"Hence the parts of the world are infinite, all of which the philosopher divides into three parts, namely mineral, vegetable, animal.… And therefore he claims to have the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world, which parts are contained in the single stone, namely the Mercurius of the Philosophers." - Tabula smaragdina
"Man has indeed the forms of all the three worlds in him, for he is a complete image of God, or of the Being of all beings. …” - Jakob Böhme, Signatura rerum, I, 7)
"All things originate from the One (God), manifest through Nature, differentiate into the four elements, appear as mineral, vegetal, and living forms, and are united within the human being, who is the microcosm. Nature, like the human being, is a true manifestation of God, for the mysteries of Nature are the mysteries of God. In all things God is grasped and recognized, because He is present within everything that exists. According to the Egyptians, God created the human being in His image; yet the human being is not God, but a created being. Among created beings there are different orders: the vegetative realm, the metals, and the animals. God has placed a divine spark within all of them, yet He Himself is not wholly contained in any single one. The same principle applies to the human being. The human grows as plants do, has life in the manner of the vegetative realm, and possesses sensation like animals. However, the human being also has understanding, and through understanding he is capable of grasping God." - Microcosm. Alchemical and rosicrucian compendium, c. 1760, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
“The central figure, wrapped in a green cloak, embodies nature, the source and mother of all visible and invisible things. The radiant sun dominating the scene is not only the symbol of light and life but also represents the divine energy that penetrates and nourishes both the material and spiritual worlds, sustaining the entire cycle of creation. In thecentral circle , the three kingdoms of nature, Vegetabilis, Animalis, and Mineralis are highlighted, converging and interacting under the influence of the four fundamental elements. Aer, Aqua, Terra and Ignis. This depiction serves as a universal key. To understanding how the alchemist perceived the world, every substance, every beings belongs to one of these spheres but contains within it a universal seed that, through hermetic work, can be transformed and subliminated. The vegetal Kingdom symbolizes growth and organic life, the animal represents movement and consciousness, while the mineral holds the philosopher’s stone, the great secret of transformation. Whoever manages to unlock these mysteries understands not only the secrets of matter, but also those of the spirit…”
Lapis vegetabilis, lapis animalis, lapis mineralis
From Das Buch mit Sieben Siegeln
(“The Book with Seven Seals”), ca. 1700, Manly Palmer Hall Collection of Alchemical Manuscripts, Box 4, MS 19, vol. 2. A Christian‑alchemical emblem that equates Christ on the cross with the Philosopher’s Stone working through all three “kingdoms” of nature: vegetable, animal, and mineral.
