Alchemy offers tremendous insight into alternative therapies, new medicines, and the depths of the human mind. Illuminating a truly esoteric practice, Mark Stavish reveals how to create and apply "medicines for the soul" in this remarkable guide to plant and mineral alchemy.
The Path of Alchemy introduces the history and basic laws of this ancient practice, and explains how it ties into Qabala, tarot, astrology, and the four elements. Safe, modern techniques—based on spagyrics (plant alchemy)—for producing distillations, stones, tinctures, and elixirs are given, along with their uses in physical healing, spiritual growth, psychic experiments, initiation, consecration, spellwork, and more. Each chapter includes meditations, projects, and suggested reading as aids to "inner transformation," an equally important aspect of alchemy. Tools, rituals, lunar and solar stones, and the elusive Philosopher's Stone are all covered in this comprehensive guide to alchemy.
Finalist for the Coalition of Visionary Resources Award for Best Magick/Shamanism Book
Table of Contents:
Contents
Foreword by Russell House xi
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction xvii
one Alchemy: An Introduction to the Royal Art 1
Why Study Alchemy? 1
The Land of Khem: Where It All Began 4
The Key of All Magic: Separating the Gross from the Subtle 5
The Stages of the Great Work and Astrology 6
Qabala and Alchemy: A Fool’s Journey 8
Qabala 101: Using the Tree of Life with Alchemy 9
Conclusion 13
two Basic Spagyrics 17
The Three Essentials: Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury 17
The Three Essentials and the Elements 18
Experiments for the Beginning Student of the Art 22
Basic Spagyric Tincture 25
Calcination 28
Meditation: The Basics 35
Alchemical Meditations 36
three Creating a Plant Stone 41
A Plant Stone: Key to the Astral World 41
The Astral World and Alchemy 42
Lunar Cycles and Alchemy 47
How to Make a Plant Stone 49
Leaching Salts 50
The Stone 52
Sea Salt and Alchemy 55
Suggestions for Study 57
four Distillation 61
Red Wine and Alchemy 62
Distilling Alcohol from Red Wine 63
Distillation and Creating a Plant Stone 70
Creating an Elixir 72
five Water Distillation 79
Psychic Experiments with Water 82
Distillation of Water 85
Scented Water and Water Elixirs 86
six Initiatic Alchemy 91
Initiation 92
How to Make an Ens 97
Using the Ens 99
seven Physical Health and Healing with Spagyrics 107
Why We Seek Health 107
Problems of Dosage 108
Alchemy and Homeopathy 110
Salt Structures and the Tree of Life 115
Planets, Plants, and Their Healing Qualities 116
eight Ritual Use of Spagyric Products 127
Inner Tools of Alchemy 127
Ora Et Labora 128
Meditation and Alchemy 132
Ritual Charging of Alchemical Products 135
Holy Blood, Holy Grail 142
nine The Red and White Stones of Alchemy 147
The Stones of the Royal Art 147
The Role of Saturn in Alchemy 157
ten Alchemical Symbolism and the Tarot 165
Symbolism: The Language of the Birds 170
Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Astral 172
Alchemical Pathworking 178
Conclusion 183
Appendix A: Planetary Hours 185
Appendix B: The Longevity Formula of Comte de St. Germain 193
Appendix C: The Path of Nicholas Flamel and the
Philosopher’s Stone 195
Glossary 211
Selected Bibliography 217
Alchemical Reading List and Resources 219
Index 225
About the Author :
Mark Stavish (Pennsylvania) has been a long-time student of esotericism and is a frequent lecturer on ancient occult knowledge. Founder of the Institute for Hermetic Studies, he is the author of numerous articles on Western esotericism. In 2001 he established the Louis Claude de St. Martin Fund, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the study and practice of Western Esotericism. He has also served as a consultant to print and broadcast media and several documentaries. He holds undergraduate degrees in Theology and Communications and a Master's in Counseling.
Review :
"This book contains concepts and ideas relevant to any metaphysical path...A concise and practical primer of alchemy that often gives the practice useful context within the continuum of other esoteric disciplines."—Library Journal
Finalist for the Coalition of Visionary Resources Award for Best Magick/Shamanism Book
"The Path of Alchemy is an insightful, highly practical work, dedicated to the perpetuation of this ancient Art and Science...I highly recommend this book..."—Joseph C. Lisiewski, PhD, Author of, Ceremonial Magic, Kabbalistic Cycles and the Mastery of Life and Kabbalistic Handbook for the Practicing Magician
"The Path of Alchemy lays down a golden thread for the student to follow as a guide into the secretive world of the most arcane art in the Western Inner Tradition, transporting the reader into the actual workings of laboratory alchemy. From the basics of making simple, yet powerful, spiritual and physical medicines from plants, to detailing some of the most closely guarded secrets of mineral alchemy, The Path of Alchemy holds aloft the Lantern of Nature to help illuminate the Novice's path. For those who do the work this book will ignite the spiritual flame within."—John H. Reid III, author of Alchemical Gnosis, and A Course in Practical Alchemy
"Mark Stavish has been a prolific writer on alchemy over the years and this book represents his finest work yet. It is a must for any study of alchemy in understanding the subtle side of its process. He writes with a knowledge and insight that comes from years of experience and yet is presented in an easy to read format. Mark's work is quite unique and is a valuable addition to the various alchemical paradigms that are starting to expand through the literary fields."—Pat Zalewski, author of Golden Dawn Enochian Magick and The Kabbalah of the Golden Dawn
