>>15946575I wish I had wrote down my findings into alchemy because now I have to do this all from memory.
I've always considered alchemy as a religion in and of itself and I'm still somewhat convinced of the observation. The pursuit of alchemy is a lifestyle. Another important thing to understand is the alchemy exists in paradox and metaphors; mystery is a key component of alchemy.
Alchemy is about the Magnus Opus, that is the great work, which is the bringing out of the philosophers stone. From my understanding it seems that the lapis is the transforming substance itself or rather the "special water" that is trapped within all matter though I admit the symbology confuses me somewhat.
The Great Work can be seen as a redemptive act, like Jesus, where the alchemist liberates matter from its base form to free the divine component (special water). This freed water rejoins divinity although I'm not sure if the Prima Materia itself is being liberated to rejoin itself or it is being liberated to rejoin the anima mundi.
Either way just like Jesus you redeem the world to rejoin in divinity from an interpretation of things. The Magnum Opus has been described to take 12 steps (fermentation, calcination, etc.) or 4 (nigredo, rubido, etc.) both of which have changed overtime which brings up a very important point as to the nature of alchemy.
Alchemy can only be pursued in solitude with no assistants or apprentices. The nature of the work itself requires that the mind of the alchemist be clear and pure for the entire process to work in addition the work will never be completed without divine revelation since only God knows how to liberate the matter. It seems that the expectation of a result within the mind is harmful to the process which is why mystery is not only needed but it has to be preserved in the mind of the alchemist, to a degree.
1/2
