| The initial process of Calcination consists of the purging fires of aspiration (i.e. yearning or ambition) and self-discipline. |
Calcination called for the alchemist to heat the base metal (which might be either silver, iron, gold, antimony, or lead) over a moderate heat for the duration of a considerable amount of time until all the superficial qualities are destroyed.
By continued moderate heating, the metal will be broken down into its basic composition and what remains is the essential quality waiting to be manipulated. This period of moderate heat might conceivably take a year or more; the strength and determination of the alchemist is of necessity put to the test.
