Electrum Magicum Magic Mirror
By Karl Ben-Jedi
What is Electrum Magicum?
Electrum Magicum is an alloy made out of seven corresponding planetary metal’s known during the Middle Ages.
Due to the belief in the mental and spiritual worlds Alchemist’s manufactured this alloy for its harmonizing magical properties.
Paracelsus a famous Alchemist and Physician spoke about this metal and its beneficial use in making a Magic Mirrors. However, it has also been used for Knight’s armor and weapons.Mirrors made of the 'electrum magicum' are warranted antipathetic to all evil influences, because there is hidden in the metal a 'heavenly power and influence of the seven planets.
However, in Franz Bardon’s book “Initiation into Hermetics” he talks about Electrum Magicum. Listing the seven planetary metals with the amounts recommended. However, in a much later correspondence between myself and Dieter Ruggeberg, it became clear that fewer amounts could be used but within the same ratio.
How do I make Electrum Magicum?
Well this question can end up being more complicated than at first it would seem. First we will need to decide on the amounts of differing metals we wish to use. Armed with the power of the ratio’s we can budget within reason on how much this experiment will cost!
So let us now focus on what amounts of metal we wish to use, knowing that some are quite expensive and others hard to acquire. If we take a look at the Franz Bardon formula we see the following, 30 grams of gold, 30 grams of silver, 15 grams of copper, 6 grams of tin, 5 grams of lead, 3 grams iron and 15 grams of quicksilver or mercury.
Jumping back in time to the life of Paracelsus we come across yet another formula for Electrum Magicum with added coding for the uninitiated. Electrum Magicum made of ten parts gold, ten parts silver, five parts copper, two parts tin, two parts lead, one part of powdered iron and five of mercury. However, unlike Bardon Paracelsus gives much more detail in making Electrum Magicum and how to experiment in combining these metals.
After a brief review of these two formulae it soon become apparent that dividing Bardon’s amounts by three gives the same numbers. However, that’s if you wish to view “parts” in its broadest terms. This line of thinking would lead one to a more reasonable formula that follow’s.
Electrum Magicum reasonable formula, 10 grams of gold, 10 grams silver, five grams of copper, 2 grams of tin, 1.66 to 2 grams of lead, 1 gram of powdered iron and 5 grams of quicksilver or mercury. It’s perfectly possible to super economies and divide these amounts further by ten. However, we suddenly hit a brick wall even using these reasonable amounts, having enough material to cast a mirror in the first place.
Thanks to the discovery of other planets in our solar system and our ever increasing knowledge of the Universe, I decided to capture all of this to aid the experimenter into Hermetic’s by adding an eighth metal “bismuth”. This metal can be molded into any shape and takes into its self the Electrum Magicum wonderfully.
Now we reach the next stage in making Electrum Magicum and a Magic Mirror – Commitment. Like any experiment in making a magical device a certain amount of skill, daring and sacrifice are required.
First we need the purchase the different metal’s a quick search online should help you to locate all if not most. The mercury can be a challenge and would not advise in spending any money until you have secured a small amount.
Once all metals have been acquired make sure to purchase accurate pocket electronic scales and children’s chemistry set. A 4oz kiln, handheld laser temp gun, kiln safety gloves, glasses and cleaning fluids.
A cast iron mold the best I have found is one for cooking eggs with 7 perfectly shaped magic mirror molds.
Paracelsus states a common size for the mirror of around 2inc or 5cm not less.
Melting and casting you magic mirror
The time is now and careful planning must be carried out. But hopefully these guidelines will assist in a satisfactory result. However, there is some danger involved and the author takes no responsibility for any accident or injury of the experimenter. It would be strongly advisable to obtain a copy of Franz Hartmann book,” The Life of Philippus Theophrastus Bombast of Hohenheim, known by the name of Paracelsus”.
Knowledge of the melting and boiling points of all metals involved is crucial for the successful making of an Electrum Magicum alloy.
Here is a simple list, but please research this yourself:-
Metal melting and boiling points in Celsius
Iron 1536 C 2870 C
Copper 1084 C 2575 C
Gold 1063 C 2800 C
Silver 961 C 2212 C
Lead 327 C 1750 C
Bismuth 271.5 C 1564 C
Tin 232 C 2600 C
Mercury -38.86 C 357 C
Using the above table shows the danger of mercury reaching its boiling point and needs to be considered carefully. Experimentation has shown that Paracelsus advice of melting the lead and adding the mercury was an important clue in succeeding.
Stage one would be to melt the lead & tin together in a 4oz kiln. Pull out the plug and allow the molten liquid temp to drop down below mercury boiling point between 327 C & 357 C. Warning if the mercury is added at 357 C or above it will vaporize instantaneously and be breathed in or re-condense in the surrounding area. This part of the melting process is best done outside to avoid or reduce the danger to yourself or home. However, at say 345 C the mercury should be added as the kilns temperature is falling lower by the minute. It’s very important to carefully pour the molten liquid metal into a graphite mold, before the melting point of lead is reached.
Stage one is completed with the mercury, lead and tin successfully combined. Second words of warning “Do not under any circumstances” add this alloy directly to molten metal in solid form it will explode! The combined mercury will melt and then boil within seconds not an experiment to be repeated.
Stage two is far safer and less troublesome place the cast iron mold on a gas burner melt the bismuth to the required and shape of your magic mirror. Keeping the bismuth molten reheat the mercury alloy but not too it’s boiling point and pour into the bismuth.
Third stage melt the copper, gold and silver once melted pour again into the bismuth. Finally, sprinkle the powdered iron into the bismuth. Turn off all heating to the mold and the bismuth will start to rapidly cool and counter the increase in temperature from the new added metal.
This method I have found seems to work very well. All that remains is to polish the mirror to the required luster.
To polish obtain an oil stone as used for sharpening small hand tools with a rough & smooth side.Once the mirror is nice and smooth we them need to bring out its shiny mirror qualities.The best way to achieve this is with a cloth and T-Cut or other scratch remover.
I hope this work will help those that are interested in Electrum Magicum and its experimentation.
If you feel this article may be of use to others please feel free to repost.
Electrum Magicum Pentagram "Top side" [url
Electrum Magicum Magic Astral Light Mirror "Reverse side"
