"Separation is a forceful act that requires a strong will, and almost any alchemical drawing showing a swordsman fighting dragons refers to this stage. In spiritual work, alchemists must free themselves from their inner dragons by facing and conquering them.”
“Separatio signifies that the material is decomposed or atomised as the spirit is released from the body. For example, in a psychological context, this means that a shadow complex within the human being is separated from the self in order to be made visible and transformed. In herbal alchemy, the subtle is separated from the gross after one philosophical month. Then, the essence of the herb – its soul or sulphur – together with the mercury of the subtle spirit is released from the coarse, unprocessed herbal matter that contains its salt. Separatio separates the two opposites of the universe, such as the alchemical queen and king, light and darkness, spirit and matter, life and death. Their mutual relationship is then made clear, as well as how they can be individually refined. The operation also involves an overall analysis of existence, the work and the practice so that a fruitful synthesis can then take place through the influence of other operations.” - Alchemy: The Divine Work
