c o n t e n t s c o n t e n t s
Ack
Acknowledgemennowledgementsts Peer Reviewers Peer Reviewers List o Illustrations List o Illustrations
p
part i. art i. cornerstonescornerstones
Ancien
Ancient Alchemt Alchemies, East Wies, East West est Intr
Introduction oduction to to Part Part One: One: 1818 Circumambulating the Alchemical Mysterium
Circumambulating the Alchemical Mysterium
A Chk A Chk
1.
1. Te Te Perect Perect Black: Black: 4444
Egypt and Alchemy Egypt and Alchemy
A Chk A Chk
2.
2. elestic elestic ransormation ransormation and and Philosophical Philosophical Rebirth: Rebirth: 9292 From Ancient Egypt to Neoplatonism
From Ancient Egypt to Neoplatonism
Ag Užv Ag Užv
3. Meta
3. Metallurgy and Demiullurgy and Demiurgy: rgy: 150150 Te Roots o Greek Alchemy in the
Te Roots o Greek Alchemy in the M
Mythology o Hephaeythology o Hephaestos (Discussions)stos (Discussions)
R Bkh R Bkh
4.
4. aking aking rom rom WWater ater to to Fill Fill in in Fire: Fire: 167 167 Te History and Dynamics o aoist Alchemy
Te History and Dynamics o aoist Alchemy
A Chk A Chk
5. Mercu
5. Mercury and Imry and Immortality: mortality: 207 207 Te Hindu Alchemical
Te Hindu Alchemical raditionradition
Dv G Wh Dv G Wh
6.
6. IatrochemistryIatrochemistry, , Metaphysiology, Metaphysiology, Gnōsis: Gnōsis: 229229 ibetan Alchemy in
ibetan Alchemy in the Kālacakra the Kālacakra antraantra
K L K L p
part ii. art ii. transormationstransormations
Alchem
Alchemies o the Spies o the Spirit, Body Wirit, Body Word ord Intr
Introduction oduction to to Part Part wo: wo: 292292 Interzone: On the Origins and Nature o European Alchemy
Interzone: On the Origins and Nature o European Alchemy
A Chk A Chk
7
7. Te Alchem. Te Alchemical Khiasmical Khiasmos: os: 310310 Counter-Stretched Harmony and Divine Sel-Perception
Counter-Stretched Harmony and Divine Sel-Perception
A Chk
A Chk S D VS D V
8.
8. Altus’ Altus’ Ominous Ominous Aphorism: Aphorism: 320320 Reading as Alchemical Process
Reading as Alchemical Process
M M M M
9.
9. urris Philosophourris Philosophorum: rum: 325325 On the Alchemical Iconography o the ower
On the Alchemical Iconography o the ower
Chh A. P Chh A. P
10.
10. O O EtherEther, , Entheogens Entheogens and and Colloidal Colloidal Gold: Gold: 355355 Heinrich Khunrath and the Making o a Philosophers’ Stone
Heinrich Khunrath and the Making o a Philosophers’ Stone
Hw Hw
11.
11. Becoming Becoming an an Angel: Angel: 421421
Te Mundus Imaginalis o Henry Corbin Te Mundus Imaginalis o Henry Corbin and the Platonic Path o Sel-Knowledge and the Platonic Path o Sel-Knowledge
Ag V Ag V
12.
12. Te Te Kiss Kiss o o Death: Death: 434434
Amor
Amor, Corpus Resurrection, Corpus Resurrectionis and theis and the Alchem
Alchemical ical ransgurransguration o Eation o Erosros
P S P S
13. A
13. A gent o All M gent o All Mutations: utations: 458458 Meta
Metallurgicalllurgical, Biological an, Biological and Spiritual d Spiritual
Evolution in the Alchemy o René Schwaller de Lubicz Evolution in the Alchemy o René Schwaller de Lubicz
A Chk A Chk
14.
14. ake ake wo wo Emerald Emerald ablets ablets in in the the Morning: Morning: 518518 Surrealism and the Alchemical ransubstantiation o the World
Surrealism and the Alchemical ransubstantiation o the World
L Mv L Mv
15.
15. Incredible Incredible Lunatic Lunatic o o the the Future: Future: 536 536 Te Alchemical Horticulture o Alan Chadwick
Te Alchemical Horticulture o Alan Chadwick
R Bkh R Bkh
16.
16. Alchemical Alchemical Endgame: Endgame: 548548
‘Checkmate’ in Beckett and Eliot ‘Checkmate’ in Beckett and Eliot
D Mh D Mh end matter end matter
Ab
Abbreviations breviations 639639
Bibliography 641
Bibliography 641
Auth
list o
list o illustraillustrationstions 1.
1. SS -C-C’’ ChrysopoeiaChrysopoeia (A- (A-, G-kg). M S-M, M. 2325, , G-kg). M S-M, M. 2325, Bhèq , . 188, v, hh . Bhèq , . 188, v, hh . 2. 2. J J g g wh wh . . Shg-Zh Shg-Zh D- D-, . 1150-950 bce. V A M, L , . 1150-950 bce. V A M, L (Ph (Ph, Chk, , Chk, 2005).2005). 3. 3. S-S-M M h h RvRv 4.
4. EE S-S- OO.. 5. 5. kg kg WW F F F.F. 6. 6. Wh Wh (h (h k).k). 7 7. . T T P P ggh h h h R R h- h-. F P A’
. F P A’ Cosmographia, siue Descripto universiCosmographia, siue Descripto universi Orbis
Orbis (1584).(1584). 8.
8. F F hh Musæum Hermet Musæum Hermeticumicum (1678): ‘Wh h(1678): ‘Wh h , h : h whh hv, , h : h whh hv, q
q h h h h h’h’.. 9.
9. Ah Ah LLk’k’ De lapide philosophicoDe lapide philosophico h h
Musæum H
Musæum Hermeticumermeticum(1678).(1678). 10.
10. T T h h w w G’G’ Liber ornacumLiber ornacum.. 11.
11. Ah Ah wh wh v v v v hh Mutus Mutus liber liber ‘S Bk’ ‘S Bk’ (1677, 10).
(1677, 10). 12-14. T
12-14. T torre philosophicatorre philosophica (hh w) hw h -(hh w) hw h - - . I h . I h () (w). T h g () (w). T h g wh h kg h g h
wh h kg h g h Aqua V Aqua Vitæitæ
(w ). F D D’E’
(w ). F D D’E’ Dell’Elixir VitæDell’Elixir Vitæ (O h(O h Ex L, 1624).
Ex L, 1624). 15. P’,
15. P’, Ana Anatomia tomia corporum adhcorporum adhuc viventuc viventiumium(T A (T A S Lvg B, 1577), g h
S Lvg B, 1577), g h h h - - h h h .
h h h . 16.
16. w w homo sanushomo sanus (‘ hh h’); h-(‘ hh h’); h-g h k ( ). g h k ( ). R F,
R F, Med Medicina cathoicina catholica,lica,1629.1629. 17
. R
. R F,F,InIntegrvm tegrvm morborvm mysterivmmorborvm mysterivm,, 1631. 1631. 18-19. 18-19. C C w w h h h h h h v v (f); w h h h g h Z (f); w h h h g h Z (gh). R F,
(gh). R F, Utriusque cosmiUtriusque cosmi, 1617., 1617. 20.
20. Ew Ew K’K’ v v h h w. Jh D Ew K,
w. Jh D Ew K, A A rue rue FaiFaithul thul RelatRelationion
(1659). (1659). 21-22
21-22 w w hh g g h h h h - - h v. A B’
h v. A B’ ourneau cosmique ourneau cosmique (‘(‘ ’) whh h h Z h ’) whh h h Z h (1653); T N’ z h g h (1653); T N’ z h g h -h, g, h (1678). h, g, h (1678). 23.
23. Cj Cj ‘L ‘L AhAh’ ’ h h ‘‘Ah Ah Kg’ Kg’ h h w- w-/, g h j hh /, g h j hh h h ‘hh’ ’. C. P. L. 1066 h h ‘hh’ ’. C. P. L. 1066 (-h ). h ). 24.
24. JJ L,L, Pretiosa Margarita novellaPretiosa Margarita novella (xh ),(xh ), wh h kg q gv h hh wh h kg q gv h hh h h hh’ . h h hh’ . 25. 25. R R S S (fh (fh ).). 26. 26. A A ghghh h h h h’h’ Kh- Kh-h’
h’ Amp Amphithehitheatrum atrum sapientiae sapientiae aeternaeaeternae (1609 ). ULB(1609 ). ULB D, M. 3263 (wh h Uvä- D, M. 3263 (wh h Uvä- L Lhk hk D).D). 27 27. . T T h h j j ,,
Splendor Solis oder Sonnenglantz Splendor Solis oder Sonnenglantz (B Shk (B Shk Cx G. Cx G. . 42, 16h , . 42, 16h , h 1972 h 1972 - - Ig V). Ig V). 28. 28. Rg Rg K, K, Bh Bh – – h h Wh v Rg (1535-1592), wh Khh Wh v Rg (1535-1592), wh Khh h h 1591. h h 1591. 29.
29. T T hh G G L, L, Mh Mh M’M’ Ata Atalanta u-lanta u- giens
giens (1618). Wh (1618). Wh h h Bh SBh Shk,hk, Müh.
Müh.
30. T
30. T coniunctio oppositorumconiunctio oppositorum, h, h Aur Aurora consuora consurgensrgens. Züh,. Züh, Z
Zhk, M. hk, M. Rh. 172Rh. 172: A g: A g. Wh -. Wh - h
h ZZhk, Züh.hk, Züh. 31.
31. T T aqua regiaaqua regia, Lz Ek’, Lz Ek’ Aula su Aula subter- bter-ranea
ranea (1580). Wh (1580). Wh h Bh Shh Bh Shk,k, Mh.
32.
32. T T g g wh wh , , C C MhMh M’
M’ Ata Atalanta ugienslanta ugiens(1618). Wh h (1618). Wh h B- B-h Shk, Mh.
h Shk, Mh. 33.
33. T T , , hh Consilium philosophicumConsilium philosophicum practicum
practicum(H UB, M. 14 A 12 (1)), . 16 v (Khh’(H UB, M. 14 A 12 (1)), . 16 v (Khh’ gh).
gh). 34.
34. VVg g h h h h h, h, hh Aur Aurora consora consurgensurgens.. Züh, Zhk. M. Rh. 172: A g. Wh Züh, Zhk. M. Rh. 172: A g. Wh h h ZZhk, Züh.hk, Züh. 35. 35. T T Hh Hh Khh, Khh, ghh ghh - - h
h Amp Amphithehitheatrum sapienatrum sapientiae aeternaetiae aeternae
(1609). ULB D, M.
(1609). ULB D, M. 3263 (wh h Uv3263 (wh h Uv- -ä- Lhk D).
ä- Lhk D). 36.
36. T T g g () () h h () () h h (), (), Lk,
Lk, De lapide philosophicoDe lapide philosophico (1625): ‘B h h h(1625): ‘B h h h , wh h h’. Wh , wh h h’. Wh - h Bh Shk, Mh. h Bh Shk, Mh. 37 37. . T T hh FarbenlehreFarbenlehre Ré Shw Ré Shw Lz.Lz. 38. 38. B B R R h h ‘B ‘B GG’ ’ T T III III hwghwg Nh (D, Nh (D, w w, w w, Kk).Kk). 39. 39. I I gg h h M M P B. P B. 40.
40. A A I I (Èz-(Èz--), -), Cô Cô ’’Az, Az, F. F. (Ph, (Ph, Chk,Chk, 2005).
P
P
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cornerstones
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Hw h . — Hw h . — Sw, w h, k — Sw, w h, k — , g , g h h .. N z h , N z h , M Moo rrgg eennrröö ttee, § 5 4 1, § 5 4 1
I I C I R C U M A M B U L A I N G C I R C U M A M B U L A I N G H E A L C H E M I C A L M y S E R I U M H E A L C H E M I C A L M y S E R I U M A C h k A C h k ‘O h wh ’. ‘O h wh ’. —C. —C.11
A
A
lcem ma be described, h w B, lcem ma be described, h w B, ‘g h h ’. ‘g h h ’.22 A hA h
par par excellenceexcellence, h , h h hv w w:
h hv w w: chrysopoeiachrysopoeia apotheosisapotheosis (g-kg g-kg)—h (g-kg g-kg)—h -.
. I kI kg g ‘ ‘ w’ w’, , hh, , k ,k , engagesengages x—f — x—f — - vh . Lk hg, k vh . Lk hg, k —h h h —h h h g — h ( g — h ( -) h hgh h ) h hgh h -g. I hgh , h, h wh L g. I hgh , h, h wh L k w k w tikkuntikkun, h h w., h h w. A v, h h x A v, h h x - g x g x — x— xg vg v h g h g 1
1 ‘Ch‘Ch C C’’, M, M Bertelot, Bertelot,Collection des anciens alchimistes grecsCollection des anciens alchimistes grecs
(P: G
(P: Gg Sh, 1887g Sh, 1887), ), v. 1., 13v. 1., 132, g. 11.2, g. 11.
2
2 Ch Ch BaBaudelaire, udelaire, ‘L‘L’’A A q’q’, , Œv Œv C Ch Bh B (P:(P:
C Lév, 1885), v. 3, 68: ‘ ’é ’. C Lév, 1885), v. 3, 68: ‘ ’é ’.
i innttrroodduuccttiioonn 1199 v. Tgh h, h h v v. Tgh h, h h v h h , x h h , x , h h v h , h h v h . . HwvHwv, g h h , g h h contextscontexts ‘’ h w -, ‘’ h w -, ritualisticritualistic. Whh-. Whh- k h qg (G C) h--xh k h qg (G C) h--xh Ch, h Sh v I, h Ch, h Sh v I, h g hg x H Eg, h g hg x H Eg, h - h w w h w w v- v- h v wh k h h v wh k h h- wh . Mv, w k, h h wh . Mv, w k, h h hq hv w g w v hq hv w g w v h
h. Ah. Ah w w divinedivine ; ; hieratikē technēhieratikē technē..
Whh g h hg h Whh g h hg h x, vg , h h x, vg , h h - v
v hgh hgh x x ( ( gnōsis, j gnōsis, jnānanāna) w -) w - v v v v vv hg hg hh- -. H h x g g wh h v h . H h x g g wh h v h h h h h g g.. T, h w —x h; T, h w —x h; neidanneidan waidanwaidan, —, h , -, —, h , -g h h : h g h h : h hgh x. hgh x. D h gg k, h D h gg k, h - B’ h, vh h h B’ h, vh h h h v’h v’ w w - -. O h, h w h . O h, h w h - h vg h h h w’ h . h vg h h h w’ h . O h h h, h O h h h, h wh h , h g ( wh h , h g ( contra- contra-dictory dictory ) x h. Mv, h v k) x h. Mv, h v k h ‘g ’ w h v , w h ‘g ’ w h v , w h ‘h’ h h ‘h’ h ‘‘h’h’, , hg hg h h —h v, v, wh ‘’ —h v, v, wh ‘’ ‘’, . I h , h w ‘’, . I h , h w h h ‘ qv hg’ h h ‘ qv hg’ ( Jk L h h k ( Jk L h h k G-Eg- h), h),33 ‘qv x’ ( h w- ‘qv x’ ( h w-3
3 Jk Lindsa,Jk Lindsa, Te Origins o Alchemy in Graeco-Roman Egypt Te Origins o Alchemy in Graeco-Roman Egypt (L: Fk M,(L: Fk M,
1970), 382-92. L v g h ‘’ h h 1970), 382-92. L v g h ‘’ h h - wh h
a l c h e m i c a l t r a d i t i o n s a l c h e m i c a l t r a d i t i o n s 20 20 h- h, Ré Shw Lz, h h- h, Ré Shw Lz, h wh g h ‘g ’ g ). wh g h ‘g ’ g ).44 Rh h g, g (whh w qk Rh h g, g (whh w qk - v), wh I w k h v), wh I w k h - g, hgh, hg g, hgh, hg ‘’ h h
‘’ h h mysteriummysterium. I g,. I g, I k h h h I k h h h , , , g h v ‘’. , , , g h v ‘’. O h hg h O h hg h h h w h h h h h w h h h h w x h w x -; h w hg gh ; h w hg gh v— h h, G hh , v— h h, G hh , g ( g (VerstehenVerstehen) h x-) h x- (
(ErklärenErklären).).55 A H T Hk A H T Hk
J
J EvEv’’ h h wk,wk,circumambulatiocircumambulatio h - h -h k g x h h k g x h h g h H . h g h H .66 I ,I , , h ‘kwg ’ h h , h ‘kwg ’ h h ‘ kwg’. O , h h, whh ‘ kwg’. O , h h, whh hg hg h h, h h, h h h, wh h h, wh h exclusively exclusively h- h-g h, h g h, h - h h g. Sh h, h h g. Sh h, x-, h h h x. , h h h x. hg’. I w h qv v whh h h; hg’. I w h qv v whh h h; - h, kg h qv , w ‘ j h wh h h, kg h qv , w ‘ j h wh h ; w h , wh qv v, h gvg ; w h , wh qv v, h gvg gh’. L v h h hg qv w gh’. L v h h hg qv w h h h g v h x h h g v h x h v v h wh h qv h w h q v h. h wh h qv h w h q v h. 4 4 S w h v: ‘Ag M: Mg-S w h v: ‘Ag M: Mg-, Bg S Ev h Ah Ré Shw Lz’. , Bg S Ev h Ah Ré Shw Lz’. 5 5 P Wh Dh, E H, M Hgg. S P Wh Dh, E H, M Hgg. S Dilte,
Dilte, Selected WorksSelected Works, v. 1 (. . Mkk R, P, Nw J:, v. 1 (. . Mkk R, P, Nw J: P Uv P, 1989), wh w vvg g-g P Uv P, 1989), wh w vvg g-g x- x- xg; Sv D. Kepnes, ‘Bgg h G w xg; Sv D. Kepnes, ‘Bgg h G w Ug E
Ug Ex: Ah x: Ah h S h S RgRg’’,, Journal Journal or or the Sciethe Scienti- nti-ic Study o Religion
ic Study o Religion 2525 (1986): 504-12.(1986): 504-12.
6
6 H. . Hal, ‘T Sg H Ag J Ev’ H. . Hal, ‘T Sg H Ag J Ev’ Lux in Lux in enebris:enebris:
Te Visual and the Symbolic in Western Esotericism
i innttrroodduuccttiioonn 2211 A h , g h h A h , g h h h- h . T q h . T q H ‘h ’ w H ‘h ’ w h-g. I g , whh ‘’ g. I g , whh ‘’ ‘v’, h h , h ‘v’, h h , h x h , q. A h x h , q. A h Dao de Jing Dao de Jing k, ‘h k h h h wh, k, ‘h k h h h wh, h h wh h ’. Wh h h h wh h ’. Wh h ‘k’ -h , w w h ‘k’ -h , w w h ‘’, h , whh , h ‘’, h , whh , h (h hg (h hg VerstehenVerstehen) whh h k vv,) whh h k vv, gvg h h , h h h g. Bh gvg h h , h h h g. Bh , h q . , h q . T, w hg T, w hg -, , g g h g g h h-g hgh x. h-g hgh x. al-mi al-mi Etymologies Etymologies T h vw wh h T h vw wh h g Ph g Ph H Eg h, h g H Eg h, h g Ch, v I h h Ch, v I h h―― h h hv - vgg A h, wh hv - vgg A h, wh h : h : al-kīmiyāal-kīmiyā..77 Sh hv g kw h h wSh hv g kw h h w h A (
h A (alkīmiyāalkīmiyā Sh Sh alquimia
alquimia, L, L alchimiaalchimia, Fh, Fh alchimiealchimie,, GG Alchem Alchemieie, .), .)88 7 7 Gv h wvg g, h Gv h wvg g, h h h h h v, v, g vk g g g, g q, g vk g g g, g q, h, hgh h ‘k’ g, hg h h, hgh h ‘k’ g, hg h - g h hv h h v . B h , h g h hv h h v . B h , h g hv k h Ch G-Eg g hv k h Ch G-Eg -g g. g g. 8
8 S : F. Sein,S : F. Sein, Geschichte des arabischen SchriftumsGeschichte des arabischen Schriftums (L: B, 1971), i,(L: B, 1971), i,
1-299; M. Ullmann,
1-299; M. Ullmann, Die Natur- und Geheimwissenschafen im IslamDie Natur- und Geheimwissenschafen im Islam (L: B, 1972),(L: B, 1972), 144-270; Ullmann, ‘-kīā’
144-270; Ullmann, ‘-kīā’ Encyclopedia o IslamEncyclopedia o Islam, (L: B, 1986),, (L: B, 1986), , 110-15; Ullmann, ‘-kīā,’
, 110-15; Ullmann, ‘-kīā,’ Wörterbuch der klassischen arabischen SpracheWörterbuch der klassischen arabischen Sprache, 1 (W-, 1 (W-, 1970
, 1970-); Z. R-); Z. R. W. W. M. v Martels, . M. v Martels, .,., Alchem Alchemy Revisity Revisited ed (L: B, 1990); Ch(L: B, 1990); Ch Burnett, ‘T Ag’ A h Ah: E R Ah A Burnett, ‘T Ag’ A h Ah: E R Ah A L x,’
