Customer Reviews

Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The 3 traditional pillars of the Hermetic arts are Alchemy, Astrology, and Qabalah. None of these are stagnant but are all living, growing and evolving arts which are completely compatible with both religion and science.

This amazing tome, written by one of the foremost living authorites on Alchemy, combines practical modern science with the ancient Alchemical sciences and gives working students a firm fondation on which to build their temples.

This book is truely a treasure which provides years of practicle work, and with it one could ascend to mastery in this both ancient and sacred art/scence/religion/philosophy (Magick.) For a deeper understanding of the philosophy I suggest "Sorcerer's Stone," by Hauck. And for a more guided introduction to the subject, especially for students with a background in other schools of magick, I suggest, "The Path of Alchemy," by Stavish.

These three books I have called (semi jokingly but still in truth) the "Holy Trinity of Modern Alchemy." They compliment one another perfectly, each focuses in a slightly different manner and the combined information is a very nice place to start your journey in preparation for the actual process. Read all three, make sure you understand them well, and then slowley and with utmost care begin your Great Work!

I loved this book! It takes you through a well researched history, basics and on to advanced practices, in an easy to understand way. Although there are no illustrations to aid in explaining the processes or equipment, it is very easy to understand. This is a excellent read on the subject, without all the antiquitated terms and cryptic words. Highly recommended!

Real Alchemy - A Primer of Practical Alchemy by Robert Allen Bartlett is a book that many have waited a long time for. Clean, clear, simple, and easy to read, it provides a foundation in the theory and method of producing plant products, and transitions the reader-student into the basics of mineral work - or what some consider the true domain of Alchemy. New students to practical laboratory alchemy will enjoy reading Real Alchemy, and hopefully will find the encouragement needed to undertake their own alchemical journey.

'Real Alchemy' is just what the title promises. It is the first (and so far only) book I have ever read on the subject that translates this sacred art and science from metaphor to in-your-face, hands-on objective reality. If I would have read this 35 years ago I would have taken up the alchemist's work in a heartbeat.

This is a revealing, accurate, complete, and concise (in some cases, nearly terse) set of instructions for performing practical alchemical experiments. In it, the author demystifies the code words that veiled the writings of the ancient philosophers, which is a great favor - they are so veiled that they have been taken to be mystical metaphor rather than descriptions of physical operations. He presents a down-to-earth guide for making medicinal preparations from herbs and metals, and even for creating the philosopher's stone and performing transmutations. The book contains an explanation of philosophical principles but does not dwell on the abstract. What I love about this author is that he makes things no more difficult than they need to be, and points to seeds of further development such as astrology and qabalah without belaboring them. This is great because he doesn't give the student opportunity to avoid the real work by distracting him or herself with emotionally and intectually appealing speculation. His approach is concete: if you want to get benefit from this book, you will get out of the armchair. This approach offers not knowledge, but understanding that leads to wisdom.

By the time you begin reading about the mineral works, you'll probably be wishing for a more expanded explanation, or even a series of videos; though the instructions are clear, the operations are difficult to visualize for the novice. This is not a flaw in the work, but an example of the way alchemy conceals herself to the casual intellect yet reveals herself to the hand at work. My experience of practical alchemy is that the process of doing the simple experiments makes the more advanced methods comprehensible: the only real way into this work is to start doing it. This author is a consummate practitioner, and his instructions can be relied upon to be descriptions of the work as he has done it and at which he has succeeded. I've met him and watched him perform both plant and mineral operations, and attest to the veracity of his writings. In my own work so far, I praise the efficacy of Art in creating internal change. It is worth the effort required to understand and perform these operations.

"Real Alchemy" is THE BEST Alchemy 101 book available today. It is an excellant primer for the alchemical student, and a must for the serious alchemist's library. I recommend it highly!

-Hyram Posey

I bought several noted alchemical books (spagyric, hermetic) dating back to the 16th century. After reading each intro, this book is the one I chose to start with. Because it was wrtten in 2007, it expects a modern mindset from its audience, and so makes comparisons between alchmical undertandings and modern ways of thinking. It does this without being trite.
A great read.

I'd heard Robert Bartlett lecture twice at the International Alchemy Conference before I got this book, and I'm glad I didn't wait any longer. This is a concise and direct guide to alchemy, not only in the theories and history, but in the actual "how to do it" sense. A chemist by training and alchemist since he was a teenager, Bartlett gives clear examples and offers up guidelines for doing your own genuine alchemy experiments, without needing lots of fancy or expensive lab gear. Whether your alchemy interest is theoretical or practical, this is a Must Have book for your library!

Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy presents a solid body of information about the ancient art of Alchemy in straightforward, no-nonsense terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Chapters cover astrology and alchemy, herbal alchemy, minerals in alchemy, antimony, the legendary philosopher's stone, and much more. A handful of black-and-white diagrams illustrate this brilliant work that incorporates modern science into its dissection of alchemy's timeless mysteries, enthusiastically recommended for anyone intrigued by the alchemical craft.

If there is a problem with this book at all, it's that there is so much information given is such few words. It can be said that all the essential secrets of alchemy are contained in this book (if you know how to look). I have read over a hundred books on the subject and can honestly say that without this book I would have spent years just trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. Thank you, R.A.B.!