Alchemist's Kitchen

What is the secret meaning of alchemical symbolism Why was the Royal Art kept secret for so long Could ancient mages really turn molten lead into gold with a mere pinch of the Philosophers Stone Alchemy is perhaps the last true magical art to survive the ravages of the modern world. In this book laboratory alchemist Guy Ogilvy initiates the reader into some of the key concepts and practices of this extraordinary field of study. With extensive appendices.

• 1 M ic h ae l M a ie r , A ta la n ta F u g ie n s , 1 6 1 8
• 3 First published 2006 AD This edition Wooden Books Ltd 2006 AD Published by Wooden Books Ltd. 8A M
• 4 For those seeking to explore Alchemy further Alchemy Science of the Cosmos Science of the Soul by
• 1 The Royal Art of alchemy remains one of the most enduring and baffling human enterprises. It is c
• 2 3 To open a typical alchemical work is to be confronted by a bewildering mixture of baffling text
• 4 5 eCCe homo Consciousness dawns on Primordial Man. He finds himself bathed in the light of the fi
• 6 7 FIre And metAls As well as garish clays, the streambeds also bore lumps of native gold bright an
• 8 9 For all his technological prowess man remains at the mercy of the elements, as much a part of th
• 10 11 In alchemical terminology soul and spirit go by the names of Sulphur and Mercury. Quite disti
• 12 13 Mankind is a paradoxical creature, full of contradictions and warring passions. The spirit wa
• 14 15 The genius of Western alchemy, and mercurial guide to all alchemists, is the legendary Hermes
• 18 19 To the alchemist Creation is the Great Work of the One, a universe ensouled and inspired. Con
• 20 21 The four Philosophical Elements are symbolised by triangles. Ascending Fire and Air are upw
• 22 23 heAvenly metAl the magnificent seven To the alchemist, as to the ancients, the seven planets a
• 24 25 mInerAls And pIgments The ancients found many practical ways of expressing planetmetal associa
• 26 27 so below However pigments and potions are mixed, they will not be truly alchemical unless they
• 28 29 spAgyrICs putting the djinn in the bottle And so to potions Spagyria is a term coined by the
• 30 31 Nature is full of secret bounty. Common dew is the distilled essence of Heaven and Earth, a c
• 32 33 To master the art of distillation takes considerable care and experience. Alchemists such as
• 34 35 Having mastered the art of distillation, and the extraction of salts, the potionmaker may be r
• 36 37 The Circulatum Minus represents the culmination of plant alchemy and is a very tricky potion i
• 38 39 Having reached the pinnacle of the plant work, the alchemist is ready to proceed further. Whi
• 40 41 opus mAgnum The goal of the Great Work is nothing less than union with the Absolute. Before t
• 42 43 Key to the elaboration of the Stone is the Prima Materia, whose identity is the greatest secre
• 44 45 This book can only serve as an introduction to alchemy. Making alchemical potions requires a
• 46 47 AppendICes BAsIC metAllurgy From simple beginnings in around 6000 BC to the end of the thirte
• 48 49 ArtIsts pIgments PIGMENTS must be insoluble and reasonably lightfast. They are prepared for u
• 50 51 SODA ASH like potash is prepared from the ashes of plants. Saltwort or seaweed such as kelp,
• 52 53 CHARCOAL is produced by heating wood in the absence of the oxygen in air. It can also be made
• 54 55 FermentAtIon BhAsmAs In Indian alchemy there are methods for making metallic medicines called
• 56 57 plAnt plAnet CorrespondenCes Venus is the planet of affection, art, and music. Venus helps me
• 58 AstrologICAl hours AlChemICAl symBols Moon Silver Mercury Quicksilver Venus Copper Sun Gold