![]() ![]() Sourdough is a favorite allegory for the ferment process to raise matter. Another example is the chaos of the elements that demand harmonization, which represents the natural desire to order random stimuli. Some other examples from alchemy include the allegory of marriage to describe the combination of dual principles, such as combining heated elements with cooled elements. For example, the dragon represents the mysterious, philosophical quick silver, or Mercury. The nature of alchemical language is very highly mystical, representing chemicals with symbols. Thus, the symbolic and allegorical nature of alchemy both obfuscates and elucidates it eclipses the truth and illuminates that same truth.Īllegories describe both physical chemical reactions as well as metaphysical functions. ![]() Those with enough knowledge to read alchemical texts would understand more than a simple description of processing certain elements the text would also reveal a metaphysical truth. They illustrate a larger concept within a context that is more easily grasped. ![]() In their everyday use, however, allegories are meant to reveal. In the wrong context, knowledge taints understanding conversely, knowledge unseals the doors of perception. However, alchemists did not mystify their work just to hide knowledge, for, to the alchemist, knowledge is poisonous or healing. In some instances, mistrust inspired the tendency toward obscurity, since some alchemists feared their work would be stolen or misused. Obfuscation prevents individuals from deciphering meaning from alchemical texts, so only those who dedicated themselves to studying the work would be able to understand. In Alchemy, allegories were multipurpose: to obfuscate, to reveal, to eclipse the truth, and to illuminate the truth. In literature, allegory is also referred to as an extended metaphor however, all forms of art utilize allegory. This is another reason for the materials being dense.īack to the Top Alchemical Symbolism and AllegoryĪllegory is a device that uses characters or events to represent ideas and concepts. Īlchemists worked with little to no codification that is, each alchemist had personal methodology that only a few others, such as the alchemist's apprentice, experienced directly. Finally, for the spiritual aspect, the alchemists sought to understand the soul of the world and to enjoy the fruition of spiritual life. For the mental aspect, alchemists sought a universal panacea to cure ills and thereby gain the ability to enjoy life in its entirety. The stone of wisdom, or philosopher's stone, represents the physical goal of alchemy, to acquire and to control wealth. This is unlike the modern exploration of science, especially since the early twentieth century, when the divorce between religion and science established itself. The alchemical mission had three aspects: the physical, the mental, and the spiritual. Alchemy deals with spiritual truths, or Mysticism, and in some instances can be defined as "an attempt to demonstrate experimentally on the material plane the validity of a certain philosophical view of the Cosmos." A helpful, although oversimplified, insight is that alchemy operates on two levels, the physical and the metaphysical. ![]() ".alchemy, in itself, is tremendously dark and complex, and the texts very difficult to read, so that an enormous kind of technical background of knowledge is needed if you wish to penetrate into this field."Īlchemy combines elements of science, spirituality, mysticism, and philosophy. ![]()
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