There are many reasons individuals pursue spiritual paths. Some try to fill a void in their lives that other activities, such as drugs, sex, shopping, and psychoanalytical therapy, are unable to satisfy. Others seek power, fame, and wealth, or maybe something simpler, like finding a new boyfriend or girlfriend. In the end, however, it is happiness that we all seek, regardless of the expression we think it will take when we first begin our journey. Of all the choices we can make in life, only a genuine spiritual practice can offer us the opportunity to discover freedom from spiritual ignorance and material suffering and to develop our positive potential to its fullest.
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
• Why Study Alchemy?
Egypt: The Land of Khem
The Key to All Magic
The art of alchemy is best described by Stanislas Klossowski de Rola in Alchemy: The Secret Art, his pictorial book on the Great Work:
In short, alchemy offers us the opportunity to relieve suffering, ignorance, and fear of death through direct experience of the invisible worlds and understanding how they relate to the physical world of matter. The alchemical path can bring us peace of mind, a positive outlook on life, and increased vitality and creativity. Most importantly, alchemy helps us become better people.
In alchemy, inner transformation is accomplished by using a dual process of transpersonal and technical methods. The transpersonal methods are the meditations, prayers, studies, and inner work that the alchemist undertakes. The technical methods are the physical techniques and preparations the alchemist uses to produce herbal and mineral tinctures, which can be used as ritual aids or medicinally. This dual approach develops a positive feedback loop in which the action in the lab reinforces meditative practices and meditative practices enhance energy for transforming products in the laboratory. In the end, the alchemist transforms him or herself by experi menting with Nature's subtle energies and thereby awakening the Inner Light.
This book will demonstrate in a clear, easy-to-understand, and point-by-point manner the simple techniques of basic alchemy. If you've read even a single book on magic, witchcraft, Wicca, or alternative healing, you already know about half of what you need to be successful! In this book, herbalists will find the means of making tinctures and Elixirs that are considerably more powerful than standard herbal, homeopathic, or flower essences. Wiccans and Neopagans will discover simple, easy-to-use methods of creating magical products utilizing planetary and elemental energies with emphasis on lunar cycles. You can do all of the experiments in this book in a kitchen, using common household appliances if laboratory glassware is unavailable.
If you are a beginning or intermediate student of occultism, consider the following points:
1. Alchemy helps us to understand the fundamental unity of the cosmos and our place in it by weaving together the various occult disciplines into a cohesive whole.
2. Alchemy is ideal for the solo practitioner with limited time who does not have access to, or is reluctant to join, esoteric groups.
3. Alchemical products can be stored-and their ability to induce deeper meditative insights, lucid dreams, and spiritual initiation can be repeated-without any loss in strength or potency.
4. Alchemical products are helpful even if the recipient does not believe in energetic healing, magic, or other forms of esotericism.