Philosophy Of Alchemy

Traditionally, alchemy has been understood as a precursor to the science of chemistry but from the vantage point of the human spirit, it is also a discipline that illuminates the human soul. This book explores the goal of alchemy from Jungian, psychological, and philosophical perspectives. Jung’s Alchemical Philosophy: Psyche and the Mercurial Play of Image and Idea is a reflection on Jung’s alchemical work and the importance of philosophy as a way of understanding alchemy and its contributions to Jung’s psychology. By engaging these disciplines, Marlan opens new vistas on alchemy and the circular and ouroboric play of images and ideas, shedding light on the alchemical opus and the transformative processes of Jungian psychology. Divides in the history of alchemy and in the alchemical imagination are addressed as Marlan deepens the process by turning to a number of interpretations that illuminate both the enigma of the Philosophers’ Stone and the ferment in the Jungian tradition. This book will be of interest to Jungian analysts and those who wish to explore the intersection of philosophy and psychology as it relates to alchemy.

• Examines the foundational texts and principles of Hermeticism and alchemy, showing how they offer a foundation for a psycho-spiritual creative practice • Takes the reader on a Hermetic journey through each of the seven traditional planets, offering meditative discourses that speak directly to the intuitive soul • Provides examples from traditional alchemical art and the author’s own intricate esoteric paintings Drawing on ancient Egyptian and Greek cosmogonies and essential Hermetic texts, such as the Corpus Hermeticum, the Emerald Tablet (Tabula Smaragdina), and the Nag Hammadi codices, Marlene Seven Bremner offers a detailed understanding of Hermetic philosophy and the art of alchemy as a foundation for a psycho-spiritual creative practice. Offering examples from traditional alchemical art and her own intricate esoteric paintings, Bremner examines the foundational principles of Hermeticism and alchemy and shows how these traditions are a direct means for accessing higher consciousness and true self-knowledge, or gnosis, as well as a way to extract the essence of one’s own creative gifts. The author takes the reader on a Hermetic journey through each of the seven traditional planets--Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon--exploring their mythological, philosophical, alchemical, Qabalistic, magical, astrological, and energetic natures and offering meditative discourses that reach past the rational mind to speak directly to the intuitive soul. She relates the seven planets to the esoteric anatomy of the human body, specifically the seven chakras, and shows how the planets can offer understanding and experience of archetypal energies and patterns in the body, in one’s life, and in the creative process. A profound synthesis of magical and occult teachings as well as an initiation into the alchemical opus, this book reveals how to integrate and apply Hermetic and alchemical principles to awaken inner knowing, liberate the imagination, and live a mystical, creative, and truly inspired life.

This book is one of the best and most comprehensive about Hermetic philosophy and a perfect textbook for your first steps into alchemy. A real suggestive inquiry into the Hermetic mystery. Contents: Part I An Exoteric View of the Progress and Theory of Alchemy Chapter I A Preliminary Account of the Hermetic Philosophy, with the more Salient Points of its Public History Chapter II Of the Theory of Transmutation in General, and of the First Matter Chapter III The Golden Treatise of Hermes Trismegistus, Concerning the Physical Secret of the Philosopher's Stone. Part II A More Esoteric Consideration of the Hermetic Art & Its Mysteries Chapter I Of the True Subject of the Hermetic Art, & its Concealed Root Chapter II Of the Mysteries Chapter III The Mysteries Continued Chapter IV The Mysteries (Concluded) Part III Concerning the Laws and Vital Conditions of the Hermetic Experiment Chapter I Of the Experimental Method and Fermentation of the Philosophic Subject, According to the Paracelsian Alchemists and some Others Chapter II A Further Analysis of the Initial Principle, and its Eduction into Light Chapter III Of the Manifestation of the First Matter, and its Information by Light. Chapter IV Of the Mental Requisites and Impediments Incidental to Individuals Either as Masters or Students in the Hermetic Art Part IV The Hermetic Practice Chapter I Of the Vital Purification, Commonly Called the Gross Work Chapter II Of the Philosophic or Subtle Work Chapter III The Six Keys of Eudoxus, Opening Into the Most Secret Philosophy Chapter IV The Conclusion

Published in 1998, this is a fundamental re-assessment of the world-view of the alchemists, natural philosophers and intelligencers of the mid 17th century. Based almost entirely upon the extensive and hitherto little-researched manuscript archive of Samuel Hartlib, it charts and contextualises the personal and intellectual history of Johann Moriaen (c.1592-1668), a Dutch-German alchemist and natural philosopher. Moriaen was closely acquainted with many of the leading thinkers and experimenters of his time, including René Descartes, J.A. Comenius, J.R. Glauber and J.S. Küffler. His detailed reports of relations with these figures and his response to their work provide a uniquely informed insight into the world of alchemy and natural philosophy. This study also illuminates the nature and mechanisms of intellectual and technological exchanges between Germany, The Netherlands and England.

This is a reprint of the 1920 edition of an important but almost unknown work. When Atwood made her suggestive inquiry into what was termed "The Hermetic Mystery," she supposed that the adept Hieophants put the candidate into a deep trance and his soul was led into something that was for her the Supreme Oneness of everything.

In this companion book to Alchemy Deciphered, Alasdair Forsythe discusses the foundations of alchemical theory and natural philosophy. What does the water cycle have to do with yin-yang, and what does this teach us about alchemy? Find out in An Introduction to Alchemical Philosophy. Excerpt The philosophy of alchemy is not limited to the understanding of alchemy alone. If it were then it must surely be untrue, as there can be no truth that does not apply in every circumstance and in every situation. To be called a truth it must be true everywhere and at all times. Alchemical philosophy is fundamental, it applies in every instance of every circumstance of everything, throughout the universe. Alchemical philosophy should not strictly be referred to as anything other than just 'philosophy.' It is the same philosophy that governs everything: from the movement of the stars, to the birth of a child, to the development of a planet. Alchemical philosophy is not an aspect of alchemy; it is an aspect of the universe. Alchemy itself could be said to be no more than the natural effect of philosophy. It is an inevitable result of the philosophy which governs our universe, and so the existence of alchemy can be predicted by anyone who comes to a good understanding of philosophy. Naturally, this is how alchemy came about: a philosopher strived to understand the nature of reality, and from his understanding of philosophy he knew how to guide Nature to create a physical manifestation of its principles, the process for which we now call 'alchemy.' No one can be called an alchemist, and no one will have any chance of making the Philosophers' Stone, unless one understands what they are doing and why they are doing it by reflecting on the fundamental philosophical principles on which alchemy is based. Hence the purpose of this book.

Excerpt from Remarks Upon Alchemy and the Alchemists: Indicating a Method of Discovering the True Nature of Hermetic Philosophy Alchemy was a "pretended science by which gold and silver were to be made by the-transmutation of the baser metals into these substances, the agent of the transmutation being called the philosopher's stone." Those who professed this Art are supposed to have been either impostors or under a delusion created by impostors and mountebanks. This opinion has found its way into works on Science, and has been stereotyped in biographical dictionaries and in encyclopædias, large and small; and, in general, allusions to Alchemy, in histories, romances, and novels, are of but one character, and imply that the professors of the Art were either deluders or deluded, - were guilty of fraud or the victims of it. It may be a hopeless task to announce a different persuasion with the expectation of superseding this deeply rooted prejudice; but the author thinks it a duty to declare the opinion he has derived from a careful reading of many alchemical volumes, and in the following remarks he has taken for his thesis the proposition that Man was the subject of Alchemy; and that the object of the Art was the perfection, or at least the improvement, of Man. 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.