While medieval alchemists often get a bad rap it is usually due to people's ignorance on the subject. Alchemy was the science of the middle ages but it differed from our understanding of science in that it did not differentiate between factual science and religion. The greatest goal of Alchemy was "the Philosopher's Stone" which was said to turn base metals into gold. However, the steps to obtain the stone were also meant as an allegory for spiritual enlightenment and the perfection of one's soul. It would be fair to say that, to an alchemist, this process of spiritual perfection was the true purpose of Alchemy.
The process of the stone, and much of the alchemical philosophy, is deeply tied to old and obscure occult practices and is seen to have a strong correlation to the paths of the Tarot and the Qaballa as well.
That being said, Alchemy was also concerned with observable scientific study and was the guardian of scientific thought through those dark years known as the Medieval Period. Alchemists possessed a much greater wealth of knowledge than most people are willing to attribute to them. For example, Alchemists understood and recorded the fact that the Earth was indeed round, they had observed and recorded that white light contained lights of other colors and they were, in many cases, responsible for medicine at a time when most scholastic study was dedicated to religious topics.
The obscurity of most alchemical texts is understandable when you consider the power that the established religious organizations had at the time. However, we must also take into account that, as are scientists today, alchemists were concerned with keeping their discoveries their own. For both these reasons alchemists felt it important to cloud their words in allegory and fantastical writing.
I feel that modern science could possibly learn a lot from the concept of combining scientific and metaphysical study as there is much heart ache that derives from the vigorous separation of religion and science, neither of which, alone, can offer a complete personal understanding of our own existence.
The process of the stone, and much of the alchemical philosophy, is deeply tied to old and obscure occult practices and is seen to have a strong correlation to the paths of the Tarot and the Qaballa as well.
That being said, Alchemy was also concerned with observable scientific study and was the guardian of scientific thought through those dark years known as the Medieval Period. Alchemists possessed a much greater wealth of knowledge than most people are willing to attribute to them. For example, Alchemists understood and recorded the fact that the Earth was indeed round, they had observed and recorded that white light contained lights of other colors and they were, in many cases, responsible for medicine at a time when most scholastic study was dedicated to religious topics.
The obscurity of most alchemical texts is understandable when you consider the power that the established religious organizations had at the time. However, we must also take into account that, as are scientists today, alchemists were concerned with keeping their discoveries their own. For both these reasons alchemists felt it important to cloud their words in allegory and fantastical writing.
I feel that modern science could possibly learn a lot from the concept of combining scientific and metaphysical study as there is much heart ache that derives from the vigorous separation of religion and science, neither of which, alone, can offer a complete personal understanding of our own existence.
Namaste, my brother Green. I must be candid, I expected the usual rhetoric based in Catholicism. Much to my surprise you are posting a brief but exciting blog on alchemy. Following this subject in depth we find beautiful and clear spiritual truth.
ReplyDeleteFurther to the point, I find a relaxing casual demeanor on this site which is quite attractive.
I am a spiritual seeker, for 30 years my wife and I have delved deeply into world religion, philosophy and advanced science. I often try to enjoy discussions with those of faith. My goal in conducting such probes is to better understand the nature and attraction to various concepts of God.
The premise of most book based religions define God as creator of the universe. My spiritual truth differs inasmuch as I have determined that God became the universe. This, not so subtle, contrast is rather significant.
Religions subjugate man under the authority of God. God creates, observes the judges. The carrot and stick ethos which follows forces the adherent to alter his/her reflection of being to gain curry with their God so that judgment may be favorable.
By contrast the philosophy of God becoming the universe infuses all men the understanding of self as God. In fact there is nothing which is not God, you, me the chair, even the words we read and write are God.
We come to understand that there are not 6.8 billion people there is only ONE. We are not body, we are Godself consciousness. this repartee of words we share is akin to God dancing with God eternally in the NOW moment. Time, space, physicality, separation, birth, death are all illusions wrapped up tightly by the monkey we know as ego.
You remark with chagrin that science has not been able to advance to the intelligent merging with spiritual truth. This void between left and right brain thinking has been successfully bridged over the last 20 years. I direct your attention to the science section on my blog site. There are over 300 free you tube videos to choose from. You will find some very exciting science. Here are some of the topics to whet your appetite.
Quantum Reality
Atomic consciousness
The miracle of water
The biology of the Cell
Sacred and Fractal Geometry
Fibonacci Sequence
Schumann Resonance
The Global Noosphere
Intention experiments
The placebo effect
In conclusion my brother, I hope we may share views respectfully for mutual gain. I invite you to follow my thoughts and comment.
In Lak' esh, my brother love is all there is...