure rock salt.
Heat Cinnabar to boiling, and the sulfide and oxygen form the gas sulfur dioxide, and the mercury gas then cools to form pure mercury.
Reverse the process. Mix and heat mercury and sulfur together, in a Hermetically sealed bottle, (airtight, no oxygen allowed), and the Mercury and sulfur combine to form Vermillion Red, a purified salt.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/2008/10/d830e807-d27c-4633-a17a-b8327f08f373HiRes.JPG
Sulfur, is Brimstone. It is yellow, can be mixed with the metals and changes them, can burn. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sulfur-burning-at-night.png
So it is hot, dry, the active changer = masculine. The Red King.
A more complex picture of alchemy symbolism and animals can be found here. http://www.alchemywebsite.com/animal.html
I hope there is enough different types of information, that it will become a bit easier to remember.
