ALCHEMY

Alchemy is indeed a curious and obscure subject of which the general populace knows and understands little. It is usually dismissed as a sort of
OCCULT art of magic that involves turning lead into gold. This is of course a misleading definition and while in a sense it is true, this narrow definition is also very far
from the truth. Alchemy is the art of transmutation, that is, the changing from one substance to another - from a lower more base substance to a higher more
pure one. It is true that many of those who undertook the art of alchemy were indeed doing physical experiments to base metals and making observations
of nature, and indeed some who were merely in it for the greed based idea that one could become rich by making gold did exist, but to relegate Alchemy as
a purely physical art would be utterly missing the point. Alchemical transformation was first and foremost a transformation of the soul - the processes and substances
used were employed as a parallel to the greater work. Alchemy was a founding element of modern chemistry, indeed, but many people relegate it to simply that
and never go further into the real esoteric meanings of the odd symbols and emblems which characterize the art.

Most people are familiar in one way or another the alchemical symbols for the planets, which also stood for the base metals used as well as standing for
other more spiritual aspects. The more obscure and surreal icons which not as many people have seen are the beautifully engraved emblemata, which were
in fashion during the renaissance to somewhere in the early 18th century. The emblems are pictures which, while lovely in their own right and often illustrate
a situation, or mythical scene, always has a deeper meaning - even if the immediate image presented a moral message there was always a deeper message
that spoke to only those who knew other facets of the symbols themselves. The pictures were exoteric, the messages were esoteric.

The idea of emblems as art with such a purpose stemmed from the discovery of ancient egyptian hieroglyphs, and the fascination with them. In the days when
the Egyptian language was dead and the Champollion was not yet living, the signs were read according to the actual pictures - what they represented, how
they were facing each other and how they corresponded to one another. If one translated hieroglyphs in this manner, they would indeed come up with
different, although intriguing meanings to the symbols than originally intended. The Egyptians themselves arranged their art often as giant hieroglyphic
depictions - what would at first be only a wall painting also embodied other messages - sometimes rebuses of pharaonic names - which were present
to those who understood the intent and tradition of the artists.

Alchemical emblems are surreal to behold - the images vary from representational to utterly outlandish and dreamlike in substance. This aspect alone
outside from the various symbolic meanings assigned, makes the images work well with the human subconscious, which as anyone who can remember
their dreams can attest , does not always speak plain english. It should not be a surprise then that psychologist Carl Jung took to the imagery and studied
it for so many years - and was able to apply it to the self individualization process as well as self introspection.

Alchemical imagery exists in many tarot decks, most specifically the well known Ryder-Waite deck into which it was deliberately incorporated. It is a system that encompasses philosophy (Plato, Aristotle), the ancient Jewish traditions of Kabbalah and Hermeticism, as well as Christian elements. While Alchemy was a suspicious art at certain times in the renaissance (depending on what the church felt like its agenda was), it was still appreciated and/or practiced in some form by many notable Christian clerics such as St Thomas Aquinas, Roger Bacon, and also by some Christian Mystics such as Jacob Bohme. Alchemy itself has been
influenced by almost every major culture and religion that existed in one way or another. It supposedly arose in Egypt, has definite Islamic contributions, was
certainly present in Chinese culture, and has numerous pieces of Greek myth and Jewish religion/mysticism contained within. Alchemy itself is not a religion, but closer to a philosophy, and lends itself well to those who find themselves drawn to its mystical leanings.

Alchemy serves as an allegory, much like portions of the Bible such as revelations, or the parables of Jesus. The system is designed to be an introspective tool
used for bettering oneself, for making a connection with the divine that exists all around us. To say it is an OCCULT art is both true and false - depending on your use of the word OCCULT. Occultum is a latin word that simply means "hidden". The occult and the esoteric are simply bits of knowledge that are hidden in
plain sight. Those who know how to look from a certain point of view can read the inner meaning. Those who do not may see a lovely, if not confounding image
and only get half of the message. Those who automatically label everything "occult" as evil dark magic have not done their proper research into the subject at hand -
either due to fear or ignorance, or both.

Alchemy is about knowledge, but not without the help of faith. Faith leads to knowledge and knowledge leads to faith in the proper and mature proportions.
Study into this old art if done with the above in mind, can only lead to a greater perspective on the world, nature, and the Divine. The paradoxes contained within
are confusing to some, but are intrinsic to understanding what there is to understand - and at the end of it all, we cannot claim to understand everything for our
mortal minds are limited.

The art and symbolism of alchemy has been drawing me in for my whole life as far as I can tell. If I was to choose any sort of label at all - which I avoid these
days - I would call myself a mystic. I very much enjoy the beauty, the spirituality and the symbolism of the Alchemical language and have been both
knowlingly and unknowingly incorporating it into my art for quite some time now. All my artwork up here has the obvious purpose of beauty, many also
achieve functionality. All of my work was fashioned from what most people consider trash, yet refined into a higher state where the base material
is not recognizable. Most if not all of the pieces also contain alchemical symbolism of one sort or another, or at the very least honor a historic period.
My artwork always carries a positive message, whether you simply look at it or know how to read it further.

So whether or not people completely grasp some of my work, the fact that anyone finds it beautiful or amazing or fun is a great accomplishment for me. It is
and has been part of my own transformation, as is as much akin to the laboratory experiments of those Alchemists who lived during the renaissance.

I do hope you will enjoy and be fascinated by what you find here - both in art and information. If you find yourself filled with further curiousity about any of these subjects, please feel free to visit the links page to expand on the topic and do your own research.

ORA LABORA ET INVENIES

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