Alchemy and trolls pt II

HERE is a giant graphic for the edification of those of you who want to see how alchemical symbols pair up with zodiac symbols.

Also included in the graphic are various alchemical symbols about the 12 core processes of alchemy, all of which are ruled by a zodiac sign.

HERE is a link explaining some of processes.

I’m going to discuss these processes here as I see them relating to their relative troll.

I managed to do 7 of the 12. I will do another post of the last five, if people are still interested.

Massive infodump GO

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Calcination– Aries, Aradia– To turn a material into fine powder by subjecting it to an intense heat. The website above mentions fire, death, and judgement as being core traits linked to calcination. Given Aradia’s personality and character arc, this seems fitting.

Conjunction- Taurus, Tavros– to join two materials together. There are two phases in conjunction, the lesser and the greater. Lesser conjunction involved impure materials, and the result of this conjunction is always pictured as being killed, maimed or crippled. Greater conjunction forms the Philosopher’s Stone, which can give life, soften the hard, etc.

Fixation– Gemini, Sollux– making a substance solid or fixed so that it is impermeable to fire. Not sure about this one, honestly.

Sollution– Cancer, Karkat- mixing two materials, or dissolving one material into another, or enveloping on material with another. Solution is symbolized by Sol and Luna (Day and Night), which represents the dualistic nature of the masculine and feminine. Love and Lust are said to be agents of Solution. Karkat’s romance films, anyone?

Sublimation (and Precipitation)– Libra, Terezi– sublimation is the process of elevating or ascending materials, and precipitation is the process of descending or falling. This is interesting, given Terezi’s background– the way that she ascends by gaining her lusus, as well a good deal of her powers, and then falling by losing her lusus and becoming blind.

Similarly, Sublimation and Precipitation are known in Indian mythology as the Dragon Head and Dragon Tail respectively. In Mesopotamian mythology, precipitation is associated with the creation myth of Ti'amat the Rain Dragon fertilizing the earth with rain.

Digestion– Leo, Nepeta– the process of slowly modyfying by adding gentle heat.

Distillation– Virgo, Kanaya– purifying materials, separating materials and taking only the evolved or best part of it. Distillation is often symbolically represented by a unicorn lying in front of a rose bush, important because unicorns have been mythologically associated with virginal figures. Psychologically, this process is said to separate the desires and impulses from the id, and takes only what remains as the best in order to proceed. Given Kanaya’s behavior toward Vriska, always making sure she’s staying out of trouble and trying to make the best out of situations, I find this relevant.

Separation– Scorpio, Vriska- separating materials. This is simple enough, but the imagery associated with this process is very telling. Generally, piles of sand (her home), dismemberment (eye and arm), images of the Apocalypse (doomsday devices), divorce (her and Kanaya), breaking apart of heaven and Earth, are all associated with.

Separation is also psychologically associated with attempting to come to terms with and integrate the taboos than society dictates should be left behind, the shadowy part of personality and society. Given Vriska’s nature and her behavior, this is pretty fitting; feeding trolls to her lusus, torturing and maiming Tavros, her desire to be strong, etc…

Ceration– Sagittarius, Equius– softening a substance to the consistency of wax, usually continually adding liquid and heating. Equius’ sweating after getting excite?

Fermentation– Capricorn, Gamzee– I’m just going to copy/paste this here

this process is the death of the feeble (or unstable) Child of the Conjunction that will eventually result in its resurrection to a new level of being. Fermentation starts with the inspiration of spiritual power from Above that reanimates, energizes, and enlightens the alchemist. Out of the blackness of the alchemist’s despair (Putrefaction) comes a brilliant display of colors and meaningful visions (the Peacock’s Tail.) Fermentation can be achieved through various activities that include intense prayer, desire for mystical union, breakdown of the personality, transpersonal therapy, psychedelic drugs, and deep meditation. Thus, personal Fermentation is living inspiration from something totally beyond us. In society, the Fermentation experience is the basis of religion and mystical awareness.

Mutpliplication– Aquarius, Eridan– Operation where the powder of power is multiplied. If nothing else, becoming a wizard probably did this. Also, his continuous lust to rise to power, etc.

Projection– Pisces, Feferi– throwing a ferment or tincture onto a substance in order to effect change.