Copper, the red metal sacred to Venus, is the alchemical metal assigned to Netzach, the seventh Sephirah on the Tree of Life. Its name derives from the Latin cuprum, itself a contraction of aes Cyprium—"metal of Cyprus"—the island where it was extensively mined in antiquity. In alchemy, copper is the metal of love, beauty, and the feminine principle, often symbolized by the mirror of the goddess.

Position on the Tree of Life

Copper corresponds to Netzach (Victory or Endurance), the seventh Sephirah. Netzach is the sphere of Venus, representing the emotional and instinctual drives, artistic creativity, and the natural, untamed forces of attraction. As the metal of this sphere, copper embodies the raw, passionate energy that underlies all forms of connection and beauty.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

Copper is the metal of the planet Venus (♀). This correspondence is one of the most stable in the Western esoteric tradition. The red-gold hue of the metal, its malleability, and its use in mirrors and decorative arts all align with Venusian qualities of desire, harmony, and aesthetic pleasure. In astrological magic, copper is used to attract love, enhance artistic ability, and promote social harmony.

Historical context

The association of copper with Venus is ancient and cross-cultural. The Greeks and Romans dedicated copper to Aphrodite/Venus, and the metal was used to forge her sacred mirrors. In medieval and Renaissance alchemy, copper was often called the "Venus metal" and was a key component in the pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone. The alchemist Basil Valentine described copper as the "lower Venus" that must be purified and united with the "higher Sun" (gold) to achieve perfection. The metal's tendency to tarnish and form a green patina was seen as a symbol of the soul's corruption by the material world and its potential for regeneration. In the Hermetic tradition, the green of copper's patina (verdigris) was linked to the Green Lion, a symbol of the prima materia and the initial stage of the alchemical work.

In Liber 777

In the table of Liber 777, Copper appears as the Alchemical Metal for the seventh step (Netzach). It is the second entry in the Alchemical Metals column, placed between the metallic radix of Keter and the lead of Chokmah. This positioning reinforces its role as the first fully manifest metal of the lower seven Sephiroth, embodying the Venusian principle of attraction and beauty that governs the sphere of Netzach.