Alchemy

The art of transformation — of metals, of matter, and of the self.

Alchemy is a comprehensive introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of the alchemical tradition — from its origins in Hellenistic Egypt through the Arab transmission, the European laboratory tradition, and its survival in Jungian psychology and modern esoteric practice. This is not a book about turning lead into gold. It is a book about what that metaphor actually means.

Inside:

• The historical development of alchemy across cultures and centuries
• The philosophical and spiritual dimensions of the Great Work
• Key alchemical texts, symbols, and the language of the tradition
• The relationship between operative and speculative alchemy
• Alchemy's influence on chemistry, medicine, and Western esotericism

A rigorous, readable survey for anyone approaching the tradition seriously for the first time.