We see the outer fire below the athenor heating the vessel and raising the vibrations within it allowing for the alchemical process to be initiated. We see there the vessel also containing our alchemical King and Queen, suggesting that this is a Hermetic Work, and that it is an inner event. We are after all the athenor of our work, which is revealed by the athenor in the very center of the painting. Thus we must mature and get accustomed to the lunar reflective stage of the emerging light as we begin to endure the higher intensities of the alchemical fire of the soul. It cannot immediately look directly at the sun. This is symbolic of the emerging light and consciousness of the Self being also fragile as it unfolds its petals. The lily is a fragile flower and likes to live in the indirect light of the sun, in the shadows, hence in the valley. The lily is a beautiful symbol revealing that the highest in us is found in that which is the lowest in us, as the roots of this beautiful flower are anchored in the murky mud below the surface of the waters.Īn important symbol not to overlook are the lilies of the valley at the foot of our Queen. In the lake we also see the water lily having spread its petals seeking to absorb the light of dawn. Alchemists have often repeated to watch for the appearance of the white swan, for when it appears over our matter, the whitening stage, the purification of our work has begun. Next we see the White Swan which gently swims over our darkened water. This also suggests to us as being the secret fire of the alchemists, for the word of God is as fire. According to Cirlot’s dictionary of symbols, the unicorn has been an emblem of the sword or the word of God. Her purity and chastity is symbolised by the unicorn as the single horned white horse, tireless when attempted to be captured by the impure of heart, but surrenders and falls meekly to the ground when approached by a virgin. This suggests to us that the Alchemical Wedding is to be experienced inwardly through spiritual practice, meditation, aspiration and love for that which is the divine in us.Īs we explore our scenery, we pass by Diana’s temple and realise that it is she that is our beautiful queen and goddess. In the depths of darkness, in a little far off town, one alchemist is keeping vigil, even in his sleep he tends to his fire and keeps the light. The Sun to rule the day, and the Moon to rule the night. We also see that the entire scene is divided into two equal parts or aspects of consciousness. We see this marriage being blessed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit as the descending dove that is the mediator between heaven and earth. This is the Heiros Gamos, or the holy marriage of the divine aspects of our inner archetypal and divine couple whose offspring becomes the alchemical Hermetic Child as our rebirth into a new and higher spirituality. In my painting our attention is brought immediately to the center where we see the two opposite but complementary forces of nature, the feminine and masculine energies in nature being brought into the union of the Alchemical Marriage.
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