Astrology and alchemy

The alchemy (from Arabic al-KHIMIA) is a discipline related to the occult that relates a philosophy and a practice designed to achieve ultimate wisdom, immortality, or the domain of the material world, as each author. Physical operations practiced by the alchemists have tried to understand as the basis of chemical inorganic, although this is only true for certain procedures in its rudimentary laboratory equipment and use of inorganic substances. The fundamentals of alchemy can be traced back to the Persian Empire . The practice, in various permutations, has been identified in Mesopotamia , the ancient Egypt , Persia , Iran , India , Japan , Korea and China , and the West in Greece and Rome . In the Renaissance , Europe regained consciousness alchemical "lost" in the Middle Ages thanks to the work of Arab scholars, has sparked the interest that lived on the continent until the arrival of s. XX. Alchemy is therefore one of the most universal knowledge systems and durable (> 25 centuries) that mankind has learned.

Etymology

The term (in English , alchemy , in French old Alkemia ) comes from the Arabic al-kimia: "the art of transformation." Some scholars argue that the Arabs inherited the lexeme-kimia the Greek ("uημεία"), which means "transmutation". Other authors, like Mahdihassan, defend the origins Chinese the word. The influence of the term is evident in the formation of the lexicon related to the chemical ca.

Alchemy as a philosophical and spiritual discipline

Alchemy was considered an art spagyric , the Greek words used to express "separation" and "meeting." The first issued alchemy (broadcast in Latin, like all medieval scientific knowledge) was actually solve et coagula , Castilian "dissolve and coagulate." The typical image of the alchemist's laboratory is in dark, striving mightily to become common in other precious minerals like gold ( chrysopoeia ) or silver. They are also often attributed to a naive belief in producing handmade fixes for all ills ( panacea ), the elixir of ete al youth, or the universal solvent ( alkali ). This picturesque image is based on the many documents preserved from the Age Media , and Arab and European scholars wrote to disseminate, clarify or defend his occupation. These treaties commonly appears explained the objective of their efforts to achieve the so-called Philosopher's Stone , whose generation would give its author a supreme knowledge to alteration of the material. However, this view is due to a misunderstanding. Although it is true that there were variants of the magical alchemy of nature, the authors of the texts preserved the doctrine referred to in metaphorical language. This perspective is reinforced by numerous statements made by alchemists themselves throughout history. Thus, a Greek scholar, Zosimos of Panopolis , interpreted this branch of knowledge as a "way" metaphysics , and throughout the Middle Ages would associate with the art . Organic and inorganic substances used, the physical processes described and the results of their exercises came to mean spiritual entities, impulses of the soul and, ultimately, a rigorous self-discipline manual. Thus the transmutation of metals into gold came to explain the transition from a disorganized and corrupt nature of light and balance, this change would be wrought in the spirit of the alchemist, although the use of figurative language Stacked ovens, green dragons Siamese suggests a purely physical practice. Anyway, the clandestine nature of the alchemists because of its pagan

character, and his pre-Christian origin, favored the accusations of religious authorities, who launched an intense campaign that is executed thousands of innocent people accused of witchcraft. Thus, alchemical texts, which were full of cryptic diagrams, turns dark and metaphorical images to protect and keep a message was precisely the main evidence of an unfair accusation, it would not take the trouble to discover its true meaning. Some famous alchemists, however, enjoyed a certain position that allowed them, as Paracelsus , clarify the use of metals as a symbol:

However, the misunderstanding was never cleared. Alchemy is now commonly considered a pre-scientific predecessor of chemistry, although the use of fine, powder, dyes, cosmetics, extracts, ceramics and spirits have little to do with their true intentions.

The alchemy in the West and other places where it was widely practiced was (and in many cases still is) closely connected and intertwined with astrology traditional style Greek - Babylonian . In many ways were developed to complement each other in the pursuit of knowledge hidden . The astrologers and alchemists believe or believed in the alchemical processes, the various planetary aspects of greatly influenced in the preparation of the various transmutations, as well as moon phases .

Celestial bodies and metals

Traditionally, each of the seven celestial bodies in the solar system known to the ancients was associated with a given metal on which it ruled.

The government list is as follows:

* The sun ruled the Gold

* La Luna , the Silver

* Mercury , the mercury

* Venus , the copper

* Mars , the iron

* Jupiter , the tin

* Saturn , the lead

Some alchemists / astrologers modern obviously associated:

* Uranus with Uranium

* Neptune , neptunium

* Pluto , Plutonium

Since those planets and metals mentioned were not discovered until relatively recently, no classical base or traditional for these associations, unlike what happens with the celestial bodies and metals known from antiquity.

Influence of moon phases

Alchemy consists or consisted of several steps to achieve the transmutation: Nigredo where transmute matter was in full cast , which was black, the Albedo , where they put white and completely melted and Rubedo , when there was a deep red color. Each transmutation is affected by lunar phases with a total duration was 40 days.

* In the Waning Moon , initiating the alchemical work, with the Nigredo.

* In New Moon , took place the Albedo

* In the first quarter , it was time Rubedo

* For the full moon , and had to be transmuted the material in gold .