whats alchemy?

Question

whats alchemy

Answer 1

ALCHEMY is a form of speculative thought that, among other aims, tried to transform base metals such as lead or copper into silver or gold and to discover a cure for disease and a way of extending life.

Alchemy was the name given in Latin Europe in the 12th century to an aspect of thought that corresponds to astrology, which is apparently an older tradition. Both represent attempts to discover the relationship of man to the cosmos and to exploit that relationship to his benefit. The first of these objectives may be called scientific, the second technological. Astrology is concerned with man's relationship to “the stars” (including the members of the solar system); alchemy, with terrestrial nature. But the distinction is far from absolute, since both are interested in the influence of the stars on terrestrial events. Moreover, both have always been pursued in the belief that the processes human beings witness in heaven and on earth manifest the will of the Creator and, if correctly understood, will yield the key to the Creator's intentions.
Nature and significance

That both astrology and alchemy may be regarded as fundamental aspects of thought is indicated by their apparent universality. It is notable, however, that the evidence is not equally substantial in all times and places. Evidence from ancient Middle America (Aztecs, Mayans) is still almost nonexistent; evidence from India is tenuous and from ancient China, Greece, and Islamic lands is only relatively more plentiful. A single manuscript of some 80,000 words is the principal source for the history of Greek alchemy. Chinese alchemy is largely recorded in about 100 “books” that are part of the Taoist canon. Neither Indian nor Islamic alchemy has ever been collected, and scholars are thus dependent for their knowledge of the subject on occasional allusions in works of natural philosophy and medicine, plus a few specifically alchemical works.

Nor is it really clear what alchemy was (or is). The word is a European one, derived from Arabic, but the origin of the root word, chem, is uncertain. Words similar to it have been found in most ancient languages, with different meanings, but conceivably somehow related to alchemy. In fact, the Greeks, Chinese, and Indians usually referred to what Westerners call alchemy as “The Art,” or by terms denoting change or transmutation.-

Answer 2

Just as an addition to what the others said, there is the type of alchemy, thats called Daoist Alchemy, which has been practiced and developed by the followers of the Dao in China. It believes that different elements outside as well as the inside can be transmutated to form an Elixir, which in turn can bring Immortality, or the final goal. Such healing arts as Chi Gong, Tai Ji, etc. apply alchemy as the major source of fuel.

Answer 3

the levity Web site given is probably the premiere site to learn about alchemy. Alchemy was a precursor to chemistry and pharmacology and was also regarded as a transformational spiritual path by some in which the laboratory work was an active meditation and a metaphor for intrapersonal transformation. At a certain point, it became regarded as a pseudoscience and was the domain of hacks trying to manufacture gold and immortality ( but often poisoning themselves to death). Philosophical (spiritual) alchemy is related to a Gnostic philosophy called Hermeticism, which is of Greco-Egyptian origin dated to around the turn of the first millenium of the common area (say, around 300 BC to 300 CE). Some persons believe that an artifact called the Emerald Tablet, attributed to a mythical person named Hermes Trismegistus, is a teaching about alchemy. It ends with the famous adage "As above, so below" meaning that the earthly sphere was a reflection of the divine sphere and that the goal of life was to achieve perfection in form (the "philosopher's stone" which did not mean creating gold or a stone but perfecting oneself).

Answer 4

on a very primary level alchemy is ment for turning any metal into gold using a method(which i dont know) and on a higher level alchemy states that if u want something then sacrifice a thin which is equivalent to the thing u want....this is known as equible exchange........this is what i know about alchemy!!!

Answer 5

Alchemy is something different to each practicioner - each and every master alchemist can no better define it than his peer, the only way which we may compare them is in terms of results, which, too, are different to everyone. To me, Alchemy is the art of transformation, the recognizance and utilization of the divine pattern and function which permeates all things within and without - the study of everything applied in a spiritual way. The techniques and various equipment and methods we use are merely symbols, much like the alchemic language, to various patterns and processes found in transformation and different states of being. These are used to show us how those things happens physically so we can apply them to our emotions, our mentality, our soul, our spirit, and eventually reach the perfection of gold.

Answer 6

Alchemy is the art of transforming liquid metals into a different molecular state(like a modern scientist)
Alchemist: the term for people whom used lead to read the future.Which is why its associated with the occult.

Answer 7

In the history of science, alchemy refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature and an early philosophical and spiritual discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art all as parts of one greater force.

The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold (called chrysopoeia) or silver (less well known is plant alchemy, or "spagyric"); the creation of a "panacea or the elixir of life," a remedy that supposedly would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the discovery of a universal solvent.
Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy

Answer 8

Alchemy is the science of attempting to convert metal into pure gold.

Answer 9

The roots of alchemy date back to an ancient Egypt document called The Emerald Tablet of Thoth. In Greece Thoth was called Hermes the MagicianHermes Trismegistus which is thought to be the foundation of alchemy. Thoth stated, 'As is Above, So is Below', the duality of our experience in third dimension.

Answer 10

a discipline
whose ultimate principle is
that anything in the cosmos
can become anything else
because everything
is ultimately made up
of the same "stuff"

in other words
a alchemist
could take a two hundred pound
slab of cement
and turn it into
a human being
if only he/she had the spells
and potions and procedures
to do so

of course
that's really hard to do
so they settled for
turning lead into gold
and immortality
and those kinds of things

don't laugh
it led to modern chemistry

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