THESECONDPART

The GirculatumMinusannotated

By: ProfessorManfredJunius-
 P REFACE

TO

CI RCULAT U I' I HINUS

(A n a n a l ysi s b y Pr of. M anfr ed Junius,ph' d)

The Circulatum Minus o f Urb ig e ru s , p e " s o , is not b e in g

p r o duced j-n this volume d u e t o it s a v a ila b it it y in other
p u b lications, notably t h e " G o ld e n Ma n u s c rip t " s e rie s by
Fr ater A lbertus. rn th is book, a v a ila b le t h ro u g h the p a ra -
ce lsus Research S ociet y in S a lt L a k e Cit y , h e g iv e s a n n o -
tati ons similar to tho s q iv e n b v B a c s t ro m in t h is v o lu me.

H owever, in a desire to " ro u n d out" t h e writ in g s of B a ron

U r bigerus, it was decid e d to in c lu d e a p a p e r writ t e n by
Dr . Manfred Junius of Rid le y t o n A u s t ra lia . p ro f . J u n iu s ,
an alchemist himself, h a s writ t e n a b o o k d e a lin g wit h p la n t
a lchemy, one of the v e ry few such books extant. It c a rn e o u t
in the Italian language , wa s t ra n s la t e d by Ansata V e rla g
i nto German and is no w b e in g t ra n s la t e d in t o E n g lis h and will
b e available through De s t in y B o o k s in Ne w Y o rk Cit y .

Th e paper was given to the e d it o r by the a u t h o r, Dr. Junius,

a n d deals with the Circ u la t u m Min u s wit h re s p e c t t o ma k in g a
veg etable elixir A s o p p o s e d t o ma k in g a v e g e t a b le s t o n e ). The
go o d professor gives u s v a lu a b le in s ig h t in t o s o me o f the more
d ifficult meanings of t h e wo rd s o f Urb ig e ru s . For e x a mp le, he
de fi nes what Urbigerus me a n t b y a " s u it a b le me d iu m" , etc. fn
ad d ition to these itlumin a t in g in s ig h t s , h e o f f e rs v e ry prac-
ti cal laboratory hints to the p ra c t it io n e r. S in c e h e a ls o takes
e a ch aphorism by itself , the s t y le is s imila r t o t h a t in t h e
CircuLatum Majore and thus it was decided to j-nclude this very
valuable paper by P rof . Ma n f re d J u n iu s .

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 THECIRCULATUI1
I'1INUS
OFURBIGEPUS
P ro f. Manfr ed Junius

Only a rather sm a I l s e c t io n of Cla s s ic a l A lc h e mic a l Litera-

tur e is dedicated to the Lesser Wo rk , the T p u s Min o z . , w h i c h is
the alchemical work in the P la n t K in g d o m. T h is ma y s e e m s u r p r i -
sin g .

The two ways of the 7 p u s Min o r (v i, a s ie e a , the , , d ry w a y , '

l ea d ing to S tones, and V ia Hu mid . a i-h e , ' we t wa y " le a d in g to Circu_

la ta) are not only very s u it a b le p re p a ra t io n e x e rc is e s for the
w ays of the opus Majore the G re a t e r Wo rk , b u t t h e ir re s u lts are
of great value in the A rt of He a lin g .

Johannes rsaac Ho lla n d u s in h is o p e ra V e g e t a b iria s ay s :

"Thusr my child, r hav e t a u g h t y o u t o ma k e t h e v e g e t a b le stone,
wh ich is the best amon g a ll the t h re e Stones,,.1

The practicant of the O p u s Min o r b e c o me s a c q u a in t e d with

a lch emical concepts an d p ra c t ic e . He re a rn s the E n c h e ria (hand-
wo r k, craft technology) , a n d if h e wo rk s wit h s in c e rit y an d d e v o -
tio n he is rewarded wit h e it h e r the P la n t stone in case he desires
a r e sult of fixed (solid ) c o n s is t e n c y , o r wit h the Circ u la t u m Mi_
nu s if he prefers a liqu id re s u lt of t ru e ly s p e c t a c u la r nature.
The first number o f E S S E NT f A re p o rt e d o n s o me o f the differ-
e n t ways of making the P la n t Stone. T h e p re s e n t paper is dedicated
. to the Ci'reuLatun Mi'nue , t h e L iq u id Stone.
In 1690 there app e a re d a re ma rk a b le t re a t is e on the Circulatum

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Ir lin u s by B aron urbigeru s , wh ic h wa s p rin t e d b y He n ry F a irbo r n e

in London. rn 1691 the re f o llo we d a G e rma n e d it io n p rin t e d by

Joh a nn Caspar B irckner at E rf u rt h , t h is wa s f o llo we d by a reprint

in Hamburg in 1705. T h e o rig in a l E n g lis h t it le is : " Circ u l a t u m

M in u s Urbigeranum, or the P h ilo s o p h ic a l E lix ir of Vegetables with

Th e Three certain Ways o f P re p a rin g it , f u lly a n d c le a rly set forth

in One and Thirty A pho ris ms b y B a ro n Urb ig e ru s A S e rv a n t of God in

th e K ingdom of Nature".

The German title speaks of " T h re e other wa y s o f p re p ar i n g the

Ve g e table E lixir based o n p e rs o n a l e x p e rie n c e " .

The attachment of h is o wn n a me t o the Circ u la t u m Min us i s an

e vid e nce that the B aron lo o k e d upon the t h re e wa y s o f p re p a r i n g it

a s o riginal and entirely h is o wn .

The actual text c o n s is t s of a d e d ic a t io n to a ll s in c e r e souls

a n d lovers of Hermetic P h ilo s o p h y , a copper p la t e , the thirty one

a p h o risms and an appen d ix wh ic h is a c o mme n t a ry o n t h e copper plate.

It is suggested tha t re a d e rs p ro c u re t h e ms e lv e s the text of

Ur L r igerus, if possible a ls o the e d it io n b y F ra t e r A 1 b e rt , r=2 . This

con tains Frater's own v a lu a b le c o mrn e n t a ry a s we ll a s Urb ig e r u s '

ap h o risms regarding the ma k in g o f the G ra n d E lix ir.

ft is further pres u me d t h a t re a d e rs a re f a milia r wit h the Art

of Separation in the Pla n t K in g d o m.

W hat is a Circulatu m?

CIRCULA TI)N, accord in g to the G e rma n A lc h e mis t A n d re a s L i b a -

viu s (1555-1516) means t h e " E x a lt a t io n (imp ro v e me n t , u p lif t i n g ) of

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a liquor (liquid) throug h a c o n t in u o u s d is s o lu t io n a n d c oa g u l a -

ti on in the P elican (circ u l-a t io n v e s s e l) wit h heat as the agent

?
( en ergy) . " "

Circulation theref o re is a n imp ro v e me n t of liq u id s ub s t a n c e s

which are continuously brought from the liquid to the gaseous state

an d then returned to the liq u id state. V a rio u s o p e ra t io n s come to-

g e ther in the A rt of Circ u la t irg , wh ic h ma y in c lu d e Dig e s t i o n , Sub-

lim a tion, Distillation a n d Co h o b a t io n .

DIGE S TI0l[ means a rip e n in g in mild d ig e s t iv e wa rmt h , through

w hich a substance is m a d e t . o a c t u a liz e a n d y ie ld it s in h er e n t for-

ce s. Maceration in mild ly wa rm t e mp e ra t u re ma y a ls o be called Di-

g e stion. Through Diges t io n t h ic k liq u id s b e c o me s u b t le , their crude

state is modified and t h a t wh ic h is o p a q u e b e c o me s t ra n s p a r e n t .

Th e impure, which settle s at the b o t t o m, ma y t h e n be separated.

The substance to b e d ig e s t e d is e n c lo s e d in a s u it a b l e contain-

€r , which is then put in t o a n o v e n o r u p o n s o me s u it a b le heating

eq u ipment. In hot clim a t e s Dig e s t io n in the S u n is a ls o practiced.

Th e o1d masters often d ig e s t e d in h o rs e dung. T h e t ime required

fo r Digestion may involv e a few days, a P h ilo s o p h ic a l Mo n t h (fourty

d a ys and nights) or ev e n 3 -o n g e r.

S pecially suitable for O ig e s t io n is the s o c a lI e d Pelj-can.

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 Into this container the substance is g iv e n , it s h o u ld fiII

about two thirds of the lower half. The Pelican is then set into

ho r se dung up to its " wa is t lin e " (o r u p o n s o me o t h e r suitable

h e a ting equipment). A t h e rmo s t a t ic a lly c o n t ro lle d s a n d ba t h or

a sh bath does very wel I . T h e liq u id e v a p o ra t e d in t o the upper por-

ti on of the P elican whe re it c o n d e n s e s a g a in because of th e lower

outside temperature, it then flows back through the arms and along

the walls.

The modern A lchemis t ma y u s e a s u it a b le re f lu x system (boiling

fl ask with a condenser mo u n t e d o n t o p ), or e v e n a S o x h le t Extractor.

If the eguipment can b e t h e rmo s t a t ic a lly re g u la t e d it can be teft

w i th out attendance for c o n s id e ra b le t ime .

It is important that t h e re is s u f f ic ie n t space for ex p a n s i o n

in the upper part of the re f lu x s y s t e m. T h e mo me n t o f expansion

w hich is followed by co n t ra c t io n is t h e ma in c a u s e o f the Exalta-

ti on of the liquid. T h e f o llo win g sketch suggests a s u it a b l e equip-

m en t for Circulation.

co nd.en$ erL 't

<- co ot- tna waten inlet

"H elm e t" Iexpant.Lon {Lattzl

-tt

boL.Ling $l-at t z

A
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 SUBLIMAT-IOIVtakes place when an Extract is driven upwards

in to the subrime (upper) p a rt of a c o n t a in e r a n d p re c ip it a te s

the r e.

DIS TILLA Tf)N is us e d p rin c ip a lly to s e p a ra t e v o la t ile from

no n - vo1atile substances . T h e liq u id s a re taken out in t he form

of vapors through heat , in a s p e c ia l c o o lin g s y s t e m k n o wn a s a

con densor they are reco n d e n s e d in t o liq u id s wh ic h a re t h en col-

le cted in a special co n t a in e r. In t h is wa y s o lid substances can

b e separated from liqui d onesr o r a ls o t wo liq u id s f ro m ea c h o t h e r

if these have different b o ilin g p o in t s and the t e mp e ra t u re can be

co n trolled adequately. Co n t in u e d re f in in g t h ro u g h Dis t illat i o n is

called Rectification.

CloseIy related to Circ u la t io n a re R0 T A T I O N a n d C0 H 0 B A T I 0 N ,

th e second is often use d in s t e a d of Circ u la t io n .

R)TA TI)N means boilin g a liq u id for a c e rt a in p e rio d in a Re-

fl ux S ystem, the heat is then s wit c h e d off and the contents allowed

to c ool, after this it is re h e a t e d a n d a g a in a llo we d to cool, this

p r o cess is continued. A Ro t a t io n is b a s ic a lly a rh y t h mic a l Circu-

l ati on.

C)H)B A TIOfr means a s e rie s of s u c c e s s iv e Dis t illa t io n s of a

solvant over the substa n c e or substances wh ic h have been dissolved

in it. A fter each Di s t illa t io n the Dis t illa t e is re u n it e d with

the residue which remain e d in the b o ilin g fIask, and the Distilla-

ti on is repeated. A cc o rd in g to a lc h e mic a l concepts t h is process

l ea d s to a loosening of the s t ru c t u re of c e rt a in ma t e ria ls , and

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e a ch time the solvent takes wit h it s e lf a lit t 1 e mo re o f the solids

w hich thus become volat i1 e . (T h e A lc h e mis t is lit t le in te r e s t e d in

th e fact that this may in v o lv e c e rt a in c h e mic a l changes of the ori-

g in al substances, sinc e substances in A lc h e my c a n a p p e a r in many

fo r ms) .

The technique is v e ry f re q u e n t ly u s e d in a lc h e mic a l word and

U r bigerus also proposes it for h is Circ u la t u m I v lin u s a s t he actual

C i r culation. (S ee aph o ris ms X I V a n d X V ).

B efore we dedicate o u rs e lv e s in d e t a il to the p ro c e s s of makinc

th e Circul-atum l,linus w e s h o u t d know that the t e rm is a ls o used in

Alch emy as a general t e rm for the a lc h e mic a l wo rk in the Plant King-

do m . The term, in the wid e r sense, Rd y a ls o stand for a number of

pr e parations such as t h e T e mp e ra t u m, L i; le A q u a S o L u e n s o f Paracel-

su s, the S eeret S piz,itu s V in i of Ra imu n d u s L u llu s and the Adepts,

E}:e A qua MereunLaLis, the S p irit u s l, le re u n L iln iu e ? s a L is , an d o t h e r s .

W e shall now come t o the actual p re p a ra t io n of the Circulatum

M in us of Urbigerus. Re le v a n t text p o rt io n s a re q u o t e d .

c I RCULATUIi l{ r ilUS

I.

"Our Circulatum Minus is only a specificated Elixir, belong-

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i ng to the V egetable Kin g d o m, b y wh ic h wit h o u t f ire r or fa r t h e r

Pr e p aration of the V eg e t a b le s , we c a n in a llo me n t e x t ra c t their

tr u e E ssence, containing t h e ir V irt u e , e u a lit y a n d p ro p e rty ; which

is a great Chymical Cu rio s it y , p e rf o rmin g wo n d e rs in the Practice

of Physick, and in dem o n s t ra t in g s o me Wo rk s o f Na t u re . "

II.
*W e call it Circula t u m, because, tho never so often used in

an y E xtractionr or Chy mic a l E x p e rime n t wh a t -e v e r, it lo s e s nothing

of i ts Quality, or P ro p e rt y : wh ic h is a P e ro g a t iv e , p e rt a i n i n g to

th e Universal E lixir, c a lle d a ls o t h e Circ u la t u m Ma ju s , be c a u s e i t

com mands in all the thre e K in g d o ms o f Na t u re ; wh ils t t h is , being

r estr ained to one only K in g d o m, is for that re a s o n s t il' d Minus."

We differentiate betwe e n t h e Cin e u L a t u m Ma ju s a n d Circ u la t u m l4inus.

The latter is an E lixir wh ic h c a n p e rf o rm in the P1ant Kingdom what

th e Circulatum Majus a c h ie v e s in aIt the t h re e K in g d o ms (Plant King-

d o m , Mineral K ingdom a n d A n ima l K in g d o m): T h e S e p a ra t io n of the

Th r e e E ssentiaLs, S ulph u r, Me rc u ry a n d S a lt , of a Mix t u m. 4

It is true that th e Circ u la t u m Min u s , if c o rre c t ly an d w e l l

pr e p ared, does not lose a n y t h in g of it s v ig o u r even after repeated

use . A Circulatum, wh ic h the author ma d e in h is la b o ra t o ry a num-

be r of years ago still s e p a ra t e s in s t a n t ly a n y f re s h p la n t immersed

in it into its E ssentials .

III.

'Out of Diana's undetermi-ned Tears, when Apo1lo has appeared,

after the Separation of the three Elements, Determination, Digestior

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an d glorious Resurrectio n r w€ c a n , wit h o u t the A d d it io n of any

o the r created thing, p re p a re t h is o u r d e t e rmin e d E lix ir: Which

is the first, noblest, a n d s e c re t e s t wa y o f the P h ilo s o p h e r s . "

The Tears of Diana are the l"lercury, the undetermined or pure

ethyl-aIcohol, i.e. et h y l-a 1 c o h o l wh ic h has not yet been specified

b y adding any mineral s a lt s to it (f ix e d E a rt h ).

W hen A pollo has a p p e a re d : after t h e v o la t ile S u lp h ur , i.e.

the essential oiI, has b e e n e x t ra c t e d f ro m t h e p la n t species, for

i nstance through steam d is t illa t io n . T h e a p p e a ra n c e of Ap o l } o ,

the distillation of the e s s e n t ia l o ils , is a lwa y s the f irst step

in S eparation. (Note: A p o llo = sun = ye1Iow - HWN)

Urbigerus states that the S e p a ra t io n of a s p e c ie s int o its

Thr e e E ssentials (here c a l1 e d the E le me n t s ) is n e c e s s a ry for the

wo r k. The Mercury is then d e t e rmin e d b y a d d in g the other purified

sub stances. i.e. the S a lt and the f ix e d and the u n f ix e d Sulphur,

this is followed by Di g e s t io n and subsequent Dis t illa t io n s . rn

this way we can prepare the Circ u la t u m Min u s o u t of o n e th i n g with-

ou t any addition. Urb ig e ru s c o n s id e rs t h is to be the noblest way

of preparation.

rv.
"The Determination of our Dia n a ' s T e a rs c o n s is t s o n ly in their

pe r fect and indissoluble Un io n wit h the f ix t V e g e t a b le Earth, philo-

sop hically prepared, p ru if ie d , a n d s p irit u a liz e d : for the love of

w hich they are forced to le a v e t h e ir f irs t u n iv e rs e d u n d et e r m i n e d

p r o p erty, and be clothed wit h a d e t e rmin e d p a rt ic u la r one, which

-5r-
is r equired for our Circ u la t u m Min u s . "

Urbigerus tells u s c le a rly wh a t h e me a n s b y De t e rmin a t i o n of

D i an ars Tears. B ut th e SaIt f ro m the p la n t body (f ix e d Vegetable

Ea r th) must be prepared a lc h e mic a lI y , i. e . c o rre c t ly c a lc i n e d r puri-

fie d and spiritualized (ma d e v o la t ile ), b y t h is t h e ir nature is

cha nged.

v.
"Our second way o f p re p a rin g t h is o u r V e g e t a b le E lix ir is by

a r ight Manj-pulation of a P la n t of the n o b le s t De g re e , s ta n d i n g by

i tse lf or supported by o t h e rs : after the P re p a ra t io n of which,

a n d its P utrefaction, Re d u c t io n in t o a n O iI , S e p a ra t io n of the

thr e e P rinciples, with t h e ir P u rif ic a t io n , Un io n , and Spiritualiza-

ti on , the whole is to b e t u rn e d in t o a s p irit u a l e v e r-liv in g Foun-

tain , renewing every Pla n t , that s h a ll b e p lu n g e d in it . "

Urbigerus refers to t h e V in e . Du rin g the s o c a lle d Opus Vini,

h e Work with the W ine, t h e re c o me s a s t a g e wh e re t h e p ra ct i c a n t

m ay choose between a vo la t ile liq u id re s u lt or a f ix e d res u l t , a

Ston e. For the "Reduc t io n in t o a n O il" the re a d e r ma y a l s o refer

to Glauberus Concentrat u s s , and to the O p e ra V e g e t a b ilia of Hol-

la n d us'. The procedure wo u ld be too tengthy to b e d e s c rib e d here,

w e shall therefore con c e n t ra t e on the f irs t and the t h ird way of

m a king the Circulatum.

VI.

"The third and co mmo n v ra y is o n ly a Co n ju n c t io n of a fixt

Ve g etable S aIt with its o wn v o la t ile s u lp h u re o u s S p irit , both to

*52=
b e found ready prepared b y a n y v u lg a r Ch y mis t , a n d s in c e in their

Pr ep aration the purest S u lp h u r, c o n t a in in g the S o u l, has suffered

so m e Detriment by their not b e in g p h ilo s o p h ic a lly ma n ip u la t e d , they

cannot be inseparably joined without a sulphureous l'ledium, by which

th e S ouI being strength e n e d , t h e B o d y a n d S p irit a re a ls o through

it made capable of a pe rf e c t Un io n . "

The conjunction of a f ix e d v e g e t a b le s a lt (o b t a in e d from the

pla n t body through Cal c in a t io n and subsequent e x t ra c t io n and puri-

fica tion) with its own s u lp h u re o u s s p irit s e rv e s for the prepara-

ti on . The volatile sulp h u re o u s s p irit is a n a lc o h o lic essence dis-

ti l l ed from a plant. (" S u lp h u re o u s S p irit " a lwa y s me a n s a n a l c o -

h o lic distillate which c o n t a in s the e s s e n t ia l o iI , the volatile

Sulp hur of the species.) T h e s e a ro ma t ic a lc o h o la t e s we re f r e q u e n t l y

so ld by chemists and a n u mb e r o f t re a t is e s on the A rt of Distilla-

ti on refer to them. T h e f a mo u s l, la t e r o f Ca rme L it e a n d t he Watev,

of ELtzabeth of Hungary a re c o mp o u n d e x a mp le s o f these. However

the se "Waters" or sulph u re o u s s p irit s a re d is t illa t e s and therefore

la ck the fixed part of the S u lp h u r, wh ic h , because of it s non-vo-

la ti l e nature, could no t b e d is t ille d a n d t h e re f o re wa s d i s c a r d e d .

Fr om the alchemical poin t of v ie w t h is f ra c t io n a t io n is unphiloso-

ph ical since the fixed p a rt of the S u lp h u r c o n t a in s the other part

of the S ou1. (We shall s e e la t e r that the o rg a n ic a c id s it con-

tain s are the key to the s e c re t of v o la t iliz in g the S a lt s ) . Since

the organic acids pres e n t in the d is t illa t e do not s u f f ic e for the

op e r ation, more have t o b e a d d e d f ro m o u t s id e . In t h is way the Sul-

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phur is strengthened and acts a s a c a t a ly s t in b rin g in g together

th e B ody and the S pirit, the S a lt and the Me rc u ry . In t he follow-

in g aphorism Urbigerus t e 1 ls u s wh a t t h is s u lp h u re o u s ma tt e r is

and from where sre can obtain ir .

VII.

"The proper Mediu m, re q u is it e for the in d is s o lu b le Union of

the se two S ubjects, is o n ly a s u lp h u re o u s a n d b it u min o u s Matter,

i ssuing out of a P lant, liv in g or dead, wh ic h is to b e f ou n d in

several parts of the Wo r1 d , a n d is k n o wn t o a ll ma n n e r o f Men,

( The Copavian we find to be the best, and after that the Italian),

by which, after it has b e e n s e p a ra t e d f ro m it s f e c u le n t pa r t s throug

o u r Universal I'lenstruu m, aII the P o re s a n d A t o ms o f the fixt SaIt,

wh ich is extremely fort if ie d b y it , b e in g d ila t e d , it is made ca-

p a b le of receiving its o wn S p irit a n d u n it in g it s e lf wit h it."

Urbigerus clearly re f e rs to re s in s . T h e s e a re c o mp l e x m i x -

tu r e s of mainly aromat ic substances wit h p ro p e rt ie s of acids, fur-

th e r alcohols, phenols, s t ro n g ly u n s a t u ra t e d substances. Resins

ar e closely related to t e rp e n e s . We o b t a in re s in s b y in insuring

cer tain trees, mainly p in e s , f irs , la rc h t re e s a n d a n u mb e r o f exo-

tic species. A special v a rie t y of re s in is a mb e r. T h e Ge r m a n t e x t

of Urbigerus contains a d e c is iv e sentence: " u n d v o n a lle n Arten

derer Meerfischen (Mee rf is h e rn ) e rk a n d t wird " (a n d is re c o g n i z e d

b y all kinds of sea fis h or s e a f is h e rme n ). T h is o b v io u s reference

to amber put the author on the rig h t t ra c k . (S u c c in ic acid which

am b er contains is a ma rv e llo u s c a t a ly s t ).

-J4
 B ut Urbigerus hims e lf t e lls u s wh ic h k in d s of re s in s he con-

sid e rs particularly su it a b le for the o p e ra t io n . F irs t t he Copavian

( ir e , Copaiva B alsam o b t a in e d f ro m Co p a iv a B a ls a ma ), next to this

he recommends the "Ita1 ia n " re s in , taken f ro m t h e c h a ra c t er i s t i c

Ita lian pines abundant ly found in the c o u n t ry . T h e p in e is often

m e n tioned in Italian p o e t ry a n d e v e n in mu s ic (O t t o rin o Respighi:

'I Pini di Roma') . Th is re s in has to b e p u rif ie d f ro m it s feculent

pa r ts by water. The b e s t me t h o d o f p u rif ic a t io n wo u ld be a proper

distillation. Le Febu re in h is wo rk " Ch y mis c h e r Ha n d le it er " des-

cr i bes this process as f o 1 1 o ws 6 :

"The resin is to b e p u lv e riz e d a n d mix e d wit h t h re e parts of

p u lverized bricks and o n e p a rt of c o n rmo n s a lt wh ic h h a s pr e v i o u s l y

b e e n completely dried b y h e a t in g . T h e wh o le is then g iv e n into a

r e tort and distilled by c o n s t a n t ly in c re a s in g the t e mp e rat u r e .

Som e of the oily distilla t e c a n b e u s e d a s it is . T h e di s t i l l a t e

ca n also be rectified b y a d d in g o n c e mo re t h re e p a rt s of conrmon

salt and by distilling a g a in . "

The easiest for u s is to b u y re a d ily c la rif ie d re s in s, such

a s Copaiva B alsam (bal s a ms a re mix t u re s of re s in s a n d e t he r i c oils,

pa r tly with aromatic ac id s ) o r Ca n a d a B a 1 s a m, t h e e x u d a t io n of the

No r th A merican B alsam F ir (A b ie s B a ls a mic a ), wh ic h is , strictly

spe aking, a turpentine. It c o n t a in s about 2 4 p e rc e n t of essential

oil, 60 percent of res in s o lu b le in a lc o h o l a n d 1 6 p e rc e n t of resin

solu bl-e in ether. (N o t e : B e s u re p u rc h a s e d B a ls a m is n ot mixed

with zylene - HW N)

- f,f,-
 The author experime n t e d wit h v a rio u s re s in s wh ile ma k i n g h i s

Cir culata. B ecause of the e x c e lle n t re s u lt s o b t a in e d wit h Canada

Balsam he would like to recommend this to his companions in the

Ar t. Canada B alsam is u s e d in mic ro s c o p y a n d is a v a ila b l-e in

h ig h ly purified conditi o n . Wh a t e v e r re s in o u s ma t t e r you decide

to use, make sure that it is n a t u ra l and not f ra g me n t e d . Natural

C an ada B alsam is easily a v a ila b le , a lt h o u g h c e rt a in ly not the cheap-

e st resin. (Note: P rof . J u n iu s a ls o suggests Ce d a rwo o d O i l - HilN)

If you carefully lo o k at the copper p la t e y o u ma y o bs e r v e that

the r e is a hole in the t re e , f ro m wh ic h re s in s f lo w. In fact, the

r ive r into which A pol1o a n d Dia n a h a v e t o step, is re s in o u s . No-

ti ce that Diana comes o u t of the riv e r on the other s id e with Apol-

Io 's S un in her hand, they h a v e b e c o me o n e b e in g .

VIII.

"To fortify the S u lp h u r, and open the P o re s o f the Saltr rlo

othe r lvlethod is to be u s e d , but to imb ib e the s a me wit h the bitu-

m in ous Matter in a mod e ra t e ly d ig e s t iv e He a t r E rs if one would hatch

C hickens, and as the S a lt g ro ws d . y , the I mb ib it io n s a re to be re-

pe a ted, until you find it f u lly s a t u ra t e d that it re f u s e s to imbibe

any more of the l'latter. "

"To fortify the S u lp h u r, " t h is in d ic a t e s that the S aI t and the

Sulp hur have already be e n p u t t o g e t h e r. We n o w a d d o f t he resinous

m a tter, imbibing our m ix t u re of S a lt a n d (v o la t iI e ) S u lp h u r with it.

The whole is then expo s e d t o mo d e ra t e heat (d ig e s t e d ). The imbi-

b iti on is repeated whe n e v e r t h e ma t t e r b e c o me s d ry .

-5 5 -
 B efore adding the re s in o u s ma t t e r, the p ra c t ic a n t stands at
a c rossroad' He can c h o o s e a t t h is p o in t wh e t h e r h e wa n t s to take
th e dry or the wet wa y . In the f irs t case the s a lt s of the fixed
part of the S ulphur ob t a in e d b y Ca lc in a t io n wo u ld be added. These
w ou rd not volatilize the s a lt of the body, and the re s u lt will be
a stone' (Frater A rbe rt u s h a s d e s c rib e d p ro c e s s
the in his conrmen-
tar y to Urbigerus in a p h o ris m V I I I ).

rx.
" rn the course of rmb ib it io n s the wh o le l" la s s is at least nine
or ten times a day to b e s t irre d wit h a s p a t u la , or s o me o t h e r rn_
str u ment of dry wood, b y wh ic h re it e ra t e d Mo t i-o n , the b it u m i n o u s
l"la tter receives a bett e r in g re s s in t o the B o d . y , a n d p e rf e c t s the
Op e ration sooner. "

X.
"Great care is to be taken, that in the p e rf o rma n c e of the
r m bibitions' no kind of s o il or Du s t f a ll in t o your Ma t t e r , for
the prevention of whic h your vessel ma y b e k e p t c o v e re d with a
Pap er' prickt full of h o le s r or any other s u it a b le c o v e rin g , and
th a t nothing come near it , wh ic h h a s it s o wn in t e rn a l S u lp h u r :
fo r the P ores of the s a lt b e in g v e ry mu c h d ira t e d , and opened, it
m ay easily determine it s e rf to any other s u b je c t , and so spoil
you r Undertaking. "
since at this stag e we a lre a d y o p e ra t e wit h h ig h ry pu r i f i e d
sub stances, care must b e t a k e n that n o imp u rit ie s s p o il t he work.
Th e author has obtained g o o d re s u lt s wit h e n t ire ly c lo s e d rather

-5 7 =
l ar g e flasks. P eriodic a lly the f la s k s we re o p e n e d f o r s om e t i m e

to aIlow for fresh air, they we re t h e n c lo s e d a g a in . The danger

of contamination is re d u c e d c o n s id e ra b ly b y wo rk in g in a closed

ove n (incubator).

xr.
"If in threer or four We e k s t ime at the f a rt h e s t , your fixt

Veg etable S aIt does no t ma n if e s t it s f u ll S a t u ra t io n , it will cer-

tain ly be in vain for you to g o a n y f u rt h e r wit h it : for you may

a ssu re yourself, that y o u e it h e r e rr in the No t io n of the Salt or

the real sulphureous M e d iu m, o r in the Ma n a g e me n t o f the Imbibi-

ti on s. "

XII.

"W hen your fmbibit io n s a re f u lly p e rf o rme d , your Salt wiIl

th e n be in a convenient re a d in e s s to re c e iv e it s o wn S p iri t , by

w hich it is made volatil , s p irit u a l, t ra n s p a re n t , a n d wo n d e r f u l l y

p e n e tratirg, entering of a s u d d e n in t o the P o re s a n d P a rt i c l e s of

e ve r y V egetable, and s e p a ra t in g in a mo me n t t h e ir t ru e Essence of

Ele m ents. "

If everything has g o n e we I l, we c a n n o w p o u r on the Mercury,

i.e. the rectified ethy l-a lc o h o I . (llo t e : AIcohol e x t ra c te d from

w i ne is probably best HWN)

XIII.

"A ltho the S alt is f u lly p re p a re d for the Re c e p t io n of its

own S pirit, yet unless y o u we ll o b s e rv e the rig h t P ro p o rt io n of

th e m (which is, that the v o la t il a lwa y s p re d o min a t e over the fixt)

- 58-
you will never be able to make any perfect Union between these two

Su b jects, contrary in Q u a lit y , though not in Na t u re .

The alcohol must d o min a t e in p ro p o rt io n over the f ix ed . The

a u thor has achieved go o d re s u lt s b y a p ro p o rt io n of 6:1 or even 8:1

xrv.
"B efore you begin your Dis t illa t io n s a n d Co h o b a t io n s , after

th e A ddition of the V eg e t a b le S p irit to it s o wn S a I t , a Pu t r e f a c -

tio n of eight or ten da y s is t o p re c e d e , d u rin g wh ic h t ime , the

su lp hureous S pirit, stre n g t h e n e d by the b it u min o u s Ma t t e r, and

fin d ing the S alt fit for Co n ju n c t io n wit h it , has the power to

en ter into its P ores, to f a c ilit a t e it s V o la t iliz a t io n , an d U n i o n . "

During this "P utref a c t io n " wh ic h is n o t h in g e ls e but a further

D i ge stion, there is a c h a n g e in c o lo u r and the S a lt appears like

som e kind of slime. T h e s t re n g t h e n e d S u lp h u r and the Spirit now

act upon the S alt begin n in g t o ma k e it v o la t ile . After th i s we

be g in our Distillations.

xv.
"If after six or s e v e n Dis t illa t io n s a n d Co h o b a t io n s of the

d isti lled upon the Rema in d e r, you do not f in d your S p irit to be

e xtr emely sharp, and t h e Re ma in d e r in the bottom a lt o g e t h e r insi-

pid , it will be an evid e n t S ig n t h a t y o u f a il in the t ru e knowledge

of the V egetable S pirit , wh ic h , b e in g e x c e e d in g ly v o la t il, has in

N ature power to volatiliz e it s o wn B o d y , a n d u n it e it s e lf insepar-

a b ly rdith it, finding it c a p a b le of it s Re c e p t io n . "

The Distillations a re t o b e c a rrie d out in the wa t e r bath, be-

- 59-
twe en Distillations af t e r Co h o b a t io n s (wh e n t h e d is t illa t e has

been poured back over the residue) r Err occasional further period

of Digestion is useful. After s e v e n Dis t illa t io n s y o u wi l l find

yo u r distillate to hav e a c h a ra c t e ris t ic v e ry p e n e t ra n t odour and

a sharp corrosive tast e .

XVI.

"It is to be obse rv e d , that in the P ro g re s s of your Distilla-

ti on s the sulphureous Me d iu m d o n o t in the le a s t ascend: for as

it is a real Medium, c o n c u rrin g t o u n it e the B o d y wit h t he Spirit,

be fore the S piritualizati o n of the Body, a n d wit h o u t the Concur-

r e n ce of which no perf e c t Un io n o f these t wo S u b je c t s is to be ex-

p e cted; so on the cont ra ry in the P ro g re s s of t h e Wo rk it s Concur-

r e n ce would be hiqhly d is a d v a n t a g e o u s to them both, and totally

su b vert the Operation. "

To avoid this we ma k e a ll our Dis t illa t io n s in the water bath.

If the temperature wou ld b e t o o h ig h the re s u lt wo u ld a lso rather

b e a fixation of the v o la t ile p a rt s on the SaIt in s t e a d of a vola-

ti l i zation. Careful s lo w Dis t illa t io n is n e e d e d in aI1 attempts

of volatilization.

XVII.

"The ascending of the s u lp h u re o u s Me d iu m, wh e n t h e Spirit be-

g in s to carry over its o wn B o d y , to u n it e it s e lf in s e p a ra b l y with

it, evidently and certa in ly s ig n if ie s , that you do not re g u l a t e

you r Fire, as you shou ld , and that, in s t e a d of g iv in g a gentle

vap orous Heat to facilit a t e the Un io n , y o u g iv e a v io le n t one to

-6 0 -
de stroy it. "

XVIII.

"When your S alt is b ro u g h t to it s p e rf e c t S p irit u a liz a t i o n ,

an d real Union with its o wn v o la t ile S p irit , then y o u will have

in your power your Circ u la t u m Min u s r o r V e g e t a b le E 1 ix ir, and

Ivlenstruum, with which you will be able to perform wonders in

th e V egetable K ingdom, s e p a ra t in g in a mo me n t n o t o n ly their

Pr i nciples or E lements , but a ls o at one and the s a me O p e r a t i o n

th e P ure from the Impure . "

If you have worked c o rre c t ly y o u will n o w h a v e ma d e t h e Cir-

cu la tum Minus accordi-n g to the t h ird wa y . At the s a me t im e you now

un d e rstand the first w d lr s in c e aII you have to d o is to prepare it

fr o m the same plant sp e c ie s f ro m wh ic h you took your re s ino u s mat-

ter , for instance from p in e s or f irs . Y o u c a n e x t ra c t your re-

si no us matter from sma ll b ra n c h e s of p in e : o r f ir by steam distilla-

ti on . This is how nat u ra l t u rp e n t in e s a re o b t a in e d . For the rest

you proceed as above.

In the following a p h o ris ms Urb ig e ru s in f o rms u s wh a t t h e Cir-

cu la tum can do.

xrx.
"If into this you r V e g e t a b le E lix ir you put a n y g re e n V e g e t a -

ble , shred in pieces, it will in le s s than h a lf a q u a rt e r of an

ho u r without any extern a l He a t p u t rif y , a n d p re c ip it a t e it s e l f

i nto the bottom quite dead, (wh ic h is n o t h in g but the c u rs e d Ex-

cr e mental E arth) and o n t h e T o p will s wim a y e lI o w O il, containing

- 61-
 the S alt and S ulphur, and the E lix ir will be of the Co lo ur of the
Pla nt' comprehending it s v e g e t a b le s p irit : wh ic h if it do e s n o t ,

'ti s a sign, that your O p e ra t io n s have not b e e n p h ilo s o p h i c a l . ' ,

when you immerse a f re s h ly cut g re e n p la n t , for in s t an c e a

l ea f or two of P epperm in t , y o u will f irs t n o t ic e that the riquid
be comes milky and even t o t a lt y opaque. T h is is the s ig n of an
em u lsion. rf you allow it to stand for s o me t ime , the t iny oir
drops will gradually ascend to the s u rf a c e a n d f in a lly form a layer
of yellow oiI. This oiI c o n t a in s the SaIt and the S u lp h ur of the
sp e cies immersed in the Circ u la t u m. T h e a u t h o rrs e x p e rie n c e has
sh o wn that the colour of the o il v a rie s f ro m s p e c ie s to species.
A dr y herb will immedia t e ly c o lo u r t h e me n s t ru u m a n d s e p ar a t e the
esse ntials.

In the next aphor is m Urb ig e ru s t e lls us about the therapeutic

va lu e of this oil.

xx.
"one only drop of t h is y e llo wis h o ir, g iv e n in Dis t e m p e r s
acco rding to the V irtue a n d Q u a lit y , a t t rib u t e d to the p Ia n t , every
M or n ing and E vening in a G la s s o f Win e r o r any other convenient
Ve h icIe, will infaltibly a n d in s e n s ib ly c u re those Dis t e m p e r s , and
co r r oborate the vital s p irit s , if c o n s t a n t ly taken to p u ri f y the
Blo o d in sickly and inf e c t io u s T ime s . "

Aph o risms XXI X X Mell us about f u rt h e r use of the Circ u l a t u m

I"l i nu s. rt will extract the t in c t u re f ro m c o ra ls (x x r), it serves

- 62-
fo r making the E lixir P ro p rie t a t is if equal q u a lt it ie s of Myrrh,

Al oe and S affron are imme rs e d in it (X X I I ) it a ls o d is s o l v e s a1I

'
ki nd ,s of Gums, Oils an d B a ls a ms , s e p a ra t in g t h e ir Essence (XXIII).

It also extracts the t in c t u re f ro m a n u mb e r o f me t a ls and minerals

(xxrv).

Aph orism X X V finally t e lls us that we c a n re c o v e r the Cir c u l a t u m

afte r use through gently d is t illa t io n , so that we ma y u s e i t when

r eq uired.

XXI

"rf you put coral into this menstruumr lou wirl se an admir-

able Experiment: for although its pores are compacterr than

in any other vegetable; yet it will on a sudden transmit its

internal Spirit into the Menstruumr and sendings its Soul and

Body, like a blodd-red oil to the Topr will at rast fall to

the Bottom like a grayish Excrement".

XXI I

ff Myrrh, A l.oes and S a f f ro n t o f each an equal e u a n t it y r ar e

pu t into this Menstruumr the t ru e s t E lix ir p ro p rie t a t is (as

Pa r acelsus terms it) wh ic h is a mo s t e x c e lle n t Co rd ia lr dn d

alm ost as of great E ff ic a c y a n d v irt u e r ES the u n iv e rs a r El-

i xi r itselfr in curing a1r Dis t e mp e rs r wilr p re s e n t ry s wi m

o n the Top and its cap u t Mo rt u u m wirl s e p a ra t e to the bottom".

-5 3 -
 XXIII

"This V egetable Menstruu m d is s o lv e s not o n ly a ll s o rt s of

G um s or any other kind of substance in t h e v e g e t a b le K in g-

d o m r but also all sorts of O ils a n d B a ls a ms r c o min g o u t

of Treesr separating the ir t ru e Essence, b y v h ic h y o u ma y

pe r form wonderful things both u p o n I iv in g g o d ie s and dead oD€sr

the last of which it pr e s e rv e s f o re v e r h rit h o u t o p e n in g or any

fur ther P reparation of t h e m" .

XXIV

"Th o ugh this Menstruum is o n ly s p e c if ic a t e d u p o n V e g e t a b le s , it,

wil] nevertheless in a mo me n t d ra w t h e T in c t u re out of Me t a l s
an d Minerals; but it will not s e p a ra t e a ll t h e ir p rin c ip le s ,

no t being the appropriate d Me n s t ru u m f o r s u c h o p e ra t io n s : and

th o u g h such surphurs are h ig h ry b a ls a mic for the Lungs and
Spr e enr !et since our E lix ir p ro p rie t a t is far exceeds t h o se
p r a e ter natural P repara t io n s r w€ o n ly g iv e t h is a s a c u rio u s
Expe r iment " .

XXV

"si nce this vegetable Me n s t , ru u m is e t e rn a l r lo u mu s t o b s e rv e

tha t you lose nothing of it s Q u a n t it y o r Q u a lit y in s e p a rat i n g

of it from the oil and s p irit of t h e v e g e t a b le , wh ic h is done

by a gentre Destirlation in B a ln e o v a p o ro s r the vessel b ei n g

ver y well luted and drie d b e f o re . T h e Me n s t ru u m c o min g o v er with

th e Fregm of the vegetab le , f ro m wh ic h it is b y a Dis t irla t io n

in Barneo to be separate d for f a rt h e r uses, le a v e s the o il at

th e B ottomr united with it s o wn S p irit r wh ic h will e a s ily go

-64-
 o ve r in any common Heat r Do t le a v in g a n y t h in g b e h in d it : which

is a Mark of its S piritua liz a t io n , P u rif ic a t io n a n d Re g e n e r a -

ti on r that it has receiv e d f ro m t h e Me n s t ru u m" .

xxvl

ou t of this oit or E sse n c e o f your V e g e t a b le s o p re p a re d ,

or by any other P hirosop h ic a t n d lr (a s we h a v e me n t io n e d in

our second manner of ma k in g t h is r our E lix ir) if you know how to
p u tr i fy it naturally wit h o u t a n y F ire r dnd to s e p a ra t e a ll our
Pr i nciples out of it, pu rif y in g a n d u n it in g t h e m in s e p a ra b l y
tog e ther, being all mad e s p irit u a l a n d t ra n s p a re n t r y o u wi I l

the n have out of this s e c o n d Re g e n e ra t io n the g re a t e s t A rc a n u m

in th e worrdr as upon v e g e t a b le s r s o a l-s o u p o n min e ra ls a nd
M etalsr except Gold and S ilv e r" .

XXVII

"r f this regenerated E ss e n c e b e d e t e rmin e d wit h our F irs t

M a tte r, it will then be in a c a p a c it y ra d ic a lly to d is s o lv e all
so r ts of Metars or Minera ls r d n d p rin c ip a rry G o rd , wh ic h is
i m pe r ceptibly dissolved in it lik e Ice in c o mmo n t { a t e r. It can
n e ve r be separated commo n G o ld a g a in , n e it h e r b y Dis t illa t io n
n o r Digestion: out of w h ic h r after a p h ilo s o p h ic a l d ig e s t io nr
se p a r ation of the three p rin c ip le s r wit h t h e ir p u rif ic a t , io n ,

un io n r Digestion and third Re g e n e ra t io n r lo u ma y p re p a re t, h e

gr e a t Medicin of Medicins t o f equal v irt , u e a n d e u a lit y wit ,h t h e

Gr a n d E ilixr upon human B o d ie s r d n d wit h o u r Me rc u ry S imp le x

up o n Metals or MineraLs" .

-6 5 -
 XXVII I

"The determinating this re g e n e ra t e d Me n s t ru u m wit h our f irst

M atter is to be perform e d b y it s A ma lg a ma t io n wit h it , in which

th e Vegetable Menstruum , d ra win g out of it , a ll it s Q u a lit ie s and

Pr op ertiesr and uniting t h e m wit h it s o rf n r is ma d e c a p a b le of

th e same V irtue and P ro p e rt y r d s o u r Me rc u ry S imp le x r in dis-

so lo ving and volatizing e v e ry c re a t e d t h in g r that shaII come

near itu.

XXI X

"Some are of Opinion that both the Elixirs may be produced out

of several determined things as Human Excrementsr May Dew (which

they also call their Menstruum from above t oE water from the

Clouds) etc. as also that Grand Elixir may be prepared out of

this or any other Vegetable regenerated Flenstruum. But since we

know that such Menstruumsr which they call their Philosophical

Mercuryr dlthough they may dissol-ve and volatize Metalsr yet

cannot, meliorate any of themr this Dissolution and Volataliz-

ation being neither Natural nor Philosophicalr w€ therefore wit,h

good Reason judge all those Opinions to be only false Suppo-

sitions and i11-grounded and imaginary Notions".

xxx

"We with our Divine Ma s t e r He rme s a b s o lu t e ly a f f irm, that, AI-

m ig h ty God havingr afte r He h a d c re a t e d a ll t h in g s r c o mman d e d

e ve r y one of them to pro c re a t e out of it s o wn k in d . Our Elixirs

a r e not to be produced by any of those s o p h is t ic a l wa y s r ds we

-6 6 -
h a ve fully made appear in these a n d o u r p re c e d e n t A p h o ris m s r

in which we have given a mp le I n s t ru c t io n s for the p re p a rin g of

the Universal E lixir out of o u r u n d e t e rmin e d Ma t t e r and the

sp e cificated one out of the Ro o t o f V e g e t a b le s " .

xxxl

"O ut of the true A ffectio n a n d Ch a rit y r lre h a v e f o r a ll Lo v e r s

of the A rtS r w€ advise e v e ry one, wh o s h a ll d e s ire to p rep a r e

either of theser ouE E lix irs , o n ly to f o llo v our in f a llib le

Ru le s, being the Comp e n d iu m o f the wh o le P ra c t ic e and Theory

a cco rding to all true P h ilo s o p h e rs r dnd not to min d a n y ot h r :

for some, having deliev e re d t h ig n s b y He a rs a y r o t h e rs f ro m

Re a ding, and a very few f ro m t h e ir o wn P ra c t ic e , they ma y

e a sily be imposed upon a n d d e lu d e d b y a n y P s e u d o -c y mis t or pre-

te n d ed A dept " .

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 RE F E RE l{ CE S

1. J.I. Hollandus, O p e ra V e g e t a b ilis , V ie n n a L773, Ch a pt e r 40.

2. Frater A lbertus' G o ld e n Ma n u s c rip t s : Circ u la t u m Urb i g e r u s .

P ara P ublishing Co . I n c . , SaIt L a k e Cit y , Ut a h 1 9 7 3 .

3. A ndreas Libavius, A lc h e mie , L597. Re p rin t We in h e im 1964.

4. Mixtum: species in wh ic h the E s s e n t ia ls a re mix e d , f. inst.

a plant specie s .

5. Glauberus Concentra t u s , L e ip z ig a n d B re s la u 1715, Rep r i n t Ulm

1961, p. 9.

6. Le Febure: Neuverme h rt e r Ch y mis c h e r Ha n d le it e r, Nu rnb e r g

1685, p. 566.

7. Urbigerus, B aro: " Circ u la t u m Min u s Urb ig e ra n u m" , " Ch e m i c a l

Works | .

8. Junius, Manfred: " S p a g y ric (P la n t ) A lc h e my " .

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