Alchemy

  
Alchemy is a practice combining elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine, mysticism, and magic. Two intertwined goals sought by many alchemists were the philosopher's stone, a mythical substance which would enable the transmutation of common metals into gold; and the universal panacea, a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely.
 
The word alchemy comes from the Arabic language al-kimiya or al-khimiya , which is probably formed from the article al- and the Greek word khumeia ( χυμεία ) meaning " cast together ", " pour together ", " weld ", " alloy " etc .
 

(from khumatos , " that which is poured out, an ingot "). Alchemy is practical magic, it's the magic of action. It's the Ars Magna , the regal art and the holy science.

Alchemy is part of the complex field of the Magic: it creates the instruments used by the Magic. There is the Alchemy of the “ Living Forces ”, the Alchemy of the “ Lifeless Forces ” and that of the metals, called “Temporal Alchemy ”.
 

The “ Lifeless Forces ” are enclosed in minerals and in the “ pure elements ” (matrix of the material universe). There are five “ base ” pure elements in the Nature which must always be used in the alchemical process: Fire – Earth – Air – Water – Ether (quintessence). When we talk about Fire, Earth, Air, Water and Ether we are refering to the deep essence of each element and to its “ subtle and spiritual ” part.
 

The living forces work with the vital energies and the characteristics of life. The alchemy of the living forces includes the spagiric (alchemy of the herbs), sex-magic (alchemy of the human living forces) and theurgy (alchemy of the divine living forces).
 

Sex-magic opens up to different tantric or monastic pathways to manage and direct the sexual and vital human energies for the evolutionary process or for operations to program the reincarnation. The real aim of alchemy is to “ realize ” humankind and not, for example, to obtain the gold from the base metal: this will maybe be only the proof of the positive result achieved on the inner plan; it's rather an allegory of the complete process of the emancipation and spiritual realization.
 

Alchemy is a ritual process. The following words are written on top of the entrance of the Alchemical Cave :

VELLE (WILL) AUDERE (DARE) SCIRE (KNOW) TACERE (SILENCE)
 

They concern the four fondamental virtues (that we can call as free will, action, knowledge and secrecy), and more things...
 

The universe is a great “ Atanor ” (crucible) of Living Forces. The realization of the Great Work, the Elixir of Life, the Philosophers' Stone, the Alchemic Gold, the Androgyne, the Quest of the Grail are all terms used, in the past centuries, to describe possible pathways to realize the Summum Bonum , that is the completeness of the Conscience.


   

Home Page
Manifesto
Thelema
Ascension
Initiatic Pathway
The Endoteric Pathway
Articles & Essays
Comparative studies
Esoteric glossary
Links
Contacts
Site Map

moon phase info


 


 Thelema-Ascension.org