Lead ( /ˈlɛd/) is a main-group element with the symbol Pb (from Latin: plumbum) and
atomic number 82.
Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic
lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed to air.
Lead has a shiny chrome-silver luster when it is melted into a liquid. (wikipedia)
“
Lead, in
alchemical terms, definitely has an androgynous nature with qualities of cold and damp allowing it to be called an arcane
substance representing the lusterless prime
matter. For this reason it is similar to
Adam and is said to be the counterpart of the planet
Saturn. The alchemical symbol for
lead is an old man with a wooden leg and a scythe.
This also is the symbol of
Saturn, "
Take that white tree and build around it a round dark house covered with dew, and place in it a man of great age, a hundred years old,' etc. The old man is Saturn-lead as prima materia."
Lead being the equivalent of
Saturn, having a definite androgynous nature, is both malefic, and the worst events can be expected, and a purifier.
Lead represents the impurities of metals and humans. Some say these are the vexations and troubles which
God puts on people to bring them back to repentance. Others say these are just the troubles of life which man has to overcome in order to
perfect himself. But as
lead burns it burns all of the impurities with it which is why Boethus the Arab called it the water of sulphur
?. The tribulations of life are metaphoric with
lead as they cleanse people of the imperfections they incur.
The Babylonians knew
lead as a powerful cumulative poison containing antimony
?. According to tradition some said
transmutation was successfully achieved when bits of the
Philosopher's Stone was sprinkled with
lead.” (source unknown)
See Also
Awakening
Ego
Gold
Philosopher's Stone
Self
Transmutation