The Opened Philosophical Father-Heart

Cap. 2. Concerning Planting

and of low esteem: So that which costs the philosopher the most is nothing other than the acquisition of the earth. And when the wise possess this earth, all effort and labor extends no further than to prepare it naturally according to the work of wisdom.

In this very way of the farmers, we also clear our earth of all its impurity and superfluity. Thereafter, we make it finer and more subtle; we wash, sprinkle, and dry it according to art and nature. When that has occurred, we manure it—yes, we manure it with its natural fattiness—and when it has subsequently received the heavenly dew (which we impart to it in the manner of the wise), it is so well prepared that it is capable and well-disposed to take into itself the metallic seed of our stone, which is the lively gold of the wise, and which in time brings forth the golden tree of the wise.

See, my dear son, that is, in a few words, the entire foundation, the key, and the source of the philosophical work. I mean to say that by means of our virgin earth, after it has been prepared and cultivated in the manner of the wise, and then by means of our lively gold (which is the true metallic seed that is thrown into this precious leafy earth), the gold and silver-