Digital Spirit Saga is a series of writings on my personal website with the aim to create a central hub for esoteric knowledge to aid in research for my story. Sources will be cited whenever possible. However, please understand this is ultimately my personal interpretation of the topic according to material I choose to engage with.
Introduction
Alchemy is an attempt by human beings to gain an understanding of the laws of nature.
Anyone familiar with the term has most likely been told that the ultimate pursuit of alchemy was to turn lead into gold. In reality, the goals of alchemy changed throughout history. There was a time where it was more grounded in spirituality and over the years it slowly transitioned into a type of “proto-chemistry” where it produced discoveries with pragmatic uses like gunpower and cosmetics.
There is a popular modern-day interpretation of Alchemy that is viewed through a psycho-analytical lens thanks to the Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung. Jung describes alchemy as a type of performative reflection of the psyche that its practitioners engaged with over hundreds of years.
Jung’s interpretation of this psychological alchemy is incredibly popular and it was my personal introduction to alchemy as well. My understanding of this interpretation is that the constant process of breaking down impurities and creating something greater was a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment. It’s honestly a very beautiful interpretation and I enjoy it a lot, but it’s important to remind oneself that this view has flaws of its own.
Dr. Justin Sledge of the YouTube channel Esoterica describes this interpretation as “ahistorical” and discusses the rising interest in a new interpretation that contextualizes the practices of alchemy with the social and political factors of that time.
Alchemy is an art that was practiced for hundreds of years and I believe it is important to understand that it was used to take advantage of people by tricking them into believing that the transmutation of lower metals into gold was real, but also as a process with the aim to understand humanity’s connection to the earth and resources around them.
Alchemical Symbols
[Reserved]
The Philosophers’ Stone
[Reserved]
To be continued …