#brian cotnoir

[theoptia]

Brian Cotnoir, from On Alchemy: Essential Practices and Making Art as Alchemy

[helenvaughans]

Through the interaction of subject and object we discover the web of relations, and in changing the object through work or manipulation, the subject is also changed. Its identity is only an identity in relation to its object, and as the object changes so does the subject. The object, thus worked or "alchemized," carries a memory of sorts; one that creates the final object through its chain of existence, the vaporous twistings of the relationships that give rise to the subject and the object. In this cycle it gains the power of powers, imprinting on the final object the experience of discovery or exploration in order to realize one's self in one's creation.

–Brian Cotnoir, Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter

[tattooed-alchemist]

Brian Cotnoir, whose presentations I have caught in the past, lectured on the Soror Mystica, a topic he is just starting to research.  Having lectured myself on women hidden in alchemy in June in London, I was very interested in catching this.

One of Brian’s comments was how he really wanted to throw out the gender of these women, to look at their work not as women’s he may have said, and I have to say I’m glad I audio-recorded his lecture because he just neatly proved how modern male alchemists who claim to be feminists are erasing women in alchemy even now. 

I really think we have to stop accepting men’s interpretations of women’s historical experiences.  

[tattooed-alchemist]

Brian Cotnoir (who reminded me a lot of Robert Bartlett) lectured on alchemy and lucid dreaming. He talked a lot about how inner and outer work need to be done together. 

I snapped Brian's basic lucid dream instructions and his recommended reading list for alchemists on dreaming.