by Sandi Crain

Created on: July 28, 2011   Last Updated: July 31, 2011

Before historical facts there was mythology.  Before empirical science there was alchemy.  Today we may look upon these activities as fun sources for a fantasy role playing game but, for them, it was serious work.  Our ancestors thought it was not only possible but necessary to combine the material left-brained logic with the spiritual right-brained artistry to discover the secrets of the universe.  For the ancients, a partial thought process resulted in partial discoveries. 

This is why the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone still intrigue people today.  The Philosopher's Stone is known as the ultimate ingredient in transmogrification.  Some ancient sources have suggested it is a red stone with physical properties that can turn any metal to gold.  Some sources say it's an elixir that can remove elemental impurities in order to reveal the gold and silver within the ore.  But the most magical stories go way back to the ancient gods where the "lapis philosophorum" has it's roots.

Hermes is associated with the Ram which tells that he is from the Age of Aries.  He is the god of boundaries and transformations, a god of shepherds, weights and measures, and thieves.  Hermes is also known as the “messenger of the gods" (or "angelos" in Greek).  As a god who was both masculine (sun) and feminine (moon) he was the patron of poetry and music who invented the lyre, the pan pipe, and the flute.  The really interesting thing about Hermes is that he was a healer who carried the Caduceus- a rod with two intertwining serpents that resembles the double helix of DNA. 

Hermes was known in Greece as the god of writing and magic.  In Egypt, this was the domain of Thoth.  So, given the power of both empires at the time, it was natural that the two gods would eventually meet.  This combined school of thought is called Hermeticism.   Those who followed the Hermetic teachings faithfully could be rewarded with long life, great health, and unending wisdom.  The text called the "Hermetica" survives and, within it, is the alchemical teachings of the "Emerald Tablet" which is also known as the Philosopher's Stone.  During the Middle Ages, many alchemists had a copy of the Emerald Tablet nearby for reference-each interpreting it in their own way.  It is believed that, overall, the tablet shows us how to achieve personal transformation and promote the evolution of the human species.

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