|
|
Alchemy Alchemist Alchemical Transformation
Glossary Terminology
Alchemy is a soul science of spiritual intellect that seeks knowledge and understanding of the
alchemical inter-relationship between Humanity, Nature, and Divinity, viewing them as a "Triune Oneness". As a science, Alchemy also deals with
the material realm of minerals, plants, animals, and metal, since matter
and spirit are interconnected like two sides of a coin.
The alchemist seeks to learn how to accelerate (in a relatively short period of time) the evolution of inherent seed potentials in accord with evolutionary laws. Unlike chemistry where external elements of matter are mixed, compounded, and decomposed into different forms and substances, the Alchemist Practitioner of Alchemy must develop sufficient spiritual power to activate something in its preexistent latent state and cause it to grow; making the unmanifest manifest.
Although Alchemy and Alchemical Procedures can be taught and learned by the Alchemist through reasoning, to really accomplish anything significant, to awaken the sleeping spiritual potential within matter, the Alchemist must also be a primordial artist imbued with Divine Powers. In its highest aspect, Alchemy enables one to regenerate, to transmutate, and to transform something that is earthly into something that is divine. Just as an acorn can become a might oak through both elemental power and quintessence; a human being can be transformed into a God or Goddess.
The aphorism of Hermes Trismegistus, "As Above So Below", is a great Cosmic Law and a chief tenet of Alchemy teachings and traditions. The work of Paracelsus, the physician and Alchemist, influenced Dr. Bach who developed the flower essences infused with the spiritual and elemental forces of Nature to help heal the human spirit.
Carl Jung viewed Alchemy as a transformative process, an archetypal system of psychological symbols. The Grail energy for the Alchemists was intimately connected with the integrity, immutability, and immortality of Materia Prima, First Matter, the chalice cauldron of unlimited potent potentialities and primal prescience.
Over the millenium, different categories of Alchemy 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 Teachings are passed on by the Alchemist through oral traditions. The quest for the Philosopher's Stone, the "Magical Touchstone" of immortality
through purity and perfection, has long been the Arcana and the Elixir that will infuse the Below with the Above, making the mundane
divine. At its core, Alchemy is the transformational process of imbuing matter
with spirit, awaking potent potentialities, and manifesting the intrinsic absolute
within extrinsic relativity.
Alchemical Allegories
Animals and birds 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. 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... Continue on
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.
|
|
