Customer Reviews

Alchemy Rediscovered and Restored

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This excellent book represents the first modern rediscovery of the deep wisdom contained in the work of Alchemy. Prior to Cockren, alchemical work was generally ignored or dismissed as unreadable and meaningless, nonsense and quackery. Cockren saw the meaning, the Divine Plan, in the writings of the great alchemists. He saw that alchemy was primarily a spiritual work. He translated and explained the hidden truths of the Sacred Science into language that modern seekers could begin to understand. If I am not mistaken his rediscovery of these truths actually preceeded Jung's.

Here in this book, you will find the explanation of the terminology, processes, and principles that you will need to understand the alchemical source works of Paracelsus, Flamel, Valentine, St. Germain, Cremer, Lully, Albertus Magnus, Villanova, Geber, Rhasis, Hermes, etc. Here are the Stages of the Alchemical Opus: melanosis, leukosis, xanthosis, and iosis or rubedo. Here is the Process of Operations: calcination, solution, separatio, conjunctio, putrifaction, ablutio, and rebedo. You will understand the difference between aqua fortis, aqua regia, and aqua vitae. You will have the keys to unlock hidden meanings.

Cockren wasn't merely an interpreter of the classic texts- he was a metalurgist and chemist who actually duplicated the work where ever possible. He actually observed these processes and learned their lessons. He understood the spiritual analogies and lessons that these experiments taught. He understood the meaning behind mere material things....

This is very easy to read book on alchemy which may very much appeal to a newcomer. The first part of the book deals with the history of alchemy, early European alchemists, the story of Nicholas Flamel, Basil Valentine, Paracelsus, and then going all the way up to St. Germain.

The second part of the book deals with theoretical part, explaining the symbolism of the terminology used in alchemy.

The third part of the book is practical, and at the end of the book is The Revelation of Hermes, interpreted by Paracelsus, and concernng the supreme secret of the world - and that was almost the best part of the book. The whole alchemy is contained in it and it is rather simple and straightforward.

PART I of this book deals with the history of alchemy. You will be given a quick history lesson on it's earliest beginnings and also a bit of history on all the most famous alchemists.
PART II deals with the theoretical aspect of alchemy, and the nice part about it is that it is not written in gibberish but plain english so anyone can follow with what is being said.
PART III is about the use of metals in medicine and other practical uses of alchemy. Plus you get to read extracts from 'The Golden Tractate' and 'The Revelation of Hermes'.
I found this book quite helpful in trying to understand the meaning of alchemy and the way to go about it since it was written by a practicing alchemist in plain english.

This excellent book represents the first modern rediscovery of the deep wisdom contained in the work of Alchemy. Prior to Cockren, alchemical work was generally ignored or dismissed as unreadable and meaningless, nonsense and quackery. Cockren saw the meaning, the Divine Plan, in the writings of the great alchemists. He saw that alchemy was primarily a spiritual work. He translated and explained the hidden truths of the Sacred Science into language that modern seekers could begin to understand. If I am not mistaken his rediscovery of these truths actually preceeded Jung's.

Here in this book, you will find the explanation of the terminology, processes, and principles that you will need to understand the alchemical source works of Paracelsus, Flamel, Valentine, St. Germain, Cremer, Lully, Albertus Magnus, Villanova, Geber, Rhasis, Hermes, etc. Here are the Stages of the Alchemical Opus: melanosis, leukosis, xanthosis, and iosis or rubedo. Here is the Process of Operations: calcination, solution, separatio, conjunctio, putrifaction, ablutio, and rebedo. You will understand the difference between aqua fortis, aqua regia, and aqua vitae. You will have the keys to unlock hidden meanings.

Cockren wasn't merely an interpreter of the classic texts- he was a metalurgist and chemist who actually duplicated the work where ever possible. He actually observed these processes and learned their lessons. He understood the spiritual analogies and lessons that these experiments taught. He understood the meaning behind mere material things....

This book doesn't deliver a step by step recipe per se, but gives the modern alchemical aspirant plenty to go on in their own quest for the Philosopher's Stone. Definitely worth adding to your alchemical and magickal library!

Well in simple words... I was looking for more... half of the book talks about Alchemists in the middle ages, nothing there... then the rest of the books is just copy and paste of other books... very disappointed.