The Spiritual Side of Alchemy?

Most people have at least heard of alchemy, although few probably understand exactly what it is. The word conjures up the image of magicians and sequestered wizards mixing together chemicals in their flasks and distillation equipment. But in reality, alchemy is part art and part science, the originator of what we know as chemistry.

While the Medieval alchemists were known for their attempts, and some would claim, their actual success, at changing or transmuting lead or other materials into silver and gold. Their ultimate quest was the Philosopher's Stone, that culmination of their years and years of work in their dungeon labs. This Philosopher's Stone was supposed to represent the ultimate power over the universe, bending it to the will of the alchemist. With the Stone, he could cure disease and extend life, effectively transmuting themselves into becoming immortal.

The ancients used their knowledge of astrology, astronomy, science, nature and mysticism to work their magic. The practice of alchemy is quite ancient indeed, having been practiced in Egypt, Greece, and the Arab countries. The word as we know it today, in fact, originates from an Arab word. But no matter what the origin of the 'art', it was widely practiced, mainly in a religious sense for the personal transmutation of the alchemist. His goal was to achieve an inner perfection and to become one with God.

Physical alchemy is the process of distilling out essential oils and salts from a range of plants and minerals. There are various reasons for doing this, and if you ask modern day alchemists why they practice their 'art', they'll give you myriad reasons. Some are curious, some believe they can transmute substances into gold and some just want to relive the ancients who came before them.

To speak about alchemy and not mention Hermes Trismegistus and his Emerald Tablet would be incomplete. Hermes was the Greek version of the Egyptian god Thoth. Thoth was the god of writing, record keeping, mathematics, astronomy and medicine. It's his caduceus, the double snake twisted around a winged staff, that represents the medical profession today. Thoth was the messenger of the gods, he was Mercury in Rome, with wings on his heels, delivering messages back and forth among the gods. The Emerald Tablet proclaims the term of 'as above, so below', referring to the duality of human kind. This tablet, rumored to be a solid piece of green crystal or emerald, states that there is one mind that created all and to understand this mind is to understand the universe. This is the Hermetic tradition of philosophy. It teaches to achieve an inner peace and understanding through a meditative process. This brings about the transmutation of the alchemists.

To seek the knowledge contained in the Emerald Tablet is to seek to attain the wisdom of the One or the All, that unknowable source that created the universe. Most of the great religions share an amazing similarity to the teachings of the tablet. Various philosophical societies such as Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and the Golden Dawn, as well as others, have a basis in Hermeticism.

Even if one doesn't believe in Hermes, Thoth or the Emerald Tablet, the wisdom contained in the tablet is worth studying. Even if it doesn't give the answers to transmuting lead into gold, it can teach the hidden truth and wisdom to reaching self-perfection and inner peace. This is the secret of the alchemists and their key to achieving immortality.