Rosicrucian Alchemy

40 Pages·2017·10.5 MB·English

R O S I C R U C I A N
D
I G E S T
V O L U M E 9 6 N U M B E R 1 2 0 1 8
Vol. 96 - No. 1 2018
Modern Alchemy 2
Official Magazine
H. Spencer Lewis, FRC
of the Worldwide
Rosicrucian Order ®
Spiritual Alchemy 4
Christian Bernard, FRC
© 2018 Supreme Grand Lodge of the
Lady Pernelle 8
Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae
Crucis. All Rights Reserved.
Hélène Bernard, SRC
This publication is provided for your
personal, private use only, on an “as is”
True Imagination in Alchemy 11
basis, without warranty, and may not
be used for any commercial purpose. Dennis Hauck, FRC, PhD
No part of this publication may be
reproduced, distributed, displayed, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, The Alchemists and Their Symbols 14
including electronic, without the express
written permission of the Supreme Serge Hutin, FRC, DLitt
Grand Lodge.
ROSICRUCIAN DIGEST (ISSN Michelspacher’s Mountain of the Adepts 20
#0035-8339) is published two times
Peter Bindon, FRC, MA
per year for $12.00 per year, single
copies $6.00, by the Grand Lodge of
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The Alchemist’s Laboratory 22
the AMORC at 1342 Naglee Avenue,
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Send address changes to Rosicrucian
Digest at 1342 Naglee Avenue,
San Jose CA 95126. The Alchemical Wedding and
The Crowning of The Hermetic Child 25
Steve Kalec, FRC
On the cover: The Rosicrucian
An Alchemical Journey
Rose. ”The Emerald Tablet of
Hermes. The Words of the Secrets to the Black Forest 30
of Hermes,” from Secret Symbols
Dennis Hauck, FRC, PhD
of the Rosicrucians. Image hand-
colored by H. Spencer Lewis.
The Alchemical Allegory
of the Seed and the Field 33
Steve Kalec, FRC
Printed on 100% recycled post-consumer The New Alchemy Museum
fiber using soy-based ink.
at Rosicrucian Park 36
H. Spencer Lewis on Alchemy
H. Spencer Lewis, Co-founder and Imperator of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC (1915 – 1939).
The Rosicrucians and mystics who performed so many experiments in their
laboratories, were seeking, through the material laws of the universe, to discover
universal principles which had their action and reaction in the spiritual world as
well as in the material world. They believed that just as the difference between
gross metal and pure gold was a difference in character, constituted by the various
rates of vibrations and by the presence of impure or unevolved elements, so the
differences in human character were the result of impure and inharmonious
elements which might be transmuted and changed into the pureness of spiritual
life here on earth.
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Modern Alchemy
H. Spencer Lewis, FRC
The following article is an excerpt from an remind the reader that the real quest is not
article originally published in the Rosicrucian for the purpose of making gold nor is the
Digest in February 1933, entitled: “Modern search intended to reveal a more simple
Alchemy: the Dreams of the Ancient Mystics are manner of producing gold. The whole idea
Being Realized Today.” of the alchemists’ studies and experiments
is to observe nature’s laws at work and to
One of the great leaders in the
find more simple ways of demonstrating
alchemical movement throughout Europe,
them. In the process of transmutation and
and perhaps the foremost alchemist in the
in the study of alchemy generally, more of
world today is Mon. F. Jollivet-Castelot of
the fundamental principles of the universe
Paris. He is not only an eminent scientist
are revealed than in
who has devoted
any other laboratory
most of his life
e x p e r i m e n t s
to the study of
that might be
transmutation
conducted and this
and synthetic
is what makes the
chemistry, he
whole subject so
is also director
fascinating and so
of the Société
fraught with new
Alchimique
and surprising
de France
c o n d i t i o n s ,
and Editor
situations, and
of a quarterly
revelations.
magazine called
La Rose-Croix, Francois Jollivet-Castelot stands in his laboratory in It was in
which bears Douai, France, in April 1926. 1894 that Frater
the Rosicrucian Jollivet-Castelot
emblem. He is also an honorary member published his first book dealing with the
of the Rosicrucian Order in America, great studies of his life in alchemy and
AMORC. Some years ago we published a transmutation after having been a student
photograph of Frater Jollivet-Castelot in of the Rosicrucian and mystical principles,
his laboratory in our Triangle Monthly, and which revealed the work and secret process
we have continuous reports from members used by the early mystics and alchemists.
of his association regarding their joint and In 1904, Frater Jollivet-Castelot published
individual achievements. Their monthly other important instructions regarding the
publication is filled with interesting items science of alchemy. Since then his writings
from their laboratories and quotations from have been read before the most learned
other newspapers and scientific magazines scientific societies throughout the world
regarding the art and science of alchemy and quoted in many popular books and
and transmutation. treatises dealing with scientific subjects.
One would think that after having In 1896, Frater Jollivet-Castelot and
accomplished the feat on numerous others founded the Alchemical Society
occasions of producing small amounts of France and it has many active and
Rosicrucian of absolutely pure gold, the quest for the honorary members with constantly
Digest
process and the search for the principles increasing interest in the subject. The
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2018 would be brought to an end. But here, I articles appearing in their own magazine
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representing their discoveries and findings might be transmuted and changed into the
are quoted in many of the newspapers pureness of spiritual life here on earth.
and magazines of the world, showing
Much is said these days about vibrations
a widespread interest in the subject of
and their effect upon our health and our
alchemy and transmutation.
lives generally, and we are coming to learn
Occasionally those who seek to criticize
that all of life consists of vibrations which
the Rosicrucians as being impractical
affect us and, in fact, compose everything of
people because of their advanced ideas and
which we have any sense or understanding.
progressive programs, point to the fact that
It was in the laboratories of the alchemists
the ancient Rosicrucians were interested in
and mystics that the law
alchemy and in the search
of vibrations was first
for artificial gold. They
discovered and proved
think that this search
to be an actual fact. And
constitutes evidence
that the Rosicrucians while these mystics sought
were dreamers instead for an elixir of life which
of practical men and would prevent disease, old
women. Such persons do age, and so-called death
not realize that the parent and change gross material
of modern chemistry was into pure gold, they found
alchemy and that although
laws and principles which
the child in the form of
would enable people
modern chemistry has
to cure disease and to
grown to be a great and
overcome many of the
universally recognized
obstacles to old age. They
science, the parent has not
also found ways and
passed out of existence
means of producing many
or out of the universal
H. Spencer Lewis’s The Alchemist.
of the modern metals
picture, for alchemy was
such as bronze and various
limited to certain lines of
research and those fields of research have alloys, which have been extremely valuable
not yet been exhausted even by the most to industry and commercial interests. So
modern achievements of science. we have these ancients to thank for many
modern achievements which they turned
As stated before, the Rosicrucians
and mystics who performed so many over to humankind as worldly benefits,
experiments in their laboratories were while they still continue their searches and
seeking, through the material laws of the their inquiries.
universe, to discover universal principles
Dreamers they may have been and
which had their action and reaction
dreamers many of them may still be, but
in the spiritual world as well as in the
they are the sort of dreamers who test their
material world. They believed that just as
dreams in the crucible of materialism as
the difference between gross metal and
well as the crucible of spirituality and they
pure gold was a difference in character,
seek to turn their dreams into practical
constituted by the various rates of
account and to practical application, and
vibrations and by the presence of impure
or unevolved elements, so the differences from their efforts we have derived so many
in human character were the result of benefits that it does not behoove anyone
impure and inharmonious elements which to criticize the mystics and their dreaming.
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Spiritual Alchemy
Christian Bernard, FRC
In this article, Christian Bernard, Imperator of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC,
inspires us to participate in the Great Work on ourselves, through the transformative power
of Spiritual Alchemy.
If there is really one essential thing Having obtained the materia prima, the
for mystics in general and Rosicrucians alchemists would place it in a container to
in particular, it is spiritual alchemy. This which they gave the name of “philosophical
form of alchemy amounts to one of the egg,” partly because of its oval shape, and
foundations of philosophy, and sets out partly to echo their belief that the whole
the path we must follow in order to fulfill of Creation arose from a universal “egg,”
our inner evolution. Herein, indeed, lies within which it existed in a latent, or seed,
the Great Work that each human being state. From here they put the materia prima
through several consecutive stages.
must accomplish in order to discover
the Philosopher’s Stone that is to be In the course of these stages, the
found in the deepest part of themselves, materia prima took on various colors, until
and achieve the perfection of their own it appeared as a red magma. Upon cooling,
nature. Material alchemy, also called this magma gave rise to a somewhat bulky
stone of the same color: the Philosopher’s
“operative alchemy,” has for centuries
Stone. This is the reason that transmutation
fascinated scientists and mystics too, but
aimed at obtaining gold was called “the
what is essential must remain for us the
red work.” The process aimed at making
transmuting, the perfecting, and hence
silver, usually out of iron, was designated
the evolving of our inner being. Whereas
by the name “the white work,” and also
operative alchemy transmutes base metals
consisted of several stages.
into gold, spiritual alchemy transforms
The final stage of the Great Work was
our soul. Before moving on to the latter,
to reduce the Philosopher’s Stone to a
I would like to go over what comprises
perfectly homogenous powder. Once this
material alchemy.
powder was obtained, the alchemist would
Generally speaking, its aim was to
cast it into the molten base metal, which
transmute base metals, usually lead or tin,
on contact would gradually transform
into gold. This transmutation was not,
itself into gold.
however, carried out directly upon the
This was the basic principle of material
metal in question, but on a materia prima,
alchemy. We also need to be aware that it
that is to say on a primary or raw material,
was practiced according to two methods.
referred to as the “stone material” in
The first, designated the “damp method,”
some alchemical writings. It is difficult
gave precedence to the processes of
to say exactly what this materia prima was,
dissolving and distilling. It lasted several
because the descriptions given of it are
weeks or even months, and required the
confused, and they vary from author to
use of retorts and stills. The second was
author. According to certain sources it
called the “dry method” and favored the
consisted of a naturally occurring ore,
processes of heating and combustion,
composed essentially of sulphur, salt, and mainly involving the use of ovens and
mercury combined in precise proportions. crucibles. This second method was the
It would seem that this ore was rare and quicker of the two, but also the more
Rosicrucian could be found only in places known to dangerous, involving as it did the risk
Digest
the alchemists, which they kept a most of explosions. It did sometimes happen
No. 1
2018 closely guarded secret. that alchemists would get injured in the
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practice of their art or, even worse, would It is also known that they attached
get killed. great importance to eclipses, believing
that they had a particular influence on
We know that the alchemists worked
alchemical procedures. They considered
in special laboratories which were used for
this influence to be either negative or
nothing else. Most often this was a cellar, an
positive in different situations, which
attic, or other building that was not well lit,
then governed what they did. There is no
as most of the necessary operations could
doubt at all that alchemy drew on both
not be carried out in daylight. The adepts
astronomy and astrology. It is certainly
also made use of various accessories. As
not mere chance that the alchemists held
well as the retorts, stills, ovens, and crucibles
there to be a precise correlation between
referred to, they also used scales, different the metals and the planets of our solar
sorts of pincers, pestles, bellows of various system. They also had a good knowledge
sizes, and even musical instruments. of chemistry.
The main furnace, called the athanor, The question we may ask ourselves is
was generally crude in shape and usually whether the alchemists really succeeded in
made of fireproof earth. For different making gold. Judging from the accounts
situations, its fire would be provided by they have left us, there is no doubt
wood, charcoal, or sometimes even oil, whatsoever about this. Many authors too
allowing better control of its intensity state that this was the means by which
during the most delicate procedures. Jacques Coeur, Jean Bourré, Nicolas
Flamel, and Cagliostro – to name just the
If you are wondering why the alchemists
most well-known – acquired their wealth.
used musical instruments during their work,
If we accept this as true, it is of note that
it was because by playing certain notes or
these individuals were known for their
combinations of notes, they produced
generosity and altruism, which suggests
vibrations which had a specific effect on
that they were practicing their art in order
one phase or another of the Great Work. to help the poorest in society and to pay
From what we know, they mainly used string for projects for the common good, such
instruments such as the violin and guitar. as hospitals, roads, bridges, and so on.
Sometimes they used wind instruments Apart from these testimonies, however,
though, such as the trumpet or a small we do not have absolute proof that the
organ. It is also likely that they intoned adepts of the Great Work really managed
to achieve their goal or became wealthy by
vowel sounds, although we have no proof
this means. We must each therefore form
of this. This was certainly the case with
our own view on this point.
the Rosicrucian alchemists. The purpose
To know whether the alchemists of
of this was one and the same, to create
the past succeeded in transmuting base
vibratory conditions favorable for this or
metals into gold is incidental. The most
that procedure. We can also assume that at
important thing is the fact that they were
times it was to raise themselves to the state
convinced that human beings have the
of consciousness required for their work.
power, not to take the place of nature,
In the case of the red work and the but to emulate it. In accordance with
white work alike, the alchemists did their this conviction, they studied the laws of
work by day or night, depending on the nature with the greatest respect. What is
operation they had to carry out. While more, most of them were deeply spiritual,
they always worked in a dimly-lit room, and used alchemy as an aid to their mystic
they thought that certain stages had to quest. This is why their laboratories always
take place when the Sun was in a certain included an oratory, meaning a place set
position in the sky, or when the moon was aside for prayer, meditation, and for the
in a certain phase of its cycle. study of divine laws generally. Usually the
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oratory consisted simply of a chair and a to have as happy an existence as possible
table with candles, objects for rituals, and and to gain mastery of life.
esoteric books. There are several stages required to
Material alchemy was just the outward reach the sought-after goal in spiritual
alchemy, just as with material alchemy.
expression of an infinitely higher
The first consists in accepting the idea
transmutation, that of the soul itself;
that we are imperfect and have faults to
the cornerstone of this transmutation is,
correct. When I say “accept,” this means
purely and simply, spiritual alchemy. This
our own view as much as that of others.
mystic process consists in one transmuting
This involves both looking at ourselves as
one’s faults by means of the crucible of
we are, in the mirror of our soul, and also
life, urged on by the divine fire that burns
paying attention to the image of ourselves
within us. We are all imperfect, however
that others send back to us. If we do not do
the ultimate goal of our evolution is
this, we end up becoming blind to our real
to attain that state of perfection which
personality and give even more power to
Rosicrucians call the “Rose-Croix state.”
our faults, to the point where they generate
This state can only come about, though,
negative conduct on our part and give rise
when we have purified our personality
to corresponding karmic tests.
of its negative shortcomings; this entails
awakening the virtues of the divine soul If reading this article is interesting
which is within us and which is seeking only to you, it is probably because you started
to express its capacity this spiritual alchemy
for wisdom. But such a at the same time as
goal cannot be attained you did your personal
in one single lifetime, mystic quest. There is
therefore we have to no question that if your
reincarnate for as long experience of life has
as we are imperfect. endowed you with a
modicum of wisdom,
To the extent
it will also have brought
that one has not
you clarity of thought.
awakened the virtues
You are therefore in
of one’s divine soul,
a position to know
one manifests certain
and to recognize your
faults such as pride,
weaknesses, and I
selfishness, jealousy,
am positive that you
intolerance, and so on.
Lion Devours the Sun, have within you the
In return these same
faults are detrimental by Nikki Schiro, SRC. potential to transmute
to the person, for they these. I can assure you
generate negative karma that is expressed for my part that I am well aware of my
as trials of varying degrees in one’s life. We faults, deficiencies, and mistakes, and I am
therefore have at least two good reasons certainly endeavoring to improve myself.
for perfecting ourselves: first, it is part It is not from a position of detachment,
of the process of evolution from which therefore, that I am passing on my
we cannot withdraw, whose ultimate goal reflections to you, but rather as a human
is to attain perfection, such as we can being to whom this alchemy also applies.
demonstrate it as human beings; second, If it is always easier to speak about good
it allows us to “think” our behavior into than to do good, the same can be said for
being positive, and create positive karma the work and the betterment that we call
for ourselves, which is expressed in for in others.
Rosicrucian
our lives as joy in various forms, and is But accepting the concept of having
Digest
conducive to the happiness we are seeking. faults is not enough to accomplish this
No. 1
2018 Surely what we ultimately want, after all, is inner transmutation. We must also want
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to correct them, and this constitutes a key to me that the best way of achieving this
stage in spiritual alchemy. In other words, is to first define the manner in which
we must have the resolve to become the quality expresses itself in everyday
better, in the human sense. This is only life. Having done this, we should make
possible if we truly have the conviction ourselves manifest it every time there is
that humankind’s goal is to evolve, which occasion to do so, until it is an integral part
presents the whole question of the real of our soul and becomes natural. Returning
meaning we attribute to life.
to the example of pride, anyone wanting
For my part I am convinced that to rid themselves of this fault needs to
anyone who strives to perfect themselves implement humility. How exactly? By
receives the support of the God of their making themselves stop highlighting their
Heart and can find happiness, even if merits, demonstrating their intellectual or
their faults are relatively numerous. If this
any other type of superiority, or seeking
is true, it is because karmic law always
to draw attention to themselves, and
rewards any effort made in the same
making themselves act in the service of
direction as the Good. Conversely, any
Good in a totally impersonal way, and so
person who has few faults but who lets
forth. With time, this determined effort
themselves be controlled by them without
to be humble ends up becoming habitual,
ever striving to transmute them, attracts
in other words, it becomes a law to the
various problems and progressive trials
subconscious. Pride is then transmuted.
to themselves for as long as they take
This is the basic principle of the spiritual
pleasure in their weaknesses.
alchemy we should apply to each of our
Once the decision to perfect
faults.
oneself is taken, there comes another
A mystic who has transmuted
stage in spiritual alchemy. This
all of his or her faults into
consists in materializing our
their opposite qualities then
desire to become better by experiences the final stage of
actually transmuting our faults. spiritual alchemy, Illumination. If
But to manage to do this, above not perfect, then he or she is at least
anything else we must not attempt to very close to the state of perfection,
fight against them, this unfortunately to the degree that it can be expressed by
being our tendency. Fighting them like human beings on earth. The materia prima
of their being, their soul, has then become
this in fact contributes to accentuating our
pure and perfect. It is not just chance that
faults, because our ego then uses this to
the Rosicrucian alchemists symbolized the
give itself power and assert its hold over
Great Work by a red rose, often with an
our conduct. On the contrary, we should
aura of the color gold. Certainly, whoever
disengage from the fault in question, and
has attained this state has brought about
work on ourselves to acquire the opposite
the celebrated “Chymical Wedding.” In
quality. To take an example, if a person is
other words, they have accomplished the
fundamentally overly proud and is aware
union between their human Self and their
of this, they should not try to fight against
divine Self, symbolized in the language of
their pride, for in so doing they give it even
alchemy by the marriage of the king and
more force and increase its ability to be the queen, and by the union of sulphur
harmful. They should endeavor to acquire and mercury. From that point on, they
the opposite quality, in this case, humility. truly possess the elixir of long life, for they
This entails calling on the most divine have become a pure agent of the Divinity,
within their nature. and are no longer obliged to reincarnate.
But how do we acquire the opposite In your mind, in your heart, and in
quality of a fault we are aware of? It seems your life, may alchemy take place!
Page 7
Lady Pernelle
Hélène Bernard, SRC
The home of Lady Pernelle and Nicolas Flamel, the oldest house in Paris.
In this excerpt from her book Great Women presenting to him a richly illustrated
Initiates, Soror Hélène Bernard introduces us to ancient manuscript and saying: “Flamel,
the fourteenth century Alchemist Pernelle Flamel look at this book, you do not understand
(1326 – 1397) and her husband, Nicolas. it at all, but the day will come when you
shall see therein what no other could even
Justice being most often administered
catch a glimpse of.”
in heaven, very rarely on earth, and still
less in history, Lady Pernelle had a famous Time passed, and one day, in 1357,
husband: Nicolas Flamel. In this article he was given the opportunity to buy,
there are no great alchemical treatises or for two florins, a strange book in which
magical formulae, but only a few lines on he recognized the obscure language he
the life of one of the most mysterious had seen in his initiatory dream. This
couples of the fourteenth century and large golden book puzzled Flamel. The
perhaps even of past and future centuries. finely engraved copper cover concealed
enigmatic illustrations and beautifully
Born in Pontoise, in the year 1330,
formed letters.
young Nicolas Flamel opened a shop in
Paris on the right bank, near the Cemetery During that same year, the eminent
of the Innocents, where many of his writer courted Lady Pernelle, twice a
colleagues were established. But very soon widow of rich merchants in the district.
an epidemic of the black plague forced the Four years his elder, the well-to-do
writers’ guild to leave the neighborhood Pernelle took a deep interest in the new
of the cemetery, then overpopulated, sciences. More than a devoted companion,
and to settle in the district of the Church both a patron of the arts and letters and
Saint-Jacques de la Boucherie. It was in an adviser, she transformed young Flamel,
Rosicrucian this agitated Paris that a “damned” science a simple bookseller and copyist of the
Digest
called alchemy thrived. One night, an angel, Petit Marais district, as well as a zealous
No. 1
2018 all clad in white, appeared to Flamel, student of hidden knowledge, into one of
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