Solve et Coagula is an alchemical process that involves dissolving something into its constituent parts and recombining them to create something new. This type of analysis/synthesis is a vital part of my approach to things and, over time, naturally emerged as a way of working with tarot. I use this spread when in a conflicted situation and seeking a next-level, transcendent, creative solution to the problem.

Above you see two images. On the left is the spread layout, on the right is the tetactrys, an essential symbol in Western Alchemy. The parallels will help you understand what’s happening here.

Step 1 – The Monad & The Situation

At the top is the Monad – Reality as It is in Its Totality. This corresponds to the Situation Card.

A Situation card is selected by the person asking the question, setting the stage for the reading. If you are reading for someone, you will need to ask enough questions to determine the situation signifier for them, then describe the symbolism/rationale to them to confirm the card’s appropriateness.

Step 2 – Primal Duality & The Forces

The second layer is fundamental duality, the Monad in movement. This is the layer of Solar/Lunar (Yang/Yin) energies and corresponds to cards “Force A” and “Force B.”

NOTE: Force A is not necessarily Solar, nor is Force B necessarily Lunar. These are the polarities involved in the situation and may appear on either side.

Step 3 – Sulfer/Mercury/Salt & Chemicals X, Y, Z

The third layer of the tetactrys represents Primal Sulfer, Primal Mercury, and Primal Salt. It was believed that these three elements took Pure Spirit (sulfur) and Pure Material (salt) and combined them through Mercury to produce all matter in the universe. Chemical X, Y, and Z hold this place in the Sovle et Coagula reading.

For example, if you determine Force A to be Solar, then Chemical X will be Sulfur, the spiritual component, Chemical Z will be Salt, the material component, and Chemical Y will be the mercurial component. In summary, this layer shows where Force A and B are incompatible through Chemical X and Chemical Z, and which “chemical” (energy/force) is responsible for harmonizing them in Chemical Y.

This is the step in the reading where we may gain significant insight into dissonance, imbalance, resistance, and forcing going on in the situation.

Step 4 – Reconstitution

At this point, we pivot from the Solve (analysis) process to the Coagula (synthesis/solution) process. Each of these two cards represents the synthesis, or appropriate reharmonization, of the two cards above it. In other words, they are the result of purified Chemical X+Y and Chemical Z+Y, yielding a Harmonized Solar/Lunar polarity.

During this step, we need to iteratively consider Forces A & B, Chemicals X, Y, & Z, and the Synthesized X+Y, Z+Y, allowing our scrying mind to unfold their alchemical processes for as long as necessary.

NOTE: I do not typically reduce Chemicals X, Y, Z into Elements of Fire, Air, Earth, and Water. But there’s no reason you can’t, and it may be an even more profound version of this process. Have fun!

Step 5 – Coagulation

Finally, we bring our healthy, harmonized, purified, and perfected Forces into the Solution to the problem. Or, in alchemical terms, we finally extract the Philosopher’s Stone from the Prima Materia in our return to the Monad. This Solution Card will represent the Situation at a higher vibration.

For those of you who have taken to the Tree of Life aspect of Tarot, you’ll find that the Situation Card is analogous to Kingdom, Chemical Y is in the position of Beauty, and the Solution card is in the position of the Crown. The Crown is in the Kingdom and the Kingdom supports the Crown, all flowing through Beauty. Keeping this in mind can unlock further insights and relationships in the reading.