Memorable World History/Authors

Secret Science: Alchemy (Conclusion)

Modern historical research

The history of alchemy has become a significant and recognized subject of academic study. As the language of the alchemists is analyzed, historians are becoming more aware of the intellectual connections between that discipline and other facets of Western cultural history, such as the evolution of science and philosophy, the sociology and psychology of the intellectual communities, kabbalism, spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, and other mystic movements. Institutions involved in this research include The Chymistry of Isaac Newton project at Indiana University, the University of Exeter Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO), the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE), and the University of Amsterdam's Sub-department for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents. A large collection of books on alchemy is kept in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica in Amsterdam. A recipe found in a mid-19th-century kabbalah based book features step by step instructions on turning copper into gold. The author attributed this recipe to an ancient manuscript he located.

Journals which publish regularly on the topic of Alchemy include 'Ambix', published by the Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry, and 'Isis', published by The History of Science Society.

Core concepts

Western alchemical theory corresponds to the worldview of late antiquity in which it was born. Concepts were imported from Neoplatonism and earlier Greek cosmology. As such, the Classical elements appear in alchemical writings, as do the seven Classical planets and the corresponding seven metals of antiquity. Similarly, the gods of the Roman pantheon who are associated with these luminaries are discussed in alchemical literature. The concepts of prima materia and anima mundi are central to the theory of the philosopher's stone.

Hermeticism

Mythology

Hermes Trismegistus Thoth Poimandres

Hermetica

Corpus Hermeticum The Kybalion

"Three Parts of the Wisdom of the Whole Universe"

Alchemy Astrology Theurgy

Movements

Freemasonry

Rosicrucianism

Theosophy

Thelema

Ariosophy

Orders

Holy Royal Arch Freemasonry

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor

Hermetic Brotherhood of Light

Knights Templar

Knights Templar (Freemasonry)

Ordo Templi Orientis

Rosicrucian Order

Scottish Rite Freemasonry

Topics

Hermetic Qabalah

Influence and influences

Occult and divinatory tarot

People

Aleister Crowley

John Dee Manly P Hall Arthur Edward Waite Thābit ibn Qurra Paracelsus Giordano Bruno Ahmad al-Būni Eliphas Levi William Westcott Franz Bardon Jakob Böhme