Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy

by Robert Allen Bartlett

Frater Albertus had a simple definition of what alchemy is about. He said that alchemy was about Evolution and “Raising the Vibratory Rate.”

The earliest descriptions of alchemy link it to transformations in matter through the influence of light or spirit, or fire. It is the metamorphosis of matter orchestrated by spirit.

They called these forces the “Neteru” from which we obtain our word, “Nature.” The Neteru are the forces of Nature.

It was here that the Arabic prefix Al was added to the Greek Khemia to give us Al-Khemia, later to become Alchemy.

Another was Abu Musa Jabir ibn Hayaan. Jabir had a very cryptic style of writing, designed to conceal alchemical secrets. It is from his name that we derive our word for Gibberish.

All things are connected but separated only by their rates of vibration. Each one of us is a unique and complex waveform, though we also share many of the same “harmonics.”

All is from One is the First Law of Hermetics.

The Second Law of Hermetics is the law of Polarity.

Modern science agrees that there are “Four Fundamental Forces” governing the activity of everything in our universe and though they call them by the names, “Strong Nuclear Force, Weak Nuclear Force, Electromagnetic Force and Gravitational Force,” they are related to the ancient Elemental qualities of Fire, Water, Air and Earth respectively.

Alchemical Salt, or the Body of a thing,

The Alchemical Sulfur, or Soul of a thing,

Alchemical Mercury, or the Spirit of a thing,

The energies of Celestial Niter are often equated with the force of Kundalini, our internal spiritual force according to Indian philosophy. In alchemy, this is referred to as the Secret Fire in

Man. The energies of Celestial Salt are equated with the force of Prana, or Vital Energy carried by the air we breathe and food we eat.

The function of the Kundalini / Niter is to increase awareness of our True Self and True Will by lifting our consciousness and opening us to wider vistas of awareness. At the lowest level of functioning, this is the self-centered ego, at its highest, we become aware of our Divine nature.

The alchemist believed that by understanding Nature's laws and applying them with Art, that it is possible to remove hindrances to the evolutionary wave so that the energies of life can predominate and lift the subject toward perfection.

Alchemy is all about bringing things to a greater state of perfection.

Alchemy is more than just something you do in a laboratory. It is a spiritual path leading one to enlightenment -- to evolving. It can be thought of as a psycho-physiological transformation directed by human self-consciousness.

The Great Work, or Magnum Opus of alchemy, leads to the spiritual and physical regeneration of the alchemist himself.

Paracelsus said, “You will transmute nothing if you have not first transmuted yourself.”

Most often mentioned are Celestial Fire, Central Fire, Secret Fire, and Elemental or Common Fire.

The first degree of fire is the Balneum Marie or Bath of Mary. Some believe this was developed by a female Jewish adept named Mary (the prophetess) around 500 C.E. (Others say it is not derived from a woman's name, but from the word “mare” and refers to the ocean -- like marine.)

The second degree of fire is Balneum Cinerus or ash bath. This is where the matter is placed in the ash pit and heated still hotter. The ashes have a certain insulating quality that allows for a heat which is above that of boiling water but still evenly distributed around the vessel.

The third degree of heat is called the Balneum Arena or sand bath. It is set up like the water bath but it is able to maintain a higher heat than

the water or...

The fourth degree is Balneum Ignis or bathed in flame. This is the hottest you can make it in your furnace with a naked flame. This heat is used for calcinations, fusions, etc.

A white crystalline material will remain, collect this, grind it fine and keep it dry. This is called the Salt of Salt. The material that remains in the filter (which did not dissolve in the water) is called the Caput Mortuum or Dead Head also called Terra Damnata or Damned Earth and is usually discarded.

There is a corresponding internal process that leads to our own transformation into an evolved being. Very often it is not easy nor a comfortable thing or a pretty sight. That is why it is called the Great Work.

The preparation of the Vegetable Stone has been called the Opus Minor, the Little Work or Lesser Circulation (in comparison to the Magnum Opus -- the Great Work of the Philosopher's Stone.)

In the creation of a “Stone” in the Vegetable Kingdom, we seek to balance the Elements of an herb in their most exalted form, which represents the true Quintessence of the plant.

Remember, there is the “Sun behind the Sun,” or spiritual source of which our visible star is condensed.

The Universal Fire is diffused everywhere and excites movement in bodies. It warms and preserves the Germ of all things. It develops the Particular Fire.

The Particular Fire (also variously termed Innate Fire, Central Sun, or Central Fire) is implanted in each mixture with its Germ. It acts little, except when excited. It does then wha...

This is the Divine Spark hidden in all things, the reflection of Celestial Fire. Called the Quintessence, it is the “most purified and fixed part of a matter,” forme...

“When thou made the quadrangle round, then is all the secret found.” Ripley 1480

they were often prepared by following the Moon's phases. This link with the Moon partly explains the use of the term Menstruum.

Just as the menstruum nurtures and forms the fetus, so the alchemist's Menstrua possesses a nutritive power to bring forth the Chemical Child or Living Medicine.

In some texts, a special menstruum may be referred to as a Secret Fire, which provokes the dissolution or separation of the subject without the need of external fire.

Alkahest was thought of as a Universal Solvent.

There is only the One Thing, The Celestial Fire, and we all have a part to play on its journey of self-realization. The Great Work is about following Nature and helping Nature in this unfoldment. The Celestial Fire is often termed The Divine Will. Our own Will is the reflection of this Fire which drives all of creation.

Discovering our True Will or Purpose and fulfilling that purpose is the highest accomplishment of the alchemist and service to Nature.

“The secret of alchemy is this; there is a way of manipulating matter and energy so as to produce what modern scientists call a “field of force.” This field acts on the observer and places him in a privileged position within the universe. From this position he has access to the realities which are ordinarily hidden from us by time and space, energy and matter. This is what we call “The Great Work.” -- Fulcanelli