The Seven Stages of Alchemy and the

Thelemic Holy Books

Within Alchemy, we find the formula in the practical and spiritual sense, to reach attainment of our
Work. The process of initiation is symbolized by alchemical steps going from the black prima
material to the reddening and the gold of the fire phoenix. This initiatory cycle plays within us over
and over again in different phases of our life and is manifested in our magick, if we know it or not.
The philosophical and psychological aspect of Alchemy that points to the initiatory process is evident
and persistent within most of the Thelemic Holy Books. It gives markers to show the process of
initiation for the aspirant and his HGA within Liber LXV.
"Inside the Black (the attribute of the body) dwells the White (attribute of the spirit), inside the
White dwells the Red (attribute of soul). The process works in three worlds, the outer dark world, the
paradisiacal spiritual world, and the spark of light within." - From Hermaphrodite Child of the Sun
and Moon
CALCINATION Ruled by Saturn and Iron and is black in color. The Psychological aspect is the
destruction of the ego and our attachments to material possessions. The first encounters with our
inner self and the beginning of the Great Work. According to the Emerald Tablet, its father is the
Sun. The blackening process is a representation of the prima material, the black initial state of chaos
that springs forth all things - that separates all opposites for later union. Within union, the base one
dies and the more precious one is resurrected. The allegorical animals are the Black Crow, Raven,
Toad, and is the Massa Confusa.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, III:41. She hath slain her kinsfolk with strong venom of toads; she hath
been scourged with many rods.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, III:47. I am shed out like spilt blood upon the mountains; the Ravens of
Dispersion have borne me utterly away.
The Book of the Law, I:29. For I am divided for love's sake, for the chance of union.

DISSOLUTION is ruled by Jupiter and Tin and is Brown in Color, and is still part of the prima
material. Psychologically, it represents the feminine unconscious flow or Anima; the initial spark and
introduction to the etheric world. It is a representation of the soul, and catharsis. According to the
Emerald Tablet, its Mother is the Moon. It is referred to as the "Whitening" and the allegorical
representation is the White Swan, White Eagle and the Skeleton and is known as the "white
tincture". The White Eagle lays the Primordial Egg, which is represented with the serpent (Red Lion)
entwined.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente:II:17-25 -- Also the Holy One came upon me, and I beheld a white swan
floating in the blue.
Between its wings I sate, and the eons fled away.
Then the swan flew and dived and soared, yet no whither we went.
A little crazy boy that rode with me spake unto the swan, and said:
Who art thou that dost float and fly and dive and soar in the inane? Behold, these many eons have
passed; whence camest thou?
Whither wilt thou go? And laughing I chid him, saying: No whence! No whither!
The swan being silent, he answered: Then, if with no goal, why this eternal journey?
And I laid my head against the Head of the Swan, and laughed, saying: Is there not joy ineffable in
this aimless winging? Is there not weariness and impatience for who would attain to some goal?
And the swan was ever silent. Ah! but we floated in the infinite Abyss. Joy! Joy! White swan, bear
thou ever me up between thy wings!
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, II:31. Then came an eagle from the abyss of glory and overshadowed
him. So black was the shadow that he was no more visible.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, III:59. Therefore is the Eagle made one with the Man, and the gallows
of infamy dance with the fruit of the just.
SEPARATION is ruled by Mars and Iron and is Red in color. Its psychological aspect is in the process
of "letting go". It represents the Anima or the rational masculine aspect of the mind. According to the
Emerald Tablet, the Wind carries it in its belly. The allegorical themes are the Red Lion, Pelican,
Salamander, Red Stone (Red tincture), Blood, Dogs, the Serpent, and the image of a King in a Flask.

Teth is the path of the Lion and the Serpent. It is said that the pelican is feeding its young with their
own blood, which becomes more evident in the Empress Card:
from the Book of Thoth; The Empress (Atu III) : "The heraldry of the Empress is two-fold: on the one
side, the Pelican of tradition feeding its young from the blood of its own heart; on the other, the
White Eagle of the Alchemist." (pg.76)
Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli, III:33. Thou art like an osprey among the rice, I am the great red
pelican in the sunset waters.
Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli, III:13. So bright we could not look! But behold! a blood-red rose upon
a rood of glowing gold!
Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli, VI:39. For our red powder of projection is beyond all possibilities.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, III:37. I am like the little red dog that sitteth upon the knees of the
Unknown.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, IV:31. I felt the red lips of nature and the black lips of perfection. Like
sisters they fondled me their little brother; they decked me out as a bride; they mounted me for Thy
bridal chamber.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, V:22. Even as the diamond shall glow red for the rose, and green for the
rose-leaf; so shalt thou abide apart from the Impressions.
CONJUNCTION is ruled by Venus and Copper and is Green in color. Psychologically, it represents
the Union of Masculine and Feminine (Dissolution and Separation - Anima and Animus). This is also
a representation of the Union of the Self with the HGA. According to the Emerald Tablet, the Earth is
its nurse. Allegorically it is the Green Lion or Greening process. It is representative of the natural
occurrence of this Union within nature, represented by the Lust Trump (Atu IX).
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, IV:30. I came to the house of the Beloved, and the wine was like fire
that flieth with green wings through the world of waters.

Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, II:1. I passed into the mountain of lapis-lazuli, even as a green hawk
between the pillars of turquoise that is seated upon the throne of the East.
The Book of the Law, I:29. For I am divided for love's sake, for the chance of union.
FERMENTATION is ruled by Venus and is a second part of Conjunction. Also Green in color. This is
the spiritual spark out of the prima material., and also represents the desire for mystical union. It is
represented by a rapid cycling of iridescent colors, as in a Peacock's tail. This is the inner experience
of the astral world and can lead to a false sense of completion of the Work. According to the Emerald
Tablet, its role is to separate the Earth from Fire.
DISTILLATION is ruled by Mercury and is represented as Quicksilver. Psychologically, it is the
realization of divine higher love (Agape). It is the hermetic union of above and below - better known
as the Chymical Wedding.
This is the second of 3 unions in this formula - the first is union of nature, this one is union of
opposites, and the final is union of the highest. Distillation is allegorically represented by the
Unicorn and is known as the White Stone (not to be confused with the white tincture of the
whitening). In alchemical emblems, it is shown as a swan standing on both feet wearing a silver
crown which transmutes all metals into silver - this is known as the White Stone. See the Lovers
Trump (Atu VI) for further examination.
"Whoever knows how to make the Solid White Stone from the celestial Light, that is, from the
mystical Dry Fire, knows how to conduct the marriage of the solid queen and the solid red king.
Before you get any red, a gray ash appears which contains the hidden Phoenix. Then yellow orange
Red emerges from that ash, turning into red."- From Hermaphrodite Child of the Sun and Moon XI
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, I:29. I have found that which could not be found; I have found a vessel
of quicksilver.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, III:2. Wherein was a white unicorn with a silver collar, whereon was
graven the aphorism Linea viridis gyrat universa.
The Book of the Law, III:64. Let him come through the first ordeal, & it will be to him as silver.

Liber Tzaddi:38. I who am beyond Wisdom and Folly, arise and say unto you: achieve both
weddings! Unite yourselves with both!
COAGULATION is the final stage, the Gold of the Sun. It is the philosopher's stone - the completion
of the Work. It is the release of the Ultima Materia of the Soul - Solve et Coagula, phoenix from the
fire, final transmutation, etc.. See the Art Trump (Atu XIV) for further examination. Note that in the
previous Union of the Chymical wedding, the marriage occurs. This is the consummation of the
marriage - the Second and final union!
Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli, I:21. From the grey to the gold; from the gold to that which is beyond
the gold of Ophir.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, I:27. For I am the soft sinuous one entwined about thee, heart of gold!
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, II:7. Moreover I beheld a vision of a river. There was a little boat
thereon; and in it under purple sails was a golden woman, an image of Asi wrought in finest gold.
Also the river was of blood, and the boat of shining steel. Then I loved her; and, loosing my girdle,
cast myself into the stream.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, II:16. O serpent woman of the stars! I, even I, have fashioned Thee
from a pale image of fine gold.
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, V:15. Also he taught me the holy unutterable word Ararita, so that I
melted the sixfold gold into a single invisible point, whereof naught may be spoken.
The Book of the Law, III:64. Let him come through the first ordeal, & it will be to him as silver.
The Book of the Law, III:65. Through the second, gold.
*****
References:
Crowley, Aleister. The Book of Thoth. Ordo Templi Orientis, O.T.O. International Headquarters /
Postfach 332012, D-1418 / Berlin, Germany, 1944.

Crowley, Aleister. (1969) The Confessions of Aleister Crowley: An auto hagiography. Cape, London.
Also (1970) Hill and Wang, NY, NY and (1979) Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, England and
Boston, MA.
Crowley, Aleister. (1996) Commentaries on the Holy Books & Other Papers: The Equinox Vol. IV, No.
I with H.P. Blavatsky, J.F.C. Fuller & Charles Stansfeld Jones
Crowley, Aleister. Dictation & Discussion to Frater Omnia Pro Veritate [Norman Mudd] From Frater
O. M. [Edward Aleister Crowley] AC/typed ms., ND
Crowley, Aleister. (1983) The Holy books of Thelema. S. Weiser, York Beach, ME,.
Crowley, Aleister. (1974) Magical and philosophical commentaries on "The book of the law" Edited
and annotated by John Symonds and Kenneth Grant. 93 Publishing, Montreal, Canada and S.
Weiser, York Beach, ME.
Crowley, Aleister. Liber Samekh
Emerald Tablet of Hermes
Hermaphrodite Child of the Sun and Moon XI. (1997) Translated by Mike Brenner.
Jung, Carl. Jung on Active Imagination. (1997) Princeton University Press.
McLean, Adam. Animals in Alchemy. self published.
McLean, Adam. Birds in Alchemy self published
McMurtry, Grady Lousis ; preface by Maj. Grady Louis McMurtry X for the 1983 edition of
": The Holy Books of Thelema
Ovum Incantatum Neapolis: The Enchanted Egg of Naples . 15th Century Alchemical Text
Turba Philosophorum 12th Century Alchemical Text