Finding The Gold

Can anyone explain the changing of elements and humors to me, because my brain just does not want to digest this.

Cavalli says:

"Two elements (functions) change when each partner loses the humors they share in common with a third element. For example, when fire and water part with dry and cold, they become earth. Similarly, if earth and air combine, giving up cold and moist, they become water."

I would've thought the results were the opposite. If you have fire (dry, hot) and water (moist, cold) together, and they part with dry and cold, it seems to me you'd be left with air (hot, moist). How is it that they become earth if they've parted with their earth humors???

Wait. I think I just made sense of it. By "part with" he means they contribute or yield to the formula and not "part with" as in lose or waste. So if fire yields dry and water yields cold, dry and cold are earth's humors, so you have earth.

It seems I just answered my own question. I'm posting this anyhow just in case anyone has any further thoughts or insights to offer. ...And because it's just too quiet here.

How's everyone doing on the reading? Do we need to push out the dates by a week? What do you think about what you've read so far?

Bueller?

I was really taken with the concept of Transformation. Finding my prima materia sounds important and necessary, and scary as hell.

Do you think that you can muddle through finding this on your own, or does it take someone else helping you see the things that are, perhaps, too painful to see clearly for yourself?

What's everyone's perceptions on coincidences? Cavalli presents to us that they are not only important to pay attention to, but they may even be something we can create more of in our lives (without becoming stalkers, I assume!)

I know that when I am most centered and grounded in my life, the coincidences nearly rapid fire. When I am out of sorts, they are rare indeed.

An acquaintance and I have long argued the importance of coincidence. I believe in their importance, he feels they have no significance at all.

The Celestine Prophecy approaches this topic as well. While I enjoyed that story, I have some problems with certain areas....particularly near the end. But it does seem to be a topic of interest.

So...what do you think?

Just returned from the library with this book in tow, so I'll be splitting my time betwixt this and Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver. I think they'll complement each other well.

Chapter 1: 17 pages 1 Week (March 1)
Chapter 2: 24 pages 2 Weeks (March 15)
Chapter 3: 11 pages 1 Week (March 22)
Chapter 4: 24 pages 2 Weeks (April 5)
Chapter 5: 30 pages 2 Weeks (April 19)
Chapter 6: 22 pages 2 Weeks (May 3)
Chapter 7: 36 pages 2 Weeks (May 17)
Chapter 8: 10 Recipes 1 per week (May 24 - July 26)
Chapter 9: 22 pages 2 Weeks (August 9)
Chapter 10: 13 pages 1 Week (August 16)

This is a pretty generous schedule, which will allow for busy schedules and a variety of things that tend to pop up. This will also make it easier for someone to catch up if they don't have the book yet, but want to read it when they get a copy.

As for format, I'd like the header of initiating posts to reflect the chapter and page numbers being discussed. That will make it easier for looking back through posts for information and for people to decide if the discussion is current with where they are in the reading.

Ready, Set...Go! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

alchemuse and I have had this book for a while, meaning to read it together, but we never got around to it. After a discussion today, we realized...it's time. And we started to get the ball rolling. Realizing that more shoulder power will help get that ball really moving, we decided a community would be a great way to facilitate discussions, which we anticipate will be vast.

We're going to try and form a game plan for reading and we'll share it. You're welcome to go along at your own pace, or follow ours. In any case...don't feel you need to read it to post and join discussions.