“The effort which creates this ‘shock’ must consist in work on the emotions, in the transformation and TRANSMUTATION of the emotions. This TRANSMUTATION of the emotions will then help the TRANSMUTATION of si 12 in the human organism. No serious growth, that is, no growth of higher bodies within the organism, is possible without this TRANSMUTATION. The idea of this TRANSMUTATION was known to many ancient teachings as well as to some comparatively recent ones, such as the alchemy of the Middle Ages. But the alchemists spoke of this TRANSMUTATION in the allegorical forms of the transformation of base metals into precious ones. In reality, however, they meant the transformation of coarse ‘hydrogens’ into finer ones in the human organism, chiefly of the transformation of mi 12. If this transformation is attained, a man can be said to have ‘achieved what he was striving for, and it can also be said that, until this transformation is attained, all results attained by a man can be lost because they are not fixed in him in any way; moreover, they are attained only in the spheres of thought and emotion. Real, objective results can be obtained only after the TRANSMUTATION of mi 12 has begun. Fragments: Nine

“Alchemists who spoke of this TRANSMUTATION began directly with it. They knew nothing, or at least they said nothing, about the nature of the first volitional ‘shock.’ It is upon this, however, that the whole thing depends. The second volitional ‘shock’ and TRANSMUTATION become physically possible only after long practice on the first volitional ‘shock,’ which consists in self-remembering, and in observing the impressions received. On the way of the monk and on the way of the fakir work on the second ‘shock’ begins before work on the first ‘shock,’ but as mi 12 is created only as a result of the first ‘shock,’ work, in the absence of other material, has of necessity to be concentrated on si 12, and it very often gives quite wrong results. Right development on the fourth way must begin with the first volitional ‘shock’ and then pass on to the second ‘shock’ at mi 12. Fragments: Nine

“The third stage in the work of the human organism begins when man creates in himself a conscious second volitional ‘shock’ at the point mi 12, when the transformation or TRANSMUTATION of these ‘hydrogens’ into higher ‘hydrogens’ begins in him. The second stage and the beginning of the third stage refer to the life and functions of man number four. A fairly considerable period of. TRANSMUTATION and crystallization is needed for the transition of man number four to the level of man number five. Fragments: Nine

“The transition of matter si 12 into emanations and the gradual saturation of the whole organism by it is what alchemy calls ‘TRANSMUTATION’ or transformation. It is first this transformation of the physical body into the astral that alchemy called the transformation of the ‘coarse’ into the ‘fine’ or the transformation of base metals into gold. Fragments: Twelve

“Completed TRANSMUTATION, that is to say, the formation of the ‘astral body,’ is possible only in a healthy, normally functioning organism. In a sick, or a perverted, or a crippled organism, no TRANSMUTATION is possible.” Fragments: Twelve

“Is complete sexual abstinence necessary for TRANSMUTATION and is sexual abstinence, in general, useful for work on oneself?” we asked him. Fragments: Twelve

“Here there is not one but a number of questions,” said G. “In the first place sexual abstinence is necessary for TRANSMUTATION only in certain cases, that is, for certain types of people. For others it is not at all necessary. And with yet others it comes by itself when TRANSMUTATION begins. I will explain this more clearly. For certain types a long and complete sexual abstinence is necessary for TRANSMUTATION to begin; this means in other words that without a long and complete sexual abstinence transmu-tation will not begin. But once it has begun abstinence is no longer necessary. In other cases, that is, with other types, TRANSMUTATION can begin in a normal sexual life — and on the contrary, can begin sooner and proceed better with a very great outward expenditure of sex energy. In the third case the beginning of TRANSMUTATION does not require abstinence, but, having begun, TRANSMUTATION takes the whole of sexual energy and puts an end to normal sexual life or the outward expenditure of sex energy. Fragments: Twelve

“Speaking in general, there are only two correct ways of expending sexual energy — normal sexual life and TRANSMUTATION. All inventions in this sphere are very dangerous. Fragments: Twelve