A Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery

Author: Lyndy Abraham
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521000000
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
This dictionary documents alchemical symbolism from the early centuries AD to the late-twentieth century, for use by historians of literary culture, philosophy, science and the visual arts, and readers interested in alchemy and hermeticism. Each entry includes a definition of the symbol, giving the literal (physical) and figurative (spiritual) meanings, an example of the symbol used in alchemical writing, and a quotation from a literary source. There are fifty visual images of graphic woodcuts, copperplate engravings and hand-painted emblems, some reproduced here for the first time.

A Dictionary of Western Alchemy

Author: Jordan Stratford
Publisher: Quest Books
ISBN: 0835630331
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 137

Book Description
From Arabic al-kimia (of Egypt) and old Egyptian keme (black, fertile soil), alchemy is the ancient science of elements and interactions in both the natural and the spiritual realms. Spanning 2,500 years and informed by Hermetic and Neoplatonist influences, it has been practiced in the classical Greco-Roman world, medieval Europe and the medieval Middle East and Orient, and up to the present in esoteric circles. Alchemists have three main pursuits: the transmutation of base metals into gold by means of the Lapis Philosophorum, the Philosopher's Stone; the concoction of the Elixir of Life, a universal medicine; the reconciliation between spirit and matter and direct knowledge of the Divine This concise dictionary of alchemy provides clear access to one of the major roots of Western esoteric thought. Subjects include alchemical processes and procedures, the natural elements and apparatus used, major practitioners and philosophers, and concepts and beliefs. Distinguishing this guide from similar ones is the addition of etymology, connecting the language of alchemy to its Latin, Greek, and Arabic sources. Symbolic pictographs accompany half of the over four hundred entries, and a fascinating illustration from the long tradition of alchemical art introduces each letter of the alphabet. Most important is the author Jordan Stratford’s unique perspective as both a modern Gnostic priest and a Freemason. He also brings to bear extensive knowledge of the depth psychology of C. G. Jung, who based his key concept of individuation on the premise that what the ancient alchemists truly sought was inner transformation.

Dictionary of Alchemy

Author: Mark Haeffner
Publisher: Aeon Books
ISBN: 9781904658122
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
Alchemy is a rich and complex esoteric tradition that has flourished world-wide since the beginning of recorded history, if not earlier. There are three main traditions: Western Christian, Indo-tibetan and Chinese Taoist. Within this diversity there are many common features, which are analysed, organized, and brought together in this comprehensive dictionary of terms, symbols, and personalities. This dictionary is the distillation of many years' research into the extensive arcane literature. It is a reference work to guide the readers throught the labyrinth of pre-Newtonian science and philosophy. The dictionary covers not only the materialist dimension of the search for the elixir of life and the transmutation of metals, but also the inner search for the gold of mystical illumination. Jung called alchemy 'the projection of a drama both cosmic and spiritual in laboratorty terms'. This opus alchymicum goes beyond the bare analysis and interpretation of terms to present a harmonic, integrated vision of man and nature, which may help to heal the fragmented world view of modern science.

Dictionary of Demons

Author: Fred Gettings
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 286

Book Description

Western Esotericism and Rituals of Initiation

Author: Henrik Bogdan
Publisher: State University of New York Press
ISBN: 0791480100
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 250

Book Description
For more than three hundred years the practice of Masonic rituals of initiation has been part of Western culture, spreading far beyond the boundaries of traditional Freemasonry. Henrik Bogdan explores the historical development of these rituals and their relationship with Western esotericism. Beginning with the Craft degrees of Freemasonry—the blueprints, as it were, of all later Masonic rituals of initiation—Bogdan examines the development of the Masonic High Degrees, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn—the most influential of all nineteenth-century occultist initiatory societies—and Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft movement of the 1950s, one of the first large-scale Western esoteric New Religions Movements.

The Alchemical Actor

Author: Jane Gilmer
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004449426
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 262

Book Description
The Alchemical Actor – Performing the Great Work: Imagining Alchemical Theatre offers an imagination for an alchemical theatre inspired by the directives of Antonin Artaud.

The Continuum Encyclopedia of Symbols

Author: Udo Becker
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 9780826412218
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 372

Book Description
An alphabetical reference with more than 1,500 entries that trace symbols to their cultural, religious, or mythological origins, and explain the hidden or encoded meaning that lies concealed beneath objects' and concepts' ordinary, outward appearance.

Alchemical Symbols

Author: Philip Wheeler
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781723544491
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 154

Book Description
This is the fourth edition of Alchemical Symbols. The purpose of this revision is to add more symbols, correct a small number of errors, and improve the overall layout of the text. We believe this to be the most comprehensive presentation of alchemical symbols available. Portions of the following symbol tables appeared in the "Last Will and Testament" of Basilius Valentinus in the seventeenth century. That table has been augmented with symbols from other sources including the "Alchemist's Handbook" by Frater Albertus, Dom Antoine Joseph Pernety's "The Great Art," Stanislas Klossowski de Rola's "Alchemy: The Secret Art," information taken from the works of Agrippa and John Read, symbols from the Bacstrom Manuscripts, and many other sources. For details please see the References section. The second part of this work is a dictionary of basic Gematria. For those desirous of seeking possible hidden meaning in the alchemistical writings through the Qabalah, the Hebrew of key alchemically-oriented words is presented along with the numerical equivalences. Following that is a short Glossary of Latin Terms of interest to students of alchemy, tables of common conversion factors, and a list of abbreviations.

Alchemy

Author: Marie-Luise von Franz
Publisher: Inner City Books
ISBN: 9780919123045
Category : Alchemy
Languages : en
Pages : 292

Book Description
"It was the genius of C.G. Jung to discover in the 'holy technique' of alchemy a parallel to the psychological individuation process. This book, by Jung's long-time friend and co-worker, completely demystifies the subject. Designed as an introduction to Jung's more detailed studies, and profusely illustrated, here is a lucid and practical account of what the alchemists were really looking for--emotional balance and wholeness"--back cover.

The Alchemy Reader

Author: Stanton J. Linden
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521796620
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 292

Book Description
Table of contents