QUOTE(Mchawi @ Feb 17 2012, 01:39 PM)
Most books on alchemy give advice on taking any given product in the time following any given planetary hour system on its given day yet also give detail on the well known image/glyph of the Macrocosmic man depicting the astrological signs and their relation to various organs. In reading into moon astrology and herbalism the same glyph is given but in this case one is advised to follow the passage of the moon in attending to ailments and issues regarding specific body parts... and yet many authors on Practical Alchemy seem to follow the Planetary Hours approach... another idea given to me by a P.Alchemist is to balance the taking of a product with its opposing energy using Astrology and the passing signs.
I am not well versed in western alchemy, but I have always assumed that the hours lent a charge to the elixir and the moon reflected the more general expression. Stimulating elixirs are taken during the waxing and full moon while subduing ones are taken after the full moon.
It might not be applicable but the alchemy I practice is very particular about when to make and administer elixirs. In making them the type of energy most prevalent by the hour, day, lunar month, and luni-solar progression all dictate haw effective the elixir will be. But in taking them, one needs to find a time when the most chi is in the appropriate organ/meridian for it to have the desired effect. The time to take an elixir depends on the calendar and on the physical location of the person taking it.
There are tonics which work without regard for time or luni-solar position but we do not consider them elixirs.
It might hours are so popular simply because the moon, being a reflection of the sun, has less a role than the planets which have there own associated powers that augment the suns as it goes thought the day.
May I ask what project you are working on that sparked this thought?
This post has been edited by fatherjhon: Feb 17 2012, 01:16 PM