The Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic »

Mark Stavish (Pennsylvania) has been a long-time student of esotericism and is a frequent lecturer on ancient occult knowledge. Founder of the Institute for Hermetic Studies, he is the author of numerous articles on Western esotericism. In 2001 he established the Louis Claude de St. Martin Fund, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the study and practice of Western Esotericism. He has also served as a consultant to print and broadcast media and several documentaries. He holds undergraduate degrees in Theology and Communications and a Master's in Counseling.
Pat Zalewski and his wife, Chris, live in Wellington, New Zealand, where they are co-chiefs of the Golden Dawn Temple, Thoth-Hermes.  Both were initiated and instructed in the Golden Dawn teachings by ex-members of the New Zealand temple Whare Ra, which was  founded in 1912 and closed in 1978.  Both are keen astrologers and have a strong interest in Wiccan craft and the study of comparative religions.  They have written a number of books together on the Golden Dawn theme.

Alchemy offers tremendous insight into alternative therapies, new medicines, and the depths of the human mind. Illuminating a truly esoteric practice, Mark Stavish reveals how to create and apply "medicines for the soul" in this remarkable guide to plant and mineral alchemy.

The Path of Alchemy introduces the history and basic laws of this ancient practice, and explains how it ties into Qabala, tarot, astrology, and the four elements. Safe, modern techniques-based on spagyrics (plant alchemy)-for producing distillations, stones, tinctures, and elixirs are given, along with their uses in physical healing, spiritual growth, psychic experiments, initiation, consecration, spellwork, and more. Each chapter includes meditations, projects, and suggested reading as aids to "inner transformation," an equally important aspect of alchemy. Tools, rituals, lunar and solar stones, and the elusive Philosopher's Stone are all covered in this comprehensive guide to alchemy.

Library Journal

The arcane (and often inscrutable) arts of spagyrics, or plant alchemy, have been distilled into a cohesive and comprehensible framework in this new publication by Stavish (founder, Inst. for Hermetic Studies). The book ostensibly functions as a lab manual-each chapter addresses a fundamental topic of alchemical practice, indicating required materials and detailed step-by-step instruction. Theory is closely paired with technique, so that the basis for conducting experiments and the results aspiring alchemists may hope to achieve are both presented. Chapters are concluded in this workbook-format title with summarized objectives and helpful accompanying visualization and meditation exercises for the specific topic in question. The text is easy to understand, especially for the novice possessing little familiarity with alchemical terms and background. Whether or not the reader intends to become a devotee of the craft, this book contains concepts and ideas relevant to any metaphysical path. A concise and practical primer of alchemy that often gives the practice useful context within the continuum of other esoteric disciplines, it is appropriate for academic libraries with metaphysical and esoteric collections.-Dina Komuves, Collingswood, NJ Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Foreword by Russell House xi

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction xvii

one Alchemy: An Introduction to the Royal Art 1
Why Study Alchemy? 1
The Land of Khem: Where It All Began 4
The Key of All Magic: Separating the Gross from the Subtle 5
The Stages of the Great Work and Astrology 6
Qabala and Alchemy: A Fool’s Journey 8
Qabala 101: Using the Tree of Life with Alchemy 9
Conclusion 13

two Basic Spagyrics 17
The Three Essentials: Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury 17
The Three Essentials and the Elements 18
Experiments for the Beginning Student of the Art 22
Basic Spagyric Tincture 25
Calcination 28
Meditation: The Basics 35
Alchemical Meditations 36

three Creating a Plant Stone 41
A Plant Stone: Key to the Astral World 41
The Astral World and Alchemy 42
Lunar Cycles and Alchemy 47
How to Make a Plant Stone 49
Leaching Salts 50
The Stone 52
Sea Salt and Alchemy 55
Suggestions for Study 57

four Distillation 61
Red Wine and Alchemy 62
Distilling Alcohol from Red Wine 63
Distillation and Creating a Plant Stone 70
Creating an Elixir 72

five Water Distillation 79
Psychic Experiments with Water 82
Distillation of Water 85
Scented Water and Water Elixirs 86

six Initiatic Alchemy 91
Initiation 92
How to Make an Ens 97
Using the Ens 99

seven Physical Health and Healing with Spagyrics 107
Why We Seek Health 107
Problems of Dosage 108
Alchemy and Homeopathy 110
Salt Structures and the Tree of Life 115
Planets, Plants, and Their Healing Qualities 116

eight Ritual Use of Spagyric Products 127
Inner Tools of Alchemy 127
Ora Et Labora 128
Meditation and Alchemy 132
Ritual Charging of Alchemical Products 135
Holy Blood, Holy Grail 142

nine The Red and White Stones of Alchemy 147
The Stones of the Royal Art 147
The Role of Saturn in Alchemy 157
ten Alchemical Symbolism and the Tarot 165
Symbolism: The Language of the Birds 170
Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Astral 172
Alchemical Pathworking 178

Conclusion 183

Appendix A: Planetary Hours 185
Appendix B: The Longevity Formula of Comte de St. Germain 193
Appendix C: The Path of Nicholas Flamel and the Philosopher’s Stone 195

Glossary 211

Selected Bibliography 217

Alchemical Reading List and Resources 219

Index 225