Alchemy And Mysticism

Fables, folklore, and fantasy--this compendium of all things alchemical and mystical gathers centuries of esoteric mythology in the form of writings, drawings, paintings, and prints. From early Christian mystics to the illustrations of William Blake and the Romantics, this collection spans science, philosophy, and otherworldly mystery over the ages.

"A fantastical journey through the pictorial world of alchemy and mysticism, the Cabbala and magic, freemasons and Rosicrucians. This unique selection of illustrations with commentaries and source texts guides us on a fascinating journey through the representations of the secret arts."--Back cover.

Contains images of Christian mysticism, art of the romantic era, hieroglyphs of cabbalists and freemasons, and early scientific illustrations in the fields of medicine, chemistry, optics and colour theory.

An in-depth look into the foundations of mysticism and alchemy, this book describes both physical and spiritual aspects of the various theories and practices of transformation, with attention to the beliefs of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sufism, Tantrism, Taoism and Yoga. The connection between early mystical pursuits and the development of alchemy from ancient China, India, and Egypt through Moorish Spain and into Latin Europe are illuminated, along with the activities of early alchemists. The book, which is heavily illustrated, describes the beliefs, experiments, and secret messages that drew the believers and dreamers of the world together in search of wealth and immortality.

Four manuscripts in one book: Mysticism: Unlocking the Path of the Mystic and Embracing Mystery and Intuition Through Meditation Occultism: The Ultimate Guide to the Occult, Including Magic, Divination, Astrology, Witchcraft, and Alchemy Alchemy: Unlocking Secrets of an Ancient Mystical Science Hermeticism: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding the Hermetica, Kybalion, and Hermetic Principles In part one, you will: Learn about the remarkable journey of mysticism from ancient times until now. Discover your aura and what it says about you. See where each chakra is in your body and understand its importance. Discover how you can work with energy to heal, bless, and protect yourself. Enhance your psychic abilities with simple daily practices. Discover your powerful third eye and how to unlock it for faster manifestations and ultimate psychic power. Uncover the truth about the Laws of Attraction. Harness your sexual energy to make your wildest desires come true. Learn how to experience astral projection and grow your spiritual powers beyond anything you've ever seen. In part two, you will: Learn the history of the occult and discover the culprits responsible for all the lies and misinformation surrounding it. Discover the wonderful world of Wicca and how you can get started on this path right away. Find out if you're a natural witch. Learn basic witchcraft terminology that you need to know. Understand what to expect from a coven. Get eye-opening information on the "tools of the craft" and how you can use them. Discover the amazing value in the Book of Shadows and Grimoires and how to start, keep, and take care of yours. Learn how to use the potent magic locked in crystals. Unearth the truth about waking your psychic powers. Learn how to craft your very own spells, just like an experienced Wiccan would. In part three, you will: Learn what alchemy is and the principles that govern it Investigate the basics of modern alchemy and its focus on self-transformation Discover the four alchemical elements, their symbols, and the roles they play Explore the seven alchemical metals and their corresponding planets See examples of herbal alchemy and the plants and herbs known to contain specific planetary metals Find detailed and easy herbal alchemy recipes Master the art of how to transform yourself into a modern and effective alchemist Learn how to be a powerful alchemist In part four, you will: Learn what Hermeticism is, and its founder Discover everything you need to know about Hermes Trismegistus Explore Kybalion and what it contains Uncover the basics of the Hermetic philosophy and its history Understand the meaning of All Find a full chapter on each of the seven principles of Hermeticism Investigate how you can use the principles to transform your life for the better Get this book now and discover a brand-new start in your mystical life.

Most professional historians see the relationship between pre-modern and modern alchemy as one of discontinuity and contrast. Mike A. Zuber challenges this dominant understanding and explores aspects of alchemy that have been neglected by recent work in the history of science. The predominant focus on the scientific aspect of alchemy, such as laboratory experiment, practical techniques, and material ingredients, argues Zuber, marginalizes the things that render alchemy so fascinating: its rich and vivid imagery, reliance on the medium of manuscript, and complicated relationship with religion. Spiritual Alchemy traces the early-modern antecedents of modern alchemy through generations of followers of Jacob Boehme, the cobbler and theosopher of Görlitz. As Boehme's disciples down the generations -- including the Silesian nobleman Abraham von Franckenberg and the London-based German immigrant Dionysius Andreas Freher, among others -- studied his writings, they drew on his spiritual alchemy, adapted it, and communicated it to their contemporaries. Spiritual alchemy combines traditional elements of alchemical literature with Christian mysticism. Defying the boundaries between science and religion, this combination was transmitted from Görlitz ultimately to England. In 1850, it inspired a young woman, later known as Mary Anne Atwood, to write her Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery, usually seen as the first modern interpretation of alchemy. Drawing extensively on manuscript or otherwise obscure sources, Zuber documents continuity between pre-modern and modern forms of alchemy while exploring this hybrid phenomenon.

Excerpt from Alchemy, Ancient and Modern: Being a Brief Account of the Alchemistic Doctrines, and Their Relations, to Mysticism on the One Hand, and to Recent Discoveries in Physical Science on the Other Hand It is a regrettable fact that the majority of works dealing with the subject of Alchemy take a one-sided point of view. The chemists generally take a purely physical view of the subject, and instead of trying to understand its mystical language, often (we do not say always) prefer to label it nonsense and the alchemist a fool. On the other hand, the mystics, in many cases, take a purely transcendental view of the subject, forgetting the fact that the alchemists were, for the most part, concerned with operations of a physical nature. For a proper understanding of Alchemy, as we hope to make plain in the first chapter of this work, a synthesis of both points of view is essential; and, since these two aspects are so intimately and essentially connected with one another, this is necessary even when, as in the follow ing work, one is concerned primarily with the physical, rather than the purely mystical, aspect of the subject. Now, the author of this book may lay claim to being a humble student of both Chemistry and what may be generalised under the terms Mysticism and Transcendentalism; and he hopes that this perhaps rather unusual combination of studies has enabled him to take a broad-minded View of the theories of the alchemists, and to adopt a sympathetic attitude towards them. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.