Alchemy: The Science Before Science

The fundamental idea of alchemy was said to have arisen in the ancient Persian Empire and is both a philosophy and a practice with the aim to achieving ultimate wisdom, as well as immortality. The practical aspects, of alchemy, bore the basis of modern inorganic chemistry, in that it initiated experimentation with many substances. The goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold or silver and also to create the elixir of life, which was supposed to cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely.


Alchemists believed that through the transmutation of common metals gold could be created. This was to be accomplished by the rearrangement of the proportions of sulfur and mercury, in the base of the stone. With that, red sulfur would help change base metals faster and if they used white sulfur, the results would be that of the creation of silver. Burning a substance would release the phlogiston that was associated with alchemical sulfur, thus began experimentation using new scientific disciplines.


Although the scientific disciplines of the alchemists were far from today’s standards, because of equipment, these scientific experiments did bring forth new practices such as hygienic methods and documentation. Many of the experiments of a few alchemists such as, Bacon and Paracelsus have provided valuable information about evaporation, combustion and condensation, however, the true alchemist had lofty ideals and to them, alchemy was not merely intellectual, but a spiritual science. Only those who were in the possession of the divine power, as those whom had been awakened, could awaken it from its sleep, and practice this science. The alchemist saw himself as a ‘mirror’ of God and the ‘Quintessence Of Life Force’.


Alchemists believed that materials had a life of their own, a history, a character and even needs. One material had possibilities, unlike any other material, and they believed that man must understand this, in order to have a relationship with that material. Alchemy taught, how materials, metals, plants, animals and men could be generated or made to grow from their ‘seeds’. The central tenant of alchemy was the idea that matter is alive. It was thought that through pounding, beating, twisting the substance within the material, it could be reformed into something other than itself, or be reborn. Alchemists did not mix or compound anything; it just allowed that which already per-existed to become active and grow. This notion may seem strange, but as any craftsman knows, it is true.


It was seen as a science of the soul that resulted from an understanding of God, nature, and man, and that, the knowledge of one, could not be obtained without the knowledge of all. The primary purpose of alchemy was not to discover the secret of immortality or even to make gold, but to study the world and the manipulation of it. In this way, alchemy was more comparable to biology than chemistry.
“When a man undertakes to create something, he establishes a new heaven, as it were, and from it the work that he desires to create flows into him.” Wrote Paracelsus. The spiritual art form that was discovered to be a transformation was actually that of the alchemist himself.


The European government was fearful that someone might actually succeed in the transmutation of gold and what that would mean to the stability of their economy. Also the church didn’t like the idea of people talking about eternal life either, consequently, alchemy was outlawed through out Europe. Alchemists were even regarded as witches. This forced alchemists to work and research in secret.


Although alchemists were not successful at transmuting gold, they did discover a process that treated copper with mercury resulting with a stone that looked like gold. This eventually resulted in many alchemists being cast as con artists, who relied on trickery to deceive gullible people.


Gradually, the political hold of the church lessened and alchemy again became an acceptable practice. Although not everyone appeared to be ‘Enlightened’, alchemy had many followers. Individuals such as Carl Jung and Isaac Newton, became involved in its disciplines. Jung, began having a magical dreams of the ‘great beauty and mystery’ of alchemy, and over the years, collected a library of great art. This collection still remains one of the finest private collections in the world. When Freud and the field of psychology came along, the field of alchemy became even more accepted.


With the passage of time, some modern scientists have continued the alchemist’s work. With modern technology and equipment, they were able to expand on its rudimentary findings. Using lead instead of sulfur they were able to produce what was once impossible. This news would have some corpses turning over in their graves, as some who practiced alchemy were only interested in capitalism, competivism and the transmutation of gold, not the science.



By Renee Rotto