Alchemy - Revision history

Occultwiki at 17:38, 21 November 2024

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	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]
	[[Category:Occultism]]		[[Category:Occultism]]
			[[Category:Alchemy]]

Occultwiki: /* History */

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History

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	Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents which are commonly derived from the teachings and wisdom associated with [[Hermes Trismegistus]].		Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents which are commonly derived from the teachings and wisdom associated with [[Hermes Trismegistus]].

	These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be mostly independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China ~~and~~ Indian alchemy, centered on the Indian subcontinent~~; and~~ Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose center has shifted over the millennia from Greco-Roman Egypt to the Islamic world~~, and finally medieval Europe.~~		These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be mostly independent, at least in their earlier stages:
			* Chinese alchemy, centered in China
			* Indian alchemy, centered on the Indian subcontinent
			* Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose center has shifted over the millennia from Greco-Roman Egypt to the Islamic world

	Chinese alchemy was closely connected to Taoism and Indian alchemy with the Dharmic faiths. In contrast, Western alchemy developed its philosophical system mostly independent of but influenced by various Western religions. It is still an open question whether these three strands share a common origin, or to what extent they influenced each other.		Chinese alchemy was closely connected to Taoism and Indian alchemy with the Dharmic faiths. In contrast, Western alchemy developed its philosophical system mostly independent of but influenced by various Western religions. It is still an open question whether these three strands share a common origin, or to what extent they influenced each other.

	[[Islam]]ic and European alchemists developed a basic set of laboratory techniques, theories, and terms, some of which are still in use today. They did not abandon the Ancient Greek philosophical idea that everything is composed of four elements, and they tended to guard their work in secrecy, often making use of cyphers and cryptic symbolism. In Europe, the 12th-century translations of medieval Islamic works on science and the rediscovery of Aristotelian philosophy gave birth to a flourishing tradition of Latin alchemy. This late medieval tradition of alchemy would go on to play a significant role in the development of early modern science (particularly chemistry and medicine).		Using the [[Emerald Tablet]] as their fundamental Hermetic text, [[Islam]]ic and European alchemists developed a basic set of laboratory techniques, theories, and terms, some of which are still in use today. They did not abandon the Ancient Greek philosophical idea that everything is composed of four elements, and they tended to guard their work in secrecy, often making use of cyphers and cryptic symbolism. In Europe, the 12th-century translations of medieval Islamic works on science and the rediscovery of Aristotelian philosophy gave birth to a flourishing tradition of Latin alchemy. This late medieval tradition of alchemy would go on to play a significant role in the development of early modern science (particularly chemistry and medicine).

	==Hellenistic origins==		==Hellenistic origins==

Occultwiki: /* In popular culture */

2024-11-21T16:33:06Z

In popular culture

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	==In popular culture==		==In popular culture==
			Alchemy has made an ongoing impact on literature and the arts, with many artists from varying disciplines incorporating alchemical themes into their work.

	Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1973 film ''[[The Holy Mountain]]'' is based around a character called The Alchemist who brings a group of spiritual seekers on a quest to find and climb a mountain that will connect them with the heavens. Several characters are archetypes based on [[tarot]] cards and each has an [[astrology\|astrological]] connection to a specific planet. The movie contains a graphic scene showing the lead character gaining enhanced spirituality through an alchemical processing of his defecation. Jodorowsky was intensely interested in tarot, alchemy, and other [[New Age]] ideas, although these specific subjects are not mentioned in the original novel upon which the film was based, ''[[Mount Analogue]]'' (1952) by French author René Daumal.		Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1973 film ''[[The Holy Mountain]]'' is based around a character called The Alchemist who brings a group of spiritual seekers on a quest to find and climb a mountain that will connect them with the heavens. Several characters are archetypes based on [[tarot]] cards and each has an [[astrology\|astrological]] connection to a specific planet. The movie contains a graphic scene showing the lead character gaining enhanced spirituality through an alchemical processing of his defecation. Jodorowsky was intensely interested in tarot, alchemy, and other [[New Age]] ideas, although these specific subjects are not mentioned in the original novel upon which the film was based, ''[[Mount Analogue]]'' (1952) by French author René Daumal.

Occultwiki: /* Modern view */

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Modern view

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	During the [[occult]] revival of the early 19th century, alchemy received new attention as an occult science. The esoteric or [[occultist]] school, which arose during the 19th century, held (and continues to hold) the view that the substances and operations mentioned in alchemical literature are to be interpreted in a spiritual sense, and it downplays the role of the alchemy as a practical tradition or protoscience. This interpretation further forwarded the view that alchemy is an art primarily concerned with spiritual [[enlightenment]] or illumination, as opposed to the physical manipulation of apparatus and chemicals, and claims that the obscure language of the alchemical texts were an allegorical guise for spiritual, moral or mystical processes.		During the [[occult]] revival of the early 19th century, alchemy received new attention as an occult science. The esoteric or [[occultist]] school, which arose during the 19th century, held (and continues to hold) the view that the substances and operations mentioned in alchemical literature are to be interpreted in a spiritual sense, and it downplays the role of the alchemy as a practical tradition or protoscience. This interpretation further forwarded the view that alchemy is an art primarily concerned with spiritual [[enlightenment]] or illumination, as opposed to the physical manipulation of apparatus and chemicals, and claims that the obscure language of the alchemical texts were an allegorical guise for spiritual, moral or mystical processes.

	Modern discussions of alchemy are generally split into an examination of its exoteric practical applications and its esoteric spiritual aspects, despite criticisms by scholars such as Eric J. Holmyard and Marie-Louise von Franz that they should be understood as complementary. The former is pursued by historians of the physical sciences, who examine the subject in terms of early chemistry, medicine, and charlatanism, and the philosophical and religious contexts in which these events occurred. The latter interests historians of esotericism, psychologists, and some philosophers and spiritualists~~. The subject has also made an ongoing impact on literature and the arts~~.		Modern discussions of alchemy are generally split into an examination of its exoteric practical applications and its esoteric spiritual aspects, despite criticisms by scholars such as Eric J. Holmyard and Marie-Louise von Franz that they should be understood as complementary. The former is pursued by historians of the physical sciences, who examine the subject in terms of early chemistry, medicine, and charlatanism, and the philosophical and religious contexts in which these events occurred. The latter interests historians of esotericism, psychologists, and some philosophers and [[spiritualism\|spiritualists]].

	==In popular culture==		==In popular culture==

Occultwiki: /* Hellenistic origins */

2024-11-21T16:31:19Z

Hellenistic origins

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	==Hellenistic origins==		==Hellenistic origins==
	The start of Western alchemy may generally be traced to ancient and Hellenistic Egypt, where the city of Alexandria was a center of alchemical knowledge, and retained its pre-eminence through most of the Greek and Roman periods. ~~Following the work of André-Jean Festugière, modern~~ scholars see alchemical practice in the Roman Empire as originating from the Egyptian goldsmith's art, Greek philosophy and different religious traditions. Tracing the origins of the alchemical art in Egypt is complicated by the pseudepigraphic nature of texts from the Greek alchemical corpus. The treatises of Zosimos of Panopolis, the earliest historically attested author (fl. c. 300 CE), can help in situating the other authors. Zosimus based his work on that of older alchemical authors, such as Mary the Jewess, Pseudo-Democritus, and Agathodaimon, but very little is known about any of these authors. The most complete of their works, The Four Books of Pseudo-Democritus, were probably written in the first century AD.		[[File:Hermes-Vatican Statue.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|Greek statue of [[Hermes Trismegistus]], the founding father of alchemy]]
			The start of Western alchemy may generally be traced to ancient and Hellenistic Egypt, where the city of Alexandria was a center of alchemical knowledge, and retained its pre-eminence through most of the Greek and Roman periods. Modern scholars see alchemical practice in the Roman Empire as originating from the Egyptian goldsmith's art, Greek philosophy and different religious traditions, syncretized in the writings attributed to [[Hermes Trismegistus]].

			Tracing the origins of the alchemical art in Egypt is complicated by the pseudepigraphic nature of texts from the Greek alchemical corpus. The treatises of Zosimos of Panopolis, the earliest historically attested author (fl. c. 300 CE), can help in situating the other authors. Zosimus based his work on that of older alchemical authors, such as Mary the Jewess, Pseudo-Democritus, and Agathodaimon, but very little is known about any of these authors. The most complete of their works, The Four Books of Pseudo-Democritus, were probably written in the first century AD.

	Recent scholarship tends to emphasize the testimony of Zosimus, who traced the alchemical arts back to Egyptian metallurgical and ceremonial practices. It has also been argued that early alchemical writers borrowed the vocabulary of Greek philosophical schools but did not implement any of its doctrines in a systematic way. Zosimos of Panopolis wrote in the Final Abstinence (also known as the "Final Count"). Zosimos explains that the ancient practice of "tinctures" (the technical Greek name for the alchemical arts) had been taken over by certain "[[demon]]s" who taught the art only to those who offered them sacrifices. Since Zosimos also called the demons "guardians of places" (οἱ κατὰ τόπον ἔφοροι) and those who offered them sacrifices "priests" (ἱερέα), it is fairly clear that he was referring to the gods of Egypt and their priests. While critical of the kind of alchemy he associated with the Egyptian priests and their followers, Zosimos nonetheless saw the tradition's recent past as rooted in the rites of the [[Egyptian religion\|Egyptian temples]].		Recent scholarship tends to emphasize the testimony of Zosimus, who traced the alchemical arts back to Egyptian metallurgical and ceremonial practices. It has also been argued that early alchemical writers borrowed the vocabulary of Greek philosophical schools but did not implement any of its doctrines in a systematic way. Zosimos of Panopolis wrote in the Final Abstinence (also known as the "Final Count"). Zosimos explains that the ancient practice of "tinctures" (the technical Greek name for the alchemical arts) had been taken over by certain "[[demon]]s" who taught the art only to those who offered them sacrifices. Since Zosimos also called the demons "guardians of places" (οἱ κατὰ τόπον ἔφοροι) and those who offered them sacrifices "priests" (ἱερέα), it is fairly clear that he was referring to the gods of Egypt and their priests. While critical of the kind of alchemy he associated with the Egyptian priests and their followers, Zosimos nonetheless saw the tradition's recent past as rooted in the rites of the [[Egyptian religion\|Egyptian temples]].

Occultwiki: /* History */

2024-11-21T16:29:24Z

History

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	==History==		==History==
	[[File:Atalanta Fugiens Emblem 21.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Alchemical drawing depicting the creation of the [[Philosopher's stone]]]]		[[File:Atalanta Fugiens Emblem 21.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Alchemical drawing depicting the creation of the [[Philosopher's stone]]]]
	Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents. These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be mostly independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China and Indian alchemy, centered on the Indian subcontinent; and Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose center has shifted over the millennia from Greco-Roman Egypt to the Islamic world, and finally medieval Europe.		Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents which are commonly derived from the teachings and wisdom associated with [[Hermes Trismegistus]].

			These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be mostly independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China and Indian alchemy, centered on the Indian subcontinent; and Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose center has shifted over the millennia from Greco-Roman Egypt to the Islamic world, and finally medieval Europe.

	Chinese alchemy was closely connected to Taoism and Indian alchemy with the Dharmic faiths. In contrast, Western alchemy developed its philosophical system mostly independent of but influenced by various Western religions. It is still an open question whether these three strands share a common origin, or to what extent they influenced each other.		Chinese alchemy was closely connected to Taoism and Indian alchemy with the Dharmic faiths. In contrast, Western alchemy developed its philosophical system mostly independent of but influenced by various Western religions. It is still an open question whether these three strands share a common origin, or to what extent they influenced each other.

Occultwiki: /* Core concepts */

2024-11-21T16:28:38Z

Core concepts

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	Alchemists attempted to purify, mature, and perfect certain materials. Common aims were chrysopoeia, the transmutation of "base metals" (e.g., lead) into "noble metals" (particularly gold); the creation of an elixir of immortality; and the creation of panaceas able to cure any disease. The perfection of the human body and soul was thought to result from the ''alchemical magnum opus'' ("Great Work").		Alchemists attempted to purify, mature, and perfect certain materials. Common aims were chrysopoeia, the transmutation of "base metals" (e.g., lead) into "noble metals" (particularly gold); the creation of an elixir of immortality; and the creation of panaceas able to cure any disease. The perfection of the human body and soul was thought to result from the ''alchemical magnum opus'' ("Great Work").

	The concept of creating the ~~philosophers~~' stone was variously connected with all of these projects.		The concept of creating the [[philosopher's stone]] was variously connected with all of these projects.

	==History==		==History==

Occultwiki at 16:26, 21 November 2024

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	In 1974, Brazilian singer Jorge Ben Jor recorded a studio album named ''A Tábua de Esmeralda'' ("The Emerald Tablet"), quoting from the [[Emerald Tablet]]'s text and from alchemy in general in several songs. The album has been defined as an exercise in "musical alchemy" and celebrated as Ben Jor's greatest musical achievement, blending together samba, jazz, and rock rhythms. The opening track is titled ''Os Alquimistas Estão Chegando" ("The Alchemists Are Arriving").		In 1974, Brazilian singer Jorge Ben Jor recorded a studio album named ''A Tábua de Esmeralda'' ("The Emerald Tablet"), quoting from the [[Emerald Tablet]]'s text and from alchemy in general in several songs. The album has been defined as an exercise in "musical alchemy" and celebrated as Ben Jor's greatest musical achievement, blending together samba, jazz, and rock rhythms. The opening track is titled ''Os Alquimistas Estão Chegando" ("The Alchemists Are Arriving").

			==External links==
			* [https://www.alchemywebsite.com/index.html Adam McLean's colossal alchemy website]
			* [http://www.hermeticinstitute.org/index.html Mark Stavish's Institute for Hermetic Studies]

	==See also==		==See also==

Occultwiki at 16:19, 21 November 2024

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	The 2014 [[occult]] horror film ''[[As Above, So Below]]'' centers around the history of alchemy and a woman's search for the [[Philosopher's stone]].		The 2014 [[occult]] horror film ''[[As Above, So Below]]'' centers around the history of alchemy and a woman's search for the [[Philosopher's stone]].

			In 1974, Brazilian singer Jorge Ben Jor recorded a studio album named ''A Tábua de Esmeralda'' ("The Emerald Tablet"), quoting from the [[Emerald Tablet]]'s text and from alchemy in general in several songs. The album has been defined as an exercise in "musical alchemy" and celebrated as Ben Jor's greatest musical achievement, blending together samba, jazz, and rock rhythms. The opening track is titled ''Os Alquimistas Estão Chegando" ("The Alchemists Are Arriving").

	==See also==		==See also==

Occultwiki: /* History */

2024-11-21T16:10:57Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:10, 21 November 2024
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	==History==		==History==
			[[File:Atalanta Fugiens Emblem 21.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Alchemical drawing depicting the creation of the [[Philosopher's stone]]]]
	Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents. These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be mostly independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China and Indian alchemy, centered on the Indian subcontinent; and Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose center has shifted over the millennia from Greco-Roman Egypt to the Islamic world, and finally medieval Europe.		Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents. These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be mostly independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China and Indian alchemy, centered on the Indian subcontinent; and Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose center has shifted over the millennia from Greco-Roman Egypt to the Islamic world, and finally medieval Europe.

	Chinese alchemy was closely connected to Taoism and Indian alchemy with the Dharmic faiths. In contrast, Western alchemy developed its philosophical system mostly independent of but influenced by various Western religions. It is still an open question whether these three strands share a common origin, or to what extent they influenced each other.		Chinese alchemy was closely connected to Taoism and Indian alchemy with the Dharmic faiths. In contrast, Western alchemy developed its philosophical system mostly independent of but influenced by various Western religions. It is still an open question whether these three strands share a common origin, or to what extent they influenced each other.

	~~Islamic~~ and European alchemists developed a basic set of laboratory techniques, theories, and terms, some of which are still in use today. They did not abandon the Ancient Greek philosophical idea that everything is composed of four elements, and they tended to guard their work in secrecy, often making use of cyphers and cryptic symbolism. In Europe, the 12th-century translations of medieval Islamic works on science and the rediscovery of Aristotelian philosophy gave birth to a flourishing tradition of Latin alchemy. This late medieval tradition of alchemy would go on to play a significant role in the development of early modern science (particularly chemistry and medicine).		[[Islam]]ic and European alchemists developed a basic set of laboratory techniques, theories, and terms, some of which are still in use today. They did not abandon the Ancient Greek philosophical idea that everything is composed of four elements, and they tended to guard their work in secrecy, often making use of cyphers and cryptic symbolism. In Europe, the 12th-century translations of medieval Islamic works on science and the rediscovery of Aristotelian philosophy gave birth to a flourishing tradition of Latin alchemy. This late medieval tradition of alchemy would go on to play a significant role in the development of early modern science (particularly chemistry and medicine).

	==Hellenistic origins==		==Hellenistic origins==