Fermentatio

In fermentatio, new life is added to a material that initiates greater growth, such as when yeast is added to baking dough. The operation has often been preceded by a putrefactio, during which the material slowly died and decomposed into a black manure-rich soil which forms the fertile ground for new growth – both in humans and in nature. In fermentatio, something from without is added into the process, such as when a seed is sown or yeast is added, which causes the matter to grow. In the alchemy of the soul, it can be the introduction of a new meditation technique, illuminated inspiration from above or another person that causes the decaying old self to sprout, grow and reach a new vitality. In the hermetic tradition, it is said that one must have a certain amount of gold in order to create gold. By introducing a golden and higher power from outside, the transformation in this operation takes place.

• Alchemy – the divine work

Fermentatio, whereby the old alchemical self sows seeds while the angel of the spirit heralds the new life. Philosophia Reformata by J.D. Mylius (1622)

"Fermentation. A. The first blackness in the fermentation. B. The purest and most solid. 1,2,3,4,5,6 The six metals. C. Our Mercurius is the beginning and the end of all metals. D. The dissolved body coagulates itself." "God has spoken of the water of life / whose name shall be sanctified / thus we also desire to make something from the water."

Library of Light Edition 1.0 — Last revised: April 2026