Ross A. Laird

Alchemy

Tradition European 1300’s-present (With this spelling)

Etymology Al –“the” + Chemy- Khamè -“Black Earth”
The Black Earth

Other spellings: alkamy(e, alknamy(e, alkenamye, -emye, alconomy(e, alcanamy, alkemy, alcomye, alchumie,
alchimie, -ymie, alkimy, -camy, -cumy, alchimy,
alchymy, alchemy. Etc.

*Oxford English Dictionary

Equivalents Wei Boyan (China)
Calid & Rhazes (Islamic Alchemy)
Nagarjuna (India)
Albertus Magnus & pseudo-Geber (Europe)
Anonymous piece called the Mutus Liber (France during the 17th Century)

A tentative outline is as follows:

Egyptian alchemy [5000 BCE – 400 BCE], beginning of alchemy
Indian alchemy [1200 BCE – Present][13], related to Indian metallurgy; Nagarjuna was an important alchemist
Greek alchemy [332 BCE – 642 CE], studied at the Library of Alexandria
Chinese alchemy [142 CE], Wei Boyang writes The Kinship of the Three
Islamic alchemy [700 – 1400], Geber, a very important chemist, introduces experimental method and theories on philosopher’s stone and creation of life
Islamic chemistry [800 – Present], Alkindus and Avicenna refute transmutation, Rhazes refutes four classical elements, and Tusi discovers conservation of mass
European alchemy [1300 – Present], Saint Albertus Magnus builds on Arabic alchemy
European chemistry [1661 – Present], Boyle writes The Sceptical Chymist, Lavoisier writes Elements of Chemistry, and Dalton publishes his Atomic Theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy#History

Affiliations Wizards/Magicians/Mad Scientists
Wisemen and women
War and weapons
Science (medicine, chemistry, etc.)
Aisian traditions of Spirituality
The Dark Ages

Summary

The story of Alchemic tradition begins in Ancient Egypt around 5000 BCE and continued until around 400 BCE. Although Egypt was the first culture to practice alchemy, it may not be the only culture to have independently come up with the idea. In 142 AD the Chinese alchemist Wei Boyang wrote of Chou-i ts’an t’ung chi or The Kinship of the Three. It is a diagram of 64 hexagrams purported to have been used for divination.
The earliest evidence for this tradition comes from the mythical existence of the Emerald Tablet. Cut from a single piece of green crystal, the Emerald Tablet carries a prophetic message full of hidden meaning. Although its true origin is lost in legends that go back over 10,000 years, the artifact was translated into Greek by Alexandrian scholars and actually put on display in Egypt in 330 BC. Of particular relevance to Alchemic origins is the closing line of the tablet “And because of this they have called me Hermes Tristmegistus since I have the three parts of the wisdom and Philosophy of the whole universe.”(1) The three parts of the wisdom and philosophy refer to the traditions of three cultures represented by the Roman Mercury, the Greek Hermes, and the Egyptian Thoth.
From these mythical origins alchemy spread throughout the old world into Mesopotamia, Persia, India, Japan, Korea and China, in Classical Greece and Rome, in the Muslim civilizations, and then in Europe up to the 20th century. The tools of the alchemist’s trade are reminiscent of modern chemists. Alchemists believed that by combining certain substances they could create nothing short of magic. In the beginning of the tradition alchemists in all cultures recognized a common set of 5 elements: earth, air, fire, water and Aether.
But what was/is alchemy? Alchemy was the pursuit of formulae for achieving such things as the transmutation of base metals into precious metals, mainly gold. It was the quest to discover the secret to prolonging life indefinitely. It was the science behind (true) magic. But alchemy is not only the legacy of materialistic and fearful men. It was also the discipline of the humanitarian.
They were men inspired by a vision, a vision of man made perfect, of man freed from disease and the limitations of warring faculties both mental and physical, standing godlike in the realization of a power that even at this very moment of time lies hidden in the deeper strata of consciousness, a vision of man made truly in the image and likeness of the One Divine Mind in its Perfection, Beauty, and Harmony.(2)

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet
(2) http://www.alchemylab.com/history_of_alchemy.htm

Attributes and Powers of Alchemists

Perform experiments in an effort to discover new substances and elements.

Create substances especially for medicinal or cosmetic purposes.

Transmutation of common metals into noble metals, namely gold.

Try to heal ailments and restore youth with the “elixir of life”.

Produce the Philosopher’s Stone, an important ingredient that can transform metals into gold, restore youth, and bring upon enlightenment and infinite knowledge to the user.

Use knowledge and practice as a form of spiritual meditation.

Events and Situations

Alchemy first begins in Egypt. Thoth (aka Hermes) wrote 42 Books of Knowledge, covering all fields of knowledge. Alchemy is of the disciplines mentioned. (5000-400 BCE)
In Greece, theories of natural laws and states are discussed by philosophers. The concept of all things being made up of the Four Elements: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth is developed by Empedocles and Aristotle (332 BCE – 642 CE)
Introduction of Christianity causes condemnation of alchemy. The practice is considered to be un-Godly and evil in the Roman Empire.
In Islamic alchemy, Jabir Ibn Hayyan (Geber) introduces the scientific method in alchemy the 8th century CE. Jabir dedicates his career to discovering how to recreate life with the “elixer” of life (beginning of the philosopher’s stone legend in the Western World).
Medieval Europe: alchemy is accepted widely, the pursuit of turning metal into gold is of paramount importance to alchemists, because of the symbolic references it held. (1300-Present)
In in the 17th century, a book called Mutus Liber was published. It was a fifteen-page picture book that served as an instruction guide to making one’s own Philosopher’s Stone.
Paracelsus (late 15th Century) combines alchemy use with medicine.

Local Exaples

Too many to list. Start by thinking about everything influenced by alchemy/chemistry in the school and then expand.

Modern examples

Chemistry: in its entirety
Physics: In the 20th century physicists were able to convert platinum atoms into gold atoms through a nuclear reaction.
Pseudoscience: In Chinese medicine the alchemical tradition of pao zhi transform the nature of temperature, taste, body part accessed or toxicity.
Nuclear transmutation: In many nuclear physics-related laboratories and facilities, like particle accelerators, nuclear power stations and nuclear weapons as a by-product of fission and other physical processes.
Art: In some Japanese anime and manga, most notably Fullmetal Alchemist, alchemy and transmutation are treated as sciences, mixed with magic but fully understandable and can be utilized with proper knowledge.
In the twentieth century alchemy was a profoundly important source of inspiration for the Surrealist artist Max Ernst, who used the symbolism of alchemy to inform and guide his work.

Resonances in Other Traditions

Philosophers Stone (benben stone of Alchemy)
Magnum Opus
Astrology and alchemy (alchemic elements)
Human transmutation
Homunculus
Elixir of Life
Emerald Tablet

Contemporary Relevance

Modern Chemistry - Laboratory tools used today are very similar to those used in Islamic Alchemy. (Tools of today are more reliable and safe).
Gold – Matter Transmutation in the 20th Century. Physicists were able to convert platinum atoms into gold atoms through a nuclear reaction. (Highly unstable and lasted only 5 seconds).
Traditional Medicine: The commercialization of alchemy; examples include anti-oxidants in drinks and food, energy drinks, the wonders of ginseng, heath products, and supplements.
Nuclear physics: Nuclear Transmutation – Earnest Rutherford – particle accelerators and changing one element into another element.
Art, Max Ernst – Michael Pierce – Adam MacLean

Further Information

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/alchemy

 http://www.alchemylab.com/history_of_alchemy.htm

Oxford English Dictionary

 http://www.levity.com/alchemy/