#physical alchemy

[argentvive]

The Indian take on alchemy

[twilightmagick]

Alchemy

I'm going to ask that you bear with me on this one. I don't know enough about it myself so I am working on a bare analysis and information while I am researching. I am hoping to have a much better and more complete post at some point for you all. If there are people who know more and would like to add to this post or explain something better than I did, please do! These open posts can be everything that a closet or young witch needs!

In the simplest of terms, Alchemy is the fusion (and precursor) of chemistry and magick to bring about a large change, or transmutation. When we think about alchemy, many of us will think of the Philosopher's Stone, an extremely powerful tool that will help bring about great change (such as transmutating metals (i.e. turning lead into gold), creating the Elixer of Life that turns the drinker immortal, it was even used in medicinal ways!). The Philosopher's Stone is just a tool, a catalyst, to the actual science and magick being used.

Alchemy was broken down into two different sections by most historians: the physical and the mental/metaphysical. The first part is usually studied by historians and scientists as a way to look into early chemistry and medicine. The latter is usually researched by psychologists, philosophers, and spiritualists, focusing on the mental and metaphysical aspects rather than the physical. Both aspects are extremely important to practicing alchemy and should be studied and researched. They work together, hand-in-hand, and should be studied as such.

While there is plenty of evidence that Alchemy showed up in China and India, this post will primarily focus on Western Alchemy (the type that originated in Egypt and made it's way through the Greco-Roman and medieval Europe).

Western Alchemy can be directly linked to Egypt, the city of Alexandria (yup, the same one with the library...) being the center of alchemical knowledge. Much of the early information on alchemy was ordered burned by emperor Diocletian after he quelled a riot in Alexandria. Most of the alchemical documents were lost except for a few which contain recipes for creating fake crystals, fake metals, etc and have been expanded on by historians to bring it into magick a little easier.

Alchemy and Christianity were practiced along side each other when Christianity was growing in medieval Europe. In the 14th century, it started to take a different turn. People stopped looking at the science and spiritual aspects and turned to poke at the social aspects and turn on the practitioners themselves. In 1403, King Henry IV banned transmutating metals. While this hurt the pseudo-alchemical practitioners, those studying and practicing actual alchemy continued unbothered. As Christianity grew, alchemists started adapting the art used in their documents to match those in Christianity.

During the Renaissance, medical, pharmaceutical, occult, and entrepreneurial branches of alchemy came about. When modern science started to take hold, European Alchemy took a back seat.

In modern times, historians are still working out the information. New interpretations of the old texts keep emerging. Different meanings and correspondences appear. The information that we have on alchemy is constantly changing.

Modern alchemy is practiced more in the spiritual sense than the physical sense now. It doesn't focus on rapidly changing the temperatures of a substance or object to change the chemical makeup of the object to become something new. Now, it focuses more on the transmutation happening inside of you. This change really stems from how far along we have come with science (such as understanding how the different chemical make ups of substances will change when heating and what it can become). We can still attempt to use alchemy the old way but it will be difficult to do if you cannot find a way to mix the two (old and modern).

Practicing Modern Day Alchemy

As stated before, alchemy has taken a dramatic turn since modern science came around and proved its worth with facts and freshly collected data. Science is constantly changing as we learn new things, just as magick does. Because of this, alchemy has changed. Rather than focusing on the physical, it focuses on the spiritual, mental, emotional aspects. Breaking down the alchemical process into a spiritual one may help:

1) Engage in Calcination - In physical alchemy, calcination was the process of breaking down a substance by heating it in a crucible. In spiritual alchemy, this is where you start breaking down and analyzing your sense of self and your ego. Consider yourself to be the "lead" that will be broken down and transmutated into a richer metal, like gold. Meditation and other self-reflection exercises will greatly help with this.

2) Practice Dissolution - In physical alchemy, this is when you dissolve what has been calcinated into a liquid. In spiritual alchemy, this means going deep into your subconscious and stop repressing memories. No matter how painful they are, facing them is necessary to dissolving these issues and turning them into something powerful that you can use to your advantage.

3) Enter the Separation Stage - In physical alchemy this is when you would isolate the individual components used in dissolution and discarding all baser, undesirable materials. In spiritual alchemy this is when you need to start looking for your true goals. You should be able to see them better with the muddier thoughts and feelings out of the way. This is the start of your "lead" turning into "gold".

4) Practice Conjunction - In physical alchemy, this is where you take the components saved in the separation stage and begin to turn it into something new. In spiritual alchemy, this is where you need to work on combining your conscious to your subconscious, bringing about a spiritual change and something new.

5) Begin Fermentation - In physical alchemy, you would add some form of active microorganism (such as yeast) to continue to chemically alter the substance. In spiritual alchemy, this is more acceptance that inspiration and help will come from an outside source. It can be as simple as meditating, praying, altered state of consciousness, but even from just seeing something as minuscule as a flower in a field. Accept that an outside source will be added to this mix to make the next steps of the alchemical process easier.

6) Proceed to Distillation - In all physical senses of the word, distillation is the process of purifying a liquid by heating it to a vapor and collecting it as it cools and becomes a liquid again. This is a very important process for many things we enjoy today. In spiritual alchemy, you are purifying and cleansing yourself (and, let's be real, do we ever cleanse ourselves spiritually enough? I know I don't...). Cleanse yourself of everything negative. You want to feel light and full, not depleted and trapped in a darkness.

7) Finalize with Coagulation - In physical alchemy, this is allowing the substance to fully cool, returning to a solidified state. In spiritual alchemy, this is allowing yourself to cool and solidify into your new state of self. You should be able to feel positive changes. You should feel your confidence rise and your emotions should even themselves out much easier if you had trouble with that before. You should also feel a sense of pride. This is not an easy process.

So, not only do you have the process for using spiritual alchemy, that is also one of many physical, alchemical processes.

Like most things, this type of magick will take a lot of time and a lot of practice in order to "master" it. Be kind to yourself while going through these steps (whether physical or spiritual). Some steps may seem easier than others. You won't be able to finish this in a day unless you get exceptionally good at it. Remember: science and magick both take time and effort.

And...most importantly...

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE FIRST LAW OF EQUIVALENT EXCHANGE: TO OBTAIN, SOMETHING OF EQUAL VALUE MUST BE LOST!

Physical and Spiritual Alchemy will require giving up a lot of energy. In physical alchemy, it means using or giving up something of physical importance. In spiritual alchemy, it means giving up your previous self which was of great importance and energy. You will feel drained (physically, mentally, and emotionally) when doing this.

If anyone has anything that they would like to add, please feel free. As stated above, I am literally researching this topic as I write this post. I will, hopefully, add to this post when I have more information, myself!

Shoot me an ask if you have any questions or if there is a topic that you would like me to write an in-depth post on!

[argentvive]

Scientists turn lead into gold for 1st time, but only for a split second

Scientists at CERN's Large Hadron Collider successfully transformed lead into gold atoms, achieving an ancient alchemist dream through moder

So it can be done!

[argentvive]

Taylor Swift's "The Alchemy" and "Wood"

Swift's association with alchemy continues with the appearance of the "Alchemy" cocktail at the 1587 restaurant in Kansas City.

It's very appropriate that the drink is red, the color of the Philosopher's Stone. However, I suspect that's a coincidence, as the cocktail is just a variation of Swift's favorite drink, a vodka cran. The briefly burning material on the glass's stem is maybe a nod to the alchemist's use of fire in creating the Stone. At the very least It provides a bit of a witchy, magical vibe.

In my earlier post I said this about the probably generic use of the term "alchemy" in Swift's original song:

The words “the alchemy” appear several times, but always in the same phrase, “who are we to fight the alchemy?” Why use that somewhat esoteric word rather than just “chemistry” or “destiny,” both also three syllables? The short answer is that I think she wants to be more indirect, mysterious, but that her intended meaning is pretty close to “destiny.”

See https://argentvive.tumblr.com/post/748393929942122496/taylor-swifts-the-alchemy

Pending the release of SHOWGIRL, that's still my opinion.

Speaking of SHOWGIRL, let me suggest a possible alchemical meaning for "Wood." Lots of ideas are out there--Natalie Wood, (Holly)wood, male anatomy, etc.

If we stick with alchemy, wood is one of the traditional five Chinese elements.

As I've posted many times, the Four Element theory originated with the Greek philosophy Empedocles, was further developed by Aristotle, and is foundational in Western alchemical thought.

The Four Elements were fire, air, water, and earth.

European and Persian merchants brought their religions and metaphysical ideas with them to the Tang capital in Xi'an, China. In Daoist cosmology, the four elements became five. Chinese alchemy kept fire, water, and earth, but replaced air with metal and wood.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about "wood."

In Chinese Taoist and Traditional Chinese medicine thought, Wood attributes are considered to be strength and flexibility, as with bamboo. It is also associated with qualities of warmth, generosity, cooperation, and idealism. The Wood person will be expansive, outgoing and socially conscious and courageous but when feeling confined, held back, or misunderstood by others, therefore can become easily frustrated and angry. The wood element is one that seeks ways to grow and expand. Wood heralds the beginning of life, dawn, springtime and buds, sensuality and fecundity. Wood needs moisture from Water its Mother or preceding phase element to thrive and flourish.

(Note that I use pinyin transliteration, "Daoism," rather than the older Wade-Giles system, "Taoism.")

That seems like a pretty good description of Travis' personality, doesn't it? Nevertheless, I'm 99+% sure Swift's song is NOT referencing Chinese alchemy. Fun to speculate, though.

[argentvive]

The Four Elements--a Greek idea? or Iranian?

A fascinating short article by a Canadian professor of metallurgy lays out the argument for the Iranian/Zoroastrianism origins of the theory of the Four Elements, i.e., before the pre-Socratic Greeks.  

http://acshist.scs.illinois.edu/bulletin_open_access/v25-2/v25-2%20p109-115.pdf

The article includes several illustrations from the standard 17th century alchemical emblem books, but also this one of a Zoroastrian priest tending to the Sacred Fire.

I believe it is generally accepted that the strong dualism of alchemy--the concept of the battling and reconciliation of opposites--also comes from Zoroastrianism. 

Many disparate strands of ancient thought came together to create Hellenistic alchemy--Egyptian, Iranian, Greek.  The ideas were further developed and refined by Islamic and Jewish scholars in the medieval period until Hermeticism emerged full-blown in Renaissance Europe.

[argentvive]

[argentvive]

Hopefully they don’t use lead lol