by Renee Rotto

Created on: September 28, 2009   Last Updated: October 11, 2009

The fundamental idea of alchemy was said to have arisen in the ancient Persian Empire and is both a philosophy and a practice with the aim to achieving ultimate wisdom, as well as immortality. The practical aspects, of alchemy, bore the basis of modern inorganic chemistry, in that it initiated experimentation with many substances. The goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold or silver and also to create the elixir of life, which was supposed to cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely.

Alchemists believed that through the transmutation of common metals gold could be created. This was to be accomplished by the rearrangement of the proportions of sulfur and mercury, in the base of the stone. With that, red sulfur would help change base metals faster and if they used white sulfur, the results would be that of the creation of silver. Burning a substance would release the phlogiston that was associated with alchemical sulfur, thus began experimentation using new scientific disciplines.

Although the scientific disciplines of the alchemists were far from today's standards, because of equipment, these scientific experiments did bring forth new practices such as hygienic methods and documentation. Many of the experiments of a few alchemists such as, Bacon and Paracelsus have provided valuable information about evaporation, combustion and condensation, however, the true alchemist had lofty ideals and to them, alchemy was not merely intellectual, but a spiritual science. Only those who were in the possession of the divine power, as those whom had been awakened, could awaken it from its sleep, and practice this science. The alchemist saw himself as a 'mirror' of God and the 'Quintessence Of Life Force'.

Alchemists believed that materials had a life of their own, a history, a character and even needs. One material had possibilities, unlike any other material, and they believed that man must understand this, in order to have a relationship with that material. Alchemy taught, how materials, metals, plants, animals and men could be generated or made to grow from their 'seeds'. The central tenant of alchemy was the idea that matter is alive. It was thought that through pounding, beating, twisting the substance within the material, it could be reformed into something other than itself, or be reborn. Alchemists did not mix or compound anything; it just allowed that which already per-existed to become active and grow. This notion

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>