"These are not fables. You will touch with your hands, you will see with your own eyes, the Azoth, the Mercury of Philosophers, which alone will suffice to obtain for you our Stone."
- Heinrich Khunrath
Azoth was considered to be a universal medication or universal solvent, and was sought for in alchemy. Similar to another alchemical idealized substance, alkahest, azoth was the aim, goal and vision of many alchemical works. Its symbol was the Caduceus.
“The Azoth or Universal Medicine is, for the soul, supreme reason and absolute justice; for the mind, it is mathematical and practical truth; for the body it is the quintessence, which is a combination of gold and light. In the superior or spiritual world, it is the First Matter of the Great Work, the source of the enthusiasm and activity of the alchemist. In the intermediate or mental world, it is intelligence and industry. In the inferior or material world, it is physical labor. Sulfur, Mercury, and Salt, which, volatilized and fixed alternately, compose the Azoth of the sages. Sulfur corresponds to the elementary form of Fire, Mercury to Air and Water, Salt to Earth.”
- Transcendental Magic, Eliphas Levi
"This our second and living water is called "Azoth", the water washing the laton viz. the body compounded of sol and luna by our first water; it is also called the soul of the dissolved bodies, which souls we have even now tied together, for the use of the wise philosopher. How precious then, and how great a thing is this water; for without it, the work could never be done or perfected; it is also called the "vase naturae", the belly, the womb, the receptacle of the tincture, the earth, the nurse. It is the royal fountain in which the king and queen bathe themselves."
— The Secret Book of Artephius
MATERIA PRIMA
Rebis
Superiora
If the ONE and the THREE merge into ONE, and the THREE in the lower things become ONE, and the THREE in the lower things merge into ONE, and the THREE in the upper things—then the benefit of
AZOTH.
Unite the Trinity of the Upper and the Lower, hold the One and the Trinity of the Upper and the Lower—perfect.”
Azoth: “I Am All One and Many in Me”(The Sixth Figure from Occulta Philosophia, 1613)
The poem is written in the first person as the voice of Azoth itself — the alchemical universal solvent / first matter / Philosopher’s Stone. It declares:
- Its triumph and radiant clarity
- The classic Hermetic formula “from one to many and many to one”
- Its identity with the highest (A and O / Alpha-Omega / Aleph-Tau)
- Its power to perfect the six lesser metals (“my six friends”) and raise them to the kingdom of the Sun
- Its dual nature as both earthly tincture and royal spiritual treasure
- The final warning of secrecy
"I have overcome all my enemies! A high clarity shines from me. From one to many and from many to one, From high lineage, a great from small. The deepest power in the world, Counted as one with the highest. I am all one and many in me! With ten, I multiply myself, As much as I improve, My six friends rise from all unrest. Yet they must be willing in the flow, Like my friend Moon, tirelessly. I have six fine garments, From gold, and a crown for each. All should be equal to it, Reigning and being like a king. Before others who are not yet found, They took me and my love for enemies. Through fire, it must be revealed What wishes to act from all earth. First, white shall wash, then sanguine, Purple shall give great profit. Just as on God, the highest summit, Beginning and end, and all that is noble. He is the A and also the O, To be found here and there. In all places, all in all, To be pleasing to humankind. The earthly Azoth is my name! Yet may it be to God's highest honor. Latin: A and Z, Greek: Alpha and Omega, Hebrew: Aleph and Tau. From this, many things can be seen, All summed up in A. God gives us the soul's wealth. I lead the fire to be reconciled with wrath, The raging water to be humbled. The six old metals, They shall praise me without sound. Because I constantly tint, And can lead into the kingdom of the sun. Because they receive me, body and spirit, All the world praises them. Additionally, more minerals, Thus they call me universal. In appearance, I make them splendid, Highly esteemed by the best gods. No water, fire, air, nor earth, No poison nor accident can harm them. I also make weak human bodies healthy, Driving such art in God's honor. It is a royal treasure, Has a place in pious hearts. To those who give a poor drop to God, His miracle will show how much he loves. Therefore, if you attain this art, Be silent, do not boast." — Occvlta philosophia: von den verborgenen philosophischen Geheimnussen der heimlichen Goldblumen vnd lapidis philosophorum, c. 1613
Library of Light Edition 1.0 — Last revised: April 2026