Alchemy and Kabbalah are a match made in heaven. In this episode we explore a text which combines alchemy, kabbalah and magic into a united theory of both mystical theurgy and the transformation of nature the Esh M'tzaref or The Refiner's Fire ( אש מצרף ). Here we find gematria, magic squares and an amazing combination of alchemical theory and practice along with synthesized with the sefirot of the Kabbalah and just a dash of magic!

Recommending Readings:

Patai The Jewish Alchemists 9780691006420
Kabbalah Denudata https://www.google.com/books/edition/...

Linden, Stanton J. (ed.) The Alchemy Reader: From Hermes Trismegistus to Isaac Newton. 9780521796620. Nicely edited collection of alchemical primary texts.
Principe, Lawrence. The Secrets of Alchemy. 9780226103792. An uptodate history of alchemy.
Newman, William. Newton the Alchemist: Science, Enigma, and the Quest for Nature's "Secret Fire" 9780691174877. Cutting edge research on alchemy in the 17th century.
Roob, Alexander(ed.) Alchemy & Mysticism. 9783836549363. A collection of alchemical imagery and symbolism, also a nice coffee table book!

Spiritual / Psychology School of Interpretation

Atwood, Mary Anne. A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery….(many reprint editions). The first text to introduce the ‘spiritual interpretation” of alchemy.
Eliade, Mircea. The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy. 9780226203904. Religiousphilosophical interpretation of alchemy.
von Franz, MarieLouise. Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology. 9780919123045. An introduction to the Jungian psychological interpretation of alchemy.

#alchemy #kabbalah #magic