At the core of everything, there is – in Hermetic Terminology – a 'Palace' [space] that is a nexus containing both Heaven and Earth or the non-physical and physical reality that maintains and, indeed, is the cause of its emanation and perception.
In Alchemical literature, this 'Palace' is also termed a Quintessence. As I understand it, the Quintessence is a fifth element, the original element, having an unperturbable homeostasis because of the perfectly balanced existence of the four elements within it. Indeed, it gives birth to these four elements and uses them to conceal itself. When the alchemist works in reverse to make a physical analog from the four elements derived from the matter being worked on in his lab to create a seat for the divine presence, it is, for me, analogous to the 'Ark of the Covenant,' a physically tangible place where the spirit of divinity (Shekhinah/Alchemical Arcanum) resides.
The Quintessence is the space through which the spirit or Arcanum of the matter speaks to you and imparts its wisdom. Every plant and mineral has an Arcanum that can be accessed and utilized to learn from. What makes alchemical preparations unique is that this experience is accomplished without using psychoactive compounds. Properly confected alchemical products are unique in that they alone afford a means to act as catalysts during Hermetic esospheric practices to make reliable and repeatable contact with the Arcanum during active session work and dreams.
If one is doing session work, then Alchemical Oblations made by their Guide are more than adequate. If one intends to use the products for initiatic purposes, then at the very least, they need to make by their hand their 'Prius Seven (Ps7)' products. Ps7 products are used as 'spiritual chelators' and carriers for the advanced products obtained from one's Guide. To learn more about Hermetic Initiation, please go to the Inner Garden Foundation.
The Quintessence exists in an occulted state in all physical matter and may be made more 'corporealized' through various operations in the alchemical laboratory.
To call alchemical herbal products mere extracts, tinctures, or essences is inappropriate; they are so much more. Nor should the standard Spagyric herbal products available today be called alchemical; they are an ersatz compared to an authentic alchemical product.
The proof is in the final product; it has to display specific physical characteristics described by erstwhile adepts and produce particular effects when ingested, or it is not an alchemical product. In the 'Alchemical Gnosis' section, I'll go into deeper detail about the physical characteristics one should look for in an alchemical product and detail some of my early and later experiences using these types of products for Hermetic inner work.
The majority of people who use these products within the paradigm of Hermetic practice and meditation have the following experiences:
