About Alchemy

Ok, I know most people think of the anime "FullMetal Alchemist when they hear this word, my question is, does anyone here know about, study, or believe the true Alchemy to be a reality?


"In the history of science, alchemy refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature and an early philosophical and spiritual discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art all as parts of one greater force. Alchemy has been practiced in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Persia, India, and China, in Classical Greece and Rome, in the Muslim civilization, and then in Europe up to the 19th century—in a complex network of schools and philosophical systems spanning at least 2500 years."


Alchemy as a philosophical and spiritual discipline

Alchemy was known as the spagyric art after Greek words meaning to separate and to join together. Compare this with the primary dictum of Alchemy in Latin: SOLVE ET COAGULA — Separate, and Join Together.

The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold or silver (less well known is plant alchemy, or "spagyric"); the creation of a "panacea or the elixir of life," a remedy that supposedly would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the discovery of a universal solvent. Although these were not the only uses for the science, they were the ones most documented and well known. Starting with the Middle Ages, European alchemists invested much effort on the search for the "philosopher's stone", a legendary substance that was believed to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. The philosopher's stone was believed to mystically amplify the user's knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable. Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries, though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather it was for their mundane contributions to the "chemical" industries of the day—the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining, metalworking, production of ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts and liquors, and so on (it seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the "water of life", was a fairly popular "experiment" among European alchemists.

Starting with the Middle Ages, some alchemists increasingly came to view these metaphysical aspects as the true foundation of alchemy; and chemical substances, physical states, and material processes as mere metaphors for spiritual entities, states and transformations. In this sense, the literal meanings of alchemical formulas were blind, hiding their true spiritual philosophy, which being at odds with the Medieval Church was a necessity that could have otherwise lead them to the "stake and rack" of the Inquisition under charges of heresy. Thus, both the transmutation of common metals into gold and the universal panacea symbolized evolution from an imperfect, diseased, corruptible and ephemeral state towards a perfect, healthy, incorruptible and everlasting state; and the philosopher's stone then represented some mystic key that would make this evolution possible. Applied to the alchemist himself, the twin goal symbolized his evolution from ignorance to enlightenment, and the stone represented some hidden spiritual truth or power that would lead to that goal. In texts that are written according to this view, the cryptic alchemical symbols, diagrams, and textual imagery of late alchemical works typically contain multiple layers of meanings, allegories, and references to other equally cryptic works; and must be laboriously "decoded" in order to discover their true meaning.

In his Alchemical Catechism, Paracelsus clearly denotes that his usage of the metals was a symbol:
“ Q. When the Philosophers speak of gold and silver, from which they extract their matter, are we to suppose that they refer to the vulgar gold and silver?

A. By no means; vulgar silver and gold are dead, while those of the Philosophers are full of life."

Alchemy and astrology

Since its earliest times, alchemy has been closely connected to astrology—which, in the Islamic world and Europe, generally meant the traditional Babylonian-Greek school of astrology. Alchemical systems often postulated that each of the seven planets known to the ancients "ruled" or was associated with certain metals. See the separate article on astrology and alchemy for further details. In Hermeticism it is linked with both astrology and theurgy.

Psychology

Carl Jung saw alchemy as a Western proto-psychology dedicated to the achievement of individuation; in his interpretation, alchemy was the vessel by which Gnosticism survived its various purges into the Renaissance. In this sense, Jung viewed alchemy as comparable to a Yoga of the West. Jung also interpreted Chinese alchemical texts in terms of his ana*lytical psychology as means to individuation. The act of Alchemy seemed to improve the mind and spirit of the Alchemist.
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So, thoughts, questions, comments, opinions anyone?


I had to do the * there because it was reading the first part of the word as a curse word...

 

So............did it ever work once (if ever)? o.o

 

No. You can't make gold/silver out of other things. It's an element.

 

I believe Alchemy, once it dumped all the lies, temptations of saying they made elixirs (which were little more than alcohols and sugared up drinks) to heal the sick and they could turn lead into gold...helped to bring about Chemistry. Alchemists did assist in making things known of nature with experimentations and such, as the article points out. I know I have read at least of some of those things in there to have been taken from 'alchemists'. However, the religious aspect is junk, in totally my opinion here, and they weren't 'creating' anything 'magical' or 'extraordinary'. Children can create dyes, papers, powders of rocks, find 'poisonous' stones, and make wines, liquors etc with simple directions (if someone was willing to let some kid near all that). It all makes scientific logical sense. If Alchemy in the spiritual sense was so real, one would assume their potions and all would have made a lot of people long lived and such and lead to gold, well they'd have been ridiculously wealthy. People still try to play around with this and nothing has come out of it other than what was scientifically feasible in the first place and nothing will come out of it but what makes sense scientifically.

 

Can you still learn Alchemy? I was interested?

INTOPIC: In my opinion, it seems like everything they have ever done has been manipulated in some way, like.....hmmmm.....anything....can't think of something specific at the moment.

 

The teachings of it have since been abandoned by modern education standards. It's just not something that can be physically accomplished.

 

The most famous legend concerning alchemy was The Secret of Turning Lead into Gold or the Secret of the Philosopher's stone. Lead was a useless mineral that had no value. Gold had lots of value but wasn't always in ready supply to the common folk. So a common person comes across a lead deposit and tries to turn it into gold using alchemy.

Sadly, this has never been proven. Hence it being a 'Secret'

P.S

Pardon if you mentioned this in your opening post. I sort of skimmed over it.

 

Out of curiosity, I googled 'learn alchemy' and came up with some sites pertaining to things. You might want to check that out if you are interested. I didn't really browse around much but at least there is something there you might find for help.

 

ok, to straighten things out: alchemy is NOT the lies they showed during that anime, lol. it's SIMPLY changing the shape of something or adding to it. this could be as simple as making choclate milk by mixing choclate powder and milk. it has nothing to do with "witch craft" as that anime seems to suggest

 

exactly, the anime is horrible in what it made Alchemy into, it was at one point a serious science, and we wouldnt have many of the things we do now.

and for reference, both me and Arc, have studied it since we were 12.

 

not much to study in my opinion, unless you wanted to make something complicated like a statue or something of that nature

 

Thanks, Repliku. I'll look it up.