Alchemy

The quest of turning lead into Gold, this was the aim of the Alchemist. But was this seen as being something practical, or was it a journey to become enlightened? Broadly speaking, Alchemy was actually comprised of many different pursuits to many different people at many different junctures of history. For a time, it captured the imagination of many throughout Europe, and it still does to this day. Practically, it was an antecedent to chemistry and science. Philosophically, it promised the alchemist enlightenment. Is it still a worthy pursuit today; still worthy of study?

Show Notes

• The Secrets of Alchemy by Lawrence Principe – Probably the best introduction you will find
  Western Alchemy, Science and Pseudoscience – Video from Dan Attrell’s fantastic Youtube Channel The Modern Hermeticist
• Alchemy Website – From Adam McLean, however some links are broken, unfortunately
• What is Alchemy?– From Arnemancy.com
• Hermetic Alchemy
• Alchemy Video List from ESOTERICA – This is the best! A fantastic place to start!
• The Forge and the Crucible by Mircea Eliade
• Alchemy – BBC In Our Time
• Small Snippet from Dr. Stephen Skinner about the Mystery Tradition towards the end of this free sample but the book Techniques of Graeco-Egyptian Magic is a must own
• Pagans & Christians by Robin Lane Fox
• Neoplatonism – From History of Alchemy Podcast which is a very good resource if this is your kind of thing
• Have a look at some Alchemy from the Science History Institute
• Alchemy & Mysticism – Taschen
• Paracelsus – From History of Alchemy Podcast
• Alchemical Belief by Bruce Janacek – PSUP has some of the greatest books about Magic in History in existence. A fantastic resource and without peer
• Robert M. Place – His books are good, his Tarot Decks are Amazing!
• Mary Sidney
• Alchemy: The Great Work by Cherry Gilchrist
• On the Problem and Promise of Metaphor Use in Science and Science Communication
• The Call of the Fire: The Hermetic Quest of R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz by Dr. Aaron Cheek
• Al-Kemi: Hermetic, Occult, Political, and Private Aspects of R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz by Andre VandenBroeck
• Nature Word by R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz
• C. G. Jung and the Alchemical Renewal
• Jung on Alchemy – Very good book
• Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology by Marie-Louise Von Franz
• Embassy of the Free Mind
• Periodic Table History
• The True Alchemists
• The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India by David Gordon White