Alchemy and alchemists

Alchemy combines philosophical theory and a specific practical method, with the aim of achieving absolute wisdom and immortality. The practical method of the alchemists evolved into the basis of modern chemistry, as they created techniques for analyzing, identifying, and separating substances. Even today, many pieces of glassware used in modern chemical laboratories are the creations of the alchemists. The foundations of alchemy were laid by pre-Socratic philosophers such as Empedocles, Thales of Miletus, and Heraclitus.

Alchemy developed in both the Western world and the East or Far East. The main difference in how alchemy developed was that, in the West, the main goal was to transform common metals into gold. In contrast, in the Far East, the main goal was to discover medicines to combat diseases. The first traces of Western alchemy can be found in ancient Egypt. Then, alchemical knowledge was transmitted to the ancient Greeks and then to the Arabs. Until the Arab period, alchemy was a mixture of philosophical ideas, allegories, symbols, and coded languages. In the Arab period (i.e., the 8th century AD), alchemy began to become a recognizable practice.

Alchemists not only sought to improve certain properties of materials or extend life span, but also gave a spiritual dimension to their pursuits. For example, the transformation of "base" lead into "noble" gold was paralleled by the spirit's spiritual elevation and refinement.

The Dominican monk and bishop Albertus Magnus supported the view that alchemy and religion could coexist peacefully. In his work "De mineralibus," he refers to the power of minerals. Magnus is credited with the discovery of arsenic and is also mentioned for his experiments with light-sensitive substances, such as silver nitrate.

Paracelsus focuses more on the medical use of chemistry. While the older alchemists were looking for the transmutation of metals into gold, Paracelsus' contemporaries were looking for the substance that would purify metals from "impurities" and make them refined. This same substance could be activated in the human body, freeing man from disease. This substance was called "prima materia" (primary matter) and is identical with the "philosopher's stone".

Finding or preparing the raw material in nature was a closely guarded secret that the uninitiated were not allowed to know. The relevant instructions were written in a poetic, religious language, with references to magical and astrological implications that only a priesthood of alchemists could decipher and understand.

The raw material or fifth essence (quintessence) was ultimately nothing more than the activation and programming of a material, a technique of the basic Crystal Rays Method course (level 3 session 6).

Alchemists honor the phoenix, giving it an important place among the most sacred symbols. It is the resurrection, immortality, destruction, and the creation of new forms of matter on the path to the final transformation, material and spiritual, and represents the spiritually reborn man, the wise mystic.

In alchemy, five birds symbolize the five stages that each apprentice goes through until he is fully realized as a being of higher inner spiritual essence, that is, becoming a "Phoenix".

The black crow is the first stage, the one where the hard work begins.

The white swan is the second stage, in which the Alchemist begins to experience and understand his inner world and the deepest light of his existence.

The peacock is the third stage, in which the Alchemist is introduced to the experience of the astral world.

The pelican symbolizes the fourth stage, in which the powers of the soul begin to outweigh those of matter.

Finally, the phoenix, the fifth stage, the symbolic sacrifice of matter through the baptism of fire, so that the soul can be reborn from the ashes.