The Hawthorne Essence Picking the herb.

First we need to locate a suitable Hawthorne tree to pick our herb for the Hawthorne Essence. Preferably we will want to use fruit, leaves and roots if possible.This Hawthorne fruit and leaves were picked late summer. It was quickly taken home, as some say the spirit begins to leave the Hawthorne herb quickly after picking. As always choosing an auspicious timing astrologically to work the Hawthorne Essence can take the work to another level and assist us in its realisation. This is in the strictest sense of the word, in my mind anyway an astrological talisman. More on this in a later post.

Hawthorne Essence. Beginning fermentation.

After discarding any dead, rotten matter. The Hawthorne was immersed in distilled rainwater. a small pinch of yeast and salt were added to aid fermentation. This coaxes a spirit " the liquid fraction of the Hawthorne Spagyric Remedy from its fixed dwelling space of the body matrix (its physical manifestation. The spirit is the most volatile portion. And one of the three essentials.

Fermentation finished its left to clear.

We want to clear the ferment, getting the matter ready for distillation to retrieve the spirit. Placed somewhere cool this can take many months. A beautiful red appears with the herb Hawthorn. the red is the sulphurs. With the spagyric way of working nothing is wasted.

Beautiful colour

The liquid which is now essentially a wine of Hawthorne, for our Hawthorne Essence. After the clearing it can be racked off and left to mature or we can proceed on with the distillation. It is beneficial to use astrological timings for our operations. I will speak more on this in a future post.

Distill off the spirit

If we are using astrology we pick a significant timing to distill the spirit off. This will be one of the elements for the Hawthorne Spagyric Remedy, Our Hawthorne Essence. We can use fancy distillation setups or just keep things simple. All will be revealed in time. For now just soak it up.

Hawthorne Essence. The three essentials

After the first distillation a spirit and subtle sulphur combination is realised. This is in the vessel marked Essence. It can be used as is. But we will go a few stages further to create the Hawthorne Spagyric Remedy. Our Hawthorne essence. On the first distillation a red gloopy substance remained. Look at the image.

Hawthorne Essence.Fixed sulphurs

The substance from the previous image labelled fixed salts etc. This is the fixed sulphur aspect. We refine this many times or we destroy any unwanted nature within, by trial of fire. Or both. Our Hawthorne Spagyric Remedy the Essence will use both aspects to create two new beings.

Preparation of fixed sulphurs

After preparation the fixed sulphurs will be so clear we can see right through it. Should we wish its acceptable at this stage to realise the fire principle and label it so. Locked within is the earth principle also " The salt ". All matter has the three principles and four elements realised within their nature.

First main calcination

We started the operations of fire with the first fermentation. " A subtle fire " breaking down and recombining the matter to create a new nature harnessed to serve the operator. We used fire to distill off the spirit and free it from its burdens. Now we use fire again to realise the body a first salt " fixed salts ". It can be a true labour of Hercules depending on the herb in question.

Ash from calcination

In symbolic fashion we can relate the process of calcination to a freeing up of the burdens in the life. The belief in a fixed body that moves through time and space with free will is the illusion. We work to break down this illusion. Likewise we break the carbon bonds to free our essential through the turning of dissolution and evaporation. Like the stuff of mind its illusory nature can be understood for what it is.

Ash processed to produce fixed salts

With much labour. heat pounding, grinding more heat. The ash turns ever lighter grey. A sure sign we are nearing the goal. When we are ready we wash the ash, filter and evaporate the residue. A beautiful thing to behold. Their is much symbolism within these processes. Much symbolism for meditation and inner work.

First circulation

Turning the water wheel.I use distilled rain water to purify the salts. Repetitive filtering and evaporation eventually reveals pure salts fit for our Arte. If we have calcined sufficiently our filtrate will be clear. maybe a little milky. If it is coloured muddy or maybe amder these are the sulphurs of the salt. We have not worked sufficiently to remove what is not conducive to our realisation. More work then.

Ash processed to produce fixed salts

With much labour. heat pounding, grinding more heat. The ash turns ever lighter grey. A sure sign we are nearing the goal. When we are ready we wash the ash, filter and evaporate the residue. A beautiful thing to behold. Their is much symbolism within these processes. Much symbolism for meditation and inner work.

First circulation

Having obtained the first salt to purity. The honey left from the wine distillation is now processed. This honey after calcination reveals a salt of similar purity to the first. This is the salts of Sulphur.If we obtained little to no volatile oils, This fixed sulphur can be used as a replacement for that volatile. Thsi creates an Essence of fixed nature so they say.

More calcination to reveal the ash

The processing of the salts of sulphur produces the most noxious fumes. We calcine this outdoors with good ventilation. The fixed salts of sulphur are wed with the salts of salts and the spirit volatile oil combo. If we obtained little to no volatile oils. Distillingthe spirit over the Honey Tars creates a potent tincture picking up some of these fixed oils.

Water / Fire salts of sulphur purity

Again we use water and fire to obtain pure white salts after much filtration. The cycle repeats to get the required level of purity. these salts once purified will be very sharp to the tongue. We work to volatilize these salts in the sacred marriage.

More calcination to reveal the ash

The processing of the salts of sulphur produces the most noxious fumes. We calcine this outdoors with good ventilation. The fixed salts of sulphur are wed with the salts of salts and the spirit volatile oil combo. If we obtained little to no volatile oils. Distillingthe spirit over the Honey Tars creates a potent tincture picking up some of these fixed oils.

Water / Fire salts of sulphur purity

Again we use water and fire to obtain pure white salts after much filtration. The cycle repeats this is a good meditation practice. The work as a physical external proceedure is mirrored within. There can be no external phenomina without an internal effect. As above so below.

We can reveal interesting structures from salts work

The purification of the salts is as tehy say a work of Hercules. It takes much patience and determination as the cycles repeat. The salts are a very important aspect of the herbal Solve et Coagula " seperate and combine " mindset. We work and pray and enjoy the fruits of our labour.

Adding the salts and spirit subtle sulphur combination together

After distilling or circulating the spirit over the honey it tincturises the spirit. This is now fit to proceed. We add both salts and the spirit subtle sulphur combination togther. If the spirit is sharp they do not mix. But the distillations or circulations will eventually wed them. Thus we will achieve the "Solve Et coagula" of Hawthorne Essence.

Simple circulation device is all we need

The operation to marry the pinciples achieving true "Solve et Coagula" is the repetition of distillations of salts and spirit. Wether in a specific circulation device like a pelican or a flask with condenser the same outcome is eventually acheived. The aim to fuse the salts to the spirit so they cannot be seperated.

Water / Fire salts of sulphur purity

Again we use water and fire to obtain pure white salts after much filtration. The cycle repeats this is a good meditation practice. The work as a physical external proceedure is mirrored within. There can be no external phenomina without an internal effect. As above so below.

Distillations may draw more subtle sulphurs

The distillaions or circulations may draw out more subtle sulphurs. This is not a bad thing. However some essences may not. We can tell the difference between a work circulated or distilled over the salts by taste and effect. It energises the work on a level different to a basic tincture. for the extra work we go through it is well worth the effort. The Lab Operators believe the salts married to the spirit can ingress deeper into the system.

We can distill instead of circulation

We can distill instead of a circulation or both. Seven times placing the spirit back over the salts each rotation. Distilling many times marries the principles. The marriage is the ultimate aim of all Alchemical / Spagyric operations. The marriage is the culmination of much hard work and meditation. It is said the operations in our retorts and vessels is mirrored both physically and psychospiritually. We aim to purify our matters as we aim to seperate and disregard what is not conducive to our personal Great Work.