37 Chapter XXXVII: Questions and Explanations
In Chapter XXXVII, Vicente Beltrán-Anglada further clarifies the metaphysical nature of the Alkahest as the driving force behind all evolution and the bridge between matter and Spirit (1).
The author begins by confronting the essential question that naturally arises from the previous teachings: Is the Alkahest, the philosopher’s stone, an emanation of the Spirit? And if so, is it the Spirit itself, poured into the essence of the Alkahest, that governs the supreme movement of transmutation, elevating matter beyond itself into spiritual essence? Seen from the higher perspective, matter is nothing but malleable substance, a condensation of the Spirit’s own essence—a crystallization of the Alkahest. From the densest center of matter, this essence initiates the transmuting movement that we technically call evolution.
Thus, the Alkahest—the mystical essence of the Spirit—is the cause behind every mystery of transmutation within the ring‑pass‑not of any creative center, whether cosmic, solar, planetary, human, or atomic. If this is so, the next question arises: How can we isolate the Alkahest within the center of any created thing? The answer is simple and profound: by reaching that center. Every created form contains its Alkahest at the deepest point of its own creative nucleus.
The quantity of Alkahest present in the center of any being or thing determines the evolution of its soul. The more Alkahest, the greater the evolution; the stronger the imposition of Spirit upon matter; the more soul, consciousness, light, fire, and spiritual movement within that evolving center. Between the three known centers—the material, the causal, and the spiritual—there is no essential difference except the measure of Alkahest governing their successive unfoldment. This measure varies infinitely, for the universe is filled with an endless plurality of lives, each vibrating within its own creative center.
Initiations—whether those that move monadic lives from one kingdom to another, or those that admit human consciousness into the spiritual realm—are themselves transmutations, or redemptions, imposed by the Alkahest as evolution advances from Matter toward Spirit. The author then asks the practical question: How can we discover the Alkahest and incorporate it into our lives?
The symbolic teaching of the “three concoctions,” applied by three types of fire to the philosopher’s stone, becomes illuminating when one understands that the Alkahest—the essence of Spirit—is also present, in its proper measure, within the causal center we call the Soul or Higher Self. The evolutionary impulse of the incarnated soul expresses itself through three bodies—physical, astral, and mental—each requiring its own particular “concoction” its own redemption and integration. Once these three transmutations have been accomplished, the vault of the Temple of the Holy Spirit is secured, and the philosopher’s stone, the Alkahest, becomes again the central point where the three purified bodies of the soul converge.
From this perspective, one must imagine an eternal succession of new vaults for new Temples, each more splendid and more attuned to the Alkahest. This Alkahest, transformed into the Holy Grail of the most refined mystical traditions, carries the Spirit of humanity—and of all beings in Nature—toward its highest and most transcendent destiny.
Keynotes
The Nature of Matter: Viewed from a higher perspective, matter is merely "malleable substance" emerging from the essence of Spirit. It is a crystallization of the Alkahest (1).
The Engine of Evolution: The Alkahest resides in the deepest center of all created things. Evolution is technically defined as the "transmuting movement" originating from this dense spiritual core, pushing matter to become something superior to itself (1).
Measuring Evolution: The level of an entity's evolution is determined by the quantity of Alkahest present in its creative center. More Alkahest equates to a greater imposition of Spirit over matter, resulting in more light, fire, and spiritual movement (1).
Redemption and Initiation: Initiations—whether the transition of monads between kingdoms or human entry into the spiritual realm—are essentially redemptions imposed by the Alkahest as it moves from Matter to Spirit (1).
The Symbolism of the "Three Coctions": This refers to the active purification and integration of the physical, astral, and mental bodies. Once these "three coctions" are complete, the Alkahest returns to being the crucial point where the three purified bodies of the Soul converge (1).
Summary
| Concept | Esoteric Definition |
|---|---|
| Alkahest | The mystical essence of the Spirit and the cause of every mystery of transmutation (1). |
| Evolution | The measure of the Spirit's imposition over the center of matter (1). |
| The Holy Grail | The Alkahest in its most refined form, guiding the Spirit toward its most transcendent destiny (1). |
| Creative Centers | Every center—cosmic, solar, human, or atomic—has its Alkahest at its deepest point (1). |
The Eternal Progression
The author concludes that there is an "eternal succession of new vaults for new Temples." As the individual evolves, their internal structure becomes increasingly sumptuous and in tune with the Alkahest, leading to a much broader destiny within the life of Nature (1).