...is defined in Webster's
Dictionary as "...the doctrine, study, and practice of chemistry
in the Middle Ages, which was chiefly concerned with transmutation
of metals into gold and the finding of a universal remedy for
diseases...a pouring together...any imaginary power or process
of transmuting one thing into another." There are many interpretations
of this field of endeavor available today, each depicting slightly
different stages, signs, and words describing them. The following
is only one among the many.
Alchemy is also a vast
mythological system of symbols and metaphors, beings and stories,
geometries and diagrams, elements and heavenly bodies, designed
to represent aspects of the human psyche, spirit, and soul, as well as
provide guidance towards the nature of the Universe. The fundamental
events or stages are divided into four color qualities or states
of being or becoming: blackening, whitening, yellowing and reddening.
This corresponds to the four elements: earth, air, water, and
fire. This also corresponds to the four qualities: cold, hot,
moist, and dry. Through the process of using mercury, sulphur,
water, fire, all in a ritualized fashion, the artifex - the student,
can achieve transmutation of the elements; through dissolution,
coagulation, distillation, condensation, disintegration and bonding.
Ultimately, the Work lies in the moving of the elements around,
each in turn yielding another. It is the attempt to unify heaven
and earth, the spirit forces above with the Chthonic forces below.
Stone changes its nature, elements are extracted, and each releases
its powers until all are put together again to form a greater
whole. Pythagoras stated that quadernity defines the spectrum
of possibilities in the physical world. Aristotle posed the fifth
element, the quintessence. The alchemists were seeking to bring
this fifth element down to Earth, through the repeated transmutations
of matter. The Gold that was sought, however was not the material
gold.
Prima Materia, Massa
Confusa
This is where it all
starts. It is the initial state, already present for the beginning
of the process. It assumes all elements and aspects of the Universe
are present. Chaos. All is unmanifested and undifferentiated.
All opposites exist alone and together. This phase corresponds
to the color black.
Calcinatio
Calcination. Oxidization,
ashing of the metals...transformation of the essence of a thing
cannot occur until it has been made into ash, earth, lime, chalk
- the spirit must suffer several deaths before it can change and
grow...a brightly colored phase ending in white and yellow.
Separatio
Separation. Now the separation of the
four elements from their new state into their independent natures;
a loosening...breaking the whole into its parts.
Putrefactio
Putrefaction. Blackness is achieved,
first passing through red, attempting to bring the pnuema, spirit
or breath, back into the remains. This is often done by distillation.
Coniunctio
Conjunction. The uniting, joining together,
the spirit in matter, Nous and Physis, Sol and Luna, Mercury and
Sulphur. This can take place in the most intense heat.
Coagulatio
Coagulation. Stratification and bringing
together of the various components; a hardening of the new substance.
A settling and conglomerating of the elements.
Sublimatio
Sublimation. Raising the essences of
elements. A refining and purification, and cooling of the mixture.
Fermentatio
Fermentation. The smallest parts are
dissolved. This in an effort to raise the matter up, by leaving
it to sit in a sealed container. A gestation and incubation period.
Exaltatio
Exaltation or emphasis. Again raising
the essences, often by adding water.
Proiectio
Projection, transference. Adding substances
to the base metals to further refine and purify them, and color
them, thus imbuing the potencies of them to the mixture. This
seeks to produce all colors, the cauda pavona (the tail of the
peacock).
Lapis, Elixir
The transformed elements are reunited,
and the work complete. The Philosopher's Stone. Also, Earth itself.
The soul. The center of every mandala. The unity of all, elements
and spirit. A spherical object perfectly round and hard. The embodiment
of the perfection of matter and spirit after burning, mixing,
cooling, smoothing and aging. This also represents a cosmological
view of the manifestation of all things.
  
In recent times, there have been discoveries
of life existing under extreme conditions: heat, cold, and density.
It is also theorized that many of the thermal vents deep in the
oceans of our world, spewing forth sulphur, nickel, and various
molten minerals and metals, then mix with water and air and form
the constituents of the primordial soup. Through heat, movement,
cooling, and pressure, life forms from the impulse of emanating
energy; and comes to pass from liquid to metal, and organic solid,
and ultimately to gas. To observe the alchemical process is to
observe the process of creation itself, and to thus learn the
secrets of divine genesis.
|
