Published in the Summer 2012 Edition of ESOTERICA Vol.3 No 2
ESOTERICA is published by the Theosophical Society in England
The secret and magical ‘science’ of alchemy holds a sense of wonder and mystery even in today’s objective and scientific world of analysis and measurement. Known as the OPUS MAGNA in Latin, or the Great Work, alchemy is a way of transforming the world in which we live into something sublime and transcendental. It is the way of reaching the quintessence of life through practical and esoteric research into the actual material of life and the universe.
This can be metaphorical or the actual creation of a new structure, form or energy. Whenever we attempt to change our world creatively for the better we begin to enter the world of alchemy. In the past it was how the ancients tried to discover a new and hidden world that might help humankind improve their life. The aim was to discover the magical and eternal ‘philosopher stone’.
In the twentieth century Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and the subsequent splitting of the atom and the discovery of the sub-atomic world may be the modern alchemy and touching something approaching what was being sought many years ago by the alchemists. With today’s latest developments into quarks and quantum theory another world seems to be opening and demanding that even the most materialistic, hard-nosed scientist has to accept that the world is more complicated than they may have first thought…
There are two aspects of alchemy. The first was a scientific approach where early alchemists attempted, through various technical and experimental processes, to turn the lower and base metals into gold. The second approach, which sometimes could also involve those ‘experimenters was spiritual alchemy where there was an esoteric and occult method and process to try and transform the lower nature of human beings towards more highly refined and spiritual individuals with higher understanding of themselves and mystical insight into the meaning of life.
Early Hellenistic alchemy originated in Egypt and flourished there around 200AD in the context of Gnosticism and Hermeticism. It was rediscovered by the Arabs in the seventh and eighth centuries where it was developed further and then transmitted to Europe in the 12th century. The aim of both Arab and Western Alchemists was the creation of the Philosophers Stone. The chemical and spiritual process was likened to the redemptive and transforming processes of purification, suffering, death and, finally, rebirth. The touch of the magic stone could cure disease and confer immortality. The ‘stone’ was the product of the perfect balance of opposites — sulphur and mercury; male and female; the sacred marriage of the king and queen; the androgyny.
Alchemy reached its highest point from around 1470’s to 1700 where it was considered to be the hermetic art and later practiced by such famous early scientists as Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton.
Famous early alchemists from the 16th and 17th centuries include Paracelsus (1491-1541), John Dee (c. 1527-1608), Jacob Boehme (1575-1624), Michael Maier (1568-1622) and Robert Fludd (1574-1637). Each alchemist pursued their own journey often being influenced by other alchemists.
Michael Maier’s image above sees the alchemist performing the squaring of the circle attempting to turn the two sexes into one. He is trying to “make a circle out of a man and woman, derive from it a square, and from the square a triangle: make a circle and (create) the philosopher’s stone’ The triangle denotes the unity of body, soul and spirit. The alchemists aim is to create the androgyne where the two complementary opposites are fused into one in the mystical marriage of spiritual and divine union.
Paracelsus and Robert Fludd were initially interested in how they could develop new medicines. Fludd was opposed to the prevailing view of his time that illness was the result of an imbalance among the four humours. He believed that the Creation itself was a chemical process in which the Mysterium Magnum (Prime Matter) was separated into the four elements — earth, water air and fire. For him illness was the malfunction of chemical reactions which could be identified and addressed by chemical analysis and treated with chemically prepared medicines.
Alchemy was one of the major approaches in the Western Esoteric Tradition with Hermeticism, Kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Freemasonry and Illuminism.
Alchemically and astrologically the Sun holds a special place in the world of esotericism. Symbolically it relates to gold as being the most resplendent and radiant force of energy that is in our immediate and perceivable world. It represented the goal that the alchemists were aiming at with their experiments in the transformation of the base and lower metals into gold. Gold was immutable and unchanging radiating both pure energy and purity in this world. Together with the diamond it is one of the most treasured natural ‘materials’ that exists in the world. The Sun shares with gold these same qualities but from the higher dimension of the cosmic and spiritual worlds.
Most cultures have at some time worshipped the Sun as the supreme cosmic force. It was, and still is for many, the life-force that creates and sustains life on this planet. It is vital for all life as the giver of warmth, energy and light. Esoterically it is the centre of the human being, and can symbolise the human soul, the heart energy and spiritual illumination.
Barry Seabourne