The Blog

Notes from the Work — the herbs and their virtues, the planetary signatures, and the craft of spagyric extraction.

What Is a Spagyric Tincture? The Alchemical Art, Explained

A spagyric tincture is a plant extract made by the old alchemical method: the herb is separated into its essential parts, each purified, then reunited so that nothing of the plant is left behind. A complete guide to the craft, its history, and the seven planetary signatures.

July 16, 202611 min

Astrology

The Wood Goat Month in the Year of the Fire Horse

We are living through a rare and blazing year, and a gentle, fertile month within it. A journey into Chinese astrology: the Fire Horse, the Wood Goat, and what this ongoing period may be asking of us.

July 16, 202610 min

Herbarium

Gotu Kola and Brahmi: The Scholar's Herbs of Old India

Gotu Kola and Brahmi, the scholar’s herbs of old India: the "herb of grace," the folklore of Brahman and of elephant-memory, and their Mercurial place in tradition.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Eyebright: The Herb Named for a Grace

The folklore of eyebright (Euphrasia), the herb named for the Grace Euphrosyne: the Doctrine of Signatures, its Solar signature, and its old link to the clear inner sight.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Lavender in the Old World: From the Roman Bath to the Linen Chest

Lavender folklore and history: from the Latin lavare and the Roman bath to the linen chest — its lore of purification, protection from evil spirits, and Mercurial magic.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Lemon Balm: The Bee's Herb Paracelsus Prized — Folklore of Melissa

The folklore of lemon balm (Melissa): the bee nymph who fed the infant Zeus, the herb Paracelsus called the elixir of life, and its joyful, Jupiterian signature.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Marjoram, Joy of the Mountain: Aphrodite's Wedding Herb

Marjoram’s magical properties and myth: the "joy of the mountain," Aphrodite’s wedding herb, its Greek garland folklore, and its Mercurial signature in our reckoning.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Angelica: The Archangel's Root

The folklore and magical properties of angelica, the Archangel’s root: the herb of Michael that Renaissance Europe carried against the plague, and its protective Solar signature.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

The Clove: A Spice Once Worth More Than Gold

The folklore and magical properties of clove: the spice once worth its weight in gold, its Jupiterian signature, and its long use in protection and warding off gossip.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Manayupa: The Andean Herb of Countless Uses

Manayupa folklore: the Andean "amor seco," whose Quechua name was glossed as uses beyond counting — the tradition, mountain herbalism and love-lore of old Peru.

July 7, 20266 min

Herbarium

Cuti-Cuti: The Silver Fern of the High Andes

Cuti-Cuti (Argyrochosma nivea), the silver fern of the high Andes: its Andean folklore, its silver-dusted fronds, and the Saturnine signature of a plant of the cold heights.

July 7, 20266 min

Herbarium

Mullein, the Torch Plant: Hag's Taper and Guardian Herb

Mullein's folklore as the Hag's Taper and torch plant: its Saturnine signature, its long use in protection and banishing, and the witch's-candle lore behind the name.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Lady's Mantle: The Little Alchemist and Her Celestial Dew

Lady’s Mantle magical properties and alchemy: why medieval alchemists prized the "little alchemist’s" celestial dew, and her folklore ties to Venus and the sacred feminine.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Basil, the Royal Herb: From Tulsi to the Pot of Basil

The magical properties and folklore of basil, the royal herb: ruled by Mars, sacred as tulsi, and steeped in old tales of love, protection, and the Pot of Basil.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Guarana and the Buried Eye: The Vine of the Sateré-Mawé

The legend of guarana: how the Sateré-Mawé tell of a beloved child, the god Jurupari’s envy, and a buried eye that became the vine whose fruit stares like a human eye.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Ashwagandha, the Stallion’s Root: The "Smell of Horse" and Its Folklore

Ashwagandha, the stallion’s root: its Sanskrit name means "smell of horse," and old tradition held that it lent the strength of a horse and set wild steeds galloping through one’s dreams.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

The Scots Pine: Winter Tree of the North — Folklore, Saturn & the Evergreen of Immortality

The folklore of the Scots pine: the evergreen of immortality and purification, its Saturnine signature, and why the smoke of burning pine was carried to cleanse and protect.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Damiana: The Love Leaf of Old Mexico

Damiana’s magical properties and love-lore: the "love leaf" of the old Maya and Aztecs, sacred to Xochiquetzal and Venus, and its place in the folk magic of Mexico.

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Tribulus, the Caltrop Vine: Gokshura of the Ayurvedic Texts

Tribulus the caltrop vine: how the spiked seed lent its name to the caltrop of ancient war, and how the old Ayurvedic texts knew it as gokshura, "cow’s hoof."

July 7, 20267 min

Herbarium

Hawthorn, the Fairy Thorn: Folklore of the May Tree and the Tree of the Heart

The folklore of hawthorn: the fairy thorn of Celtic lore, the sacred May tree of Beltane, and the old herbals' Tree of the Heart. A study of its myth, symbolism, and magic.

July 6, 20268 min

Astrology

From Depth to Horizon – The Expansion of Sagittarius

Introduction: The Energy of Freedom and Wisdom. After the intense transformation of Scorpio, we enter the expansive realm of Sagittarius...

December 19, 20258 min

Astrology

From Harmony to Depth – The Transformation of Scorpio

Introduction: The Energy of Transformation and Depth. After the harmonious period of Libra comes the intense depth of Scorpio...

August 6, 20259 min

Astrology

From Precision to Harmony – The Balance of Libra

Introduction: The Energy of Harmony and Relationships. After the meticulous period of Virgo comes the graceful balance of Libra...

July 30, 20257 min

Astrology

From Creativity to Perfection – The Precision of Virgo

Introduction: The Energy of Practicality and Refinement. After the creative expression of Leo comes the discerning precision of Virgo...

June 23, 20258 min

Astrology

From Feeling to Fiery Heart – The Radiance of Leo

Introduction: From Feeling to Fiery Heart. After the emotional depths of Cancer, we enter the radiant realm of Leo...

May 24, 20257 min

Astrology

From Movement to Feeling – The Depth of Cancer

Introduction: From Movement to Feeling. After the airy versatility of Gemini comes the watery depths of Cancer...

May 14, 20257 min

Astrology

From Form to Movement – The Breath of Gemini

Introduction: From Form to Movement. After the solid grounding of Taurus comes the mercurial versatility of Gemini...

May 5, 20257 min

Astrology

From Spark to Form – The Strength of Taurus

Introduction: From Spark to Form. After the fiery initiation of Aries comes the earthy stability of Taurus...

April 18, 20258 min

Astrology

Cosmic Influences and the Mystery of Aries

Astrology is not fortune-telling. It is an ancient system of understanding cosmic influences on earthly life...

March 31, 20259 min

Alchemy

Solve et Coagula: The Key to Alchemical Transformation

Introduction: In the alchemical tradition, no phrase captures the essence of the Great Work more profoundly than Solve et Coagula...

March 13, 202510 min

Alchemy

On Alchemy

Alchemy is an ancient discipline that joins the human intellect with spiritual knowledge, the chemistry from which the most important component, "Al" (the divine), has been torn out...

February 28, 20256 min

Alchemy

On the Alchemical Salt

In alchemy, salt is not regarded as a mere mineral substance, but as one of the pillars of the three-fold base (together with Sulphur and Mercury)...

February 28, 20257 min

Alchemy

On Signatures

The signatures of plants and their connection with planetary influences belong among the key principles of the ancient alchemical and hermetic tradition...

December 6, 20249 min

Alchemy

The Drop Ritual – Traditional Use of Tinctures in Alchemy

When we hold a small bottle of tincture in our hand, we hold more than a liquid. We hold memory, the imprint of a plant, of an intention, and of human experience...

February 28, 20255 min

Alchemy

About Alchemix

Soxhlet extraction, a technique renowned for its precision and rigour in preserving the pure essence of plants, is in the alchemical conception no mere chemical procedure. It is a sacred ritual...

October 25, 20246 min