1.

The Celestial Agriculture

I found this when I wasn't looking for anything in relation to it, and so it seems we discover certain bits of wisdom
when we are ready and none the sooner, the subject matter is absolutely what I have been writting about lately
concerning limestone as the Bethel stone and its use to attract the spiritus mundi, at first I didn't know what Marl
was..... but I had a hunch and a quick google search left my views on the subject vindicated in a triumphant, glorious
and synchronistic fashion when I learned that marl was indeed limestone. The proceeding experiments mentioned in
the text below I had already designed and contemplated on my own and had begun to undertake, whose design I
gleaned from a close study of nature alone, along with a close reading from in between the lines of the most
enigmatic of philosophical and biblical texts/no-texts. Alas it lifted my heart to the heights of heaven when I learned
that those wise masters who preceding me, had taken the same seldom traveld and little worn simple and poor path
to truth that I have attained to.
And to all that now begin to undetake the same path of celestial agriculture and masonry, may the heavens rain down
dew and rightousness upon you through the fat of the land. May your hearts be pure and your intentions humble for
the universal spirit does not suffer itself to be shown to the wicked and perverse and those who go against nature, for
our science is truly a divine one.
This proceding text is from a book which has absolutely nothing to do with alchemy but everything to do with the
study of nature and judging from the texts the wisdom from these following pages was no doubt lain out by an adept
of our science a certain M. Jeanneret the Elder.
From: Foriegn Essays on Agriculture and The Arts...Issues 1-4

1. The happy effects of marl, for the purposes of vegetation, should induce every
one fond of philosophical researches to enquire into its principles, and every
farmer to distingush that which he ought to prefer.
In order to satisfy the reasonable curiosity of the first, and the prudent foresight of
the latter I have thought proper to conclude this essay, with some enquiries into
the nature and properties of Marle.
With this view, an able artist made under my inspection several experiments, on
some grey Marl approaching to the colour of slate, taken from two Marle-pits,
near three leagues distant one from the other. They differ, in that one is sine
grained, soft to the touch, and being exposed to the air, soon dissolves ; the other
is coarser grained, feels rough in handling is harder and with difficulty dissolved
on being exposed to the air, or being laid oft land.
Three China basons were taken, in each of which were put two ounces of Marle
grossly pulverized, because it was taken from a large piece of Marle.
On that in the first bason one hundred drops of spirit of nitre were first dropped,
and when it began to ferment, cold water was poured on it. The ebullition was
strong, the bason was filled with froth', and a great smoke issued from it. In the
space of a few minutes the Marle was perfectly dissolved.
In the second bason the same operations were repeated with the spirit of vitriol,
all in the same proportions, as in the first bason. The fermentation was nearly the same; but instead
of being dissolved, the Marle was considerably increased in bulk.
Lastly, in a third bason, an ounce of distilled vinegar was. poured; the ebullition
on the cold water, being added, was the same ; but the Marle instead of being
dissolved, became granulated like small shot.

 Two hours afterwards, ninety-five' drop's of spirit of.nitre were again put into the
first bason, as much spirit of vitriol into the second, and some distilled vinegar
into the third ; a new ebullition ensued, and the same effects were apparent, as
from the first; Operation.
In three other basons, exactly the same experiments were made, with the same
quantities, and the effects were the same. We may thence conclude that, though
these two sorts of Marle appeared different, to the eye, to the touch, and in using
them, yet they may have the same effects in promoting vegetation ; with this
difference, however, that the effects of the hardest Marle is slower in proportions
to the length of time it takes to dissolve.
The four ounces of Marle, which had been impregnated with spirit of nitre, in the
two basons, were added together, a lixivium was made from them, which being
evaporated by fire, yielded half an ounce of a nitrous salt, which crackled on the
coals like nitre; and shot forth needles like it. This effect is no ways surprizing,
spirit of nitre being only salt-petre, discharged of its earthly particles ; so that
when you add to it any earth whatever, provided it can be dissolved in it, it
becomes salt-petre again.
Some experiment was yet to be made on the substance of the Marle. A hard piece,
just taken from the pit, was pounded, washed, and a lixivium made from it. The
lotions being filtered and inspissated yielded no kind of salt whatever.
The Marle being first dissolved by the air, and then managed in the same manner,
yielded a bitumenous salt, but in a small quantity.
RESULT of the several preceding EXPERIMENTS.
I. IT was evident, that Marle will not amalgamate, or mix either with spirit of
vitriol or distilled vinegar, which are both strong acids; but on the contrary, they
yielded a Magma, or a Coagulation. The Marl perfectly dissolved with spirit of
nitre; whence it may be concluded, that, though it may not contain in itself any
salt, it will, nevertheless, imbibe and attract the universal spirit or nitre, so
conducive to the fertilization of land.
II. That Marle which will soonest and best dissolve with spirit of nitre is to be
prefered, as it will attract more powerfully the universal spirit, dispersed in ever
part of the atmosphere.
III. Marle appears to be only a simple matrix, which like a spunge imbibes the
nitre, and salts dispersed in the air; since when it was first taken from the pit it
yielded no salt; yet that which was taken from the same pit, and dissolved in the
air, yielded a small quantity of a bitumenous salt.
IV. If Marle, even in the quality of a simple matrix, is well adapted to attract the
nitre in the air, its effect on
vegetation will be lasting, as it may be reiteratedly impregnated. This is made
evident, by the earth from which the salt-petre makers have extracted the saltpetre. Being exposed for a certain number of years to the air, and to the north
easterly and north winds, and being sheltered by walls from the south, it
imbibes salt-petre a-new, which is again by the former operations extracted.

V. From the preceding observations it should seem we might conclude, that Marle
would be of no use on light gravelly lands, when turned in by the plough; because,
not being exposed to the open air, at cannot attract the nitre or universal spirit,
and be impregnated with it. Experience, however, proves the good effects
resulting from this practice, which should be attributed to the porous nature of the
Marle; it imbibes the water which penetrates the surface of the soil, and preserves
it to refresh the roots of the plants. Without this help, the fructifying water would
either have sunk deeper, or have been evaporated by the first heats.
VI. Marl has an effect so visible, so speedy, and even so lasting in promoting
vegetation, that it is with some difficulty we can persuade ourselves it has no
other quality but that of attracting to itself the universal spirit; may we not
presume that it contains salts or sulphur, which art has not yet been able to
discover. Nature seems to cast a veil before our eyes, we see the effects, but the
causes are hid from us.
Many of the constituent parts of minerals and metals escape our researches ; they
are exhaled and dispersed by the sire of the laboratories, and, mixing salts and
spirits with them, produces nearly the same effects, by means of fermentation ;
they are another species of fire.
Let us then be content to know what experience teaches us. Speculations on the
nature of Marle are the less necessary, because farmers seldom have it in their
power to choose. Every one is obliged to make use of that which is nearest to him;
as, to bring this manure from any considerable distance, would greatly encrease
the expence of marling the land, because the price of carriage would be in
proportion increased.
If we study the nature of limestone closely and reflect thoughtfully upon it then we will understand why it attracts
the universal spirit to itself so avidly, for as just as in you and in your heart and mind, if it be emptied, and if you be
very thirsty and wanting in your nature you will sooner be given water of the heavens to drink than he who is
already full up. Therefore empty your hearts so that they may be filled up again with rightousness!

1.

A pertinent quote on a process from RAMS:

Preparation of Salt of the Earth or Saltpeter of the Philosophers from

Virgin Soil
In the month of May, when the sky is clear and bright and the air is pure and
the weather is still fine, without wind and rain, and lovely odors are
everywhere, that is, as it were, lovely odors are rising all around, one should
enjoy the early morning and the sunrise, along a beautiful path where the
good black earth is so rich, and even more beautiful is the red, the gold, and
the red-gold of Natures beautiful plants and flowers, which take care to bear
in the clover family. The red and gold earth in the mountains of the wine
country is also very magnificent. Also even the lime-pit, when you can

regard it as more than just sandy. Dig down a few hundredweights, shut
yourself apart from one another, so that the stars might well operate therein:
This, one should also let lie fallow for 14 days and nights; however, should
rain set in, one must cover it well with straw until the weather becomes clear.
After waiting 14 days, put the earth in tubs and cover it well. Afterwards, a
few tubs should be made, like the silk refiners have, for subjecting the soil to
washings with lye (warm water is best) and allow it to stand for 24 hours and
then afterwards draw it off, boil it down tone-fourth its original volume, let it
stand for a few days, and then open it. It is like saltpeter; it burns, but not
much. It is then dissolved, filtered, and coagulated with rain water until
complete. Hereafter, it is called Sal Terra (Salt of the Earth) and also
Saltpeter Philosophorum (Philosophers Saltpeter) or even Sal Natureae
Virgineum (Pure Natural Salt) which is dissolved in the seas of the world.
The hand is not easily washed.
This is now the high Secretum Philosophorum (Philosophers Secret) in
which the Universal Spirit of the World is often hidden. It is often called
Womans Work, since it is associated with soapmaking and cooking.
Sal hoc naturae (Salt of this nature) is thus a unique thing to be considered,
since it is actually made up of three different kinds of salt. First, there is a
universal salt of the nature of saltpeter and soil, in which the spirit of the
world frequently resides. It is not volatile and not completely fixed, but has a
middle nature. More than any other, it contains a sal ammoniac, which is
actually volatile. And, in the third place, it contains hidden in it an alkali, and
a fixed salt. It is also triune, and manifests itself in its subsequent reactions.
Preparation of the Universal Spirit and Volatile Salt; Sal Ammoniac
and Salt of the Earth
Sal Superius (Superior Salt), 1 pound, is added to 3 pounds of special earth,
from which the salt was made, although such earth must first be further
calcined in a potters kiln, then made into droplets with rain water (much like
childs play). The droplets were allowed to dry and then distilled in a wellmounted
retort above a controlled, but open, flame, by way of a condenser
into a large receiver, wherein some pure water had been poured. The
distillation was carried out using a hot fire. After the volatile salts had
sublimed in the receiver, the part of the product remaining in the neck of the
retort was gradually allowed to cool, the spirits and volatile salts present in
the receiver were then washed together and combined and the combined
washings were carefully neutralized. Again taking 1 pound of salt, proceed
as before and repeat this procedure 4, 5 or 6 times, neutralizing the spirits
and volatile salts carefully so as to incur no appreciable loss. The spirits and
volatile salts were neutralized together in a large glass flask and separated
from the phlegm on a steam bath and distilled over from a sand bath six
successive times to give the spirits, which were always carefully preserved.
However, the salts remaining behind at the bottom of the flask after
distillation over a hot fire was neutralized along with such as were sublimed.
The process was repeated 5 or 6 times, and the product was white as snow,
with no feces remaining behind, and was stored safely.

Now all Capita Mortua (dead heads) were taken and calcined one more time
in a potters kiln and the resulting fixed salts were extracted with distilled
rain water therefrom and the best of such was purified until it was perfectly
white, sparkling, and clear as a crystal, with no fecal matter left in the residue.
1.

Now compare this quote which comes from The Instructions of The Manufacture of Saltpeter:

The general conditions necessary to the formation of saltpetre are: 1st, the presence of decaying
organic matter, animal or vegetable, especially the former; 2d, an alkaline or earthy base, as potash
or lime; 3d, sufficient moisture; 4th, free exposure to the oxygen of the air; and 5th, shelter from
sun and rain.
These conditions are often found in nature, as in the soil of all caves, but particularly those in
limestone countries; and still more frequently under a concurrence of circumstances which, though
not strictly natural, is at least accidental, so far as the formation of nitre is concerned, as in cellars,
stables, manure-heaps, &c. In crowded cities, with narrow, dirty streets and lanes, the decomposing
organic matter with which the soil is impregnated becomes gradually nitrified, oozes through, and
dries on the walls and floor of the cellars, as a whitish crust, easily detectible as saltpetre by the
taste. The same salt may be found in the soil beneath stables of several years' standing, particularly
if lime or ashes have been used to hasten the decomposition of the manure; also in the earth of sheep
and cattle pens, if these have remained several years in the same position; also in the soil beneath
manure-heaps, particularly if lime or ashes have been added to them, as is common among
farmers in making compost. It is very important, then, that the soil of such caves, cellars, stables,
pens and manure-heaps, as described above, should be tested for saltpetre. If the salt exists in
considerable quantities, it may be detected by the taste; if not, a small quantity of the earth may be
leached, and the ley boiled down to dryness, and then tested by the taste. If there be still any doubt,
any chemist or educated physician may test it. If the earth contains saltpetre in sufficient quantities,
it must be leached, and the salt crystallized, by methods which we have described below.
with this one from the letter of A.L. Gerbant that I often speak of:

Your agent solvent is devoid of virtue. Although you use it properly, its weakness does not allow him
to lead(reincrudate or dissolve radically) the metallic substance. It dissolves well but do not feed it
disbanded.
Remember a few general principles that will help you understand what you have to do.
Ignis & Azoth tibi sufficiunt, Has told. These are the two agents in this animation. All your attention
should be focused on the Azoth. If you read Arnauld de Villeneuve you'll be convinced ..
For over half a century that has brought order in chemistry, Lavoisier's gentlemen, Guytton
Morveau, balsam, agreed on a precise nomenclature, but gave a bit random names formerly known.
But it is Mr. Lavoisier himself was firmly held in the name of nitrogen that part of the air called
skunk, and it cons for these fellows. The name nitrogen was therefore adopted. Mr. Lavoisier's was
much more educated in the science of Hermes as did his successors thought. Those who understand
both the ideas of chemistry easily distinguished in his writings. The nitrogen in the air, Be sure, is
nitrogen philosophers. It is found only in the body that have been living at the time of

decomposition, it finally resolved into ammonia. Mr. Boussingault recently did a remarkable analysis
demonstrating that mist and dew contain the acid of nitre. It is true that this learned chemist had no
other intention than to prove that the plant nitrogen from the air and rain, without noticing that the
benefit derives mineral soil as well. And discovered that its confirmed the Emerald Tablet which
teaches us that the Sun and Moon are the father and mother, the wind carries in her womb, and that
the earth is its nurse. Astral seed of the sun and the moon dissolves in the dew when it condenses. It
behooves us then to put in the ground where it is fed.......This will be the purity of philosophical
nitre, as is the purity of the dissolution of the body when you make the second job that you know
well, so I could judge from our conversations on the day of our walk along the Moselle .
This alone can give the nitre azoth soli-lunar metal body which has been in private foster leaving the
mine. Alone transcend the subtle under the sun and moon which has been impregnated during its
making. Ordinary saltpetre which is manufactured in nitrires contains the truth a tiny fraction but to
a degree so low that the nose can achieve after him lead the nascent metal.
If you think you will see that in the artificial nitrires are employed rubble from the demolition of old
barns, impregnated with the urine of cattle, including nitrogen fed nitrogen from the air to which the
plaster is exposed during two or three years before washing. The rain and sun operate at random
from the weather, there is very little setting under the astral. While our practice is simply following
the nature laoigne adverse circumstances and take advantage of favorable.
Do we see the similarities for the formation of natural saltpeter and the circumstances which will elevate it to
philosophic salt-peter in which the universal spirit of the world is to be found. Can we see how the astral volitality of
this spirit can be made to become more and more fixed and eventually made powerful enough yet stable enough for
the use in alchemy. In solid form is it not "our salt peter"..... and in liquid form is it not "our vinegar of the
mountains" or......the water that wets not the hands, i.e. our astral solvent of Cyliani, the liquid key that unlocks
metals ...the seed and true matrix of gold and mother of metals that the philosophers truly meant the one that
reincrudates them and reverts them back to the state of the universal gur of nature as they formed in the mine thus
imparting to them a vegetative power and life force.
Last edited by rogerc; 11-06-2011 at 05:10 AM.
1.

Some thoughts....from "Dwellings Of The Philosophers"~Fulcanelli

Salamander, in Latin salamandra, comes from sal, salt, and mandra, which means stable
and also rock hollow, solitude, hermitage. Salamandra then is the name of the salt of the
stable, salt of the rock, or solitary salt. In the Greek language this word takes another
meaning, revealing the action that provokes: the Greek word [***-125-1] (Salamandra)
appears formed from [***-125-2] (Sala) meaning agitation, perturbation, used probably
for [***-125-3] (salos) or [***-125-4] (zale), agitated water, tempest, fluctuation, and
from [***-125-5] (mandra) which has the same meaning as in Latin. From these
etymologies we can draw the conclusion that the salt, spirit or fire takes birth in a stable,
a rock hollow, a grotto... That is enough. Lying on the straw of his manger in the grotto
of Bethlehem, is Jesus not the new sun bringing light to the world? Is he not God himself
in his carnal and perishable shell? Who the has said: "I am the Spirit and I am the Life;
and I have come to set fire unto things?".
This spiritual fire, given form and materialized in salt, is the hidden sulphur, since during
its operation it is never made manifest or perceptible to our eyes. And yet this sulphur, as
invisible as it may be, is not an ingenious abstraction or a doctrine stratagem. We know

how to isolate it, how to extract it from the body that conceals it, by an occult means and
in the appearance of a dry powder which, when it is in that state, becomes improper and
without effect for the philosophers art. This pure fire, of the same essence as the specific
sulphur of gold but less digested, is, on the other hand, more abundant than that of the
precious metal. This is why it easily unites with the mercury of minerals and imperfect
metals. Philalethes affirms that it is found hidden in the belly of Aries, or the Ram,
constellation which the sun crosses in the month of April. Finally, to even better
designate it, we will add that this Ram, "which hides within itself the magical steel",
ostensibly bears on its shield the image of the hermetic seal, the star with six rays. So it is
in this very common matter, which may seem merely useful to us, that we must look for
the mysterious solar fire, a subtle salt and spiritual sulphur, a celestial light diffused in the
darkness of the body, without which nothing can be done and which nothing could
replace.
From another place in the book where he gives away the significance of the Ram and alludes again to its sign or
seal.

Nicolas Grosparmy, Norman Adept of the 15th century,

gives an illustration of this spherical utensil, laterally tabulated, which he also calls
matrix. Furthermore, the X denotes sal ammoniac of the sages or salt of Ammon ([*2022] --- ammoniakos), in other words, salt of the Ram (26), which was formerly written,
more accurately, harmoniac, because it realizes the harmony ([*202-3] --- assembling),
the agreement of water with fire, because it is the mediator par excellence between
heaven and earth, the spirit and the body, the volatile and the fixed. It is also the Sign,
without any other qualification, the seal that reveals to man the intrinsic virtues of the
prime philosophical substance through certain superficial lineaments
Lets begin with "salt of the stable", here lets go back to the letter from A.L. Gerbant....

The nitrogen in the air, Be sure, is nitrogen philosophers. It is found only in the body that have been
living at the time of decomposition, it finally resolved into ammonia
Alone transcend the subtle under the sun and moon which has been impregnated during its making.
Ordinary saltpetre which is manufactured in nitrires contains the truth a tiny fraction but to a
degree so low that the nose can achieve after him lead the nascent metal.
If you think you will see that in the artificial nitrires are employed rubble from the demolition of old
barns, impregnated with the urine of cattle, including nitrogen fed nitrogen from the air to which
the plaster is exposed during two or three years before washing
So then it becomes clear that the universal spirit given birth to or encased in a natural salt-peter would manifest itself
given the right environment, it then becomes pre-requiste then that this environment as Fulcanelli explains, be a
stable whose construction includes "plaster" walls thus the use of gypsum or limestone or alternatively a natural
grotto which was again reaffirms our notions when we define the grotto.
Grottohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grotto
A grotto (Italian grotta and French "grotte") is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern,
historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near
water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide. The picturesque Grotta Azzurra at Capri and the grotto of the
villa of Tiberius in the Bay of Naples are outstanding natural seashore grottoes. Whether in tidal water or high up in
hills, they are very often in limestone geology where the acidity dissolved in percolating water has dissolved

the carbonates of the rock matrix as it has passed through what were originally small fissures. See karst
topography, cavern.
Mantic springs that issued from grottoes were a feature of Apollo's oracles at Delphi, Corinth, and Clarus.[1] The
new-built Hellenistic city of Rhodes was provided with rock-cut artificial grottos with "naturalistic" features.[2] At
the great Roman sanctuary of Praeneste south of Rome, the oldest portion of the primitive sanctuary was situated on
the next-to-lowest terrace, in a grotto in the natural rock where there was a spring that developed into a well.
Such a sacred spring had its native nymph, who might be honored in a grotto-like nymphaeum, where the
watery element was never far to seek.[3]
Wow, now we can see Cyliani's allusions in Hermes Unveiled to the nymph who gave him the astral spirit solvent
with which he used to unlock the door to the matter containing the two metallic natures.
Now for the second salt found in the belly of the Ram, its is clear Fulcanelli alludes to it as well but Beuther is more
charitable when he says:

More than any other, it contains a sal ammoniac, which is actually volatile.
Now,... its clear Cyliani and Fulcanelli are of the same linegage so lets take a close look Beuthers process in light of
Hermes Unveiled in regard to a blatent similiarity:

.
Sal hoc naturae (Salt of this nature) is thus a unique thing to be considered,
since it is actually made up of three different kinds of salt. First, there is a
universal salt of the nature of saltpeter and soil, in which the spirit of the
world frequently resides. It is not volatile and not completely fixed, but has a
middle nature. More than any other, it contains a sal ammoniac, which is
actually volatile. And, in the third place, it contains hidden in it an alkali, and
a fixed salt. It is also triune, and manifests itself in its subsequent reactions
Now the first operation being ended, one has the Azoth or the White Mercury or the cell or the Secret
Fire of the philosophers. From this point on certain sages dissolve it the least quantity of Astral
Spirit necessary to produce a thick solution. Having the solution, they place it in a cold place in
order to obtain the three layers of salt.
The first salt has the aspect of wool. The second of a niter with very small points and the third is a
fixed, alcaline salt.
~~~
The first salt is the veritable Mercury of the Philosophers. It is the key that opens all the metals by
the aid of which one extracts their tinctures. It dissolves everything radically. It fixes and ripens all
equally while fixing the bodies by its cold and congealing nature. Briefly it is a very active universal
essence. It is the vase in which all philosophical processes are undertaken. One thus sees that the
Mercury of the Wise is a salt which is named dry water which does not wet the hands, but to make
use of it, it must be dissolved in the Astral .Spirit, as we have already said. One uses ten parts of
mercury against one of gold.
The second salt serves to separate the pure from the impure and the third salt serves continually to
increase our mercury
And finally I will leave it to the reader to sort out which salt is which

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11-10-2011
#10

rogerc

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Join Date:Feb 2011Posts:376

From these
etymologies we can draw the conclusion that the salt, spirit or fire takes birth in a
stable,
a rock hollow, a grotto... That is enough. Lying on the straw of his manger in the
grotto
of Bethlehem, is Jesus not the new sun bringing light to the world? Is he not God
himself
in his carnal and perishable shell? Who the has said: "I am the Spirit and I am the
Life;
and I have come to set fire unto things?". For the Christians among us:
http://www.sophiainstitute.com/clien...tivity_cc.html

Since the time of the apostles, Christians have revered as the actual birthplace of
Jesus the low, arched natural limestone grotto that shelters cattle in the lovely
painting below .