“Thus the power of growth that I speak of is imparted not by the earth, but by the life-giving spirit that is in it. If the earth were deserted by this spirit, it would be dead, and no longer able to afford nourishment to anything. For its sulphur or richness would lack the quickening spirit without which there can be neither life nor growth.”[31] [31] “BASIL VALENTINE”: _The Twelve Keys_ (see _The Hermetic Museum_, vol. i. pp. 333-334). [Illustration: PLATE 3. A. SYMBOLICAL ILLUSTRATION Representing the Fertility of the Earth. B. SYMBOLICAL ILLUSTRATION Representing the Amalgamation of Gold with Mercury. (See page 33.) _To face page 26_]] Alchemy and Astrology. § =21.= The idea that the growth of each metal was under the influence of one of the heavenly bodies (a theory in harmony with the alchemistic view of the unity of the Cosmos), was very generally held by the alchemists; and in consequence thereof, the metals were often referred to by the names or astrological symbols of their peculiar planets. These particulars are shown in the following table:-- -----------+----------------------+-------------- Metals. | Planets, &c.[32] | Symbols. -----------+----------------------+-------------- Gold | Sun | ☉ Silver | Moon | ☽ Mercury | Mercury | ☿ Copper | Venus | ♀ Iron | Mars | ♂ Tin | Jupiter | ♃ Lead | Saturn | ♄ -----------+----------------------+-------------- Moreover, it was thought by some alchemists that a due observance of astrological conditions was necessary for successfully carrying out important alchemistic experiments. [32] This supposed connection between the metals and planets also played an important part in Talismanic Magic. Alchemistic View of the Nature of Gold.