Muse
Alchemy
Many people associate alchemy with the legendary philosopher’s stone, a magical gem that would, depending on your source, change lead into gold or bestow immortality. But Alchemy was much more than that. During the Renaissance, the lines between art and science were often blurred. Alchemy was no exception. It was a philosophy to live by and also the precursor to modern chemistry.
While scientists and doctors were still using primitive methods of deduction, alchemists tried to prove their theories through experimentation. The image of an alchemist’s laboratory, with glass beakers and distilleries is not so far fetched. And while, the pursuit of the philosopher’s stone may seem a bit ignoble, for a true alchemist, the transmutation of base metal into gold was only a metaphor for freeing the soul from the baser state of mind. The alchemists believed that the body needed to be transformed, or balanced before the mind could realize its own pure spirit.
The Four Humors
Alchemists drew on the works of Hippocrates, the ancient Greek, who many consider the founder of medicine. Hippocrates hypothesized that a healthy human body had a perfect balance of four humors: yellow bile, black bile, phlegm and blood. These humors were linked to the seasons and the earths elements (earth, air, fire and water). Many alchemical experiments were attempts to balance these humors, to perfect the human body and then become worthy of witnessing one’s true self, or soul.
Alchemy influenced not only chemistry, but medicine, philosophy and psychology. Carl Jung drew heavily on the iconography of alchemy in his theories of early psycho-analysis. Well into the 20th century, medical practitioners still spoke of humors when diagnosing patients. Modern tradition may have relegated alchemy to the status of wizardry, but to this day, there are practicing alchemists who believe the way to enlightenment lies in the transmutation the physical world.
Much of the mysticism surrounding alchemy arises because of the coding of alchemical texts. This codification could take the form of allegory or hieroglyphic symbolism. It was a workshop of sorts, forcing the uninitiated alchemist to perform certain feats, work through enigmas and ready himself to witness the miracle of his true self.
An example of practical Alchemy: The Testament of Nicholas Flamel (1806)
Then wilt thou see in thy vessel a great blackness like that of melted pitch, which is the sign of the death and putrefaction of the gold, and the key of the whole magistery. Cause it therefore to resuscitate by concocting it, and be not weary with concocting it: during this period divers changes will take place; that is to say, the matter will pass through all the colours, the black, the ash colour, the blue, the green, the white, the orange, and finally the red as red as blood or the crimson poppy: aim only at this last colour; for it is the true sulphur, and the alchymical powder.
I say nothing precisely about the time; for that depends on the industry of the artist; but thou canst not fail, by working as I have shewn.
An example of more esoteric Alchemy: An excerpt from The Natural round Physick or Philosophy of the Chymical Cabalistical Vision (Johann Grasshof, Aperta Arca arcani artificiosissimi... 1617)
The Sun and Moon with all the firmament appeared first. They stood still, a colour indeed they had, but gave no light. Beneath them also there appeared the Globe of the Earth having a colour. In whose centre there was a little globe of most white and shining colour like snow. While I beheld all these, there was made a most horrible thunder with a great noise and fiery flash, which much affrightened me. A great cloud came also, which going away a start was seen above the Sun, Moon and firmament, whose shining was so bright, that I could not fix my eye upon it, with its redness it exceeded the redness of the Sun. As soon as ever this Star appeared the whole firmament with the Sun and Moon began to run their race and dance. In the meantime the said Star darted fiery rays from above, through the exterior firmament. Of which sometimes more, sometimes fewer, some also by halves were carried upon the Globe, but the little globe received the smallest part of these rays. Those rays whose halves only entered the Globe, moved the waters, that they might flow, and fish might be seen in them. The other rays made the great Globe begin to live, and bring forth all sorts of trees and fruits, and which also animals and men did walk.
Alchemical initiates were expected to search out the meanings of these texts. Without the aid of libraries and the internet, the search for such knowledge could last a life time, and indeed, many adepts believed that this journey was the most important part of the alchemic philosophy.
Bibliograhy
On Jung, Anthony Stevens, Princeton University Press; Updated edition (October 4, 1999)
The Alchemy Website, http://www.levity.com/alchemy/val_symb.html
About, Four Humors, http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/hippocrates/a/hippocraticmeds.htm
Other useful references
Mysterium Conjonctionis, Carl Jung
http://www.sacred-texts.com/alc/emerald.htm
http://www.crystalinks.com/emerald.html
