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can see that as the matter in his flasks evolves so do the creatures that live, in
the astral, within the matter. The benefit of this ability is primarily singular.
That by watching and communicating with such creatures the Alchemist can
learn more about natural law, and the laws that govern Magick, than by almost
any other method.
Now, all of this is good and fine for those who desire to become involved with
laboratory Alchemy, but what of those who do not? It is our contention that
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those who do not desire to become involved in the operative tradition should,
none the less, seek out tutors, during formal tuition, who have a laboratory
and spend some time in their company learning what they can second hand.
The Alchemist s laboratory provides a situation to see things and experience
things that it is very difficult to find anywhere else. The experienced Alchemist,
for example, has the ability to demonstrate the relationship between the astral
and the physical like no other esoteric practitioner can.
A good instruction in the relationship between the astral world and this one
can only improve the student s skill in mastering himself and his environment.
Let us the quickly recapitulate the main points of this lecture.
Firstly, laboratory Alchemy is not just a process involving the manipulation of
chemicals for some Magickal purpose. That the Alchemist recognises an
astral/life component to his work.
Secondly, that traditionally the average Alchemist used astrology in an
attempt to calculate astral tides for the purpose of discovering the correct time
to perform certain tasks or collect certain materials (animal, vegetable, or
mineral).
Thirdly, that psychically advanced Alchemists have recourse to the use of
clairvoyance in order to assess the state of astral currents and the astral state
of materials.
Lastly, that our instruction, in Formal Training, does not include, as part of its
official study course, tuition in astrology. Nevertheless, it is advised that every
student seek out some degree of understanding of the details of astrology
from amongst the many popular books that are published on the subject.
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Probationers Lesson 13
Alchemy
"To appreciate and understand these Adepts' visions it is necessary to trace to
some extent the history of their cult."
(Archibald Cockren - Alchemy rediscovered and restored)
This lesson focuses on Alchemy in general. As we have said previously we
divide the arte into two disciplines - one chemical whose work is performed in
nature and in the laboratory, and one psychological - whose work is carried
out in the astral of the individual and collective psyches. The former is
operative and the latter speculative in our system.
It is difficult to say, as far as past times are concerned, just how the average
Alchemist viewed the speculative side of his arte. We could assume that the
religious preferences of their respective cultures had a major influence on
their spiritual (psychic) outlook. At the same time it is considered that many
Alchemists working under the yoke of Christianity only included Christian
trappings in their writings and behaviours in order to avoid persecution. It is,
nevertheless, unlikely that all 'Christian Alchemists' had this view of
Christianity because some Alchemists revealed to us that, indeed, the Bible,
Old and New Testaments alike, include many alchemical allegories and very
clear descriptions of operative processes.
There is much evidence, though, that leads us to accept that a small number
of Alchemists had advanced clairvoyant faculties, and that these individuals
had a more universal and non-sectarian view of psychic phenomena. Many of
these individuals were primarily speculative in their approach, such as the
famous alchemical Mystic Jacob Boheme, but they definitely had access to
the operative discipline. It is from these individuals that we find the most far-
reaching and in-depth descriptions of spiritual reality and alchemical
philosophy; the most respectful attitude towards occult knowledge, the
deepest admiration for the tradition.
The chymical or operative side of Alchemy is quite a different story. No matter
what anybody, today or in the past, might believe Alchemy 'is' it cannot be
denied, once we have studied all that is known about the arte, that the
chymical tradition is the most enduring and oldest aspect of the Tradition.
Besides this, the image of an Alchemist, in the popular and educated mind
alike, is that of an old man toiling over flasks and retorts in his laboratory, not
a meditating mystic.
We know that the ancient Egyptians were involved in Alchemy and we can
only guess at the miracles in metallurgy they achieved, for little has remained
in record of their approach to our arte.
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The oldest alchemical text that has survived is of Greek origin, by the
Alchemist Zosimos of Panopolis. The text is a mixture of chymistry and
spiritual/alchemical allegory. Which says a lot about the classic Greek
Alchemists concerns. Many medieval texts have survived which are a mixture
of the religion of their authors and chymistry. A good percentage are straight
forward chymistry only. The 16th, 17th and 18th centuries see the greatest
production of alchemical texts and engravings. Most of what we know about
traditional operative Alchemy today derives from this renaissance. In fact the
core operative practices of later 20th century Alchemy are sometimes referred
to as having originated with French renaissance Alchemy.
Alchemy itself, both speculative and operative is sometimes, mostly by
Alchemists themselves, called the touchstone of all art and science. A
touchstone, for those who are not aware, is an implement a jeweller or
assayer used to use in order to test precious metals. In other words it is a
stone whose purpose is the exact identification of other (precious) stones.
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