CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO ALCHEMY

What is Alchemy? This is the first and most vital question to be answered before a studyof the following pages should be undertaken. This question can be answered to thesatisfaction of the inquiring mind, but all careless paging through this book will be to noavail. If the reader has no previous knowledge of Alchemy and, moreover, no knowledgethrough conscientious study concerning mysticism, occultism, or related subjects, theanswer to the above question will have little meaning. What, then, is Alchemy? It is "theraising of vibrations".

For this reason it is wise not to attempt to experiment with the laboratory outlines thatfollow. These experiments are only for those who have spent considerable time inspagyric research and who have proven to themselves that an honest endeavor hasprevailed and that this same endeavor still motivates their true search for the highestArcana, the lapis philosophorum. As all students of alchemystical literature have come torealize that the exact process for the opus magnum has never been completely revealedin simple language or put into print, they will appreciate the fact that here is given adetailed description of the lesser circulation.

In Alchemy there are the lesser and greater circulations. The former pertains to the herbalkingdom and the latter to the most coveted of them all, the mineral (metallic) realm. Acorrect understanding, and not just knowledge, of the herbal process will open the gate tothe great Arcanum. Months and years of experimentation in your alchemical laboratory willprove the truth of this statement. The fact that Alchemy is a life's work will be accepted bythose who have spent months and years behind books and retorts. It is this significant factwhich provides our spagyric art with such an armor that no materialist can pierce it. If itwere not for the cleansing, purging, and aging of the alchemist-to-be over a great length oftime, like the subjectum he is working with, how could it be kept from the profane and theunworthy? Only that which has stood the test of fire has been purified. That there is still acloak of secrecy covering alchemical processes, and that this must yet remain so will haveto be accepted by all aspiring alchemists. For personal greed has no place in Alchemy.The aim of all true Adepts is to help relieve a suffering mankind in its physical and spiritualmisery. A nonacceptance of this excludes one automatically from the circle of Adepts.

My friends of the medical profession, as well as the pharmaceutical chemists, will readilydisagree with me when reading what follows. This must be taken for granted and, in fact,has been so since what is presented here is so foreign to the standardized teachings inpresent day medical colleges. Since I agree with them, on their terms, it is only fair to askthat they think of the contents of this book in the terms of an alchemist. If this isimpossible, then the book should be laid aside for the time being and forgotten until it canbe examined by an open mind free from prejudice.

No attempt is being made here to write on allopathic therapeutics. This shall be left tothose versed in this particular branch of healing. I am writing here about Alchemy becauseof the years of studies and experiments that have preceded this book, and because of thework that shall in all likelihood continue to follow. Since the scope of Alchemy is soimmense, one earthly incarnation in many, if not most, cases is an insufficient time for thefull completion of the work. In climbing the alchemist's ladder, there are many tribulationsto consider involving time, money, heartaches—to mention only a few of the difficult steps.The aspirant then should think long and well before undertaking such an ordeal, for if he isnot prepared all will prove unsuccessful.

The process in both the lesser and greater circulation is basically not expensive. In fact, itis relatively insignificant. But before this state can be reached much money, time, andeffort can and, most likely, will be spent. It is for these reasons that an urgent appeal ismade not to venture rashly into Alchemy, not to see oneself sitting in perfect personalhealth at the end of a rainbow with the world at one's feet and with full pots of glisteninggold. These are only illusions and will prove to be but sensational and glamorous fatamorgana; they will not satisfy the soul. There is more to be gained in Alchemy thanvainglory. This, in fact, cannot be obtained in Alchemy. Such vainglory is as far from thetrue goals of Alchemy as night is from day. This brings us back to the simple statementmade at the beginning of this chapter: "Alchemy is the raising of the vibrations." He whosees no meaning in this seemingly unimportant sentence has no right to attemptalchemical experimentation. Such a person is like one who claims that since he knows allthe letters of the alphabet he can, therefore, read any language as they are all composedof letters from the same alphabet. But does he read with understanding when the lettersare interchanged, forming words in different languages? A chemist may know all theformulas and all the abbreviations of chemical terminology, but does he also understandwhat they really are? Their true origin? Their first state? This we shall leave for those whoare concerned to answer. If all the foregoing statements do not discourage the aspirantand make him clap the book shut and put it away with disgust, perhaps then it will helphim to find himself in this universe and to give peace and contentment to his soul.Hermetic philosophy, with its practical arcanum, repeats itself over and over again in theancient axiom: "As above, so below. As below, so above."

It is questionable whether or not historical references to Alchemists of the past have aplace in these pages. There have been so many books published already that have madeit their business to elaborate on the history and romance of Alchemy. For this reason, noattempt is being made here to add to the wealth of biographical material supplied by suchbooks. Our emphasis falls, rather, on present-day alchemystical experimentation,conducted in accordance with age-old practices. Our aim in these pages is to attempt todemonstrate and to reveal the truth of Alchemy in contemporary language, while stillremaining in harmony with ancient rules and rituals, according to the Alchemist's Oath.The practice of Alchemy, not only in earlier times but in our own day as well, should beundertaken only with the greatest solemnity. This can best be illustrated by the followingoath from Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum (London, 1652). This oath, in only slightlymodified form, is still being used by present day...