The Alchemical Mandala: A Survey of the Mandala in the Western Esoteric Traditions

by Adam McLean

Mandalas have long been recognized as important tools in Eastern spiritual traditions for focusing meditation. Though various Western traditions possess such contemplative tools, they have not often not been recognized as such, except by those deeply schooled in Western esotericism. Adam McLean remedies this situation by presenting, and analyzing in great depth, over forty beautiful engravings, reproduced as fullpage illustrations, from alchemical, kabbalistic, magical, Rosicrucian and Hermetic sources. This is the first book exclusively dedicated to the mandala tradition in the West and is an extremely valuable sourcework on account of the illustrations and commentaries. Not only is The Alchemical Mandala a comprehensive guide on how to "read" the cosmological and spiritual symbolism of alchemical engravings, it also outlines three ways for working practically with these mandalas in meditation.

Genres: Alchemy, Spirituality, Art, Nonfiction, History, Psychology, Occult

142 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1989

Reviews

[S'hi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting collection of mandalas with context and descriptions to aid what can only be a limited meditation from the images presented. However, as an introduction to this study and guidance to other works by this author (he has a website which is well worth visiting) it is a very useful text.
Spanning the thirteenth through to the nineteenth centuries, these images show a development of understanding, as well as a variety of styles of depiction of esoteric knowledge. Although there are later depictions of style, for instance, there is reference to the Lullist Art of Memory, which allows a synthesis in one image of many polarities and approaches to the learning. Ramon Lull (1263-1316) devised Wheels, Trees and Ladders as means by which to represent ideas, relationships and the initiate’s pathway through experience.
One mandala only presents text. The only visual aid here is the layout being in concentric circles with a few smaller circles placed within these rings or at the “corners” of the outer circle, thus squaring the circle.
However most mandalas use a variety of images to draw the soul away from a purely intellectual and abstract interpretation of information.
Thus each image has its own power of concentration as well as its own content and context for the material and matter it presents. While there are many elements repeated throughout, they also have variety and development in different directions. Thus duality occurs in multiple ways adding to the dimensions of the “whole” which is depicted.
An interesting study, which could be furthered, as the author points out, by scholarship from eastern traditions which may mirror or extend understanding of esoteric matters by parallel imagery, repeated themes, or alternatives in content or style or intended application. This collection of over forty engravings includes alchemical, kabbalistic, magical, Rosicrucian and Hermetic sources.
An index and references at the end of the book would have been useful, as would some explanation of the chemical elements and their significance throughout history.
For this reason I would not suggest this book for beginners, but as part of a larger library of references in this field it is a worthwhile contribution.

[Dustcollector · Rating 5 out of 5]

with 30 short chapters that explain one artwork per chapter, this book gives explanations of how to interpret the images and understand them as a particular model for how to grow psychologically. it works as a slim but interesting book collecting decent images of alchemical art. this could be a stand-alone read for somebody who wants to have just one book on alchemy, just to see the images and read some ideas about how to understand/approach them - but, it does also work as a sort of mystical psychological guide book which can lead a read to further self understanding and transformation, though i think it would help to know more about the Jungian terminology and concepts this book portrays. it aims to directly and engages the reader with in a sort of practical way through the mandala meditations, but what it engages with is definitely the Jungian framework and it's teachings. for somebody who is into alchemy but wants a framework/overview on how to interpret the images, and meditate with the artworks, this book does a solid introduction that can put anybody onto their own path and independent work

if you want to go deeper into Jungian ideas about alchemy, his Psychology and Alchemy (which has all of the same images, and meanings relayed in this Alchemical Mandala book) has an overview of how to do dream interpretation, see alchemical imagery and processes being psychically dramatized in dreams, how alchemical images show a sort of overview of a developmental psychology model. it's definitely an investment of time, and is it's own thing, so a benefit of the Alchemical Mandala is it conveys much of the core ideas and heart of Jung, in a very quick and efficient and practical way, while also being a slimmer easier book to flip through as an art book too

[Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won't recommend this book to anyone interested in the field of alchemy or occultism. The book follows the interpretation and analysis of 30 mandalas/emblems from the western tradition. However, mostly of these mandalas are from the Rosa Cruz tradition, so if you're expecting to see original hermeticism, egyptian symbolism, nordic or greek, or even jewish mandalas and symbols, you won't get this here. Actually, the whole book is centered around Rosacrucianism, Rosa Cruz Kabbalah and Rosa Cruz alchemy, and sometimes freemansonry. And the author's explanations of the mandalas are very, very superficial because he won't get into what the mandalas actually mean esoterically but will rather just say what each element of the mandala is supposed to represent, however he barely talks about how that is practical or how that corresponds to other traditions etc.

[Alexandru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of alchemical diagrams with explanations on the symbolism and references in each one.
Hard to pick favorites! Most the illustrations feel powerful if you give them a little more than superficial attention. The mandalas are certainly worth meditating upon. The descriptions of the imagery and the context provided makes them more penetrable.