Alchemy

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jenny-Li	22 Jun 2002
Hi! Up until embarrassingly recently I thought, like most people I guess, that Alchemy was a medeival science aimed at making gold out of lead. I do know better now. But that is also all I know. I read "The Alchemist" by Paolo Cuelho a few weeks ago (I recall reporting it here, deliriously happy about how wonderful that story was - but I don't mind repeating myself, if anyone hasn't read it yet - DO! It's wonderful, I promise!), but I would like to read more. Since I don't know much about anything (but hey, at least I realize it myself, right...?! :D) I'm looking for a serious but simple book, ones that cover the basics, the overview and the stories. A book that would make me know enough to know if I want to study further or not! Since I'm not native in English, I would also appreciate one written in plain English, if possible... Any ideas? Anyone who is an expert and would like to share...? Thank you guys! Light and love, Jenny :)

Houklani	26 Jun 2002
Um...I know nothing about alchemy, but I just wanted to confirm that "The Alchemist" the book is the same one I read. Is yours about a man searching for treasure??? To be honest I can't remember anything to have to do with alchemy in that book except in the symbolic sense, though that may have been my ignorance thinking. ;) Smiles, Houklani

catlin	26 Jun 2002
Alchemy, mmm, I've got one at home but I do not know if it is available in English. There is one essential historical thingy available: "The Chymical marrige of Christian Rosenkreutz" (hope this is the correct English title) but this is a very strange one. Did you try a search on google?

aeonx	27 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Houklani Um...I know nothing about alchemy, but I just wanted to confirm that "The Alchemist" the book is the same one I read. Is yours about a man searching for treasure??? To be honest I can't remember anything to have to do with alchemy in that book except in the symbolic sense, though that may have been my ignorance thinking. ;) Smiles, Houklani It's about this boy, herding a flock of sheep, and he's starting to search for the 'treasure' after an encounter with a fortune-telling gypsy. :) I absolutely love this book! And the book is all about Alchemy and the meaning of life. ;) ~aeonx~

catlin	27 Jun 2002
Ok, the German book I read about Alchemy was by Hans Geblein, "Alchemie", published in Diedrichs Gelbe Reihe. The English title should be "Alchemy" then. Maybe it was translated in English. Hope this helps.

Marion	27 Jun 2002
Hi, I have read several books on alchemy, and they were dauntingly difficult to read. I also read them in my thirties and hardly remember the details. So I guess I posted to say that C.G. Jung wrote an entire book on alchemy called: "Mysterium Conjunctionis", and he also wrote numerous essays on the subject. The essays comprise Volumes 12 and 13 of his Collected Works. (these are still available, M.C. is volume 14 by the way. While written in German I read the English translations). I think they comprise a pretty complete view of the subject. I read them 15 years ago. Sometimes I am amazed at my younger self! Now I all read is tarot-related books and murder mysteries, hehe. :(

Jenny-Li	10 Jul 2002
Thanks guys for your input - I should have guessed Jung had had some things to say about this subject. Naturally I will also use Old Faithful = Google on this, bet someone has written stuff about it on the Net! I do however always find it easier (and a very good way to start out) to follow leads from people I know, rather than having to dig throug the tons of not-so-useful stuff that is out there... Have some input to start with now, thanks! The book I mentioned, yes I think it's about Alchemy, but to a curious soul just at a teasing deapth, you know it gets you, but you can't really get IT...! ;) Light and love, Jenny :)

The Alchemy thread was originally posted on 22 Jun 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.