The Baptism of Light

Sublimatio (from The Crowning of Nature, 1718):
the Sun of Light emerges from the fire
of Ouroboric transformation.

The Baptism of Light
and the Homunculus.

(three baptisms: water, fire, light).

~

God's breath of airy pneuma, the creative Word,

condenses down into immanence in the world;

becomes elemental water, the wellspring of All life,

the first baptism in which everyone abides.

~

In the waters of unconsciousness all are washed,

the "seed of the Word" or divine spark is planted;

Gnostic scintilla, magic bean, Spirit seed, unwind;

and so begins the journey of the flowering Mind.

~

In this Sea of mythology sprouts the "true Vine",

the wavy Serpent from the Orphic Egg does climb;

to develop airy wings, horns and fiery breath,

from the spark into the flame of consciousness.

~

This second baptism of fire is for the few,

who have struggled to the surface for the view;

and learned the skill of "walking on the waters",

rising above this unconscious world of darkness.

~

Holy fire, stoked in the belly of the furnace,

sublimates sublime into the corona of awareness;

the crown emerges from horns transmogrified,

the Dragon's Pearl from the "seed" forge-fired.

~

Serpent fire blackens and disintegrates

all mental matter back into its original state;

Spirit cleansed of earthly dross in this enfirement,

is readied for the final rite or Solar sacrament.

~

The third baptism of Gnosis is for the "chosen",

who free themselves to choose the Light of heaven;

the Vine of Spirit flowers in remembrance,

the "Word" or golden Fruit of Soul transcendence.
~
Spirit is the fiery passion which when raised,
the eternal Soul-Bread can be co-created baked;
its head of golden wheat grown from "seed of Word",
forms the conscious substance for my Self to knead.
~
Thus the Loaf of Light from hands compounded,
with four elements mixed becomes expanded;
soaked in the Holy Blood of rubedo's Wine,
in Alchemy's kitchen born, the Homunculus divine.
 *
"I am the bread of life that came down from heaven,
if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." Christ
~

 
The Homunculus created in an alchemical flask.