The Hidden Meaning of Alchemy

By Rolando José Olivo

On the one hand, alchemy has aroused the fascination of many people, and on the other hand, it is a great failure, since no alchemist has been able to make gold or prepare the elixir of eternal life.

In this literary work three major themes are addressed: a) The Environment of Alchemy (What is alchemy and in what ideologies has it been developed?), analyzing its links with astrology, ancient philosophy, metaphysics, occult sciences and New Age, and even glimpsing its profound differences with Christianity, b) The Conception of Alchemy (How is this occult science understood by its followers?), also explaining its foundations and the purpose of the alchemists, and c) Questionings to Alchemy (Why are there objections to alchemy?), indicating its scientific, philosophical and religious refutations.

Finally, although alchemists deny that alchemy is an occult science and use a religious ethics to justify their actions, it is undeniable that alchemy is an occult science, which is questioned, rejected and condemned by the strict Judeo-Christian dogmas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rolando José Olivo
• Release date: Jun 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463714195

Rolando José Olivo

[e-mail] Instagram: @rolandojolivo Systems Engineer with 3 postgraduate degrees: Master's Degree in Applied Economics, Diploma in General Management and Specialization in Management of Social Programs (Summa Cum Laude). Work experience in companies in the oil sector, occupying these positions: Planning and Logistics Manager, Project Coordinator, Financial Advisor and Consultant. Consultant in the economic and financial area. Writer of books on economics, management, self-help, novels and Christianity, among others.

Book preview

I. INTRODUCTION

Since immemorial times, the alchemy is an occult science that has awakened the fascination of its practitioners and innumerable researchers. In the same way, it was as popular as astrology. However, throughout history, the interest in this pseudoscience was declining mainly because it hasn´t been able to create gold or manufacture the elixir of immortality.

Although this occult science is very old (practiced by the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and other civilizations) and many scientists (including Newton) and members of secret societies dedicated to its practices (between the XV and XX centuries), there are few publications about it, standing out that its main knowledge and methods are secret, and can only be used by an elite, in accordance with its Gnostic and Hermetic essence.

Moreover, the alchemy aspires to achieve what is almost impossible (turning the human being into a kind of King Midas) and trying to simulate and overcome the miracles of Jesus (transform water into wine, multiply the loaves, walk on the waters, expel demons, heal the ill people, resuscitate the dead, transfigure his body, resuscitate and ascend to heaven), which are considered alchemical feats, from the point of view of the alchemists.

Without giving exhaustive explanations about the concept of alchemy or its history, neither mentioning the main books of alchemy, this literary work provides a global vision of this pseudoscience, taking into account: a) the environment, b) its conception, and c) its questionings.

In this regard, there are three great theoretical chapters:

II. The Environment of Alchemy.

III. The Conception of Alchemy.

IV. Questionings to Alchemy.

The Chapter II. The Environment of Alchemy (What is alchemy and in what ideologies has it been developed?) is divided into these sections: a) II.1 Astrology and Alchemy (What is the relation between astrology and alchemy?), b) II.2 Philosophy, Metaphysics and Alchemy (How are these areas of human knowledge linked?), c) II.3 Occult Sciences and Alchemy (Why is alchemy an occult science?), d) II.4 New Age and Alchemy (Which New Age ideologies support alchemy?), and e) II.5 Christianity and Alchemy (Why is Christianity incompatible with New Age and alchemy?).

Broadly speaking, the alchemy is an art, an occult science and a pseudoscience that aims to transmute imperfect materials, seeking enrichment, health and immortality. Its principles are esoteric, Gnostic, Hermetic, Hindu and Masonic. On the one hand, alchemy is related to astrology, ancient philosophy, metaphysics, occult sciences and New Age (also with Postmodernity). And on the other hand, the strict Judeo-Christian dogmas strongly reject alchemy and the practices of the other occult sciences.

While the Chapter III. The Conception of Alchemy (How is this occult science understood by its followers?) includes these subchapters: a) III.1 The Vision of Alchemists (How do they conceive their pseudoscience?), b) III.2 The Fundaments of Alchemy (What are they?), and c) III.3 The Purpose of Alchemists (What is their main objective?).

It is relevant to note that the alchemists deny that alchemy is an occult science, although its non-monotheistic religious foundations include pantheism, the unity of matter and the influence of cosmic-universal energies, among other aspects, which lead to inferring its true purpose, separated from religious ethics, which is oriented at achieving individual goals and not to fulfill a transcendental mandate.

The Chapter IV. Questionings to Alchemy (Why are there objections to alchemy?) is divided into these parts: a) IV.1 Scientific Questionings to Alchemy (What are these scientific objections?), b) IV.2 Philosophical Questionings to Alchemy (What are the objections of modern philosophy?), and c) IV.3 Religious Questionings to Alchemy (What are the objections of monotheistic religions?).

Finally, it is convenient to clarify that the hidden meaning of alchemy is closely related to its true essence (anti-religious and anti-Christian), linked to astrology, ancient philosophy, metaphysics, occult sciences, Postmodernity and New Age; whose ideologies deny the power and sovereignty of God, try to convert the human being into a deity and use the forces of occultism, in order to simulate the powers of the Creator and be as Him. Although it is obvious that alchemy is a great failure, since no alchemist has been able to make gold or prepare the elixir of eternal life.

II. THE ENVIRONMENT OF ALCHEMY

The word alchemy comes from the Arabic and means sublime or transcendental (al) chemistry (chemy); which refers to a method of transmutation of materials that goes beyond the scientific level and is influenced by a supernatural power. Traditionally, it is associated with the search and creation of a philosopher's stone that can convert materials into silver or pure gold[1]. Even more, astrology gave rise to astronomy,