Source unknown but looking at the image itself, the representation seems Arabic

Alchemy is known to many as the search for the elixir of life; the nectar of immortality; or the philosopher’s stone… this is seen as an allegory for the quest to transmute ordinary base metals into gold… ‘Spiritual’ alchemy proposes the alchemical process is just a metaphor for the spiritual enlightenment or transformation alluded to by mystics and prophets through the ages. The process tells of the marriage of two opposites, one form of matter into another.

Whether the physicality of the alchemical tale is true or not, it is true that without this almost THREE-THOUSAND-YEAR CYCLE of alchemical research and experimentation, we would not have had what we know today as modern chemistry or even modern science as a whole, yet many disregard this fact with ease. People assume something surrounded by so much speculation and ‘absurdity’ as alchemy could not have been true! let alone the basis for an entire branch of science. But alas, this is the history.

The history of alchemy is vast and tiresome so I won’t go into excruciating detail but what you must know is that while it’s origins are very murky what we do know is that some form of metallurgy or working with chemical substances was done by cultures and civilisations as diverse as the ancient Chinese, the ancient Egyptians, medieval Romans, Benedictine monks and even Popes themselves. While many religious figures indeed dabbled in alchemy an edict was actually issued in 1317 during the time of the Knights Templar banning alchemy outright:

“Poor themselves,

the alchemists promise riches which are not forthcoming;

wise also in their own conceit,

they fall into the ditch

which they themselves

have digged.”

~ A 1317 edict condeming alchemy

decreed by Pope John XXII 1249-1334,

born and died in France;

quoted by E. J. Holmyard in Alchemy, 1957

and Mark Haeffner in Dictionary of Alchemy, 1993

It is also known that the first gunpowder ever produced was discovered by an alchemist on his way to finding the alchemical elixir of immortality. Throughout the ages then human beings have sought time after time to obtain this potion of power; their success or their failure is for those with his or her eye on history to decide.

One important name in alchemy is Isaac Newton 1643-1727, born and died England. He was in fact the inventor of calculus, and while he is known today as the man who gave us the laws of motion and gravity – ‘the founder of modern science’ – it is a known fact thanks to manuscripts sold at auction that he actually wrote more about theology and alchemy than he did about light, physics or any other subject.

“Because the way by the Mercurial principle may be impregnated has been thought fit to be concealed by others that have known it, and therefore may possibly be an inlet to something more noble that is not to be communicated without immense damage to the world if there be any verity in Hermetic writers. There are other things besides the transmutation of metals which none but they understand.”

“Most of [the alchemists] were poor; many all but unknown in their own time, many died and saw no fruit of their labours… Of some the very names are forgotten. But though their names be dead, their works live, and grow and spread over ever fresh generations of youth, showing them fresh steps towards that temple of wisdom which is the knowledge of things as they are.”

~ Charles Kingsley 1819-1875,

church of England priest, historian, professor and novelist,

born and died England;

quoted by John Read 1884-1963,

chemist, professor of Chemistry, lecturer, author,

born and died in England,

in From Alchemy To Chemistry 1957.

In relation to this vast heap of knowledge, in the history of this spirituality there have no doubt been peaks. The ancient Egyptians with Akhenaton and the pyramid building; the Greeks with Plato and Socrates and the Eleusinian ‘mysteries’; the Gnostic Christians of the time of ‘Jesus’ of Nazareth; then the Islamic revolution centuries after the church had been established. After that came the enlightenments of Europe and the rest is English history. All of these times of strife have had the proponents and the oppositions, those who practice heresy and those who practice ‘righteousness’.

The late middle ages, renaissance and enlightenment of Europe no doubt played the most important part in the shaping of modern society. It was during this period where many kings or royalty or other such figures in positions of power were curious enough to become involved in certain things like alchemy and the search for immortality via other means. This gave alchemists ample opportunity to show their talents and be also placed into positions of power with the presenting of their skills to the ruler of the land that they prepared their substances in. This naturally gave rise to many forgeries and there are numerous tales of alchemists providing some small amount of gold giving kings the belief that if they gave them a further payment of money they would be able to produce more and bring it back after the preparation has finished. Of course the con men would take the money and never be seen again. You can read of alchemists travelling into the desert to leave no trace behind for the royal figures and likely armies as well who were after them. Maybe these guys really needed the gold or something. Islamic royalty were also very interested a few centuries earlier which gave similar tales through Arabian lands.

Edward Kelly 1555-1597, born England, died Czech Republic, was a self-professed ‘spirit medium’ and occultist. He was one such man who offered his services to a royal figure, chiefly being Rudolf II 1552-1612, born in Austria, died in Czech Republic. Before that though, he became friends with Queen Elizabeth royal magus John Dee 1527-1608, born and died England. Kelly had a history of swindling people of their money aswell as being a con-man. Unfortunately it took the magus Dee decades to realise this after he had been completely depleted by him. The story does have a silver lining, however, as Kelly’s end was that of a fraud and he died as Rudolf’s prisoner.

Detail from an emblem taken from China Monumentis, 1667,

by Athanasius Kircher 1602-1680,

Jesuit scholar, polymath, studier of comparitive religion, geology and medicine,

born Germany, died Italy

“For trewly he that is not a great clerke,

Is nice and lewd to medle with this werke;

Ye may trust me it is no small inginn,

To know alle secrets pertaining to this myne.

For it is most profounde philosophye

This subtill science of holy Alkimy”

~ Thomas Norton 1433-1513,

poet, alchemist

born and died in England

Emblem from the title page of the 1596 edition of

Lives of Philosophers and Sophists

by Eunapius (4th-5th cent. CE)

sophist and historian,

born Greece

“[I]f god is worshipped from the individual’s heart,

the outward trappings of formal religion become irrelevant;

and that, for any hierarchical religion, is rampant herersy.“

~ David V. Barrett 1952-,

sociologist of religion,

born England,

he was also secretary to

Aleister Crowley 1875-1947,

occultist, magician, writer,

born and died in England

“The entire object of all magical and alchemical processes

is the purification of the natural man,

and by working upon his nature

to extract the pure gold of spiritual attainment.

This is initiation.”

~ Israel Regardie 1907-1985,

occultist, writer,

born England, died USA

quoted by David V. Barrett,

in A Brief History of Secret Societies 2007

“Do you really believe that the sciences would have ever originated and grown if the way had not been prepared by magicians, alchemists, astrologers, and witches whose promises and pretensions first had to create a thirst, a hunger, a taste for hidden and forbidden powers?”

~ Friedrich Nietzsche 1844-1900,

author and philosopher,

born and died Germany

Many have come to dismiss alchemists because of their eccentricity and antisocial behaviour, but the time dedicated and concentration necessary to even attempt the actual transmutations must be revered especially if you consider that it may be possible to do what they claim they can. Similar isolation is what is necessary for asceticism, solitary retreat and prison sentences. Isolation and rejection from society at large is also what can lead to further antisocialness and insanity. It can also lead to the most revolutinary ideas ever conceived by the human mind.

You must also take into account that the alchemists were working with very volatile substances as well as elements which give off thick fumes creating the possibility of explosions.

Mercury is just one of the toxic substances we are talking about here. As well as playing a huge role in many alchemical laboratories, it has been the primary ingredient in the tool for measuring temperatures (as it was the thermometer was first invented). Applied in a slightly different form, Mercury has actually been used as a disinfectant as well as to treat syphilis at least around the beginning of the 20th century. Administered incorrectly, though, and mercury poisoning can deteriorate one’s health just as much as it can supposedly help to prolong it.

Many riddles and manuscripts talk of bad transmutation experiences: this is why the art can only be performed at such a high level of perfection and why such concentration and time invested is necessary. So here we have two reasons for not wanting a bad outcome, the first being that the process won’t work and you won’t have any gold and the second is that you might blow yourself up. It really isn’t ‘out there’ to suggest that the volatility of the substances which these alchemists work with may explain some of the more puzzling aspects of the world of alchemy. The true test, however, lies with each of us interested in our interpretation of the events of history.

Whether or not the actual physical truth to the process of alchemy is true is one thing, but I know that when alchemical images and alchemical literature is decoded spiritually it gives an equally meaningful equation.

“[F]rom the beginning of the creation

god made them male and female. […]

And they twain shall be one flesh:

so then they are no more twain,

but one flesh.”

~ Mark, New Testament of the Bible

“When you make the two one,

and when you make the inside like the outside

and the outside like the inside,

and the above like the below,

and when you make the male and the female one and the same,

so that the male not be male nor the female female;

and when you fashion eyes in the place of an eye,

and a hand in place of a hand,

and a foot in place of a foot,

and a likeness in place of a likeness;

then will you enter the kingdom.”

~ Gospel of Thomas, Gnostic text,

all of which date to c. first three centuries AD

and were re-discovered in Egypt in 1945

From Basilica Philosophica 1618,

by Johann Daniel Mylius 1583-1642

Composer of the lute, and writer on alchemy,

born Germany

Below we have two tables of alchemical symbols used by alchemists themselves.

Note that the triangle which everybody nowadays associates with the Illuminati – but also the Egyptians of course because of the pyramids – represents, at least alchemically, the fire necessary to transmute the metal into gold.

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.”

~ Plutarch 45-120 CE,

biographer and essayist,

born and died in Greece

Reproduction of emblem 15

of the Rosarium Philosophorum

(The Rosary of the Philosophers) 1550.

We have here two alchemical drawings which depict this marriage.

They are very cryptic and interpretations of their meanings vary from person to person and culture to culture.

How would YOU

decipher

and

decode

them?