Sherlock Holmes fans will know of Irene Adler, the woman in “Scandal in Bohemia,” who was smart enough to outwit Holmes and was always afterwards referred by him as ‘The Woman.’ When asked to name his reward for his part in the case he asked for the photograph of Irene. Incidentally pronounced i–ray-ner, with the i as in sit.

Earlier this month a sixty two year old student of mine wrote a short appreciation of the Emerald Tablet for me. I was amazed at the new perspectives she brought to it. The Emerald Tablet as most of you will know is a one page summary of the most important principles of alchemy.

I learned it by heart when I began my interest in alchemy at age seventeen. I read it, contemplated it and repeated it at least once every day for ten years or so until I finally got what it meant. When I began my studies in mathematics I thought of the consummate genius Newton, who I knew was one of the last famous alchemists. I got hold of his translation and used that too. So when I read the report of my student I had thought about, read about, and contemplated the Emerald Tablet for sixty years. Her take on it was refreshing and contained all kinds of new dots and perspectives to connect.