I have come to think of the Bible as an Alchemical text.
Alchemy is a word used to describe a process that turns baseness to gold. The ancient alchemists tried to turn actual metal to the substance of gold. But there is another, more immediate application of the term alchemy … it is the process of refining our own internal baseness into gold.
This is the art of transmutation that interests me most. And the Bible is all about it.
Every character, every place, name and number used in the Bible is significant. The stories depict our own internal characters and struggles. The Bible outlines in detail the process of transforming our own consciousness so that we can come into at-one-ment (atonement) with God.
h:
“Spiritual Alchemy” is the salve of weak minds. The Alchemy of the ancients was not anything like the “spiritual” (read New Age) drivel that is being sold by today’s ignorant “adepts” (and to some extant repeated in this post).
The Philosopher’s Stone is a Real substance something that can be touched, smelled, tasted…it is not some fluffy “turn your base spirit into gold” crap.
But you are right. The Bible is an alchemical text (as are many of the ancient texts) just not in the way you indicate.
Why bother telling you this? Because I “see” much potential in you…
Return to your studies and do not leave them till you have discovered the key which unlocks the mysteries.
Lege, Lege, Lege, Relege, Ora et Invienes.
Mysterium
Mysterium, Thank you for your directness. It inspires me to continue my pursuit of truth. Do you have a recommendation for further study?
I love Lynne’s response! So inspirational.
[…] Lynne on March 1, 2009 I received “strong encouragement” from a comment posted on my blog recently to deepen my studies in Alchemy. I replied and asked for study suggestions. I […]
Mysterium: What does:
Lege, Lege, Lege, Relege, Ora et Invienes mean? Please speak English.
Mysterious is trying to sound vauge on purpose and hes wrong, the great work of alchemy is spiritual and the key is YOU, philosophers stone is a state of enlightenment, not a real substance. Just like the ark of the covenant doest represent a real machine, its your head the radio to God is your brain(telepathy) It takes intuition to find out the keys and I assure you anyone claiming that the symbols in the bible are real objects doesnt have the keys to anything
This is a Latin phrase found often in alchemy (the alchemical text Mutus Liber, for instance) that translates, “Read, read, read, reread, pray and discover.”
Love the idea of turning your insides into gold and at-one-ment. Perhaps Christianity is meant to be more than just… dumb rituals. Thank you for giving me hope in my faith.
Unlike our friend Mysterium, I do not think that Spiritual alchemy is the salve of weak minds; however, that being said, I do believe he is right in that there is a stone which we can create in all reality.
You see, there is only one path; yet there are two lanes. As above, so below. The spiritual and the physical are in harmony.
Without question, the spiritual alchemy is important; but do not let that fact negate nor belittle the importance of the practical facet of the Magnum Opus.
I leave you with a song:
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -
There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying the stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying the stairway to heaven.
There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
’Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who stand looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.
And it’s whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.
If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now,
It’s just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on.
And it makes me wonder.
Your head is humming and it won’t go, in case you don’t know,
The piper’s calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.
And she’s buying the stairway to heaven.
Arcanum. thank you for your response! I know little of alchemy other than what I’ve been given through my own study and daily work with an inner guide — I know I am scratching the surface of a vast understanding of knowledge, and at the same time I stand already amazed at the tremendous keys I’ve gained regarding the alchemy of spiritual transformation. Yes, the two lanes of the one path, ascending and descending… as stated in the Emerald Tablet, “It ascends from the earth to the heaven, and again descends to the earth…” (BOTA). I read recently about how every meridian in the body is made of two pathways … and about how every particle has an an exact equal and opposite antiparticle, establishing a set of opposite poles between which energy is transmitted and (I believe) allows manifestation to happen. I don’t know if any of this is relevant to alchemy, and the making of the stone — but I’m hunching maybe yes?
Thanks again.
Christ is the philosopoher’s stone of Spiritual Alchemy.
I agree Steven … the transmutation of our everyday consciousness into the consciousness of Christ within us is indeed to have found the philosopher’s stone. Thank you for saying so.
Blessings