“Many alchemical series depict the solar king and the lunar queen’s meeting, undressing, embrace and transformation. They always strongly express opposing principles that can only be united through the magisterium of art and thereby give birth to a philosophical child. They express the principles of the spirit and the soul, which alchemists often refer to as the mercurial spirit and the sulphuric soul, or as the flying eagle and mighty lion. Through their union, a divine salt can be produced. The Hermetic tradition describes how the alchemist must reveal the opposites of the king and queen in their consciousness and raise them to the two pillars that open the portal of mystery. These pillars will then reveal Hermes’ hidden hieroglyphs and convey true knowledge of the father’s and mother’s influence on creation, and humanity’s ability to give birth to a mercurial child through three births – the three palingeneses.” - Alchemy - The divine work
The "Alchemical Queen," typically associated with the Moon, silver, quicksilver (Mercury), and the color white. Her nature is described as volatile, liquid, watery, and changeable, representing the instinctual soul and the Anima Mundi.
The "Alchemical King," who is associated with the Sun, gold, sulphur, and the color red.
The ultimate goal of the Great Work is the sacred union (hieros gamos) of this King and Queen (Sol and Luna, masculine and feminine principles), which gives birth to the "child of awakened, integrated consciousness" or alchemical gold, symbolizing the completion of the transformative process.
The Alchemical King
"After this, the king rises from his grave, full of Divine grace, becoming completely spiritual and heavenly, with great power and authority to transform all his servants into kings. He gives only his power to his son and servants, placing on each of them a golden crown on their heads, so that they themselves become high kings. This is due to his mercy, for the Lord gave him great power and greatness. New precious treasure extracted from the writings of the sages, collected from the wealth and stone of the sages. This is the hidden work, the secret of all secrets and the Divine gift; promulgated by Peter Bon of Ferrara." — Medicina metallorum, das ist, gründliche Wissenschafft, die geringen Metalle zu reinigen und zu verbessern, durch welche nicht allein diejenige Materie, c. 1723 https://doi.org/10.3931/e-rara-7664
The Marriage of Moon Queen & Sun King
"Our medicine is composed only of one thing, which is born in two mountains, on trees or in the bowels of the earth, or in rivers and wells." King: "Blessed is he who has completed my work, for he will receive the crown of glory." Queen: "I am the pure and uncorrupted paradise, free from all sin."