Re: Definition of Alchemy

50040920 viii Happy Equinox!

hi Neil,

"Neil Trigger" <neil@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>:
# I found this post most interesting.

thank you.

# I have read through Diana Fernando's "The Dictionary of Alchemy" 
# and you seem to have missed out the relavance of "Quick Silver" 
# -- better known as Mercury. This is a heavy metal as is lead....

is it a less expensive base, or a catalyzing agent? I got the
impression that it was considered the latter by alchemists,
and that it was only one or two strands of alchemy that 
held it in so high regard. compare the Chinese cinnabar.

# Because mercury is so prolific in ancient alchemical accounts 

all? Persian? Chinese? others?

# and (as you say) the majority of successful alchemical 
# experiments were of ancient origin 

the majority of claims to these effects yes. I'm not 
yet convinced that their ontological success was 
actual, possibly merely interior and subjective.
certainly some of them were faked, as with the
colouration of metals to the tone of gold using
chemical properties.

# -- PERHAPS the old alchemists were indeed a little bonkers.

some of them (for example those who ingested the Pill of
Immortality) wound up dead for their efforts. this result
was sometimes seen as success (especially when they 
disappeared or left only their clothes as repercussions,
or at least were reputed to have so 'departed').

# Perhaps I could use this post on my website?

feel free, especially with proper attribution.

in the pursuit of attenuated experience as the Great Work,

xiwangmu (nagasiva yronwode; nagasiva@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
)