Gold is the perfected metal, the telos of the seven planetary metals — incorruptible, immune to rust and tarnish, radiant with solar virtue. In the alchemical metal-planet correspondence catalogued by the Alchemy Website's study of sevenfold affinities, gold belongs to Sol (☉), the king of the planets. Jabir ibn Hayyan's sulfur-mercury theory holds that gold results from the most perfect balance of Sulfur and Mercury achievable in nature. Every other metal is gold in an unfinished state; the Art merely accelerates what nature would accomplish given sufficient time.
Cross-Tradition Resonances
Western Astrology1
Sun (☉) — Vitality, Will, Essential Self
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I-Ching0.71
Heaven (☰) — Creative
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I-Ching0.6
Dà Yǒu (大有) — Great Possession
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Kabbalah0.6
Kether (Crown) — כתר
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Elder Futhark0.6
Sowilo (ᛊ) — Sun, Victory, Wholeness
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I-Ching0.57
Dà Zhuàng (大壯) — Great Power
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Tarot0.57
Suit of Wands (Fire)
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