Despite popular misunderstandings about alchemy as a gold-making pseudo-science, alchemy is in truth a system which uses love and sexuality as tools for spiritual development. Thus Western Alchemy bears great similarity both to Eastern Tantra and to Taoist sexual practice, yet it remains nonetheless uniquely Occidental. As Westerners, symbols arising from our own culture have a far more powerful impact on us than do symbols from other cultures. Thus the unearthing of alchemy as a domestic, Tantra-like tradition here in the West is a discovery of unparalleled spiritual importance for couples!
Developed in ancient Egypt as the "Royal Art," alchemy was originally reserved for the Pharaoh and the ruling class, as once was Taoist sexual practice for the Chinese Emperors as well. With the later confluence of Hellenic and Egyptian cultures in Alexandria during the Ptolemaic dynasty, alchemy became a cornerstone of the emerging Hermetic tradition. From the great city of Alexandria, alchemy then spread all across the Mediterranean and to Europe with the Greek and the Roman Empires.
The emergence of Christianity posed a unique threat to the survival of alchemy. To protect the "Royal Art" from destruction with the emergence of Christianity, many of its practices were encoded in the rites and stories of the new religion, whose true meaning were secretly and carefully preserved by initiates for centuries. When the Inquisition arrived and the church became more dangerously repressive, the myth of a materialistic science was created whose aim it was to "manufacture gold." Hermetic symbolism was used to conceal alchemical truth, yet to preserve and communicate it among alchemists.
Enlightened modern attitudes toward sexuality together with the popularity of Tantra in the West, finally enable the true nature of the "Royal Art" to be revealed as "The Alchemy of Love." Although the erotic nature of alchemy has been kept secret for centuries, any other interpretation of alchemy is simply mistaken. Thus the Jungian psychological interpretation of alchemy is equally erroneous as the notion of a "gold-cooking, pseudo-science."
Among classical alchemical literature, there exist three classes of documents. Firstly, there are series of alchemical images clothed in Hermetic symbolism. Secondly, there exist documents apparently describing laboratory processes, yet concealing certain parts using hermetic symbolism or other code devices. Finally, there are fakes prepared by non-alchemists having no inherent value.
In certain instances the meaning of alchemical images is quite obvious for those with eyes to understand. For example, the images of the Rosarium Philosophorum, as illustrated below, clearly depict the erotic nature of alchemy.
That images or descriptions of processes may be taken literally (as in the case of the above image from the "Rosarium Philosophorum"), however, tends to be the exception rather than the rule. Indeed, the vast majority of genuine alchemical documents or series of images must be read as poetry rather than as prose. In other words, one must look beyond the content, beyond the obvious, and attempt to understand what is intended by analogy and by metaphor as in poetry.
This becomes is a simpler task once the erotic nature of alchemy is understood. It is also helpful to bear in mind why alchemical documents and images were created to begin with; in order to communicate certain truths between alchemists, yet simultaneously preventing unwanted others from understanding them.
The following alchemical image, for example, contrasts popular misunderstandings about "laboratory" alchemy (as a proto- or pseudo- science) with its true nature as the "alchemy of love." This is not obvious, however, to anyone still unaware of the erotic nature of alchemy.
To the right in the image, we see a supposed alchemical laboratory, with all of its attendant apparatus; oven, retorts, flasks, etc., labeled as the "Mechanical Opus." To the left, however, we see a disrobed and winged female figure seated upon a tree, upon which is inscribed the words "Natural Opus" in Latin. Thus we may best read this image as saying: "Nature calls to the true alchemist, revealing to him that the "Opus Magnum" (or Great Work) is not a dry operation to be carried out in some dark laboratory, but rather with love in the heart of nature itself."
The erotic nature of the "alchemy of love" is clearly symbolized not only by the naked beauty of the female figure, but by the fire which burns beneath her as well. Her wings indicate that for a man, woman holds the wings to his spiritual ascent. Finally, she is crowned with the symbols of the seven ancient planets. This indicates the importance of astrology and astrological cycles in the alchemy of love.
It is only through an understanding of the relationship between astrology and alchemy that the analogy of the transmutation of lead and lesser metals into gold may be correctly understood. The traditional correspondences between the alchemical metals and the ancient planets are as follows: Saturn - Lead, Moon - Silver, Mercury - Quicksilver, Venus - Copper, Jupiter - Tin, and Sun - Gold.
Saturn is the planet associated in astrology with limitation and that rules over matter. Thus we may discern that "Lead" in the "alchemy of love" represents our physical bodies, the "prima materia" of the alchemists, the "first matter" with which we may begin the "Opus Magnum," or "Great Work" of alchemy. Thus we may correctly understand the metaphor of the transmutation of lesser metals into gold as actually representing the transformation of the physical body into ever more refined forms of energy and the cultivation of ever more subtle bodies.
Thus the hermetic and alchemical traditions do not view "soul" as something that exists inherently and equally in all human beings, but rather as something that must be actively cultivated and developed. According to the Hermetic tradition, each of us possesses only the seed of a soul. It is up to each one of us whether we cultivate this seed or not. Thus we may understand that the transmutation of Lead into Gold refers by analogy to the cultivation of soul, the refinement of matter into ever purer forms of energy, and ultimately the giving of birth of a "body of light" or "solar body." At the moment of death, the alchemist projects his or her consciousness into this "solar body," achieves liberation from further incarnation, and becomes consciously immortal.
The above transmutation occurs by virtue of the rectification and multiplication of the Philosopher's Stone. Hermetic rules prohibit the direct revelation of Philosopher's Stone. Many things have been said by alchemists concerning the Stone, including that "it is a most potent elixir of life, having both the power to prolong youth and to confer immortality." Today, those who practice the 'alchemy of love' with diligence, are almost certain to independently discover its true nature and to harness its transmutative powers.
The Alchemy Institute offers public lectures for individuals as well
as for couples or partners. The techniques taught by the Alchemy Institute
derive primarily from 'binomial' alchemy, however, meaning that they are
practiced by two partners working together (regardless of sexual orientation)
rather than by individuals practicing alone. With only rare exceptions,
the Alchemy Institute therefore requires attendance by both partners for
participation in seminars and advanced training courses.
In this public lecture, we examine how traditional alchemical texts and images reveal the true, amorous nature of alchemy. We then contrast and compare Western alchemy with Eastern tantric systems and Taoist sexual practice.
An introduction to alchemy for couples/partners wishing to bring more love into their relationships and a more spiritual dimension into their sexual lives. In this introductory seminar, couples/partners learn the basic techniques to begin to practice the 'alchemy of love' at home as a means of personal and spiritual transformation.
Jealousy is one of the most important obstacles towards a full expression of love in any relationship, as well as the choices that couples make when one or both partners eventually find themselves attracted to someone other than their primary partner. In this seminar, we look at how each of us deal with jealousy and attraction in a safe and non-threatening environment, and learn how we may better understand and support our partner when and if jealousy arises.
The Alchemy Institute offers ongoing instruction in advanced alchemy in study circles organized in various cities. The techniques taught in this sixteen-part course for couples/partners comprise the essence of the ancient Egyptian "Royal Art" and have been the best kept secrets of the Hermetic and the Western Esoteric traditions for nearly 4,000 years. Acceptance for training in one of our Alchemical Circles is by invitation only. Couples/partners wishing to apply should have previously completed our introductory seminars and should already be practicing and have mastered basic alchemical techniques.