Historical Context
Drawing on the analogy of bread-making and wine fermentation, this stage involves adding a small quantity of perfected matter to multiply the stone.
Symbolism
Yeast, wine, bread, the living agent. The spark of life that transforms dead matter.
Psychological Correlate
Inspiration, the infusion of meaning, the quickening of the spirit, the catalytic insight that transforms understanding.
Sources & Further Reading
- Burckhardt, T. Alchemy
- Jung, C.G. Psychology and Alchemy