Emerald Tablet

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Categories: Hermeticism | Sacred Texts

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The Emerald Tablet is considered to be the cornerstone of the Hermetic movement and the father of the Art of Alchemy. It's author is Hermes Trismigestus (Hermes the Thrice-Great), named after the Greek god of occult wisdom. It's origin is lost in antiquity and there is no recorded history as to it's place of creation or the name of the actual author. It is known that scholars and philosophers have been aware of it since the 10th century.

The Emerald Tablet

ruely, without Deceit, certainly and absolutely,

As Above, so Below, and as Below, so Above, 
in the Accomplishment of the Miracle of the One Thing. 
And just as all things have come from One, 
through the Mediation of One, 
so all things follow from this One Thing in the same Way.

Its Father was the Sun, the Moon its Mother.
It was carried in the Womb of Air, and the Earth was its Nurse. 
It is the Father of every Willed Thing in the whole World.
Its Power is perfected if it becomes as Earth.
Seperate the Earth from Fire: the Fine from the Gross, 
gently and with great skill.

It rises from Earth to Heaven, 
and then it descends again to the Earth and 
receives Power from Above and from Below. 
Thus you will have the Glory of the whole World. 
All Obscurity will be clear to you. 
This is the strong Power of all Power because 
it overcomes everything fine and penetrates everything solid.

In this way was the World created. 
From this there will be amazing Applications, 
because this is the Pattern. 
Therefore am I called Thrice Greatest Hermes, 
having the three parts of the Wisdom of the whole World. 

Herein have I completely explained the Operation of the Sun.