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Post by LorrB on Jun 2, 2010 9:40:47 GMT 9.5
Here is a wonderful site for those that are new to Alchemy. It can provide you with a brief overview of the subject or take you quite some way into its mysterious workings. It is up to you how far you would like to take it. It is also a useful site to revisit from time to time. www.levity.com/alchemy/intro.html
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Post by paul on Jun 5, 2010 11:58:47 GMT 9.5
It may be that alchemy is one aspect of the hidden mysteries of nature and science. In English-speaking mainstream Masonry, as far as I know, only the Societas Rosicruciana actively pursues alchemy. www.sria-vic.org/What_Is/What_is_the_SRIA.htmI suspect that the focus varies between colleges. I see that in Victoria there are occasional open meetings that might be worth checking out
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Post by jzryk8 on Jun 5, 2010 16:40:17 GMT 9.5
But don't we practice Alchemy in the Blue Lodges as well - depends upon how you view the Alchemical process.
We are always trying to turn from the Gross to the Sublime.
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Post by paul on Jun 5, 2010 17:27:30 GMT 9.5
>We are always trying to turn from the Gross to the Sublime.
That is true for all of Creation.
But can you articulate how the alchemical methodology is used in Blue Lodge?
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Post by jzryk8 on Jun 6, 2010 9:33:32 GMT 9.5
Well, depends upoin whether you take the Operative or Speculative Alchemist into view. Suggest excellent reading in Albert Pike's materials or Maly P Haall to start with.
As far as the Symbols used in Lodge, the Alchemical relationship is well documented in so many materials - including Dan Brown's famous works :-) - however....
Our rituals are the alchemical process wherein the individual Mason is the base metal transmuted into gold. The solve portion of the alchemical process works in the three degrees of the Blue Lodge, each of which corresponds to a part of the soul and the purification process. The coagula portion of the process is up to the Mason to complete himself. It is a lifetime’s work to take the lessons of the degrees and bring them together into a cohesive whole in the alembic furnace of his soul.
The first degree corresponds to the Nephesh. In this degree, we learn of the layout of the lodge and how to begin the process of subduing our passions. These lessons correspond very well to the aspects of the Nephesh. As we contemplate the symbols of the Entered Apprentice degree, we can begin to understand the Nephesh and work to integrate it through the lessons of the square and compasses and the four cardinal virtues. We may also want to contemplate the linkage between the words conscious and consciousness. We are told of the conscious in our reception into the lodge, which is very important to the work of the consciousness.
The second degree speaks of the mind and of knowledge. Quite a bit of the Fellowcraft Degree tells us of architecture and the seven liberal arts and sciences. This is knowledge of the mind and not directly gnosis. Thus, it corresponds well to the second aspect of the soul, the Ruach, which is concerned with the mind. We are also taught the wages of a Fellowcraft, which offer much to contemplate.
The third degree speaks of the highest part of the soul, the Neshemah, and the quest to liberate it and embrace it. Like the AUM of this degree, the Neshemah also has three parts. The work of the degree is to open ourselves to these three parts that we may transform ourselves throughout the rest of our Masonic lives.
The alchemical process of Masonry is not complete at the end of the third degree. The three degrees merely open ourselves up to the process that it may work within us. The process is a lifetime’s work. Each day, we must work at the process of refining our baser aspects into the spiritual gold that is within all of us.
The wearing of the apron and the position of the square and compasses are important parts of the symbol in each degree. They are visible reminders of where we are—or should be—in our Masonic life.
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Post by paul on Jun 6, 2010 10:23:08 GMT 9.5
I was thinking more along the line of :
- separation of the "sulphur", "mercury" and "salt" - purification of these - recombination of these.
While it may well be that Masonry in ancient times stimulated and required this in the candidate, it does not seem to remain in current craft Masonry.
Residuals exist in some Rosecroix rituals but I have yet to see any direct effects.
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Post by jzryk8 on Jun 6, 2010 10:39:44 GMT 9.5
Well the Death ritual certainly works with Putrification, take the Raising and the Grip/Slip etc.
I will dig out some research I have on the other aspects and post, saves reworking :-)
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Post by LorrB on Jun 7, 2010 10:21:41 GMT 9.5
Love the way this thread is shaping up. It is so nice to be able to share an learn from each other in this way. I am keen to know, and then recognise, more on this subject.
Paul, can you tell us a bit more about sulphur, mercury and salt? Layman's version.. for newbies to the subject. An entree.
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Post by paul on Jun 7, 2010 10:35:39 GMT 9.5
Salt relates to the physical body Sulphur to the soul Mercury to the spirit
Each needs to be separated so that it can be purified before being recombined in a perfected whole
As you can imagine the mercury is very volatile - being etheric (for the mineral stone) - and is easily lost by the alchemist
While there is some literature on the vegetable stone, and much on the mineral stone there is very little literature on the animal stone.
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Post by petergower on Jun 7, 2010 16:46:15 GMT 9.5
Salt relates to the physical body Sulphur to the soul Mercury to the spirit Each needs to be separated so that it can be purified before being recombined in a perfected whole As you can imagine the mercury is very volatile - being etheric (for the mineral stone) - and is easily lost by the alchemist While there is some literature on the vegetable stone, and much on the mineral stone there is very little literature on the animal stone. As far as I know, mercury matches the soul, while sulphur the spirit. Actually, Mercury was the gods' messenger, so it is related to intelligence, to mental ability.
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Post by paul on Jun 8, 2010 7:55:38 GMT 9.5
"According to Paracelsus, the Three Primes or Tria Prima are * Sulfur (fluid connection between the High and the Low) * Mercury (omnipresent spirit of life) Mercury * Salt (base matter) " en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemical_symbolAlchemists traditionally begrudged sharing their learning and obscured it to misinform the unwary.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 8, 2010 9:25:41 GMT 9.5
Well - we are agreed on Salt This confused me even more: fire began to act on air, and produced Sulphur; air acted on water and produced Mercury; water, by its action on earth, produced Salt.
The body is earth, the spirit water, the soul fire or sulphur of gold.
(Salt) is the Key which opens the infernal prison house, where sulphur lies in bonds.
by The Author's Anagram: Angelus Doce Mihi Jus (Angel, Teach me Right.)
www.alchemywebsite.com/newchem3.html
I have always assumed that Fire is assoc with Spirit and Air with Soul. Maybe Sulphur is the interaction between the two, the East/West axis in a lodge room .. represented by the SD in masonic terms? Water I have always assumed was the emotional or Astral body.. the JD in masonic terms? And in our ceremonies we have the Soul (SW) and the Astral Emotional (JD) sitting side by side and it is the SW who uses the JD to communicate to the Persona (JW). Both Huna and Jung tell us that to reach the Great Parental Self/Super conscious/Master we need to use the emotional body to sway the subconscious (who is the 'gatekeeper') to allow us access to 'Above'. This is could be the meaning behind the opening ceremony with the JD being the carrier of communications between the JW and SW... and the SD being the bearer of commands between the SW and the RWM..?? The body is earth, the spirit water, the soul fire or sulphur of gold. The only thing that tallies with me here is the Bible bit about Spirit moving across the face of the Waters .. and dividing them. I have never thought of Spirit being water. Soul fire ? ... when the tongues of fire appeared in the 'upper room' it was described as Holy Spirit. (Salt) is the Key which opens the infernal prison house, where sulphur lies in bonds (held?) I guess this would mean that until the JW (Persona) communicates the correct 'information' to the SW (Soul - ie builds up the Soul/Temple?) the Master of the Lodge remains hidden/unknown. Five can hold a lodge but Seven make it perfect? This is my rudimentary psychological way of seeing if new info fits in with the plan of the lodge. It is more interesting to know that many of the early UGLE men were known to be practicing alchemists.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 8, 2010 9:35:32 GMT 9.5
A note to absolute newbies to alchemy and to newly initiated Brn .... the ceremonies and symbols of Freemasonry can be used as useful compasses to navigate lots of challenging information you might come across in your journey towards the Light in the East. I am new to alchemy and above is an example of the thought process I use all the time.
One might not always come up with the correct answers to everything, but you will become familiar with the process and that is very important. Just follow your in-tuition and see where it leads you... and have fun.
We are very lucky to have some very talented teachers on this site.
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Post by paul on Jun 8, 2010 9:59:31 GMT 9.5
>Water I have always assumed was the emotional or Astral body..
Alchemical terminology is generally based on mineral alchemy - with the symbolism based on actual observations of interactions of solids, liquids and gases.
Generally this is at best indirectly related to the symbolism used in the western esoteric tradition.
Thus in alchemy the spirit is water because it often takes a liquid form. For example the mercury of plant alchemy is alcohol.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 8, 2010 10:20:09 GMT 9.5
RE: "The body is earth, the spirit water, the soul fire or sulphur of gold." As mentioned above the 'spirit water' connection made me think. When it comes to alchemy a dream I had led me to Bardon... so I checked out what Franz Bardon had to say on this, if anything... and look what I found... Check the chart towards the the bottom of the page... www.abardoncompanion.com/KTQ-Steps6-12.htmlM = Check out Sh also... most expecially if you are a MM. I also see my favourite masonic number there... 72. Phillip - I think you might particularly enjoy this site
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Post by LorrB on Jun 8, 2010 10:24:52 GMT 9.5
Hi Paul... we posted at the same time... thanks for that info.. so much to learn, so little time to learn it.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 8, 2010 12:45:31 GMT 9.5
see where it leads you... and have fun. I have been rebuked, by no less a person than Franz Bardon himself. I just happened across this - "On Earth every human being has two teachers; firstly, him or herself and, secondly, fate. What man is not able to achieve by his own diligence, practice, renunciation, pain, grief, etc., will be served up to him by disappointments and buffets of fate. Life is a school, not an amusement fair." Ooops.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 8, 2010 12:54:26 GMT 9.5
A further note on practicing alchemy by Dieter Ruggeberg - who points out that the student should, in any event, first verify these things (Bardon's info) with a being of the zone girdling the earth before beginning practice. I guess if God is Omnipresent then maybe an archangel or two might be 'positional'. Would we find a name for such a being in the sacred texts? The angel with the flaming sword which keeps us out (rather than keeping us in) is the only candidate I can come up with.
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Post by petergower on Jun 8, 2010 14:59:10 GMT 9.5
I put a link to download On Alchemy, by Titus Burkhardt
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Post by jzryk8 on Jun 9, 2010 8:13:19 GMT 9.5
Ah, then if you like 72, have you seen this ? Philip Attachments:
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