Nova Botanica Alchemy Glossary
A gentle reference for symbol, element, plant practice and inner transformation.
Core Principles
- Alchemy
- The art of transformation: turning raw material, experience or study into refined wisdom.
- As Above, So Below
- The old teaching that patterns in the heavens, body, plant world and psyche reflect one another.
- Prima Materia
- The original raw material: the starting point before refinement, practice, remedy or insight.
- Transmutation
- A change in state. In Nova Botanica language this can mean grief into wisdom, fear into courage or plant study into lived relationship.
Elemental Signs
- Fire
- Ignition, courage, heat, vitality, purification and decisive action.
- Water
- Feeling, intuition, cleansing, compassion, memory, dreamwork and emotional healing.
- Air
- Breath, thought, language, communication, learning, perspective and exchange.
- Earth
- Body, matter, roots, patience, nourishment, structure and practical manifestation.
Working Stages
- Calcination
- The fire stage: burning away what is false, heavy or no longer alive.
- Dissolution
- The water stage: softening, grieving, releasing and allowing fixed ideas to loosen.
- Separation
- The discernment stage: sorting essence from excess and choosing what remains useful.
- Conjunction
- The joining stage: bringing separate medicines, meanings or parts of the self into relationship.
- Fermentation
- The living stage: inspiration, renewal, inner spark and the return of spiritual vitality.
- Distillation
- The refinement stage: clarifying practice until only the cleanest truth remains.
- Coagulation
- The embodiment stage: wisdom becoming form, habit, remedy, card meaning or grounded service.
Plant Practice
- Spagyric
- A traditional alchemical preparation approach that separates, purifies and reunites plant principles.
- Solar Herbs
- Plants linked with vitality, radiance, heart, confidence and the clear golden centre.
- Lunar Herbs
- Plants linked with dreams, waters, emotions, cycles, protection and reflective knowing.
- Materia Medica
- A personal or professional record of plant actions, energetics, safety notes, symbolism and lived observation.