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No. 17. Jacques Tesson - The Green Lion
Translated by Luc Villeneuve
Introduction by Adam McLean
This unpublished French alchemical text by Jacques Tesson was written in the late 16th century, possibly in 1584. It interweaves alchemical allegory, theoretical philosophical ideas on the nature of matter and practical alchemy. It is in the form of three dialogues.
In the first dialogue between the Artist and the Green Lion, the Lion, almost a dragon like figure with six horns and ears, states that he has descended from the celestial spheres but is imperfect and needs the Artist to lead him through a series of six processes back to the true perfection.
The second dialogue is between the Disciple and his Master. Here, under the questioning of the Disciple, the Master reveals that it is essential to find the hermaphroditic substance that unites the polarities in itself. This unites water and fire, Sun and Moon, the masculine as a the King, and the feminine Queen. These opposed aspects have to be blended or united together through the alchemical work, and the Master then elaborates the various processes that are necessary - purgation, putrefaction, dissolution, sublimation, vegetation, coagulation, fixation and resuscitation - leading the dead body to become a living transformative substance.
In the third dialogue the philosopher meets the Green Lion, the Ray and the Celestial influences. Here they reveal the spiritual nature of the work to him, and the text comes to a conclusion in the final practical work of making the projection.
62 pages. A5 format.
Signed edition limited to 300 (the first 25 copies are not for sale).
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