The preparation of spagyrical extracts, in their diverse forms, is a penetration into a select field of Alchemy and requires a foundation of the main operations, specialized laboratory equipment, and knowledge of the methods canonical preparation using the elements.

It is appropriate to remember that all alchemical processes and the elements are Canonical, that founded on the principles taught by the old Masters and that they have remained invariable throughout the centuries.

The most fundamental principle is "follow the Nature." This implies that no material or procedure could contradict "the natural."

Here dwells one of the fundamental fascinating challenges for an Alchemist.

Unlike a Chemist, for whom a scientific method is dogma and the purpose for "working", an Alchemist carefully prepares each step studying the moment and imitating nature, using only natural materials or their enlivenment, and never using products chemically synthesized.

Unfortunately, this is often the height of controversy between chemists and alchemists. Because I am chemist of formation and alchemist for conviction, I have intimate experience with this chasm.

As a chemist I intellectually understand that any ethyl alcohol has the same formula CH₃ CH₂ OH, regardless of origin. But as an alchemist I understand that ethyl alcohol from the grape is by nature noble and pure and imbued with the Spiritus vini, therefore as a "formula" it is the more evolved, more natural choice because it is enlivened with Spirit.

Like a chemist, in order to extract natural products I use any solvent such as acetone, carbon tetrachloride, sulfuric ether, etc. As an alchemist I may use only water and Spirit of wine. And not any water, even though all are H₂ O , I will only use the water of rain or the dew of the morning gathered canonically.

There is much subtle energy that exists that a chemist cannot "weigh,"" measure" or" count,". Unlike the chemist, I as an alchemist can identify these energies. I have evaluated the spectacular formation of incredible crystalline reticules through alchemical "menstrum" that confer special characteristics to a compound, with unsuspected healing effects on illnesses which "science" considers incurable.

Chemistry is my career and training. Alchemy my life and vocation. In chemistry I am an expert….in alchemy always an apprentice.

Entering in matter.

The general outline of division for Solve for any plant, is to isolate the three fundamental Principles: Mercury, Sulfur and Salt:

The plant is washed absolutely clean with water and rinsed with rain water. Separate into very fine pieces and grind by hand with a pestle in a mortar of glass or porcelain into pap. Don't use machines to grind or extract, even though they are very practical they impede the transmission of vibratory energy imparted by the alchemist , who by hand, little by little and with firm vision imbues the plant with virtues while milling the pap.

The amount of the plant to be worked is divided into two parts, weight to weight.

One part is for distillation for haulage with vapor of water in order to obtain the Volatile Sulfur or essential oil. It is preferable to use an alludel for the expansion of vapors if a traditional alembic of glass is not used.

The distillation should be soft and generous, without violent temperatures and with patience. The temperature should remain constant and always use Mary´s bath for the container of the parts to be extracted or a cucurbit. When the first 250 ml of floral water is recovered and the essential oil is on the surface, make a cohobation in order to increase the flow and the molecular vibration of the extracted essence.

In total, three cohobations are recommended before retiring the product or Volatile Sulfur of the plant. Remember that it is not merely obtaining the essential oil (chemistry), it is being "rapturous" with the plant using the extractor force of the water vapor and the volatility of the active principles of the oil.

Alchemy requests the plant to give up its Soul and its unique signature that makes it different from other plants. Here lies the alchemical property that makes a spagyrical preparation. This is the vision of Alchemy.

With subtle being and moderation in fire and patience with cohobation, the bonus will be a substance of high vibration and Life force.

Volatile Sulfur is purified by fractional distillation with vacuum, and this Volatile Pure Sulfur, is reserved in an amber flask after being rinsed with water of rain or canonical dew.

Take the remaining half of separated plant and place in a wood type barrel receptacle (the type wine is aged in). Do not fill more than 2/ 3 of its volume. If this is not available, use amber glass no more than 2/3 full.

Add rain water in proportion of 1.5 times volume to the weight of the plant and add 2 g of yeast of beer. Place a wooden plug that accepts a tube of Pasteur or tube of fermentation and leave it to ferment in a warm and dark place until no gas is formed or escapes.

Uncover carefully and filter through muslin. The filtrate will contain Mercury (ethylic alcohol ), fixed Sulfurs and Phlegm (water). Don't discard the vegetable parts or liquid.

The mixed filtrate must now undergo distillation, with much care, and should not violently boil at excessive temperature. After three cohobations, there is a liquid with the consistency of honey (fixed Sulfur), and this is removed from the flask very carefully using a wooden palette ex-profess.

The fixed Sulfur is joined with the vegetable parts, and dried on a tray of iron or steel and heated with fire in order to convert it into ashes. The ashes then go into a porcelain container over a hearth and are warmed until everything converts into a white salt like snow.

Use just enough rain water to dissolve the salt, shaking very well, and filter through cotton or in a vacuum on paper wathman 40.

The solid is discarded.

The filtered liquid is caught in a glass and left to evaporates to soft heat in a bath of sand until dry. This is the Salt Salis or pure Salt, which is kept in an amber in flask tightly sealed because it is highly hygroscopic ( absorbs water from the atmosphere).

The initial filtrate that contains Mercury and Phlegm should be distilled with much care, seven times, without cohobation.

Take care that in the first distillation the fraction that distills does not exceed 90o C. Draw back from the cucurbit the rest.

Continue the distillation taking care that only the fractions are picked up that they distill 80o C. Discard the water.

Return the distilled parts to the cucurbit and continue the fractions to 78.3o C.

Return to the cucurbit and are rectified at 78.3 C for four times more, until there is a variation in the temperature of 78.3o C. This is then the Mercury of the plant.

Now we have achieved the canonical Solve. We have separated the Sulfur, Mercury and Salt from the plant. Now we can prepare the canonical Coagula, joining the three principles into a whole, creating a new being according to the Art.

For Coagula, put first the essential purified oil, volatile Sulfur and Soul of the plant, into a small retort and subject it to subtle heat in a bath of sand until distilled, but take care not to dry completely. Do this three times. On the third time, add the Salt so that volatilization will occur. HERE is a great secret that should be knowledge of all Spagyrists. Van Helmont said: " Learn at least to volatilize the Salt of Tartar"

Volatilize the salt. Impossible the chemist says and yet our eyes marvel upon seeing the beautiful crystals that form in the tubuladure of the retort and they went by their pick out.

The first time that I witnessed this, I, in that moment, began to truly feel like an Alchemist.

Once the Salt is formed in the tubuladure, the previously obtained Mercury is added and it is observed how this draws the Volatilized Salt into the receiving flask.

Continue distilling until dry.

The retort will keep a stain of coal in the bottom. In order to wash it, follow the instructions given in the corresponding section of Alchemy on the homepage.

You now have the Coagula of Sulfur, Mercury and the Volatilized Salt.

Transvase into a pelican and begin to circulate for 40 days to 40º C shaking periodically with circular movements twice a day. At the end of this period you will have an authentic spagyrical extract of incomparable properties.

As you now see, a spagyrical extract is all a Herculean labor of patience, love and true alchemical vocation.

In another section I will discuss individual spagyrical essences and I will show other alternative methods in order to obtain extracts via tartaric and acetic menstrums.