Galatic Star Gates

Alchemy: The word is derived from the Arabian phrase "al-kimia," which refers to the preparation of the Stone or Elixir by the Egyptians. The Arabic root "kimia" comes from the Coptic "khem" that alluded to the fertile black soil of the Nile delta. Esoterically and hieroglyphically, the word refers to the dark mystery of the primordial or First Matter (the Khem), the One Thing through which all creation manifests. Alchemy, then, is the Great Work of nature that perfects this chaotic matter, whether it be expressed as the metals, the cosmos, or the substance of our souls.
Air

Air is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Air in the alchemical sense carries the archetypal properties of spirit into the manifested world. It is associated with the operation of Separation and represented by the metal Iron.

Direction : East

Rules : The mind, knowledge, abstract learning, theory, imagination, ideas, beliefs, beginnings, rebirth

Elemental : Sprites

Time : Dawn

Season : Spring

Colors : Yellow, white, pastels

Tools : Athame, sword, censor

Zodiac : Aquarius, Gemini, Libra

Animals : Birds, Gryphons

Places : Windswept hills, high mountain peaks, towers 

Earth

Earth is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Earth in the alchemical sense carries the archetypal properties of manifestation, birth, and material creation. It is associated with the operation of Conjunction and represented by the green ore of copper.

Direction : North

Rules : Growth, prosperity, nature, wealth, abundence, wisdom

Elemental : Gnomes, trolls

Time : Midnight

Season : Winter

Colors : Black, brown, dark green

Tools : Stone, Pentagram

Zodiac : Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Animals : Bull, stag, bison, mouse

Places : Caves, mountains, forests, caverns 

Fire

Fire is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Fire in the alchemical sense carries the archetypal properties of activity and transformation. It is associated with the operation of Calcination and represented by the metal lead.

Direction : South Rules : Energy, heat, will, purification, inspiration, passion, desire

Elemental : Firedrakes, Salamanders

Time : Noon

Season : Summer

Colors : Red, crimson, orange, fuscia

Tools : Wand, staff

Zodiac : Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Animals : Dragons, snakes, lizards

Places : Deserts, volcanoes, dry plains 

Water

Water is one of the Four Elements of alchemy. Water in the alchemical sense carries the archetypal properties of cleansing and purification. It is associated with the operation of Dissolution and represented by the metal tin.

Direction : West

Rules : Emotions, feelings, love, intuition, the sub-conscious mind, mystery, fertility

Elemental : Mermaids, Undines

Time : Twilight

Season : Autumn

Colors : Blue, indigo, green, grey, turquoise

Tools : Cauldron, chalice

Zodiac : Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Animals : Dolphins, whales, fish, seals, Sea-serpents

Places : Oceans, rivers, lakes, marshes, pools, raindrenched land 

Arcana

The arcana ("magical secrets") are archetypal influences that transcend space and time. According to the ancient text Archidoxies, the arcana are pre-existing powers that "have the power of transmuting, altering, and restoring us." In this view, the arcana are the secret workings of the mind of God, the logos of the Greeks or what the alchemists referred to as the thoughts of the One Mind. In the Tarot, the arcana are represented by symbolic drawings that the reader tries to work with through meditation. In the Cabala, the arcana are represented by the esoteric properties of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, energies that the cabalist tries to work with in the Tree of Life. In the in the ancient Chinese system of divination, the I Ching, the arcana are represented by the sixty-four trigrams, each with its own properties and influences. The alchemists believed the arcana were expressed on all levels of reality, from chemical compounds to our innermost moods and desires.

Azoth

The term "Azoth" is formed from the first and last letters of the English alphabet ("a" and "z"), which stand for the beginning and end of all creation -- the alpha and omega of the Greek philosophers, the aleph and tau of the Hebrew cabalists. Therefore the Azoth is the ultimate arcanum, the universal spirit of God in all created things. The alchemists believed that the liquid metal mercury carried the signature of this omnipotent archetypal spirit.

Basilisk

The Basilisk is a symbolic alchemical creature said to have the head of a bird and the body of a dragon. The wingless serpentine animal was hatched from a hermaphroditic cock's egg and nursed by a serpent. Psychologically, the Basilisk represents the melding of our higher and lower natures in Conjunction, a process that must be continued in the next three operations of alchemy for this "Child of the Philosophers" to become the Living Stone of the fully integrated Self. Biologically, the Basilisk represents the mammalian embryology, the genetic replaying of the stages of evolution within the egg or womb. The Basilisk also has chemical connotations, which probably have to do with a metallurgical process involving cinnabar.

Caduceus

The caduceus is the magical staff of Hermes, the Messenger of the Gods and revealer of alchemy. The staff is entwined by two serpents representing the solar and lunar forces. Their union is the Conjunction of alchemical principles and their offspring, if it lives, is the Stone. This Stone is represented as a golden ball with wings at the top of the caduceus.

Diana

Appearances of the Greek goddess Diana in alchemical drawings and treatises signify the Moon and Lunar consciousness.

Dragon

The dragon in flames is a symbol of fire and Calcination. Several dragons fighting is symbolic of Putrefaction. Dragons with wings represent the volatile principle; dragons without wings represent the fixed principle. A dragons biting its own tale is the Ouroboros and signifies the fundamental unity of all things.

Geber

The Latin name of Jabir ibn Hayyan (721 - 815 A.D.). He is the father of both Islamic and European alchemy. He knew of the existence of the Emerald Tablet and spread the doctrines of the Four Elements and the Mercury-Sulfur theory of the generation of the metals.

Griffin

The griffin is a half-lion and half-eagle creature that symbolizes the Conjunction of the fixed and volatile principles. An allusion to the Vessel of Hermes.

Mercury

Mercury, called Quicksilver by the ancients, is a liquid metal that could be found weeping through cracks in certain rocks or accumulating in small puddles in mountain grottos. It was also obtained by roasting cinnabar (mercury sulfide). The shiny metal would seep from the rocks and drip down into the ashes, from which it was later collected. The early alchemists made red mercuric oxide by heating quicksilver in a solution of nitric acid. The acid, which later alchemists called "aqua fortis," was made by pouring sulfuric acid over saltpeter. The reaction of quicksilver in nitric acid is impressive. A thick red vapor hovers over the surface and bright red crystals precipitate to the bottom. This striking chemical reaction demonstrated the simultaneous separation of mercury into the Above and the Below. Mercury's all-encompassing properties were exhibited in other compounds too. If mercury was heated in a long-necked flask, it oxidized into a highly poisonous white powder (white mercuric oxide) and therapeutic red crystals (red mercuric oxide). Calomel (mercury chloride) was a powerful medicine, unless it was directly exposed to light, in which case it became a deadly poison. When mixed with other metals, liquid mercury tended to unite with them and form hardened amalgams. These and other properties convinced alchemists that mercury transcended both the solid and liquid states, both earth and heaven, both life and death. It symbolized Hermes himself, the guide to the Above and Below.

Ouroboros

The Ouroboros (or Uroboros) is the symbolic rendition of the eternal principles presented in the Emerald Tablet. The great serpent devouring itself represents the idea that "All Is One," even though the universe undergoes periodic cycles of destruction and creation (or resurrection). In Orphic and Mithraic symbology, the Ouroboros was called the Agathos Daimon or "Good Spirit" and was a symbol for the "Operation of the Sun." In Greek terminology, the Ouroboros was the Aion, which Herakleitos likened to a child at play. To the Greeks, the Aion (from which our word "eon" is derived) defined the cosmic period between the creation and destruction of the universe.

Quintessence

The Quintessence is the fifth element with which the alchemists could work. It was the essential presence of something or someone, the living thing itself that animated or gave something its deepest characteristics. The Quintessence partakes of both the Above and the Below, the mental as well as the material. It can be thought of as the ethereal embodiment of the life force that we encounter in dreams and altered states of consciousness. It is the purest individual essence of something that we must unveil and understand in order to transform it.

Salt

Salt is the third heavenly substance in alchemy and represents the final manifestation of the perfected Stone. The Emerald Tablet calls it "the Glory of the Whole Universe." For Paracelsus, Salt was like a balsam the body produced to shield itself from decay. It has also been associated with the Ouroboros, the Stone, and the Astral Body. In general, Salt represents the action of thought on matter, be it the One Mind acting on the One Thing of the universe or the alchemist meditating in his inner laboratory.

Soul

Soul in alchemy is the passive presence in all of us that survives through all eternity and is therefore part of the original substance (First Matter) of the universe. Ultimately, it is the One Thing of the universe. Soul was considered beyond the four material elements and thus conceptualized as a fifth element (or Quintessence).

Serpents

Two serpents represent the opposing masculine and feminine energies of the Work. Three serpents stand for the three higher principles of Sulfur, Mercury, and Salt. Wingd serpents represent volatile substances; wingless serpents represent fixed substances. A crucified serpent represents the fixation of the volatile.

Stone

The Stone is the goal of the Great Work. It was viewed as a magical touchstone that could immediately perfect any substance or situation. The Philosopher's Stone has been associated with the Salt of the World, the Astral Body, the Elixir, and even Jesus Christ.

Three levels

The key to understanding alchemy is to realize that alchemical thought is extremely dynamic and takes places on three levels at once: the physical, the psychological, and the spiritual. Thus turning lead into gold meant not only physically changing the base metal into the noble metal, but also transforming base habits and emotions into golden thoughts and feelings, as well as transmuting our dark and ignoble souls into the golden light of spirit. By developing this ability to think and work on all three levels of reality at once (becoming "thrice-greatest"), the alchemists created a spiritual technology that applied not only to their laboratories but also to their own personalities and to their relationships with other people, and with Godhead.

Zodiac

According to the Doctrine of Correspondences in the Emerald Tablet ("As Above, so Below"), the stars must find expression on earth and in mankind. In alchemy, it was essential to consult the zodiac before commencing any of the major operations.

The Bendar Galatic Spiral

 

The Bendar Galatic Spiral is a small satilite spiral galaxy orbiting a large elliptical galaxy.  Only 259 light years across it is densily packed area.  It is also here that many races seemed to have been seeded by some ancient race.           This race known as the Bendari have not been seen for thousands of years.  These ancient spacefarer's are believed to have seeded the many worlds within this small spiral.  Because of this many believe that some tragic event might have happened within the main elliptical galaxy.  Now the seeds that were planted so long ago are now venturing forth within there own galaxy, each seeking to establish its own place.           There are eight sectors within the Bendar spiral, the two major ones being the Imperium and the Alliance.  The other sectors are much smaller, with roughly 60% of the galaxy still to be explored.

 

Sectors within the Bendar Galatic Spiral

 

IMPERIAL SPACE Government: Monarcy (Nobel Houses and Families) Capital: Monodan Systems: 47 Stargates: 39 (5 ancient gates) Military:   Major space fleets controlled by the government.  Some small independant fleets which are contracted by the government.                          Has major space lanes which are controlled and monitored by Imperial Transit Authority.                  Contains many large capital ships, which are used to enforce Imperial laws.           This area of space is were humanity was born, or so it is said.  It has been around for thousands of years, and has survived many wars and disputes.   Currently the Imperium is in an expansionistic phase, and has recently gone to war with the Alliance.  To know more about the Imperium see the Mekton Empire book.   ALLIANCE SPACE Government: Democratic (Each system or world is represented with the Alliance senate) Capital: Freedom's Station (A space station deemed neutral space) Systems: 26 Stargates: 22 (3 ancient gates) Military: Major all volunteer space fleet under the direct command of the senate.  All capital ships are controlled my the military, but are                built and designed by private companies.  Has major space lanes with are regulated by Alliance Space Customs Control.                 Capital ships are only called in by senate authority, which then fall under the Alliance Space Command.           Located in the core of the Bendar galatic spiral the Alliance succeeded from the Imperium after the great war.  After many internal civil wars the Alliance has proven it can work out its own problems.  There independance of the Imperium and smaller territorial distputes has lead to the current war with the Imperium.           Each system has its own laws, but over the years general Alliance standard laws have been established.  Some systems are even controlled by independant companies.   COMMONWEALTH SPACE Government: Board of Planetary Trusties (Corperations that represent the systems, or businesses on the worlds) Capital: Rysis (acutally a large corporate business-like building) Systems: 5 Stargates: 5 Military: A few cruiser class vessels which are the captial ships of the sector.  Many smaller destoryer class ships usually privately                owned, which are brought together in times of need.           Located north of the Alliance sector the Commonwealth of Planets is an traders or independant merchants dream.  The system has its own fees that are paid, but there are no taxes like in the the Alliance or Imperium.           Most commonwealth ships prefer to remain neutral , and the major luxury ships are based in the Commonwealth.   PIRATE SECTOR Government: None (Unknown) Capital: None (Unknown) Systems: 6 Stargates: 3 Military: The remnats of the Aggendi forces with their human allies have made a home within this area of space.  The exact number of                starships within the pirate sector is unknown.  It is believed that the Aggendi only possess one captial class gateship, and this                  is believed to be in much disrepair.   FEDERATED SPACE Government: Feudal (Council of Worlds) Capital: Bethesda (but each world or system is its own captial, Bethesda is the place they all meet) Systems: 12 Stargates: 12 Military: Each system or set of worlds controls and maintains their own space fleet.  Largest vessels are of cruiser class, and only a few                 of them are even in service and these are kept to guard the homeworlds.           The Federated Republics as they are know by, are a group of systems that lie between the Alliance and Quisilok space.  Not wanting to join either the Alliance or the Imperium the systems within federated space are constantly disputing between each other.  Small wars, or disputes are a constant threat as governments change and new rulers are elected or come to power.   FRINGE SPACE Government: None (all independent systems) Capital: None Systems: 5 Stargates: 5 Military: Each system has its own small military.  The Tarasi are known to have one huge capital ship in the form of a dragon.           Known as frige space because it lies on the edge of the know galaxy.  This small sector is home to those who fled to the far reaches of the galaxy long ago during the Aggendi wars.  Unknown to them they also found two new races the S'Thari and the Tarasi.   QUISILOK SPACE government: Monarcy (queen or war leader) Capital: Ke'Naru Systems: 18 Stargates: 5 Military: Was believed to have been wiped out during the Quisilok wars in which the allies of the Imperium and Alliance destroyed the                  the Quisilok fleet.  Reports today indicate that this may no be the case, and infact some Qusiliok captial ships may have                  survived the war.           The Quisilok sector is off limits to all traffic.  The only stargate that can get into or out of the sector is guarded by an Alliance patrol fleet.  It is rumored that a capital class gateship commands the strike force that guards the stargate.  No ships are allowed into Quisilok space, and any scouts that have been sent into the sector have not returned.  This data has lead some to believe that the Quisilok's are rebuilding their fleet, and their dreaded war machines the Monolith mektons.  Although it lies on the edge of the galaxy the Quisiloks are believed to have come from the larger eliptical galaxy.  It is also believed that they were the force send to finish what the Aggendi could not, and  that has kept the other sectors fearful of the future.