The word athanor is derived from the Arabic word at-tannaur and means 'oven'. To the alchemists, this oven or furnace, played a pivotal part in the Great Work. Its function was to incubate the egg-shaped Hermetic vessel used for the preparation of the Elixir. The athanor was designed to maintain a constant heat over long periods. It was made of clay and about five feet in height and divided into several departments suitable for the different requirements of the work. In the alchemist's view the practical laboratory was a metaphor for a psychic laboratory. From this perspective, the athanor had spiritual significance such as representing the womb or the hen hatching eggs. Most alchemical tools and apparatus reflect the belief that the chemistry of the laboratory mirrors that of the mind.
The Soul Food Cafe, and the Lemurian Abbey in particular, is an athanor, an oven or furnace where psychic work takes place. Members of the Soul Food community will testify to the incubation that takes place within the safety of this vessel.
