New age: Details about 'Hermetic Alchemy'
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Hermetic Alchemy or The Operation of the Sun is a spiritual technique used to purify and refine oneself. Disagreements exist over whether physical alchemy or spiritual, Hermetic alchemy came first. Scholars of science tend to believe that spiritual alchemy is the offspring of physical alchemy, while occult scholars tend to believe that physical alchemy is the perversion of its spiritual counterpart. Others, such as Manly P. Hall, believe that both are plausible and that spiritual alchemy is the key to successfully doing physical alchemy. (Hall The Secret Teachings of All Ages p. 509) Hermetic Alchemy came forth from Egypt, as a Hermetic art, and during the Middle Ages dominated the other branches (Astrology and Theurgy). (Hall The Hermetic Marriage p. 225) This art and Astrology are known as the two oldest sciences in the world. A legend even exists which purports that an angel had given to Adam knowledge of these two arts and told him that mankind could reenter Eden once both were mastered. (Hall The Secret Teachings of All Ages p. 494) It gained much support from those who required logic, reason, and philosophy once religion in Europe lost its philosophical edge and became entrenched in blind faith. (Hall The Hermetic Marriage p. 226) Alchemy has given birth to chemistry through the work of such men as Roger Bacon. (Hall The Hermetic Marriage p. 225) However, according to Hermetic alchemists, the physical side to the art is only half of it, the spiritual is the other. This is revealed in the symbolism of the Egyptian goddess Isis whose veil hides the other half from the unworthy. (Hall The Secret Teachings of All Ages p. 126)
The Physical Chicken and the Spiritual EggMuch like the old riddle of "which came first, the chicken or the egg?", scholars debate over whether the physical alchemy or spiritual alchemy came first. Invariably, those with an opinion on the matter contend that the version which came first spurned the version that came after. Both sides have evidence in their favor. Arguments for Physical AlchemyArguments for Spiritual AlchemyGoals of Spiritual AlchemyMetaphorical Alchemical SubstancesGold Silver Lead Salt Mercury Sulphur Philosopher's Stone Panacea Spiritual Alchemical ProcessCalcinationDissolutionSeparationConjunctionFermentationDistillationCoagulationReferencesSee also
External linksAlquimia espiritual
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