Medieval alchemy has its origins in Egypt… Source
Since that time, alchemy has often been described as “Ars Laboriosa Convertens Humiditate Ignea Metala In Mercuris”, referring to the transformation of fire’s humidity into mercury. In other words, it is the art of turning lead into gold.
The essence of alchemy lies in the concept of correspondence between the macrocosm and the microcosm, where the universe and the human being are considered reflections of each other. This principle suggests that what occurs in the realm of the Divine and the Spiritual, often referred to as heaven, also manifests in the material and physical realm of earth. In other words, the physical world is understood as a mere reflection of the spiritual world, much like the relationship between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.
The realm of earth represents the observable physical realm composed of tangible matter, perceivable by our senses. On the other hand, the realm of heaven represents the spiritual plane, accessible through consciousness, serving as the wellspring of energy and transformation. It is a space where emotions surface, and invisible forces influence the visible world.
This corresponds with Scripture as Spoken by Jesus:
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10
Your Kingdom Come
The phrase “ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου” (elthetō hē basileia sou) can be translated as “let come the kingdom of you” from Greek. The verb “ἐλθέτω” (elthetō) is in the aorist imperative mood, implying a command or request. The noun “βασιλεία” (basileia) means “kingdom, sovereignty, rule, or dominion“. The pronoun “σου” (sou) means “of you” or “your”, and in this context refers to God the Father.
The intertwined nature of the spiritual and the material is laid bare by alchemy.
In perfect harmony, alchemy intricately combines chemistry, science, philosophy, spirituality, religion, and psychology.
Base Metals Turned Gold
“Transforming Base Metals into Gold“ condenses the substance of the Higher Truth: the spiritual disposition of Alchemy, highlighting its aim to bring about intense metamorphoses within the individual, leading to deeper understanding, comprehended wisdom, and brutal self-awareness. Only very few could grasp this Wisdom in the time of its inception, or so the historical records claim.
Base metals are like the flaws or sins that stain our souls, while gold is the symbol of purity and renewal that comes from the Divine Spirit, which is the Source of all creation.
Master Alchemist of Alchemists
The Creator is the Master of all alchemy. He makes the impossible possible. He shapes humanity from dust. He forms women from flesh. He takes what is evil and transforms it into goodness through His grace.
Alchemical Redemption
He transforms broken and unclean souls into complete works of art. He shapes his clay into His own kin, creating purified and glorified children, just as base metal is transformed into gold.
He achieved this by transforming the human soul through His Son’s descent from a higher to a lower dimension, by crucifying the flesh. He leads the path and trajectory for those whom He grants this irresistible grace, compelling them to ascend toward spiritual perfection by shedding the essence and attachment to the flesh, and by surrendering the ego through self-denial.
Just as Christ attributes no glory or importance to the flesh, we too are capable of detaching from our own flesh. Through the annihilation of the flesh, He guides His followers, who are reborn through this alchemical process brought about by Christ, the conduit.
Eternal Elixer
Elixir, in alchemy, substance thought to be capable of changing base metals into gold.
Forming a Chemical Elixir that possesses the power to heal, the practitioners of Alchemy have long recognized that true healing transcends the physical realm and lies within the “Eternal Elixir”.
I made also the Elixir of Life
Thomas Norton
Which mee bereft a marchant’s wife:
She wrought with it a full great wonder;
I made the quintessence which set under
The nose of him which soundeth nie to death,
Would make revive thereof the only breath.
Depth Of Nature’s History
Throughout history, Alchemists have delved into the depths of nature’s mysteries, digging the trenches of depth until the gold mine of the core emerges and envelops the Alchemist with insights into the workings of the heavens and the mechanics that underly and shadow the essence of human presence.
Alchemy unnearths hidden truths that dwell beyond the ordinary realm of understanding.
The Root Of Alchemy
Alchemical Experiments
Alchemists conducted experiments in laboratories, often equipped with furnaces, alembics, and other apparatus.
Alchemical Purification Techniques
Distillation
Distillation is a process of separating the components of a mixture based on their different boiling points, used to purify liquids or to extract concentrated compounds from organic matter.
Alchemists used special vessels called alembics, which had a round bottom, a long neck, and a cooling tube.
By heating the substance in the alembic, they could collect the vapor that rose and condensed in the tube.
Let’s break it down with Scripture in Mind:
We are the substance that is heated by the Holy Fire of the Spirit through Christ, the alembic, so that only what is substantial is extracted, as the rest is placed into the fiery lake, also called outer darkness.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11
This verse portrays a powerful image of purification through the Holy Spirit and fire, which aligns with the concept of being refined and purified by the Holy Fire of the Spirit through Christ. It speaks to the transformative and purifying nature of the Holy Spirit.
Sublimation
Sublimation is a process in chemistry where a solid substance transforms directly into a gas phase without going through the liquid phase. This transition occurs at temperatures and pressures below the substance’s triple point. The metaphorical implications of this portray a powerful image of purification through the Holy Spirit and fire, which aligns with the concept of being refined and purified by the Holy Fire of the Spirit through Christ.
Alchemists in ancient times used sublimation as a technique to purify various substances such as salts, metals, and minerals.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Matthew 5:13
Sublimation Process:
Heating: The solid is heated until it undergoes sublimation, where molecules enter the gas phase.
Vaporization: As the solid is heated, it releases vapors consisting of individual molecules or atoms.
Collection: Vapors are collected and solidified, resulting in purified crystals or solid material.
Calcination
Alchemists were known to employ various tools and techniques in their pursuit of transmutation and the philosopher’s stone. Among their instruments, furnaces and crucibles played a pivotal role. These vessels were used to subject substances to intense heat, often until they turned into ashes or powders.
This process, known as calcination, held a crucial place in alchemical practices. It was utilized not only to decompose organic matter, but also to oxidize metals and produce alums and vitriols.
Transmutation
The alchemists employed a variety of intriguing apparatus including furnaces, alembics, crucibles, and other enigmatic tools, all in the quest to effect the transformation of metals, particularly the elusive creation of gold from base metals. The very essence of alchemy lay in transmutation.
Central to these alchemical operations were ethereal substances such as mercury, sulfur, and the legendary philosopher’s stone, said to hold the key to the ultimate transmutation.
Alchemy’s Core
The concept of alchemy also extends beyond the material realm, with spiritual alchemy involving stages such as distillation, where impurities are removed, leaving only the essence. This stage is a metaphor for the actualization of one’s spirit and the assimilation of any shadow aspects into the true self, representing a step up in consciousness as the core identity is freed from inferior elements.
The School of Alchemy
The School of Alchemy originated in the 1st to 3rd centuries as a blend of Greek philosophy, Egyptian mysticism, and scientific exploration. It evolved from a focus on physical transformation to a fusion of science and spirituality, attracting seekers of wisdom. Alchemy involved diverse techniques, symbolism, and aimed at inner transformation. While it evolved into modern chemistry, its legacy remains significant, influencing culture and psychology.
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