Alchemy is the art of perfecting in the simplest terms, among any type of Alchemy. It has been used to perfect metals, plants, our souls, and ultimately, our lives. I personally don't perfection is possible as change is the only thing that never changes. Perfection is also a subjective term, rather than a reality. In this light, Alchemy is about betterment.
When researching Alchemy, you have to understand that each work is contextual and there really is no one way to perform Alchemy as it changes from region to region, Alchemist to Alchemist, and even individual work to work. Alchemy can be purely physical as well as involve religious and/or spiritual aspects as it is largely considered an Occult science and art.
I've mailed you some websites to help kickstart your research. A good book to begin with is The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy by Brian Cotnoir.
Ah yes Alchemy I have a book but my scanner is not hooked up so here is the link to the book. Sciencia has many sections but one talks about the roots and fundamentals of Alchemy dating to early China and Egypt. Here
http://www.amazon.com/Sciencia-Mathematics-Physics-Chemistry-Astronomy/dp/0802778992
The original definition of alchemy is to use "magick" to make cheap metals into gold. Useful if you could do it. Alchemy now encompasses herbalism, but I don't know why it's not called metaphysical chemistry.
well alchemy is the use of science and magick, some metals and medicine is used in alchemy, they were the first medicine men, but here's a simple spell to get what you want and there's no use for science or metals in this, this sacrifices your rib spiritually to get what you want, do not cut out your rib or anything LOL, it only sacrifices your rib spiritually to get what you want, first you say " I sacrifice my rib to ( the spirit you wish to sacrifice it to) in order to get ( what you want, what power you want, for a curse or a spell) then say " I sacrifice it now in order for this to happen" then the pact is done. You can sacrifice to anything you want it could be a spirit or angel, demon or god, but I highly suggest not sacrificing it to a demon or evil spirit, because demons usually feed on energy or the soul, also I highly suggest not selling your soul or any part of your body that's necessary for life. A rib is almost useless to the body. Also in alchemy the creed is equal or greater value, so whatever you do it will come back in equal or greater value, also there's a picture in alchemy where God holds a chain in order to control the heavens, earth and hell, this chain is believed to control everything that goes around on earth heaven and hell, and it's believed to control any spirit, demon, angel or devil in all the dimensions. Alchemy also used other gods as well. But the picture is the main belief that god is the main source that controls everything. alchemy was considered one of the most powerfulest magick along with the other higher magicks such as sorcery and elf magick. Also it there's a legend where a alchemist or a sorcerer created the sorcerers stone, the sorcerers stone was the stone that could turn everything into gold, whether it was spiritual gold or literally gold itself is unknown, of course there's a golden energy in the universe and gods that can be created or come from a golden god that can be contacted such as a golden dragon god, the greek gods, all the good gods combined, men that turn into gods, the greek gods were made up of two different energies one is the golden energy the other is the pure energy of purity, anyways back to what I was saying, the sorcerers stone was never found and is still not found to this day, some believe it was just a story, myth and legend. Anyways I believe what the sorcerers stone actually was was a stone that was filled with the golden energy or the man the wielded it gave golden energy to it or transferred the golden energy through the stone to be given to people that wanted the golden energy or to become a golden god that's my theory at least. My other theory is that it's a story that shows that even the simplest of things can be powerful or important to the world and can teach use things, such as a stone, when most people look at it they say hey it's just a rock, but the story may mean even the most simplest thing can be as strong as gold even the thing we don't think about the most such as a rock we do not notice or a rock that is almost meaningless can be as precious as gold. or what a rock is is the symbolism of strength and toughness yet it can be softened by the simplest and weaker things such as a trees roots and water and water and roots could mean the symbol of life, calmness, and perhaps even love so the good can conquer the toughest hearts or life coexists with toughness and strength so or get smoothed over time by water. Also a rocks spirit can talk to you if you only ask it to. But anyways that's what alchemy is. It's used with magick and science and magick and medicine, there's some stories where alchemists found out how to make machines. I am not sure if they gained the knowledge from spirits and angels or if it were magickal machines, I also heard that they made weapons for the kings military. Anyways that's all blessed be!
the reason it is not called "metaphysical chemistry" is because in chemistry, you only mix and compound different elements and atoms, but alchemy is about total transformation and creation. it really is more like biology than chemistry
There are some nonsens about alchemy. Real alchemy is a spiritual path. But in medieval Europe was clouded because of Christian "love". Alchemists did not want to be burned at the stake of the Inquisition. :-)
There is a good book about Eastern alchemy. The secret of the golden flower, Translantion by Richard Willhelm.
For a comparison is good chakra yoga. For example translantion by A. Awalon (Sir John Woodroffe) like Sat chakra nirupana, Paducka panchaka, The serpent power an others. Or Shiva samhita and Gheranda samhita.
All those books are freely on the net.
And interesting is a medieval alchemy book "The book of lambspring".
http://www.alchemywebsite.com/bookshop/herm_studies5.html
http://www.levity.com/alchemy/lambtext.html
"In the body is soul nad spirit". Soul in medieval alchemy is a Fleshly heart in The secret of the golden flower and chakra Anahata in Yoga. Spirit is a Heavenly heart in The secret of the golden flower and chakra Ajna in Yoga. .............
And something about powers people can obtain through this spiritual way. Reason for some people.
http://aumamen.com/topic/ashta-siddhis-other-supernatural-powers
http://yachnayoga.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/chakras-and-supernatural-powers/
Hindu yogis mostly do not this way. Reason?
http://simonarich.com/meditation-dangers
Meditation Danger #2: Developing supernatural powers
If you meditate for some years (or if you meditated in past lives,
then this can happen very fast), you’re likely to develop some
supernatural powers........
So, yogis do not use siddhi. Siddhis are regarded as an obstacle.
But spiritual alchemy way - see The secret of the golden flower - is another.
http://archetypalmind.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/tarot6.jpg?w=894&h=1554
The Two Paths
