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Alchemy Alchemist Alchemical Transformation
Animal Allegories
Over the millenium, different categories of Alchemy and Alchemical Transformation have developed including: Egyptian, European, Jewish, Christian, Gnostic, Islamic, Chinese, Hindu, Hermetic, Mystical, Metaphysical, Personal, Psychological, Shamanic, and Quantum.
Many original Alchemy books had allegorical writings and illustrations that were symbolic and deliberately obscure, requiring considerable effort to glean their meaning and intent. Even today writings on practical Alchemy are rare since the core Alchemical Transformation Teachings are passed on by the Alchemist through oral traditions.
These allegories have often focused on Animals and Birds who are our spiritual brethren. They too have their own visions, quests, dreams, and evolutionary spirals which have in the past overlapped with those of humanity as well as other life streams. Since Alchemy at its highest level is both a Divine Science and a Divine Art, alchemical knowledge and teachings were often transmitted through the symbolism of pictures and allegories.
This ensured that the alchemical
treatises would only be understood, their true meanings and teachings only
comprehended, by those already steeped in spirituality and higher levels of
awareness. This safeguarded the keys to the kingdom from falling into the hands
of those who might misuse this wisdom. In the allegories, a person often went on
a transformative journey or quest to search for spiritual knowledge or for true
understanding of mystical alchemical mysteries.
Alchemy Animal Allegory Sunflower Robin Birdhouse
Along the way, the seeker encountered various archetypal Arcana characters such as the Empress or the Fool; as well as, birds and animals. For example, the fire elementals, the salamanders were depicted as dragons, while, the air elementals, the sylphs were depicted as eagles.
To the Alchemist such archetypal expressions as Animal Allegories, as well as, the Oracular Arcana of the Tarot encompass all aspects of being from the minutest particles and cells of the body to the most distant galaxies and their largest stars; from DNA spirals to emotional moods; from survival needs to vast spiritual aspirations.
From the symbolism and meditative meanings of the Tarot, to the Chinese I Ching, and to the Hebrew Cabala, the Arcana are a way to intuit and interpret the outworkings of the One Mind, the Greek "Logos". Since the Arcana transcend the normal boundaries of relative time and space, deciphering their mysteries empowers the alchemist with the ability to transmute, change, restore, revitalize, and transform.
Much of Alchemy knowledge and many Alchemical Transformation principles were transcribed and encoded for transmission in the form of these allegories, as well as, hieroglyphs, symbols, paintings, icons, poems, pictorial languages, ciphers, songs, coded alphabets, and sacred architecture.
This process of dissemination not only protected spiritual
knowledge from being profaned but also acted like a powerful impetus to push
beyond the envelope, to transcend the boundaries of normalcy and to truely reach
for the starry heights twinkling Above, beckoning the seeker of
understanding Below to strive to become the Sage Mage with the View from the Hill... Go back
Read Alchemy Alchemist Articles
Animals Allegories,
Arcana Zodiac,
As Above So Below,
Elixirs Quintessences,
Glossary Terminology,
Grades of Fire Elements,
Imaginal Plane Steps,
Magical Touchstones Traditions,
Materia Prima Heavenly Substances,
Material Plane Steps,
Spiritual Beliefs
Visit Beliefs Faiths Religions Traditions
Aboriginal Dreamtime,
Alchemy Alchemist,
Cosmos Astronomy,
Buddhism Buddhist,
Christianity Biblical,
Daoist Confucian,
Druidry Treelore,
Heathenry Ásatrú,
Hinduism Vedas,
Islam Sunnah,
Judaism Talmud,
Native American,
Paganism Wiccan,
Shamanism Shaman,
Shintoism Kami
Alchemy
Alchemist Alchemical Transformation Copyright © 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved.
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